Catholic University of America Top Questions

The best advice to give to students looking for the right college is to choose the one that best suits you. Whether it be a big school, a small school, a school in the city or a school in the country, just find one that best fits your interests and ideals. You are more likely to enjoy the school you attend if it fits most of your preferences. Also, once you begin school get invovled right off the bat. The more invovled you are the more people you will meet and you will be able to experience the best the school has to offer. If you are not sure initally what sorts of activites you would like to be involved in then give a few different groups a try and see which ones are a better fit. The more involved you become in your campus when starting school the smoother the adjustment process!

Getting involved is the best thing one could do for themselves.

Pick a school that is close to, but not in the middle of, a major metropolitan area. Being near a city provides students with access to the arts, entertainment and professional experiences that can only be found in a large city. At the same time, students need a quiet, studious atmosphere so having campus slightly outside the city is a plus.

Allow yourself and your child to visit the campuses and let your child decide which campus he or she likes.

Keep an open mind, don't think its the biggest decision of your life and don't be afraid of transferring.

take a gap year.

Make sure you go on a few college visits before you commit to any one school (over night visits with current students). Also, once you choose your school, don't be afraid to try new things and meet new people.

I feel that one of the most important things in finding a college is making sure you like the dorm rooms. I don't think students always realize how much time they will be spending in their dorm room but it is really important to like where your living. It is also important to like the food, and keep in mind that often times schools make "special" food on designated visiting days because they want to impress the prospective student's and the families, what I would suggest is just go on a random day for a tour and try the food then. Also, the campus has to be the right size and type for the person. Whether its a huge campus, medium or small, or if its an urban campus spread throughout the city, it is important to visit each school first hand to see if you really like the campus or not.

Students: Don't just think about the person you are, but think about the person you want to be. Look athe schools you're considering and try decide which will help you grow and develop into that person the most. Once you're there, dive right in! Meet as many faculty and staff as you can - those connections can be invaluable later on. If you didn't come to college with any specific hobbies or passions, join any club that peaks your interest and see what sticks. Remember, even if the first few months are hard, it will get better! You will find a group of friends you love, you and your roommate will learn to live together, you'll survive your first exams, and life will only get better! Parents: Encourage, but don't push your kids one way or the other. They're (almost!) adults now. You can advise them all you want, but in the end it is their decision to make. When they get to school, don't be overly invasive. Ask them questions, but let them lead the conversation. It can be a tough transition time, so try and make it as easy as possible.

Think of yourself - what type of education you are looking for (i.e. large classrooms or smaller ones), the type of people (demographic) you feel most comfortable with, and where you want your school to be located at (like in the city or country). As well, one must look, I think, for what type of activities a school offers and the internships and opprotunities around the school. School, as much as one goes to learn more about whatever subject, is also a time where people grow and social expectations must be also accounted for. Try visiting schools to know more about that school and if it is a place where you can learn. That is one of the most important things I think.