College of William and Mary Top Questions

Visit, visit, visit! I think that one of the most important parts of choosing a college is seeing the college campus, experiencing the atmosphere, and tasting, feeling, smelling the area in which you're going to spend four years of your life. Many schools look good on paper but can feel quite different in person. I was undecided between two schools (both of which had great reputations, programs, and statistics) until I visited, at which point I had an immediate "gut" reaction to the school that I ultimately decided to attend. And I have never regretted that choice. "Making the most of college" is a concept that is somewhat harder to define, but I truly believe that for college (just like for many other life situations) what you put in is what you get out. College is about grades and classes, but it's also about sports, friends, traditions, and activities. If you close yourelf into the library, you may get great grades but you can't expect to have extensive extracurricular experiences. Enjoy the time that you have at college - it will go quickly; don't forget to take a look around and enjoy the process!

Make sure to do plenty of research. Think about what you want out of a school: what you want for a career and what sort of schools will provide that, what size school you'd be interested in, how close/far away from home you wish to be, etc. Look at the research interests of the faculty in the department(s) you're most interested in. If you find professors whose research interests you, email them to ask them about their department's programs. And definitely visit schools in person to get a feel for the campus and student life. While you're visiting you could also probably sit in on on of the classes by the professors you've been talking to. This also helps the professor remember you when you enroll as a student and are in their class. Try to get to know your professors, or make sure they at least know who you are when you're enrolled. This will help open dialogue when you have questions and will establish a relationship that could help when you want future references/recommendation letters. And definitely get involved with extracurricular organizations early, just don't overwhelm yourself!

Visit all the colleges that you apply to during normal school session. Visiting allows you to meet the administration and faculty. Going during the fall or spring semester whule classes are in session gives you the real idea of campus life, if possible stay over a night with one of the students because it gives a first hand experience. Pick the school that you feel the most comfortable at, not the pne your parents want you to go to because you will not be as happy and get the most from your time in college.

VISIT! Talk to current students! Attend programs hosted by the admissions office for prospective students...and don't be afraid of financing...things always work out!

The college application process is often daunting for high schoolers. University visits tend to blend together and in many cases I feel that there is a pressure for students to make important decisions too quickly. My advice to students and families is to pay attention to the smaller emotions and insights that are felt when on a campus tour. Walking around a campus can tell you quite a bit about the student population, faculty and the overall attitude of the community. If a student laughs, smiles and feels comfortable on the tour then they should recognized the school as a future academic and social home. They should also look to see if the school has an understandable balance between academics and social life. This balance is key to any student's success. Clues to all these characteristics can be seen on a campus tour. If found, the school has an excellent approach to help the student grow as a life long learner and informed graduate.

It is important not to commit yourself to one school before you have explored all your options and heard back from all the schools you applied to. Then, go visit! Meet the students could be your peers, and the professors who could soon be your professors, and see if this feels like a place where you will find yourself at home. This is essential because college is your first home of your own, it is where you will discover yourself and grow into the person you are going to be for the rest of your life. Choose wisely, but remember, you can always transfer if you find that you're choice wasn't quite what you thought it would be. Most of all, have fun, and look forward to the greastest adventure you will have had thus far!!

Make sure you love it. Don't give in to any feeling of indecision. If something about the campus, its programs, or any other aspect of a prospective college cause any hesitation in you, then make sure you know what that thing is, and find out more about it. Additionally, remember the importance of academics in your decision. Knowing that the school you want to go to has a renowned partying or social atmosphere is great, but not if that is the foundation of your decision. Especially since all undergraduate institutions are full of people the same age as you, and who likely know how to have fun in many different ways. Most importantly, attack your choice with an open mind. Don't let rumours about a potential college phase you--especially since many aren't actually true. Instead, visit and find out for yourself. Having an open mind in your decision is important, as it mirrors the type of thought that you should expect from yourself in the next four years: an objective, open logic that will allow you to grow intellectually. If you pick a college that way, then you'll be fine wherever you decide to go.

I think the most important thing to consider about finding the right college is where you feel most at home. It is important to feel like you fit in with your classmates and that you will be able to form friendships and bonds with them that will last a lifetime. I think that in order to make the most of the college experience you need to balance work and fun. Working hard and doing well definitely pays off and is extremely important, but you have to have a little bit of fun somehwere in your life to make it all worthwhile.

Please, really visit the schools, and TALK TO THE STUDENT BODY. This is what's valuable, not the school-run tour groups. I know that's what's easist--that's what I did, and I'm relatively unhappy with the education that I'm getting. Sure, I'm going to a great school, but it's not the right fit. You want to make sure that the school that you choose is the right fit for you, not just a good school that's going to wind up stressing you out and pissing you off more than it educates you.

Start EARLY!!!