Ashland University Top Questions

Focus in on what YOU need (both as a parent and as a prospective student) and make your decision that way. Money will come around somehow; I don't know of many colleges that do not offer substantial financial aid to each one of their students that requires it. Never let some fast-talking college representative try to swindle you into coming because they have a brand new sidewalk somewhere, and it's basically the talk of that town. Have a plan in mind of what you want your college experience to be, and decide based on what you want for YOUR future and YOUR goals; don't tailor yourself to what the University offers. That should be their job.

To get the most out of college, students must find the right college for them. You can't figure out which school is the right school without actually experiencing several different schools. The most helpful thing is to visit schools and stay the night with a student. Visiting a school and taking a planned out tour with your parents really doesn't do anything that you can't get from reading and looking at a picture in a school's literature. Spend real time at the school with a real student and you will get a real picture of what a school will be like.

Go to a college visit that is not planned with the institution and talk to random students around campus about the institution. The people who work either at the institution or in the admissions office will do or say whatever you want to hear to get you to go to their school, get the real inside information from the students not affiliated with the admissions office. Focus on grades a lot your freshman year, one bad semester your freshman year can cause you to work yourself out of a rut the rest of your college career to get your financial aid back.

Look for a college that feels comfortable for you. I would say go with your first instinct. It has to feel right!

Visit a lot of different campuses. Just because a college is close to your hometown, does not mean it is a right fit for you. Sit in on a couple of freshman classes in subject areas that you are interested in. It is good to know what you might be getting into. If the classes seem too easy or much to difficult, you might want to consider a different course study or a different school. Also, don't go to a certain school just because a lot of your friends will be going there. College is a great place to meet new people and make new friends. Talk to current students at the schools. Most will be glad to help you out. Do a lot of research. Know what you will be getting into before you committ to a school. Lastly, search the internet and ask school counslers about possible scholarships available for you. There is a lot of money out there to help lessen the financial burden to the student.

When finding the college of your choice, make sure to stick with it for a while. Many students will enter a college as freshmen and within a few weeks leave to go back home. This is one of the worst things to do, always give it a shot for the first full semester. Homesickness is inevitable. Become best friends with your roommate. Join things on campus, clubs, sports, or go greek.

It is important to find a school that fits the student's personality and priorities. If non-academic college life is important find a more populated school in a city. If academics are important find a school with small enrollment and involved programs. It is also important to find a school that is strong in the subject that the student is interested in pursuing. If the student doesn't know what exactly they want to do with their life yet, find a great liberal arts school that will allow them to experience several different areas of study before making a decision. Basically, just choose a school personally fits with the student's preferences and desires. The best place to find out the truth about a school is from current students who would not be as biased as the recruiting office.

Choosing a college is hard and there is no sure way of knowing you picked the right one. Be sure to visit all of the colleges you are interested in, preferably while school is in session. It gives you a feel of how the school works and what the students are like. Once you pick a school, dont be scared to step out of your comfort zone and take some risks. Get involved in things. Dont put yourself or the people you meet into a box. Explore new things that interest you and take some classes just for fun. No matter who you are or what you beleive, there will be someone there who wants those same things you do. It may take awhile, but friends will happen with time. Be patient and persistant. College is a place to have fun, but also a place to learn and to grow.

Make sure your son/daughter is willing to put forth the effort to succeed in college before you go spending tens of thousands of dollars on your child's education.

The advice I would give would be to go and visit the college of your choice. You are going to want to get a feel for how the campus is and how the poeple are at that particular school. To make the most of your college experience make sure you get involved. Being involved in a club or a sport will give you things to do on the weekends and it will also help you make friends, people who will be your friends for the rest of your life.