George Fox University Top Questions

Take the time to look around and go where you feel most at home. Look at the little things around campus because the little things matter when you are always there, talk to as many students as possilbe to get their opinions.

Finding the right college is all about feeling like you belong. Research the type of school you think you want to attend and apply to a variety of places before deciding on one. Also, before making a final decision, visit the campus and talk to students and faculty about the school and the college life on that particular campus. Finding the right college for you is kind of like finding a spouse. You can't rush into a relationship and when you find the right one, you just know it is the right fit. Every aspect should be considered from housing to education, food to activities offered, and campus size and location. I got lucky. I only applied to two colleges and was accepted to both but upon visiting the first one I realized that I did not want to go there because there was excessive partying. The second school I visited was radically different. Teachers are involved with students and even have them over for dinner from time to time. The entire University is founded on the principles of serving others and being good citizens.

It is important to find a school that is the right size for you. Some need the huge state school while some find the smaller colleges a better fit. I personally believe that a private school education is worth the money. You ahve smaller class sizes where you actually get to know the professor and in my opinion get more out of the class. Private schools, especially religious affiliated ones provide a great community to be a part of. Do your research ahead of time and make sure they have the major you want and how long the program is. A school with a good variety of majors is great in case you change you mind and switch majors once you have already started.

Look at the community, if you enjoy that you will most likely enjoy the college.

The price of private universities can be daunting, but there is help out there. For certain careers, like nursing, your future employer will pay your remaining debt when you finish school. Do all the research on your financial options before you rule out a great school because it is too expensive.

I think it is important to find a place that you could see yourself making friends for a lifetime. Academics are important too, so both of these qualities should be considered when looking at a college. A very important part about the college experience is living on campus, if you can afford it do it, especially your freshman year. This helps the student transition from being in high school and just attending class, to really being part of a community. My floor mates from my freshman year are all still my closest friends, and I am so thankful I chose to live on campus because of it. My parents live 10 minutes from campus so I could have easily made the wrong decision. When you look for a college, look for a place that looks like it could be your home for the next four years or more.

Finding a campus that your student likes is more important than finding the college that is the best. If a student feels comfortable in his enviroment then he or she will not want to leave, in order words they will work harder. Send your student to a college that is well known, but they don't like will make it harder for the student to take his studies seriously

Go and see! Meet the people. If they have a preview weekend, I would very strongly recommend attending. Or even better, stay in one of the dorms overnight with a friend, or someone you may know who goes to the college. Go on a weeknight if you can, in order to get a real "taste" of what an average day will feel like, (Many schools tend to doll themselves up when they know preview students are coming). And after all of this, if you still feel lost, as obvious as this sounds, really spend the time to think about how each school made you feel. How do you feel that school will effect YOU? The way you look at the world, and who you ultimately grow up to be? Think about it. Pray about it. Meditate on it. Whatever you need to do. And whichever one ultimately makes you feel excited to live and learn, is the one that is probably right for you.

find somewhere that makes your individual happy. satisfied. hungry. challenged. be wary of falling into the mold too easily. try to do all of your own planning. financally. professionally. personally. try to be original. accepting of new values. foriegn beliefs. know people always have motives. even Jesus. soak it all in :)

My best advice for finding the right school, is really know yourself and what you want to get out of college. Visit as many campuses as you can, and not just ones you think you can afford, or that are close to your home, get out and really see where you fit. Being on the right campus can really make your college experience. Also, give yourself permission to dream big, don't settle for the state school because that is where everyone else is going, be adventurous, go somewhere different then all your friends are. And most of all, take your time, this decision should not be made overnight.