Whitworth University Top Questions

VIsit, and if it feels right, go! Make sure you love the community, and don't have any regrets about your choice .

Find a school that is well known for some of the things you may be interested in studying. Make sure it's in a city or part of the country that you feel comfortable with - west coast, outskirts of large city... You may also want to look into the school's affiliations. Some schools may be more liberal, more conservative, or more something else. Know what you're looking for. Do your research, visit the school, look around, stay the night, ask lots of questions of faculty and students, talk with any of your friends that have been there, sit in on a couple classes, (in and out of your major area of interest). Find out what kind of extra-curricular activities they offer, what the campus looks like on weekends, and job options in the surrounding area. Mostly just follow your gut feeling and remember that you're not competing for schools, but they're competing for you!

Visit the colleges that you think you are interested in atending and you will know which one is right for you!

The biggest thing to know in regard to school selection and choice is simply to go where you feel most comfortable. If you're happy where you are, things tend to just fall in line. You can find a job on (or off) campus to help off set costs incurred by the social life in college. You will meet the professors you need to who will then set you up with an internship in your Upperclassmen years. Things tend to work out when you're comfortable and happy. To parents, I would simply encourage their child to do what "feels right" for them. It's important to know the difference between "knowing what is best" for your child and living vicariously through them. This distinction is of the utmost importance at this stage in life. If the student is happy, the parents will be happy knowing their kid is right where they're supposed to be.

Try to visit every college that you are thinking of attending and spen at least one night there. It is so helpful because you get a feel for the campus and a feel of the community. Look for colleges that share the same beliefs as you, for example if you are religious look at religious colleges. If you like sports look for colleges that highly promote athletics. Don't settle for any college, but aim for the one that kjust feels right when you visit it.

When getting ready to choose a college, talk to your teachers and adults in your community, especially those in the field you wish to work in. Once you have a list of potential schools it is very important to visit each school and find out what actual campus life is like, spend the night with someone and go to a class or two. If you just pick a school based on its website or promotional materials you may arrive at the start of the school year and find that its the wrong fit for you. It's also very important to look at the overall cost of four or five years at the potential school to make sure you can pay for it without getting stressed out and making your grades suffer. Pick a school that makes you feel like you will succeed, where you feel you can grow and learn comfortably.

It's all about finding the right decision for YOU! Take time to familiarize yourself with different options by touring schools and talking to students: big and small schools, professional specialties, sports-oriented, liberal arts, different locations, campus atmosphere, and extra-curricular activities. Reflect on your reactions and enthusiam about different aspects of the school- remember, you are choosing a place that will vastly shape the person you will become. Seek a school that is filled with people you want to be like and interact with- professors especially! It's important to look for a school that will challenge you, but will be a safe place to grow. When you decide what is important to you, pursue schools that fit that criteria with perseverance. There might be financial challenges, moving and transportation issues, parental pressure, and good friends that go far away; but with a little work, it is worth it to be in a place that will excite you and make you into a better person. This is so much more than an academic education- it is four years of formative life experience and friendships. A thoughtful decision now ensures that you have a college experience perfect for you!

You absolutely must visit campus at least once. You need to be able to sit in on classes and spend the night in a dorm. This is the only way to truly find out if it is the school for you. To succeed in college: make a friend in each of your classes, keep your dorm door open when you're not studying, study hard but don't forget to take breaks and have fun too. You're GPA isn't everything and these are only the best years of your life if you make it so!

I would tell any student looking for a college that they need to look for a school that they feel fits them. Does the school offer classes and degrees that interest them? Also find a school that has a good campus community and support. Colleges with good community will help with the transition. For parents look at what financial aid is available and how easy is it to get your questions answered. If it takes a lot of research and time to get appropriate answers then I would question if that college was the right fit. In order to make the most out of your college experience I would suggest that you make it a point to get to know people on campus. Make friends. Also be sure that you get to know at least one professor or faculity member because you never know how it may come in handy in times of need. Be sure that you get involved in campus events such as dorm nights, sporting events, clubs, etc. Getting an education is the most important thing that you have to do in college but you should not forget to have some fun as well.

Make sure you find out what the college values are and the rules that the college has. Talk one on one to professors and sit in on a couple of that professors classes and then ask the students about the professor and the same questions you asked the professor for validity. For students an overnight trip and tour is highly recommended, you can see what the students life is like both during the day and in the evening, a Friday-Sunday trip would be suggested. Check out the extra carricular programs that the school has and was the students can be involved in not only the school commuity but surrounding community as well. Ask about the alumni association and perhaps try to talk to some alumni about their experience in college and directly after graduating.