Calvin College Top Questions

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If I were to go back, I would tell my-self to not worry so much. Yes, the transition is tough, but there are so many people in the same position. Living in the dorms, you are bound to make friends. Don't worry about school as much. Yes, take it seriously. But you don't have to stress about every little assignment. Making friendships that will support you is just as important as graduating with a good GPA, so make sure you make time for your friends too.

Looking back, I think that the most important thing in making the transition to college can be summed up in one word: balance. Learning to balance studying and socializing, balance the healthy food at the dining hall and the dessert, balance the late hours and the early mornings, balance stress and relaxation. College is meant to be a place where you can enrich yourself academically, but if all you come away with is book knowledge and nothing else, then you've missed out. Trying new things, having new experiences, and growing as a person are an important part of being at college, and when these things are balanced with the academic challenge of college, that is when the transition will go smoothly, and that is when you will have the best college experience possible.

Visit a lot of colleges, and talk to the students there. Not just the tourguides, who are paid to make the college look good, but the random students walking by. See if you fit in with them.

I would advise that when looking at colleges the student should make sure it's a good academic fit first, for example, that it has a major in the field or fields he's hoping to go into. My second suggestion is that he takes the location into consideration, for example if it's in the middle of the city or in the middle of nowhere the student might feel out of place. My third suggestion is that he visit the college and talk to students, faculty, staff and pretty anyone assosiated to the college or on campus in order to get a feel for the social life and expectations, because he will have to live and work in that environment for as long as he attends the school.

When I started looking at colleges I had a hard time deciding what I wanted. One of the mistakes I made was not taking enough risks when applying. For students and their parents who aren't so sure about where to go, it is a good idea to apply to several schools with varying qualities: city v. college town, large student pop. v. small etc. Even if you are sure of where you want to go, apply to an additional school or two just in case. In regards to making the most out of the college experience, the most important thing is just going in with an open mind and an attitude the wills you to try anything. Even though, this does seem incredibly scary, everyone is in the same boat and the more you can get involved in, a better time you will have. Just have fun and use the opportunity to meet new people and see new places in the world.

First, I would recommend that the student researches colleges. There are so many out there! Each are unique and offer something different. I would also say to not pick a school based on friends going there or comfort. Get out and try something new. Make sure to check that the school is doing its best to help you succeed, through academic services and professors.

I think it is really important that the student have one aspect of college life that they really love. For me it is my sport and my team, for some it is dorm life, others music etc. Once you get to college you are exposed to lots of things, not all good, as parents you need to be sure your child is ready to make those choices. And you need to be aware of what kinds of choice your child will be asked to make at the college they are interested in. Some of the huge public universities can be overwhelming so if that is where your child chooses make sure they are prepared to make good choices. My choice was for a smaller school because I didn't want to have exposure to all of that. It's important to know your child and know the school . My school has a Liberal Arts Core and that exposes you to a wide varierty of subject areas which I think is good. I know of kids who changed their major based on a core class, you never know until you try right ! I reccommend looking for that in a school.

If you are an incoming student, its really important to get to talk to a couple of other students who aren't part of admissions. The things told through admissions representatives and current students are sometimes different. I also think it's important to familiarize yourself with the campus and campus life, if there is a possibility to stay on campus for a weekend or during the week, an incoming student should take up that opportunity to learn first hand what it's like to study there. I also advise to never give up searching for the right path when choosing a major. To fully get the maximum college experience a student must not settle with a major that he or she is only somewhat interested in. I advise to choosing a major that really interests a student fully, and always ask questions from counselors, advisors, and even professors.

I would recommend that first the future college student really look into what field they would like to study. Many colleges are excellent, but most of them are only exceptional in particular fields. The student should decide how important academics are to them and rate the colleges accordingly. Another important factor is the social life of the campus. Regardless of the difficulty of a school, there will be spare time and it is important that you enjoy the same things as the majority of your college peers. The general religious and political beliefs of the student body are also important, especially if you are of an opposing view to the vast majority. After narrowing down your choices the final step is to visit the campuses. A love of the city or country vastly affects where you will want to spend your next four years, and it is important that you are comfortable on your campus. Not do you want to find a campus that you can be passionate about, but it is also imperative that the area surrounding the campus can provide the kind of entertainment you enjoy, whether that be malls and movie theaters or countryside for outdoor sports.