Yale University Top Questions

I would suggest that parents let their student go with the school that just "feels right." Finances are a very important concern, especially given the current economy, but when you consider the overall happiness of your student and their college experience, you can't put a price on that. A student who is happier will have better grades and will be a more competitive pick for graduate school or job placement. The ultimate success of your student should be the overriding factor in his/her college choice.

Think about how much you value being constantly overworked and miserable, and decide on a college accordingly.

Whatever you choose, it's always the right choice. Remember that who you marry is more important that where you go to college. Don't stress about where as you're applying, just focus on trying your best to get into as many respected places as possible, then choose. When you're at college, don't slack off. Make the most of every opportunity. These are the best days of your life!

Dear Parents and Prospective Students, My main piece of advice to you is to follow both your heads and your hearts. The reasons Yale was my dream school on paper are obvious -- it's the best in the world academically and in almost every other way, it offers wonderful financial aid and student support. The reasons I finally chose it -- and adore it to this day, a year after graduation -- are less obvious but equally important. Yale is the kindest, most open and most vibrant place I have ever experienced. I would not have been happy at college -- and so enabled to succeed afterward -- had either one of those factors been missing. Weigh what the college offers you academically equally with what it offers your soul. You need both. If you hate your environment and everyone in it, you are likely to fail. If your environment offers nothing besides good times or comfort, you are also likely to be dissatisfied -- only perhaps a bit later in life. Finally, most importantly, don't be afraid to take risks! Ignoring that tiny voice telling you to dream bigger (whatever the situation) is the worst thing you can do. Good luck!!! Helen

Too many students make college decisions based solely on ranking. The truth is, there are as many different colleges as there are kinds of intelligence. People should consider size of the college, location, and extracurricular activities. Also, I've found that most people I know are happy where they end up. So it is foolish to base all of one's hope on a single college; it just sets us up for disappointment.

Look carefully, but don't go crazy searching. Maintain a mutually respectful parent-child relationship if you are looking together! In my mind multiple colleges could be the "right place" for you, for different reasons. The most important thing is to find a place where you can be yourself without feeling that you have to change your beliefs and passions. HOWEVER, be aware your interests will inevitably evolve somewhat (or a lot) during this time. While you technically become an adult when you graduate from high school, the few years following that milestone are incredibly important for figuring out who you are and what you love. My advice is to chose a college that provides just enough discomfort to encourage personal growth and enough variety in academic and extracurricular persuits to help you discover new passions and/ or refine old ones. And when you get there, enjoy! Get caught up in the world of your university. Don't expect perfection (all colleges have their weaknessness) and know it will be difficul at times. But realize, somewhere in the back of your mind, that this is a rare and wonderful time in your life, a memory before you know it.

Figure out what exactly you want from your collegiate experience: do you want to live in a city, do you want a very small college, is being close to your family really important, etc. After you figure this out narrowing down your choices should be easy. Once you get to college, try new activities, be more social than your usual are, let people get a chance to get to know you and you'll be surprised what you find out about other people. Listen more than you talk and ask lots of questions. In your classes strive to be the best and really take the time to get to know your professors. Even though this is the hardest thing to do, it is really important to find a balance. Do not let school consume you. Take a day once a week to enjoy being with your friends. Don't worry, everything will get done but at the end of the day, your sanity is what is most important.

The focus of the individual in determining his or her future should always be the inidividuality of the the individual. In other words, always start from fully realizing who one is and what does one truly want to achieve in the society before considering what is fashionable, profitable, or idealistic. Not matter how competitive or difficult a task is perceived to be, one's unwavering interest in the matter can make it perfectly doable. Similarly, not matter how tedious and repetitive an activity is rumored to be, one's genuine interest can make it enjoyable in the most delightful ways. Such a rule suits both for the college search process and any activities that one may go through. To simply shoot for the "best," as most people would consider it to be, is definitely overrated. If every person in the world does that, there would be no uniqueness in the world. Society would quickly degenerate into a monochromatic, unchanging collective mass. Many people say that college is the first step to the rest of the life, and that is exactly why one must find that one place and those few things that defines one to be not like any other.

Finding the right college is as much about the student body as it is about academics, financial aid, and campus life. After all, the student body represents the citizenship of what will essentially be your hometown for four or more years of your life. The student body will provide you with your neighbors, your peers - even your greatest friends and your worst enemies - and it is important that you get a feel for the students before making a decision on any college. Campus visits (not during summertime) are key. They allow you not only to live with students at the college, but also to see where they live, how they live, and what they do. Not what the university tells you they do. Not what the university-paid tour guide tells you they do, but what they actually do. And who they actually are.

