Juan
Just find a school that fits you and your interests
Kathleen
Before transferring to a four year college I made sure to apply to multiple schools that fit what I was looking for. It is important that you check out the colleges of your choice with your parents. Make sure that you not only like the college, but the area where the college is located. To parents, make sure and support your children. Take trips with them to the schools and make sure that they know about the additional help that is offered to them.
Shannon
Make sure that you feel at home on the campus.
Dante
Make sure you pick a school that has a program that can help you with everything you need to know about your major. Make sure it's affordable, according to your or your parents' income status. Then, learn about the campus environment to make sure that is suitable for you.
Ben
There are many different types of colleges available for every different type of student. It isn't necessarily about where has the most prestige, or where you'll have the most fun. Finding a college should be about going to a school where you are comfortable, and can find a healthy mix of both schoolwork and a social life. If you give up four years of your life to a grueling schedule, and begin to lose sight of real friends then you graduate with none of the connections that can get you ahead in a career, and if you don't focus enough on school then you can possibly not graduate at all. The key thing is to remember that getting out in four years isn't a necessity, it is more of something one can strive for. Also, finding a university that caters to your personality will help to relieve much of the stress of becoming involved in school. School is about getting a degree, and making connections while doing it.
Celestine
Go somewhere that you can afford for your undergraduate studies, maybe even a city college for your general education. Save your money for higher degrees at better colleges.
Mai
Parents and students who have a love one attending a college or university it doesn't matter whether it's at home or away just make sure that the decision of choosing that right college was made by the person who is attending. If the college is everything that they've wished for and have been waiting for then that is the place that they are bond to be. If a person gets what they desire most then that is the things that they will treasure the most. What everyone want most is to succeed in life? In order for that to happen parents and students must make the most out of it and get involve. Getting involve is the best way to get the best experience out of anything. It doesn't matter whether that experience was worth it or not all that matter is the great feeling of experiencing something new for the first time. That is one way of how to make the most out of a person's college experience.
Hannah
In order to find the right college, the student first needs to think about the things that they are passionate about and what they want to do when they grow up. Then they need to look at all the possible school options and find out which school best caters to their passions and has the best program in the field of their interest. In my experience, the best way to make the most of the college experience is to meet as many different people as possible and to get as involved as possible, while still putting studies first.
Stacia
I have had both the fortune of excelling in college, and the shame of failure. When I originally attended college, right out of high school, I failed almost every class. As a returning student, I will have completed 75 units in three semesters with a 4.0 gpa. This experience has given me keen insight to the struggles and obstacles that face students. As a parent myself, I would advise that a major focus should be on the guidance and counseling services available. Students are graduating from high school, and although they may have excellent study habits, the notion of planning class schedules, meeting requirements, and selecting the courses, is entirely another matter. It can be very difficult to jump through all of the "graduation requirements." In order to meet a goal, you have to have a plan. This is the crucial step that is often overlooked in the first few years of college. This isn't to say that other aspects of the selection process aren't important. Success for the college student is going to depend on these resources. Regardless of the college, success is ultimately what matter.
Marlies
Before looking for a college, you have to want to be there. Don't go because you just graduated high school and you think that is what you have to do next. I did that and I wasted time and money. Needless to say I got nothing out of that short-lived experience. But when I was ready, I went back with goals and a thirsty mind. And now I am enjoying the experience to the fullest. Because I want to be there, I am able to engulf myself in the journey and get the most out of it.
Thank you,
Marlies Hughes