Gardner-Webb University Top Questions

Start considering what major you are interested in during your junior year at the latest. Then research schools online that provide that major in the region you wish to attend. Narrow your choices to about three or four schools. Take time to visit those schools, especially when they have the weekends set up for visitations, during the fall of your senior year. Go ahead and apply to about three schools of your interest by December of your senior year. Do this to keep your options open and close doors to your choices before you even have a chance to begin your college career. Search the schools websites for which you are interested to see if they have extra-curricular activities within your interests. Also look at the costs of tuition and other fees. If possible, go onto my space or facebook to look at profiles of alumni from the colleges you like to see how fulfilled the alumni are in their own fields based on their educational experiences. By the spring of your senior year, settle one on school that has accepted you that fits the requirements for your academic and extra-curricular life pursuing financial funding for your degree.

The process of the college search and selection is a very important one that will dramatically effect the next four years of your life and have implications on your future. It is a process that can be very difficult and time consuming. The most important piece of advice that I would give is to be open-minded. It is vital that students explore options all over the world and colleges of all types. There is such a wide variety of colleges that anyone could find virtually anything that they desire. So be open-minded and do the research needed to find what you want. It takes a lot of time but it well worth it when you find the right college. I would give similar advice when making the most of college. Students should know what they believe and want but also be open-minded about exploring other views and getting to know people who appear different than them. Students will encounter the best experiences in college when they are not afraid to get out of their confort zones and get involved with campus activities and the community.

Make it a place you are happy and comfortable. If you can't go to a different school, your education will be about the same where ever you go.

Make sure the college fits your academic as well as personal and social preferences. The college should be acredited and should have a strong department with your intended major. Focus on the students should be of importance, as well as faculty interest in students success. Make sure th school feels right.

Make sure the school is financially possible, but never ignore the possibility of a school because of money, there are always funds. Keep an open mind, you may end up completely happy where you said you would never go. Visit the campus on a day when classes are in session, this will tell you a lot about the school and the students there.

One thing I plan on doing with my kids one day woulf be to really make alist of things they want out of college adn what things we want in c college. Then I would take the time to look with my kids, to go talk to colleges, talk to people that go to that school and whole also went to that school. Find the right college is important adn it cost alot of money. One tip I would advise would be if you are uncertian of a major then it wouldn't be bad to go to a community college for a couple years and deside what you want to do. That way you can also get alot of your core classes out fo the way and when you go to a big school you can focus on your major.

Allow the student to obtain their dreams and goals, not what the parent wanted to do or feels they should have done. It's your student's time now to express themself. Stand behind them in whatever they decide, also help them decide. Give them ways to figure out their future. If it's a hobby and they love to do it, they might as well get paid to do it.

That this an amazing place to go to school it has its drawbacks, but every school does. For me the positives out weighted the negatives and my four years here where some of the hards and best years of my life.

It has been said many times, attitude is everything. This is a true statement. If you remain poistive, realistic, but positive you can accomplish anything. This is true when entering any situation or trying to find a home away from home. Find a college that suits you whether it be large or small, but remain positive. Education is priceless and need not be tainted by an suffocating outlook.

Don't put off til tomorrow what you can do today. Encourage your children to finish high school, take an interest in their homework and extracirricular activities and then assist them when deciding on college choices. It makes the student feel good, like you care and are not glad that they are "moving out". Be supportive of what your child is going to do. Encourage them that once they decide on a major, try to stick with it. The more they change majors, the longer they will be in school because of constantly "having to start over" and make sure that their major is something they like and they didn't decide on that major because mom or dad always wanted to go to school for that or because mom or dad is a doctor doesn't mean Brooke or James has to be.