American University Top Questions

It is always important to visit the campus and make sure they have strong programs outside what you oringially believe you are going to study. Also, make sure that there is a fair amount of student activities so you can be involved in a wide spectrum of events. It helps to meet new friends and network with professionals.

1. Do your research: The best way to start looking at schools for you or your son/daughter is to start looking online, reading books, and attending college fairs. While this will not give you deep insight into the student bodies, it will give you enough information on type of programs and opportunities the various schools have to offer. 2. Visit campuses: Once you have decided what type of colleges you're interested in looking at, visit campuses. Actually walking around the campuses and observing the atmospheres will give you a better feel for campus life. 3. Talk to students: Students are generally very honest with their experiences at their college or university and are the best tools for insight into the character of the student body and the overall happiness of the campus. 4. Meet lots of people: The best way to get the most out of the college experience is to not limit your boundaries on who you meet. College is a time for self-discovery, and the best way to know who you are is to see how you interact with a wide net of people.

In finding the right college, try to talk to the students of that school rather than just researching information online and visiting the campus. Also, don't attend a school with a focus on greek life if you know that you are not interested in participating. Once attending a school, be sure to live on campus in a typical dorm setting for at least the first two years of school, or it will be very difficult to make friends and get involved in activities. No matter how a communal living situation may sound uncomfortable, it is a necessary part of the college experience. Also, it is better to attend a school that is appropriate to your financial situation than to be stressed about money while you are in school.

Don't pick a school based on a name alone. Sometimes the right fit isn't with a top tier school or one that is highly recognized. It may not even be the one that offers you the most financial aid. What matters is how the available programs fit your needs and interests. Go for what you love and you won't regret it.

Students searching for the right college should most importantly start early and consider a number of options. I would strongly advise against narrowing things down too early. Look at schools that are big and small; schools that are in-state and out-of-state; schools that are known for their social scene and schools that are known for their academics. Make sure you pick a school that gives you options. Your college is where you recreate who you are for at least the next four years of your life if not the longer. You need a school that will let you try new things, meet different kinds of people, study a variety of things and then offer you a strong education in that one area that interests you above all else. Look far and wide for a school that offers you those things and then work and play hard to take advantage of opportunities while you are there.

Think about the college experience as a package. Try not to get too caught up with the price and consider factors such as location and disciplines available and the calliber of professors. Then, follow through. The secret to college, like anything in life, is that it is what one makes of it. So make the best choice for you and then make it better.

Just because it's your dream school doesn't mean it will make your dreams come true. Try to follow your dreams but remember that there are a million ways to fulfill them,. Don't get stuck on one Univeristy, there are A LOT of amazing schools out there if you look for them!

I would suggest visiting the school. When you visit a school, you get a real feel for the personalit yof the campus. I would definitely go when school is in session. That way you can see the students, get a feel for how crowded the campus is, and even sit in on a class. Plus, you can go up to any of the students on campus and ask their honest opinion. When you go to a campus, you know if you want to be there or not. College is such an important decision, you need to be confident in your choice. You need to feel it, not just reed statistics in the hundereds of college magazines and books. While academics and national standings are great and very important when looking for the perfect school, you need to be able to fit in as a student to be happy. Th eonly way you can decide is by taking a college visit and seeing the place you may be spending the next four years of your life.

Make sure you visit as many places as possible and apply to as many places as possible because you want to make sure the school you get into and can afford to go to is the right fit for you. Make sure you find the real personality of the campus, that's essential for getting anything positive from your college experience.

I think that touring schools is one of the most important things prospective students can do. American University was originally not my first choice. I assumed that I wanted to go to a particular school simply because of its name and academic standing. But after I visited A.U. I realized that there is more to college than just a ranking. It was the whole picture of A.U....the availability for internships, the experience of living in D.C., the diversity of professors and programs, the experience of the staff and faculty, and the "just right" proximity to home. I never would have realized how right all of those things were for me had I not toured, and so it is the biggest recommendation I could give to any students and parents getting ready for college.