Clark University Top Questions

Pick a school that your are comfotable with. If you are at a school where you don't feel as if you belong your academic performance will suffer. Regardless of the prestige of the college it is important that you feel it is giving you the ability build a life that you want to live. There's no reason why you shouldn't reach for you dream as much in college as after it, so pick a school that can help you with that. Its all about the experiance.

Many high schoolers feel pressure to choose the "right college," but I'm not convinced such a thing exists. The idea seems as unattainable as a soul mate, that one space within the world could be a "perfect fit." When selecting a schoolit's important to consider whether it offers the kinds of academic opportunities the student feels drawn to, making sure that there is room to explore a wider range of studies. Take into account, too, the type of person the school tends to attract. The people you meet will likely play a crucial role in your college experience. However, it is also important to consider where the college is located, and what type of space you live well in. If the idea of living in a city excites you, allow that to guide your decision. If you are looking to be a student who lives at school, there is nothing wrong with allowing that to be a strong influence in your decision. Once you get to school, I encourage you to do what you can to learn about and love your environment. A strong connection to the place you live in can greatly enhance your overall experience.

My advice to students is to go with your "gut". The biggest mistake people make is falling in love with a college on paper. You don't know if you will really like a college until you visit. My recommendation is to visit, eat in the dining hall, stop students and ask them questions; this is the best way to get a real view of the campus. If you feel comfortable while visiting, the odds are you will feel comfortable living there. One of the most important things to remember when you are looking at colleges is that, wherever you choose to go, you will likely be spending 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your time there for the next four years, and it will help shape the rest of your life. When you go home for Thanksgiving break after going to school for a couple of months, you will know if you made the right choice because as soon as you get to your house, you will feel like you want to go home (back to college).

College is college, don't get too obsessed with presitge. You go, you work, you make friends. College time is the most glorious kind of time in the world. No matter what you'll find somewhere that is right.

I think the most important thing is to visit all the campuses that you are considering, and make an honest effort just to sit and observe for a half an hour, in the university center, or near a dining area. Try to imagine yourself there, and if you would feel comfortable in that setting for four years. Also, I would reccommend, if possible, to sit in on a class related to your major of interest. I sat in on a history class and if secured my ideas about the professors at the university, today that professor is my faculty advisor and the head of the history department at my university. In terms of making the most of your college experience, you must put yourself out there, and meet different people in order to find the friends that are most like you. I reccommend saying high to everyone in the bathroom freshman year!!! I really made all my friends in my freshman residence hall- and some simply just by smiling and saying HI!

Clearly, it is important to search thoroughly. Look for schools that specialize in the things you are interested in. If possible, visit the campus. Go on tours, sit in on classes, but also, find a spot where there is a lot of social activity and sit for awhile. You can get a good sense of the type of student who goes there just by watching them interact. Remember not to be scared away by people who are different from you. Sometimes they can make the best friends. Try smiling at people who walk by. Note if the majority smile back or not. If possible, speak with a current student and ask any questions you have. No question is too silly. Another thing to notice while you are on campus is whether there are notice boards and if they are full of reminders for activities. Some schools have so many extra curriculars going on that their boards are completely full. Others have only a few notices posted. Most important is what you make of the school once you are there. Wherever you go, you will find your niche so just make sure to have a possitive attitude and you will succeed!

Make sure the school is right for you, check out everything. look at academics, faculty, students, surrounding area, political views, and religious views.

I would definately advise students to visit the colleges they are interested in and if possible, to stay with a host student overnight. Also, remember that the name of the school really isn't that important. My school is not very well-known but it is basically perfect. I am so happy here and feel that it's a good academic fit for me.

To both parents and students: don't be discouraged if you don't make it into your first or even second choice school. This is not the end of the world. I was rejected from my two top choices and believed i would be miserable at Clark. Turns out, I have had the most amazing professors, met some great friends, and learned more in one year here than in the entire 4 years I spent at high school combined. Keep an open mind about wherever you end up...even if it is your first choice. We tend to get these preconceived notions sometimes that don't always meet our expectations and that can be disappointing...but I find most of the time it becomes a blessing in disguise. And as I have learned in my short time here at Clark, it's not always the biggest, best known schools that are they most life changing ones...oftentimes it's that little liberal arts school no one has heard of that will teach you the most about the world, life and most importantly: yourself.

Although it may sound a little weird, the best advice I could give a student about the college search is to be selfish. The student is the one who will be making the memories and living with the choice. Don't choose schools based on what your parents want or your friends expect. Find places to apply where you think you'll be able to succeed, thrive, and be happy. It's easy to get caught up in the name game and develop a list of schools that you think people will be impressed hearing about. It might be difficult, but don't go through the process with other people on your mind, think about what's best for you first and then what's best for your family in a close second. It's called YOUR future for a reason, you're in control of it and you're the one who gets to have the fun living it. College is an amazing experience and it's one that you can determine just by doing what's best for yourself.