Christopher Newport University Top Questions

Chose a school that has an environment suited to the students lifestyle.

Don't try and be someone your not. This is supposed to be the best years of your life and you should be able to spend them at a university that fits you. Make sure its somewhere that YOU can thrive. It doesn't matter if everyone way back to your great grand daddy went to a certain school, if its not right for you then forget tradition (it's better to start your own anyway). And when you do get into that dream school of yours, don't stand around making all these great plans go out and get them! This is your life you should experience everything while you can. You don't stay young forever so go out and see your team play, go watch the school play, go to the greek parties you hear about... just go out and experience it all. As John Lennon so famously put it: "Life is what happens when your busy making plans for it."

Make sure you remember the reason you're attending college. Too commonly students select a college based on athletic biases or previous friendship/relationship pressures. Figure out what you are looking for socially (size, wet/dry, Greek, location) and academically (classroom size, available majors, percentage of PhD professors). Everyone makes new friends when they go to college; so don't be worried about separating from old friends. When sorting through different options, keep it all organized in a filing cabinet. When you have your selection narrowed down, create an excel spreadsheet of everything you are looking for in a school, then put checks next to the schools that have your desired traits. It will help weigh the pros and cons. When you go to college bring a new address book and title it 'COLLEGE NETWORKING'. Every adult you meet during your college career will go in this book. Write a descriptive note next to the people you might forget. Email them every now and then to keep in touch. Your social life is important, but the top priority is getting an education and figuring out your career path. Work hard, play hard.... college is the best time to do both!