Calvin College Top Questions

Finding the right college is essential. You need to choose an environment where you feel comfortable and safe; at home. Do not make hurried decisions, but weigh your options and ask every question possible. Make sure the school you decide on has the degree, sports, extra curricular activities, and other entities that you are not happy living/studying without. In order to succeed in college, it is important to try your best, especially during your first year when so much is new and distracting. Balance your work, school, and social life so that you do not feel completely alone or lost in your work load. Enjoy every minute, classes and teachers included; the knowledge, skills, and relationships made during your college years will last you a lifetime. And there's only four years to cram it all in! Best of luck. :)

As for parents, try not to pressure your child too much into choosing the school you think is right for them, as often that is only a reflection based on what was best for you. Students, visit colleges before you choose them, the environment can make all of the difference--academics need to be strong, but without the right learning environment those can mean little to nothing. Also, take into account that with a larger school, the classes can be large and impersonal, to the point where good education can be neglected--value one-on-one time and find a place that seems to suit you as a person and allows you to express your own opinions and values. Try to find a school that pulls in people that do not sequester your unique personality while still offering a quality education that will serve you later on in life in the working world.

Get started in the process early enough to visit and research several different colleges. Take this decision seriously as you may spend the next four years of your life at this school. Once you arrive at the school of your choice, make all efforts to be involved with the things that interest and excite you. Make it a goal to leave college without having had any regrets. Although many schools are reluctant to make change based on the will of the students (citing the fact that students are only around for four years anyway), a group of dedicated students can make a difference at any college. Perhaps your passion is the environment. Find others who share your passion and push your school towards more green policies. It may be a daunting task, but with enough people and the right organization, a lot of good can be done.

Picture yourself ten years from now. Where are you? What are you doing? Are you married or single? The answers to these questions are very relevant to choosing which college to attend. From the major you want, to the relationships you hope to build, all these things factor into choosing your college, and help ensure that you love being wherever you end up. Knowing what you want to major in is helpful for choosing a college, but if you don?t know what your major is yet, don?t panic. A lot of people go into college with no idea what they want to do, and those that do oftentimes change their mind several times before deciding. If you?re unsure, pick a school that has a diverse selection of classes and look around. Another thing you should consider is the atmosphere of the school. Do you want a big school, one with a good swim team, or one really into politics, or all three? Being around the kinds of people you like makes all the difference in the world in college. It?s really the relationships you make and the good memories you take away that make college fun.

Explore your oppions and see what majors and minors are offered at the schools you are looking for. figure out it you like the city or the country. A relgous college public university. don't go to a school because all of your friends are going there pave your own path no matter were you choose to go you will make friends

I would first advise parents to push their children to consider their interests and their desires when finding a college and not to push their children towards a specific college (Ultimately the student should be allowed to make this decision on their own). I would advise parents to push their kids to get their applications in as early as possible seeing how this can be very important in gaining entrance to a college. After a child enters college, I would caution parents against putting forth the classic overprotective, over-involved parent behavior. College is a time when teens need to learn the indepence and self-sufficiency needed to succeed later on in life, and as hard as it is, parents therefore need to let go and let their teen live on their own. I would recommend students take the college search very seriously. This is not something to just blow off or put off until later. I also advise students, once they have made a choice and start attending school, to get involved with organizations and activities on campus. Do not worry about a major right away, but rather focus on making friends and figuring out your interests in academics.

Life is what you make it. College is the time of your life to learn to survive & prosper in the real, un-safeguarded, no safety-net attached world. If you've found a school that you like, it fits in everyway, don't hesitate, . . . apply, but don't be closed minded to other options. College is like shoes, designer ones are nice but you have to find one that fits. Don't let anyone tell you what you should do, its your life & you're the one who has to live with the decision, so make sure that its where you wannabe. Do your reseach, make sure that it offers what you're looking for. Its important to focus on your work, but don't forget about having fun. This is where you will find the relationships that'll last a lifetime. There's so much to experience, so be smart but don't hold back out of non-familiarity, take a few risks. Parents support your student's decision this'll make the greatest difference. Also your education is an investment, everyone has debt but if you get to where you wanna be, its worth every cent, I promise.

I would give some counter-intuitive advice: Don't dive into college until you're sure about what you want it for. I sincerely wish that I had taken a year off to research different career fields, develop my worldview, and maybe to volunteer in a field of interest, before coming to college. You will probably never get another time in your life where you have no loans, no job, and no dependants to keep you "tied down" to where you are. If you take some time off and use it wisely, you will know much better what you want out of college, which is perhaps THE most important part of making sure that you get a meaningful education that helps you to get where you want to go in life. This is especially important if you are considering going to a specialty school where a major change would be difficult if you decide after a year that you have chosen an ill-fitting path for yourself. Definitely go to college. But take your time getting started and you will get much more out of it then if you just dive in because it's what everybody else is doing.