Austin College Top Questions

Talk to current students about their experiences at that school. You can read tons of books about the statistics, but those numbers don't really matter. The internet provides ample opportunities to communicate with current students. Also, don't choose a college because your boyfriend or friend is going there. College is such an individual experience and your friend my love the school but you could hate it. If there are things about the school that you question or wonder how you could live there, do not talk yourself into it! Last of all, don't pick a college just because your parent or sibling went/go there. As far as the college experience goes: do not go home often. The people who went home at my school were left out of the social scene, and had a much harder time at the school. Also, stay on top of all the assignments. It's easy to get behind since no one is watching you or assigning reading quizzes, but when you get behind, you end up cramming- which results in less beneficial learning. College is about learning new things and having new experiences, so make sure to do so!

Visit every college you apply to and make sure it fits your student's personality.

Make sure they go visit the campus and really talk to people there. Don't just listen to the people giving to the tours. Try to find random people to go talk to and sit in on a class while you're there if you can.

Don't look at the money that it costs. In the end, the investment will pay for itself. Go somewhere where you feel you fit. And don't discard smaller schools, they tend to have a better academic record and the professors seem to be more open to helping students.

Find a college that is going to be the right environment for the student to work in. You have to find what's right for each student. Spend the night with a host student. Have them talk to you and show you around without being on one of those manicured tours. The student will tell you bluntly how things work at the college, then its up to the student (not the parent) to decide which is best. College is a once in a life time opportunity. Recognize that. Don't waste it. Work hard, it will get you places.

Visit all the schools you are interested in and then visit a couple of times the top 5-2 to decide which college to go to. Live in a dorm for a year or two!

The most important part of finding the right college is visiting the schools you apply to. As soon as I visited the college I ended up at, I knew it was where I wanted to be for 4 years. It had an excellent atmosphere, has one of the top programs in the state for my area of study, and because it's a Division III small school, I was able to play a varsity sport all 4 years and still maintain a high GPA. I have had to work hard to earn my grades, and to succeed in my sport, but I would never change the decision I made. Where you go to college defines a large part of who you will be in life, so it's important to find a school that fits you. You shouldn't have to change to fit the school. So go on college visits, ask lots of questions, and don't settle for something less than you deserve.

I would recommend that the students visit the colleges or universites that they wish to attend. Also, that the students dont allow their decisions to be too influenced by their parents. I think that to many students allow their parents to choose their college or university for them without realizing that they will be the ones attending and not their parents.

Honestly, the price of the college should take little or no part in the decision making of college. Of course there are certain situations that require a family to take into consideration tuition, but if a college is the right fit for a student and his/her family, then it will work out for that person. The great thing about a small school like Austin College is that the administration and faculty care about the students and wants students that have potential to attend this college. The President of Austin College is personally responsible for my attendance at this institution.