Clark University Top Questions

find one thatis strong in absolutely everything you think you might be interested in. because if you go somewhere and it's missing something you decide you want to do you either have to leave the school you've become acustomed to or give up on an ambition.

Visit the campus and if it's right you will have the feeling that it's where you belong

You have to pay attention to more then the statistics on education. Pick a place that has an environment or an attitude that fits with your personality. Also be sure to take internships while you are still enrolled, it's just about impossible to find a company that will take on interns who are not crrently enrolled in school.

make sure the administration is not dysfuntional like at my school- ask the studnts- not the tour guides- try to find diegruntled kids and ask why they are so- it may be valid

I would tell students and parents to visit schools before choosing one and to pick the school that feels right to them. Research the types of students and activities available, and research professors and their work to see if you have any interests that match up, even if you aren't yet sure what your major is going to be. These are the people you are going to be working with and socializing with for a few years, so make sure you are going to feel comfortable at this school. Once you begin college, know that you will need to find a balance between friends, activities, and school work. Remember why you wanted to go to college in the first place and study what you want to study because you now have the ability to choose to learn about something you're interested in. However, do keep a career path in mind because that is the reality once you graduate. Mainly, I would tell students that school work is stressful enough, so the key is sorting out your priorites while still having fun and taking advantage of all the resources available to someone at a university!

Try something new. That's what college is really about - opening your eyes to new experiences. If you don't at least try, you probably aren't taking full advantage of what's going on around you, and you will likely be unhappy with staying there. The friends you make and the successes along the way are your own perogative, so get out there and just do it! For parents - let up on the leash. More and more nowadays, I'm seeing parents that want so badly to be the "helicopter parent" and be there every moment, even if it's "just a phone call". Your child can only fly if you allow them the space to spread their wings.

Do not stress too much over the reputation of the school! Focus more on the programs that interest you (and your child) and the type of environment of the schools you are choosing between. Remember, you will not only be going to school there, but you will be LIVING there for nine months out of the year for about four years. The schools' admissions process works so that they are able to choose the students best suited for their schools; they have your interest in mind too. If you don't get in somewhere, just think of it as a blessing because if you had gotten in, you probably would have hated it there anyway. The right school for you will accept you! You will just have to make the choice between all those that do. Know what you want, and go for it. Good luck!

There's the sentiment out there that every college is the same and you'll find the same sorts of people everywhere you go. Depending on who you are, or what you're looking for, that might be so. But if you're looking for something different, like a campus with an activism scene, that's very hard to gauge by just visiting. Go with your gut, but understand that it's very hit or miss and the chances are that you'll be disappointed. Above all don't forget that academics, your education, should be your top priority - even if you don't find what you were looking for in your college experience you'll have that education for the rest of your life. How accepting or positive the student body is or what social scene is like,can make your experience more memorable, but don't matter. Those are things that you can change also.

Spend a lot of time there to make sure its the place for you

Finding the right college is an important process, but at the same time, it should be a fun one. If the decision process is ever too stressful, you need to take a second to relax. It is important to make sure that you can be happy at the school you choose. When you visit, get a feel for what it would be like to be a student there. Have some of the cafeteria food. The school has to be the right fit for you. If you find that you get a great feeling about a school while you're there, if it feels like a place you can spend four years of your life, go for it. College is so much more than the classes you take. Do not be the person who spends all their time studying. Studies are important, but a social life is too. It is a great place to explore your interests, learn new skills, and forge lasting friendships. Get involved in any way that interests you. Explore the area beyond your campus. A successful college experience is one that lets you graduate with the sense that you truly lived and experienced all that you could.