Duquesne University Top Questions

There are so many factors to consider when selecting a college or university to attend after graduating high school. Initially, I found that it helped to settle on a major that interested me at the time and was then able to narrow the list down by a considerable amount. Another thing that should be taken into consideration is the cost of tuition at each school and the availability of financial aid. Make sure you stay realistic with your college choice; is the cost of an education at that school just too much?, will the school award you with enough finiancial aid to allow you to attend?, etc. Surprisingly, one of the factors that had the most influence on what school I chose was how far away it was from home. It's rare to find a first-year college student who doesn't eventually want to go home for a weekend during their first semester or year at school. These three things are what I debated with myself for the longest time and as a result, I've been more than satisfied with my choice of school and major.

Finding the right college is difficult when you don't know what you are looking for. Make sure that you know what is important to you--things like class size, campus location, and availability (or lack of) greek life. Then make sure that your school has a good program for your major. Don't go to a school known for its music program when you want to be a lawyer! Also, check the tuition; the best school does not mean the most expensive. Take a tour of the school, and talk to students that are already there (students: do this without your parents next to you. You'll get an honest answer this way). You can learn a lot about a school from the people who are already there. Once you get to college, get involved!! There are so many things to do on campus (and off) that you should never feel left out or alone. You will make so many friends with similar interests if you join a club, intermural sports teams (you don't have to be an all-star), theatre group, or get a job. There is so much more to college than just classes! Have fun!