Azusa Pacific University Top Questions

The best advice that I cn give about finding the right college is to think about what you want to do with your life and what you want out of college. If you are interested in a specific field, find a school that has a focused program for that and talk to people that go there or have gone there and get their opinions. Even though the school won't lie about how good it is, they will always put the best information out there and to get the most reliable information, you need to talk to someone who has had first hand experience there. To make the most out of your college experience, remember that your primary focus is to learn and get an education, but in the midst of that, you are there to live for the present and not just the future. Get involved and meet people that will encourage you in life as well as academics.

I would advise them to specifically look at schools that specialize in the field or major that the student wants to obtain their degree in and to set high standards and not settle for less.

Take the time to find out what is right for you. There are so many different aspects of college life that can't be discovered in an hour long campus tour. Talk to current students. Stay on campus for a weekend. Get in touch with teachers you may like to take classes from. Research the department that you are interested in majoring in. Once you have decided on the right school for you, get involved! Don't be afraid to try new things. Study abroad. Join a club. Make friends that may not be like your friends from home or high school. The beginning of college is one of the few times you will have the opportunity to reinvent yourself. Don't set limits on your abilities. If you allow yourself and your college experience to be great, it will be.

be sure to know that the atmosphere around campus suits who you are. There will be finanical strain but dont let that take away from where you would have the best experience. College goes by quickly so be very intentional with who you interacrt with on a daily basis.

you really need find a school that matches your same values. while its good to go to a new place with different ideas and cultures, too many people make rushed decisions and end up at a school that really does not match what they believe, wether it be moral, social, or economic values. its great to go to a place that challenges your beleifs but to make sure it is not completely different. students really need to find a place they can see themselves at and a place where they can have great community. too many students go through school without a great support network and it is so vital to have people you can have fun with and talk with and just people to be there for you when times are rough and you dont think you can make it anymore!! parents need to learn to let go and not expect their kids to stay in contact 24/7 their students are on a journey of finding who they really are and need to let them be free to do that.

Spend time on the campus and meet with students who aren't on the admission's staff. Evaluate proximty to resources (banks, grocery store, etc). Think about weekend activities and opportunities for study abroad (along with the costs and help available on campus to send you out and help you when you are gone). Seek out students via Facebook groups, but get advice from more than two students (you might end up talking to the most bitter student or the most enthusiastic student). Remember that it is more than getting a degree: making new friends that will be a second family, gaining skills that will help you use your degree, networking, new experiences, etc. If study abroads seem unaffordable, try taking summer classes to cut a year off, which would offset the price of studying abroad. Also, when you set foot on campus as a new student, seek out a mentor in your department and approach your classes remembering that for every class you miss you are wasting $X (find x by dividing your tuition by the amount of hours per semester) - it will help you keep perspective of your studies when the temptation to skip arises!

The advice I would give parents and their prospective students when looking for the right college is to make sure you take your child and yourself for a visit onto the campus. Do this for all the schools you visit. This automatically helps you and your child to get the feel of whether or not the campus is right for him/her. I knew right away this is where I wanted to be for the next four years of my life, here at APU because I loved how friendly everyone was and the campus itself, really caught my eye. It really is a beautiful campus. You really have to make the most out of your college experience. Getting involved is the key. Most college campuses are much larger than what you're used to so you have to throw yourself into somewhere. It really helps to be around other students outside the classroom and knowing that you are making a difference in someone's life other than your own. It is truly rewarding! Have fun but keep serious with your studies.

Research, and visit the schools that you are considering.

Selecting the correct college is a very important process that takes much thought. The right university is not necessarily the largest one. Instead, many smaller private institutions can offer comparable programs with a much more edifying environment. Although the annual tutition costs may be slightly higher, the average graduation time is significantly less because of the availability of classes. Parents need to actually allow their child to spend a few nights on campus to experience which college fits best. Ultimately, the child needs to be excited about his or her choice being that this is the place they will soon call home. Although college is primarily to obtain an education, the experience is just as important. A degree is certainly of high value, but the maturation and growth that occurs in the college process is arguably more beneficial. To ensure that these life goals come into fruition, it is vital for the new college student to have a plan of action. The student needs to plan each course that will be taken in order to graduate. In following this plan, the student will learn life planning along with achieving a goal that was set forth.

Colleges can have amazing reputations, but it means nothing without a deep-rooted understanding of the purpose of knowledge. So say knowledge is to better oneself, but I believe that is obtained to better the world and influence others to better the living conditions and understanding of life globally. Also community is a vital characteristic of a good college because without a network of people who are willing to help each other to succeed, then what serves as the basis of compassion for others.