Central Washington University Top Questions

A lot goes into finding the right college for you or your children. There's cost (important now more than ever) location, academics, class sizes, connection to the business world, reputation, extra-curriculars, alum in the family, and the list goes on and on. This process can be long and grueling but it doesn't necessarily have to be. My biggest piece of advice would be to pick a shool that closely matches your needs/wants as a student. Don't pick a school because it's popular or because your friends are attending it. If you or your student has the slightest inclining of what carrer path is most desirable to you then make a decision based off of this. All the other details like class size and location are not nearly as important as a school whose academic renown matches that of your future career path. If I had known what major I wanted to pursue when I started the process I would have not wasted so much time taking classes unrelated to my current major. This will save you time, money, effort, reduce stress and put you well on your way to entering into the business world.

When looking at colleges look close to home first. Some of the best college experiences happen right in your hometown.

When you are looking for the right college wrong steps can be made so it is important to research. College is first and foremost a large step in a student's life to further their education and to increase future job opportunities. Search for a college that best suites the student. This needs to be both social and educational to create a successful learning environment. The college needs to be a self-rewarding place to learn and the surrounding area must also be rewarding and safe. You need to ask yourself if the school has a field of study that interests you, does it have areas near by that you can get away for activities that you enjoy like hiking or going out to eat? The main success comes from the student and school mix. You need to be able to sift into your environment to feel comfortable. Something simple like being happy can help a student tremendously with their education. A safe and strong learning environment is what you need to look for in a school, support and dedication will carry the student the rest of the way.

have somewhat of an idea of what feild they are interested in so that they can find a college that offers that feild.

First of all I would say selecting the location of the college is very important. Deciding how far away from home you want to live is a good idea, as well as deciding what type of city,(large or small?)and what type of landscape you would like to be around (urban or country?). Furthermore, considering what you like to do in your free time is imperative. Do you like to camp, fish, hike, and ski? In that case you might be happiest in the mountains. If not, do you like going to concerts, shopping, and other high profile events? In that case you might want to choose a large city. Other than location, the next important decision to make should be based upon visits to the college. The overall impression and feeling you get from being at the campus should be a good indicator of whether or not you will enjoy your time there. Academically, some schools are harder to get into than others this is true. However, many universities have the same courses of study, so after you decide on the location and environment you thrive in, all you need to take care of is your intellectual interest.

Central Washington University has a reputation as a party school. It is not the best of the best, yet it was my first choice as a college. I chose Central not for its label but for class sizes and location. When looking for the right college parents and students need to maintain an open mind. Although Central was not the most reputable college out there, I saw potential by having an open mind to what smaller class sizes and a rural area could do for my education. The right school can truly make or break a college experience. If a student choses the right school they will find something to help enhance their experiences but if not then it becomes harder to enjoy the experience. College students need something to turn to, whether it is college provided activities or taking comfort in knowing they have small classes and a community to count on. If students are not open to all possibilities and the bigger picture it can be difficult having neither enjoyable classroom environments nor a social environment to fall back on; making choosing the right college a very important decision.

The best advice I can give on finding the right college and making the most out of your college experience would be to start your search early. The worst mistake you could ever make is to rush through the process and get stuck going to college you don?t particularly like because of a missed deadline or some other bad reason. Before you start your college search, make a list of things that you feel are absolutely necessary for you to make the most out of your college experience. Don?t limit your list just to activities and opportunities the university has to offer. Definitely make sure you like the city and the location of the university. That will make all the difference. Also, don?t limit your search to your financial ability. There are a lot of financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to help you fund your college education. Apply for as many as you can. While in college, get involved in clubs and campus activities. That?s the best way to meet people. And through this whole process don?t be afraid to follow your heart; after all, this opportunity only comes once in a life time :)

I would advise parents and students to take into account the childs comfort level with the location of the school and size. I love how my school is out of the city and is a somewhat small school. I feel comfortable then to ask questions and never feel like i'm just a number to my school. I would also advise that the child/parents do not choose the school based on relationhips or friends who are going to the school because that's not a good reason to attend a school. You should also look into the majors (yes, more than one, I have changed majors twice) that they are interested in and make sure that they have a strong program.

Experience is vital. Before you graduate running start is pushed, professors stress internships, volunteering etc. I suggest the same thing. Go visit the campus, go on tours and be bombarded with information. Students act as if you go there, stay the weekend. I had originally said yes to WSU amazed with the school's spirit and the size, but after I visited with my mom I left overwhelmed. The next weekend I went to CWU to visit friends and ended up loving it, I couldn't stop comparing the two. I couldn't ignore that going to Pullman could be a huge mistake, afraid to let my parents down. My mom called Central a "glorified community college." I compared the two, in the end I wanted to call Ellensburg home. My mom and I went on a very long weekend to Central, she ended up saying yes. She's forgotten her first impressoin and tells anyone who'll listen my accomplishments at Ellensburg's finest "community college." Parents listen to your children, they need to start growing up and compromising with them in this huge decision will be the best for both of you.

Look at as many universities in person as you can before making your decision about where to go.