Boston College Top Questions

Find someone who you know who went to the school and ask them all the hard questions especially about the social life and the administration. I've found that people who went to my High School who ask me questions apperciate the responses and I know I can be honest with them. From the group of colleges I selected to visit, the tours all ran together in my mind, but the personality of the tour guides and the people I know who went to those schools stuck out in my mind. I'm an unsual person at my school and It's both good and bad.

My biggest word of advice to students about finding the right college is that you will know when you find your best fit. Though my college was not my first choice initially, I knew that it was were I belonged and where I would thrive. Parents need to set aside their own agendas of prestige or rankings of colleges and let their student pick the best place for them. As for making the most out of college, you need to get involved. You then feel like you are a part of the university, and you can build long-lasting relationships with those who have simialr interests or views.

While applying, don't focus on garnering prestige of a brand-name college. Visit the campus, talk with upperclassmen, get a feel of the campus lifestyle, the academic intensity, then you decide whether or not you want to attend. When you do arrive for freshman year, participate in different activities. Attend those freshmen welcome events, attend those general meetings for clubs, but all the while, learn how to achieve a work-play balance. Make the most out of these four years but don't forget that there is life after college.

In all seriousness, as cliche as it sounds, I would tell students to find a place where they feel at home. However, I would also tell them that this "home" shouldn't be too comfortable. College students should be challenging themselves and stepping outside of the box, as well as their individual comfort zones, while, at the same time, placing themselves in an institution where they feel included. For parents, I would say to really try their best to let their child make the decision. Although it's coming from your pocketbook, your child is the one who has to live with the decision, not you.

Finding the right college is a huge and difficult choice for anyone. The advice that I would give is to apply to a lot of schools because no school is a gurantee anymore. To find the right one, students and parents should look at all the school has to offer and make the wisest decision based on the entirety, not just academics or athletics.

Stay overnight at the college, away from parents and the all too happy tour guides to really get a feel for the school and what it is actually like. Don't just go to a school for the repuation, find the school that fits you best.