Connecticut College Top Questions

When you are visiting a college, picture yourself there. Do you feel at home? If it is easy to imagine yourself feeling comfortable participating in classes, playing on a team, spending time with friends, or studying away in the library, then that's the right school for you.

go where you will be happy, not where you think will make you look best. balance is key. enough but not too much free time.

Please read everything that reliable college guides list about a college, and truly think about whether or not certain things they say are important and/or will effect you in some way. List out pros and cons. Do not believe everything that colleges promise or guarantee, because I for one fell into that trap with financial aid and study-abroad opportunities. I only assumed all colleges offered great study abroad opportunities and sufficient financial aid, but I did not do enough research. Please enter college with an open mind, I cannot stress that enough. If you are not willing to accept differences, whether they be based on religion, race, style, sexual orientation, academic or extracurricular interests, then you will not exude positivity and not have as good of a time. Do not think that all colleges are how they are depicted in movies, because that also led me to believe that my college would be wild with incredible parties and fun times. Some colleges provide the fun for the students, but I learned during my time at Conn that I myself needed to make and find the fun on my own. Good Luck!

I would say that money can be worried about later. Just go with the gut instinct.

Have fun and don't procrastinate, your college experience is what you make it.

Don't let yourself fall behind in academics in college, it is nearly impossible to catch up. It makes you stressed out and will hurt your grade so much.

Parents, although you will be paying for the bill, your child is the one attending and should be given the freedom to choose. The College search process is a very daunting one that takes a lot of time and energy, but once you find the right one, the process become the past. But how do you know if the college is right? Obviously your preference for loction, size, and academic offerings is important and your search should start there. However, once you narrow it down, you will know. Once you start imagining yourself at the school without purposely doing so, and you get that gut feeling when the college's name comes up, you have found it. As for your experience at the college, you have full control of the outcome. There are people who share the same interests as you, no matter how odd or out of the normal it may seem so it is your responsibility to be yourself. You will be surprised by how easy it is to be surrounded by people that share your same views, interests, and aspirations. Hang on to them! Ultimately, the greatest advice I can offer is to go with the flow.

Watch lots of movies.

When trying to find the right school for you, there are several things that one needs to take into account. The size of the school plays a big part in your overall experience. If you're looking for a place to really branch out and meet a ton of people, a large university is probably right for you, but if you're more into a small classroom setting where the teachers will know you by name, a small college is probably your best bet. Another thing to keep in mind is whether or not you want to attend a school with a specified purpose. If you know that you want to be a math major, a technical school is right for you, whereas someone who wants to explore all their options might want to consider a liberal arts school. If you're aiming to make the most of your college experience, you must find balance. No one can spend their whole life studying, nor can they squander it away on partying. Experimenting with time management is key to both succeeding and enjoying college life, especially once you realize that your parents aren't around to keep you on task anymore.

I would suggest that students and parents take a look at lesser known schools, and look at all school reguardless of financial issues. Looking at different schools opens parents and students up to new colleges where students may be successful, and wher the student might have a better chance of getting in. Just because a school isn't well known by a family doesn't mean it wouldn't be a perfect match for the student. Also, don't let financial constrains alter the initial search process. Finances come later, for the beginning work on finding the right type of social and academic environment for a student. Freshman in college should not be afraid to join new clubs or activities. In fact, waiting usually results in regret, as students realize how much more they could have done in college if only that had been more involved during their first few years. Also, don't limit yourself to the borders of your campus. From your first day of college consider the surrounding area your campus as well and become familiar with it: it's your home for the next few years!