Birmingham Southern College Top Questions

The decision to attend a college or university is probably the most life-changing decision a person can make. It's important to know whether or not the school has the academic program(s) you, as a student, are most interested in, but it is equally important to find a college environment in which you will thrive. Make sure the school will challenge you, the professors will embrace and teach you, and the students will accept you. If you have a tendency to drown in crowds, go to a small school. I believe you learn much more at small colleges and universities anyway. You get to know your professors and build lasting relationships with academic counselors. Small schools also make it easier to meet students. Parents, understand that your student's happiness is most important. If you want them to go to Yale, but they believe they'd be happier at a community college, please try to listen to them, as hard as it may be. And students, remember that choosing a school is only the first step. Really try to embrace the entire experience. Take classes that interest you, and volunteer if you can. You'll never regret it.

I applied to nine schools in my senior year of high school. Once I finially eliminated larger schools, I visited four schools in one week: TCU, Baylor, Millsaps, and, finally, Birmigham-Southern. Upon I stepping onto the three other campuses, I did not fall in love with them. After I arrived at BSC, I could see how friendly the community was and could see myself fitting in. My advice to prospectives is to visit the school, talk to the students, sit in the cafeteria, go to class--spend a typical day as a student there. Then, and only then, can a student decide if they will mesh well at the school. In order to make the most out of a college experience, a student should study hard and work hard, but also get to know the people on her hall, get involved in organizations, volunteer, and basically, make relationships within the college community and the people in the surrounding areas. These relationships are what have helped me succeed and stay motivated to work hard towards a degree.

Try to get involved as much as you can, only to the point where you can still maintain your grades.

I think one of the best things prospective students and parents can do is vear off the beaten path and really find the "guts" of a college. To me, some of the small details make all the difference; details I wish I would have known before I got to college. I didn't know that all of the buildings at BSC stay open 24 hours or that my campus police officers will pick me up from anywhere in the country if my car breaks down. Knowing these small details would have solitified my decision or could sway a decision for a prospective student having a difficult time deciding between a few schools. I tell prospective students that I meet to go talk to students that don't work in the admissions office and that don't give tours. They can tell you the details students really want to know;:sports, girls, boys, parties, etc. Also, when they're on a visit to a school, I tell them to venture off the campus tour and explore for themselves. Find out what the school's culture is really about.

Make sure your student is ready for college. Make sure they visit the campus and not just a campus tour, let them stay the night with a student host or a friend so they can get a feel for the college and what it is actually going to be like. Let them sit through a class provided by teh school so they can know how the education settings will be. They need to know how big their classes will be and how effective it is for them (if its a big class are they going to be able to get as much out of it rather then a small class). I believe that you should let the student choose were they want to go rather then pushing them to go somewhere else. I feel like if the student wants to go somewhere then they are more likely to apply themselves more then at a place they don't want to be.

Visit as many schools as possible. Once you have narrowed the search, talk with current and former students. I have learned that in most instances the administration will help you make the choice that is correct for you. It is important that you realize the magnitude of this decision. This locale will be your home for the next four years and your entire life will be impacted by your experience here. College is fun, but college is work; it is the "make or break" for what will become of your life. We are having fun now, living the Life of Riley, as they call it. But the reality of day-to-day living is right around the corner and what we do now will determine how we adjust to work, play, family and, well, life. My advice: choose your school wisely, enjoy yourself, but reap the benefits of the experience for the betterment of your future.

Most importantly, remember that these decisions will impact your entire future. Many times as young people, we only see the present, the here and now; focusing on the best "party" school, or where our friends are going to school. But selecting a college will be one of the most important decisions we will ever make. Most incoming freshmen have not decided what career they will pursue. As we begin our college studies, and mature into adults, our perception of classmates, friends, professors, and the world around us will begin to change as our world broadens and new experiences bring new ideas. Finding the college that will allow you to grow as an adult, while offering you the opportunity to learn is paramount.

College is an exciting time of life and it can be vastly different from anything you have ever experienced before. Parents: college is different now than it was many years ago. It is much more rigorous to get accepted and it is very easy to fail out before you know what is going on. Students: It can be difficult at first, but it just takes time to adjust. Sometimes people have to fail before they will learn - this was so in my case. Believe it or not, failing two classes my first semester taught me so much. It was a costly mistake that I will be paying for, but it was an eye-opener. Just because you did well in high school does not automatically guarentee your success in college. I firmly believe that if you put your mind to it, you can acomplish anything!

I think the most important thing to keep in mind when choosing a college, is to remember that it's ultimately your decision. You have to be ok with what you pick because it'll be where you call home and the people you meet there will soon become family. Disregard haughty reputations when picking a school, pay more attention to how comfortable you feel when you walk on campus or how intrigued you are by its course offerings and community involvement. Get your money's worth and go where you'll be happy.

Don't be magnetized by major universities, without getting a feel for how smaller colleges are first.