Furman University Top Questions

I think the most important things parents and students can do during the college application process is listen to eachother. My parents and I had completely different ideas about where I should go to school. I wanted a big school in a big city--probably NYU. They pushed me to try something smaller in a smaller town and I could not have been happier in the end.

Think about the type of people you'll be around, that's the only thing that matters.

First, to parents . The best advice that I can give is be supportive. College is a major transition for students as it is the first major opportunity for them to step into the world of adulthood and learn to learn about themselves and grow and develop. Considering this, the best way to keep students motivated about achieving their goals is to be supportive as much as you can. When I say supportive, I mean more than just financially. While you, as parents will be the major source of finances for their college careers, you should support your student by understanding their goals, communicating with them, and trusting them to make the best decisions with the knowledge you've given them. To the students, finding the right college requires research, time and effort. You must be willing to learn more about yourself and your goals and feel free to question many schools about their academic environments and offered courses to find the best fit institiution. As for making the best out of the experience, don't be afraid to live. Push yourself to make new friends, go new places, and enjoy new experiences. Be equally willing to work and have fun.

Make sure that you visit more than one college and talk to as many people as you can. Make sure that you don't choose a school that is good but will end up costing up extra after you graduate because of loans. You are only in college for four years so be as involved as you can without forfeiting your education. Make the most of teh experience no metter where you attend.

You can just feel it when you are on the right campus. When you are at the right school, you can visualize yourself there. Before you even enroll in classes you will find things you want to get involved with and will meet people who can become life-long friends. Try not to be shy and meet as many people, students and professors, as you can; then you will always know someone in your classes, you will have people to work and study with, and you will have people to hang out with on the weekends. Get involved on campus as soon as you can, but also be careful not to spread yourself too thin. You don't want to be involved in so many activities that your grades fall or you are always stressed. While grades are very important, always remember to have a good time while you are in college!

I would advise high school students and their parents to buy trash cans because junk mail from colleges can become annoying! But in all seriousness, I would give the advice of literally going to the schools the high school students possibly want to attend and meeting current college students. There are so many colleges and universities out there that offer great academic reputations, talented sports teams, new buildings with advanced technology, and ideal student-to-professor ratios. If you ask a student about the college experience, however, he or she will most likely respond first by talking about the friendships made. This emphasizes the fact that it is the people that surround you that are most significant. Talking and interacting with students at different colleges will show prospective students a glimpse of what their future friends may be like. In all actuality, the people they talk with could very well become one of their friends. After talking with a number of college students, I would tell the parents to make sure their high school students have cameras in good working order. The memories made with their new friends at college are ones that they will want to remember and share.

Choosing the right college or university is the most important decision a young person will ever make which will effect and influence who and what they will become. Finding the right fit is critical. Compiling a profile of what features are important was the first step that I took. Such a profile might include student body size, make-up and views, location, public vs. private, or major studies offered. Once determining factors have been set, visiting each potential campus will help eliminate and pin point the right choice. I have been fortunate to find the perfect fit in the University that I chose. Now I have the opportunity to make the most of my college experience. I have ascertained that this is a time in my life to discover who I really am. I am trying to keep an open mind and not be constrained to the views that I had growing up. I want to take advantage of every opportunity that is offered to me in college to become my own person. College life is all about balancing work and social activities. The right balance will result in a well balanced person for life.

Visit all your potential schools and choose the school where you feel most at home; all other aspects of the college experience will fall into place.

Visit all colleges before deciding to attend