Don't let the process of getting into college consume your/your child's life. I got into a great school, but the stress of high school took such a toll on my mind and body that I had to take 2 years off to get a handle on what have become chronic health problems. There are lots of great places to go to college. There's a lot of luck involved. Don't take the acceptance/rejection letters too personally. Don't get set on one school. You never know how it will turn out. And even if college turns out to be a difficult experience (like it was for me), the adversity will show you who you are and prepare you for the real world. In fact, the emphasis these days on getting into college (as opposed to learning) frustrates me so much that I've decided to become a teacher to try to be a good influence on my students in our increasingly misguided society. Work hard in high school, but be yourself and have fun. Focus on being the PERSON (as opposed to the college applicant) you want to be!

To find the right college you really should and need to visit different campuses, and go with your feelings about a college. When you're on campus you just know what is right for you, and what isn't. Do some research on where you want to go, and work hard to make that dream become a reality because anything is possible. Don't listen to what other people think because in the end the only one suffering from the mistake is you.

Stop freaking out about it. Once you chill out about the college situation, everything will come together. Colleges appreciate honest self-reflection, and they can smell bullshit from a mile away, so don't try and puff yourself up for anyone. Be yourself for no one else but yourself, be honest, and you will end up where you are the happiest!

Don't focus on the prestige of the school. Focus on finding a match between your personality and the school.

Shop around at a lot of colleges to figure out what you want in a school (big small, liberal arts or career focuses, whether they focus on international opportunities), and then figure out which schools best match what you're looking for.

never mind.

Ask yourself what you want out of your college experience. A prestigious name on your diploma? The chance to network? The opportunity to learn from great professors? Look for the qualities that are most important to you. Tour the school. Stay overnight and ask yourself whether you can see yourself there, soaking in every aspect of it. Sit in on classes, club meetings, and go to parties. In the end, a school can offer you as many opportunities as it wants--but if you're not happy to be there, you won't be taking advantage of it. Make sure you love your school.

The most important think to look for in a college is a feeling that everything fits just right. If a prospective student gets a strong sensation that he or she not only can but wants to attend a college, that place should be on a short list of top choices. The best way to figure this out is to visit the school, both for the regular visiting process and for an overnight/weekend stay with an actual student (if possible). Sitting in on classes, eating at the dining halls, and going out to parties are the only way to really get a sense of what the school is like.

I think finding the right people is the key to finding the right school. What's the student body like? It may not be obvious on a school tour, but the racial, sexual orientation, socioeconomic, religious, and political makeup of the school as well as the general social atmosphere can really affect a student's experience with college. Are students likely to conform, or are they very creative and individually unique? Are students complacent, or are they willing to challenge the status quo? Which is more important: grades or learning? Are cultural or political student groups inclusive or exclusive? While answers to these questions may vary according to segments of the student body, such factors can heavily influence how a student feels about the college experience. "Will I fit in?" is a valid concern, and students who find themselves unable to 'fit in' often struggle with enjoying college. Freshmen who struggle with finding others with whom they can relate will find their new-found independence lonely. Before enrolling in a school, prospective students should ask of themselves, "Can I see myself as one of these students?" and "Will I be happy as one of these students?"

There is more to deciding a college than it's prestige or affiliations. Students should decide which school is best for them with respect to not only academics, but comfort level as well. If a school has great academic standing, but the student is uncomfortable there, he or she will become unhappy and thus may not fair well not only academically, but emotionally as well. The types of students there are extremely important, as well as school size, and activities offered. Therefore, the student's personality should strongly be taken into consideration so that his or her interests may best be answered by attending a certain school. Once the student does find the school that is the right fit for him or her, he or she should be sure to not only participate in activities that best fit their interests, but also be sure to try new things. This is a very important time in their life when they may break out of his or her shell. They should be open-minded to try new things and put their all into their schoolwork and friendships. They will be building relationships and work that will affect them always.

I would say that the most important thing about picking your college is making sure it can offer you something you can use. I chose Yale knowing that I would have a brighter future, from not only the faculty, but also the students and the views they have to offer. However, that was not my only concern. I was also worried about making friends and if I would fit in. Make sure that the school you choose also has something to offer you socially, whether it be a favorite sport or club, or just any nonacademic activity. School and get very stressful and if you do not have some sort of outlet, it can be very difficult. The one other thing I would keep in mind when picking a college, is making sure the environment suites you. This includes the social environment, but also the physical weather. You will be living at school all year and if you do not like the weather, than you may have a hard time adjusting and/or feel homesick.