George Washington University Top Questions

The most important thing when you are choosing your college is the campus visit. When you go to the best school for you, you will feel it as you walk around campus. It will just feel right. Financial aid and money has a way of working itself out. Just make sure that you feel comfortable on campus, before your sign your committment letters. To make the most out of your college experience. Do not go overboard on work. Make boundries between work time and play time. And always make sure you leave your work behind you. Don't make yourself too busy or you will get bogged down and your time won't be enjoyable. Relax, school is only hard when you put too much pressure on yourself. Give yourself time everyday to unwind and leave your work behind you.

The first piece of advice would be that one should start the process as early as possible. When a student is trying to figure out what he/she wants for their college experience it is very important to consider all of the options. Look at different types of schools and take some chances in the summer before your junior year and the begining of your junior year. Then try to narrow down the type of school and program you are looking for. Go on the campus tours, information sessions, interviews etc. Get as much knowledge and information as possible to make the educated and well-informed decision. Enjoy the process and the trips along the way. When in college focus on your academics but remember to make time to spend with your friends. Join a group or two and dedicate yourself to them, don't try to be in ten different ones. Study appropriately and work hard as it will all pay off!

I think in my own experience, looking and taking a tour of the school was key to finding out what best fit my needs. When I came down to GW for the April Visit I knew it was where I could see myself going. Taking a trip to the admissions office and financial aid office made my dream a reality. I knew I couldn't afford it but they assured me that I didn't have to give up on my dream if I qualified for financial aid or received a merit scholarship. Since I have an older brother in college (SVA) and a younger brother in high school, financial aid is impportant. Academic performance was also very important to me. I qualified for a top scholarship. I think there are a lot of opportunities and people willing to help a student with these concerns and GW certainly was able to help me in this process. I went to a lot of different schools during my college experience-as far as California and Utah. Choosing a school where I could be happy and live in a safe, fun, and tolerant environment was hard, but I found it.

Any college can give you a good education so make sure to focus on primarily on the campus and student atmosphere and whether or not you would enjoy it for 4 years.

Visit and research colleges that come from different backgrounds: large state schools, smaller state schools, small liberal arts colleges, private schools, city schools, suburban schools, and country schools. You'll learn more about yourself in college than you expect, and looking at a wide variety of schools, even if you think you are convinced you know of exactly the type of school you want, might really open your eyes. Be open minded when searching for schools and once you have entered school. You'll be bombarded by all of the extracurricular activities available, and don't be shy about trying them out - and leaving them if they aren't for you! You will most likely make a lot of your closest friends on your floor and in your dorm, so while that can be awesome, be aware of that and try to form networks that extend out of your building. Finally, it can be easy to fall into an extreme: too much school or too much party,;be wary of that and try to enjoy yourself while still taking advantage of all of the great academic resources available!

Visit the schools you apply to, and go where it feels right. Location and social life are key, because, as long as you go to a good school, you will get a good education, but you want to be happy as well. There are a lot of good schools out there, but only one right fit.

Go with what feels comfortable, but do not overlook the student body as weighing in on your decision.

pick a school in an environment that you know you will be happy. If you hate the cold, do not go to a school in the northeast and vice-versa. Do not hesitiate to seek help, and do not get caught up in comparing yourself to the other students. Do not let your GPA go down; once it goes down, it is hard to bring it back up.

Don't just talk to the students who you meet as part of the touring process. Grab a kid on the street and ask him/her what he thinks about the school. The tours are run by by people trying to sale you, just the same as if you going to buy a new car or television. In order to have a strong opinion about a school you need to talk to students who are untainted by the school and have their own opinions that they are willing to share with you. With their opinions you will be better suited to finding the right college for your kids.

Don't attend a college where you want to fit in. Pick a college where you already fit in.