Beloit College Top Questions

I am constantly evolving here. My peers and professors challenge me to take into question what I believe and where my interests truly lie. Attending college has been pivotal in my growth because it has taught me to embrace who I am: a silly, inquisitive, creative woman. One that longs to make a difference.

Visit the school! Reading online profiles of school is informative, but the only way to really get a feeling for what the school is like is to visit it in person. When you're there in person you can see the current students in action; you can see daily life at that school right before your eyes. After visiting the school and acquiring a better understanding of what the school is like, it makes it much easier to visualize yourself there, which makes the transition monumentally simpler. There's no one description of college life. Life at Beloit College is completely different from life at a large state university. Find the school that fits your personality. I did, and I could not be happier anywhere else.

It's okay not to know all the answers right now. Test the waters - try out different clubs and activities, but DON'T OVERBOOK YOURSELF. It's okay to just try something out and not commit to it fully until your ready. But get involved, and get involved early. Yet remember to pace yourself - you don't want to get burned out after the first two years. Don't worry as much about making and keeping those high school friends you're always trying to be like. Start fresh at college, with confidence and an open mind and you won't go wrong. You'll find your spot. It won't appear right away, but be patient. You'll figure it out.

My advice is to find a college that suits your needs, whether it's the students, curriculum, courses, budget, the sports, etc. The college atmosphere has to be in sync with what you desire. If you go to a school that has an excellent program for your major, but has an awful social scene, then you won't be too happy. Find a balance in the school you want to get into, socially and academically. After all, you'll be in that [particular] college for 4 or more years! Find one that you can flourish in, and grow as a person.

The value of a college experience is not an objective quality that can be reduced to some complex mathematical formula of tuition cost versus prestige and future earning potential. Every individual student is unique, and a college experience that is highly valuable for one student might be worthless to another. One of the most important aspects of the college experience is relationship-building ?college students establish lasting relationships with other students and with professors. These relationships help them succeed in college, their careers, and their personal lives. For example, students who feel comfortable with their peers and professors will be more likely to ask for help when they need help. Because of this, it is important that a student feels comfortable at his or her chosen school. When visiting schools, students should spend time on campus, communicating with current students and faculty. These interactions allow prospective students to decide which school environments are comfortable for them.

You will spend four years of your life at the college you choose. Don't limit yourself. Visit campuses. Pursue opportunities on campus.

Please read Colleges that Change Lives instead of sending your kids to a giant party school.

Finding the "right college" started with extensive self-reflection. Based on what I knew about myself, my interests, and my needs, I created criteria and looked for schools that matched it. In the end I didn't choose the college that seemed a perfect match on paper, or the one with the best academics, or the one with great funding and stellar prostgraduate opportunities. I chose the college where I felt most comfortable. Comfortable with myself, around faculty, and among the student body. I don't mean a caudling kind of comfort, but rather a safe, accepting environment that provided room to grow. It was so important to separate from the "reach school/safety school" mentality and to seek the genuine match, even if that meant "stooping" in the eyes of my high school advisors. As for making the most of the college experience, I recommend spending ample time exploring. Take that wild-card course that sparks your interest. Befriend upperclassmen. They've been on campus for awhile and can lead you to opportunities you might not otherwise have known about. They are great mentors. Take academics seriously, but be reasonable because so much learning happens outside of the classroom.

VISIT VISIT VSIST VISIT! Always make you sure visit the campuses..let them stay over night, visit classes, speak with the students, and get a real feel for the school. It's so important that the student feels a connection for their potential undergrad school.

your choice in school is never final and if you don't like it you can always tranfer. Don't look at the decision as your final choice, it's not. Just go in as yourself and I'm sure you'll find many others like you.