Baylor University Top Questions

Picking a college is an extremely difficult decision that is filled with joy but probably some fear and tears. In my opinion, visiting each college campus is an extremely important part of deciding your future destination. Four years is a long time. I had friends tell me I would absolutely love this one school. I was accepted, and was certain that would be my college of choice. My parents suggested I visit, and I'm so glad they did. The moment I set foot on that campus I knew this wouldn't be the place for me. After deciding the school, my biggest suggestion would be living in a dorm. Many of my friends dreaded this required reality. With absolutely honesty, I can say that I know very few people who didn't fall in love with the dorm. As a freshman, the most important thing is finding your group of friends. Living in the dorm made this easier in every way. When each of my friends, both new and old, left our dorms after freshman year, the consensus was: "I never want to do that again, but I am so glad I did for that first year!"

First off, be smart about it. This is a big important step that can redirect a future. Second, consider all the factors. As much as I want to say that one should pick a college that suits their personal tastes best, considering the finianical situation of one's parents, your own, where you want to be in the future and your parents' opinions. Just as much as college is an experience that is solely yours, there is that annoying practical reality that cannot be ignored. Also, give everything a chance, be open to new things and get involved. At the same time, hold on to your values. Hold them tight because they will be questioned, challenged and even ridiculed. Treasure them, but take a step back and evaluate them yourself. College is a time all your own. You chose what you are and what you become throughout it. Consider all your options, ask for help and advise, and choose wisely.

The best and most important advice I can give is this: go with your gut. Go to the school that picks you. Go to the school that will let you fulfill your dreams. And don't sell yourself short on those, either. I hate when I run into people who are in majors they hate just so that they'll be able to make money when they're done with school. I know it's hard to believe these days, but money isn't everything. The most important thing is that you go somewhere you belong, and you do something you love. Life isn't just about crossing things off a to-do list; it's about going out and breaking boundaries and living extraordinarily, changing lives by being yourself and doing what you love. I can't stress it enough. Be who you are, go where you belong, and everything else? It's all details. You deserve more than the status quo. Go out into the world and be exceptional.

By the end of those four (five or six) years, you will be a completely different person than who you were when you and Mom carried in those boxes. You'll make new, best friends. You will learn more than you ever thought possible. You will see the world differently. Don't take homework too seriously. Making a C won't keep you from getting into grad school or passing the LSAT. Don't expect a husband or wife but don't be afraid to find one. College is such a special time in your life. It will go by faster than you think is possible. Make the most of every day, go outside your zone, talk to that girl/guy you thought in highschool would never respond. You'll be on top of the world, then totally depressed. But don't forget, you are free. You can do whatever you want, and that means learning hard lessons and sometimes painfully admitting, "Mom and Dad were freakin' right". Don't stress. You can always start over, pick yourself up, change, redo, re-submit. Don't worry about picking the right one. Fear not, have fun...you will love it.

Don't jump into choising a college so quickly. It takes a lot of time and college visits to truly find the right college for you. Parents, don't inhibit your children's decisions either. Let them check out whichever schools they want and they will ultimately make the right choice for themselves. Be there to help them and guide them; not detour them. Once you finally find where you belong, make every moment count. Attend everything you can and be a part of whichever organizations appeal to you during your freshman year. After that, you can decide what is truly important to you and what you want to continue in your next three years (or more) of school. However, don't let extracurriculars get in the way of your GPA. That is the most important thing if you are on a pre-professional track or want to attend graduate school. Have fun, but don't have too much fun. Don't let partying get in the way of your studies. You're paying for an education, so earn your degree.

Look closely at the academics offered at the school and what is going on with the administration before choosing. Nothing worse than going to a school that says they offer something that really isn't available.

My biggest advice is search, search, and search some more, but beyond that make sure to visit the campus. Visiting allows the student to be on the campus and get a feel for how it may be if they attend and I know for my sister and I visiting allowed us to get that "this is right" feeling. Also, Allow students to make their own decisions in choosing a school because if they feel pushed into attending a school that is not right for them they may not perform to their abilities. It is important for the student to feel happy in their place of study so they will be comfortable to do work, make friends, and get the degree they want with the enthusiasm all college students should have!

In my opinion, the true reason for attending college is more than just continuing ones education for another four years. I belive that the university we chose is part of how we identify ourselves and also how we plan to grow for the four years that we will spend there. That being said, parents and their children should consider not only the academic record of the college but most importantly, the culture of the campus that they plan to attend. This culture inlcudes how differences are viewes on campus and to what extent success in encouraged as opposed to just "graduating." Also important is finding a college that will be compatible with some of the backround that the student might possess in order help with some of the shock and instability that can occur when starting something new . Having at least something that the students can fall back on as a support when they feel entirerly alone, be it a religious group or an orentation group that stays in contact with them, can sometimes make the difference in how they continue their next four years of college: either connected with their peers or as merely another graduate of "x" university.

It's a great time just do your research before it starts

I know this advice isn't what most people will tell you or what you'd likely want to hear, but here goes anyway. I graduated from highschool with an average GPA and didn't expect to attend a four year university. Over that next summer, I met an amazing girl who had an astounding scholastic record and was granted tons of scholarship money. After a semester at a community college, I decided to follow her path towards a four year college. People might not think that it was the smartest idea for me to do that, but it's worked out very well for me, and even though I'm not with that intelligent woman anymore, I'm still grateful she opened me up to going to this university. In short, parents shouldn't second guess their child's choice: we know what we want and need more than anybody. And to the future college students, don't sell yourself short. If you want to go somewhere, try your best. If it doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world. Life has its funny of way just, well, working. (Oh, and be outgoing, a lot.)