George Washington University Top Questions

Choose where you want to go based on what you want and not on what others think of the school. It is very easy in today's society to get caught up in "brand power" and the name and persumed prestige of a college/university is not exempt from this. Take the time to visit the campus, hopefully more than once. Try and speak to students on the campus and not just the ones that the Admissions Dept. introduces you to. Gather as much information as possible and think about whether you can stay at that college for the next 4 years. Explore as many options as possible, so that you can get the full view of what is available to you. Lastly, remember that no decision is set in stone and you can always change your mind. College is a time of experimentation and if Sarah Palin can transfer a bunch of times than so can you.

For many students, the first life changing decision one has to make is which university he or she wishes to attend. An important consideration is the location of where they want to wake up at 7:30 am to go to Professor Chin?s 8:00 am calculus class. Students may look at who teaches calculus or what Professor Chin teaches and forgets that there are many other professors and majors. However, they only experience one location, which is unique to the university they attend. Some students look for a school that is fast pace and located in the city, like NYU; a school that has walls and a college town, like UVA; or something in between that is located on the outside of a city, like Northwestern University. Ultimately, they are the one who wakes up in the same place every morning for that 8:00 am class that eventually ends. Therefore, regardless of the prestige of the school, the awards, or the ranking it holds, the most important aspect of their college experience is whether they wake up in content or not and the basis of that is the experience they gain in the location they study.

I am actually a transfer student to my current, private university. So, I understand how hard it is to make the right decision about college. I had attended a lot of college programs in my high school years, and so I had a vague understanding of what I was looking for the first time around. However, when I got to my first day of orientation, I came to find that the university I thought I was attending, was not an accurate understanding of student life, etc. Thus, while everyone will tell you to just keep your basic needs (majors, learning environments, finances, etc.) in mind, it is important to do more than just tour the campus. Take the opportunities that the universities offer to sit in on classes, talk to a wide variety of REAL students on campus, eat the food. And, while transferring is always a feasible option, it may hurt you in the end. So, make sure the university has options to help you cope with possible desires to leave: like, study abroad options, student organizations both on and OFF campus, and a large variety of classes to experiment with majors. Best of luck!

Finding the right college has less to do with the prominence of the college itself and more to do with the way in which the studnet wishes to benefit from attending the school. A college is just a college; the student's success will be a result of what they do while there. Going to an ivy league school will give a person access to resources in research and prestige that one may not get at a lesser known school, but if a student has no interest in taking advantage of these resources, then they really only benefit from a name that will only get them so far in life. At the same time, by going to a school with less prestige, and yet the resources needed for a student to learn and experience exactly what they need in order to prepare them for the career they desire, it would be that school, and not the ivy league institution, that will lead them to the best outcome. Overall, successful students will do best in an environment that plays to their individual strengths and needs, not necessarilly what will look best on paper.

Visit the school and talk to students who go there, do not worry about money, take classes at a community or state college and transfer credit to graduate from a private university

Visit the campus, talk to students and ask lots of questions!

Make sure that you attend the school that best fits your needs. Consider your financial status as well as what the school offers. But above all pick a place that you will be happy and have a lot of fun at for the 4 years you are in college, because they are the best 4 years of your life and you will never have an opportunity to choose a path that will most change your life like picking where to go to school.

College is about finding yourself and exploring what what world has to offer. Despite all the pressure that prospective students face from parents, teachers, friends, etc., the most pressure needs to come from yourself. Parents, support your child's decision. Let them grow and learn. You've taught them well, now let them show you what they've learned. Students, listen to yourself and your heart. Choose a school YOU want to go to. Experience everything you can in college. Make mistakes, not big ones, but learn from every experience you encounter, good or bad. College is amazing. You walk away from it with more than a piece of paper and a handshake.

I suggest not only visiting all the schools you are interested in but also staying for a weekend and attending c ouple classes at the college or university to really get a feel for the social and academic environments. Most schools can pair you up with students who are willing to show prospective students around for a weekend and/or take them to class with them. I can't think of any better way to really get to know a college or university. After getting to know the environment, opportunities, and campus of a school, weigh all the costs and benefits of attending, paying special attention to tuition, in making your decision. If you make the best choice possible for you, your college experience will be that much more rewarding. If you know your interests, finding a college or university that is very strong and well-connected in those areas can give you opportunities that other schools can not.

The best advice for parents and students looking into college is to keep an open mind and not let the urge to 'go for the best' college take over. Every student is unique and subsequently each institution is similarly different. Although a prestigious university such as Harvard or Princeton may appear the ultimate destination to which all students aspire to, this is not the case. The choice of college must be made with the student's interests in mind as well as curtailed to his strengths and weaknesses. Some individuals may prefer a college with a rich athletic heritage while others want one seeped in a tradition of community activism. If the student desires a more cosmopolitan experience, perhaps a university surrounded by a robust and lively city, such as Philadelphia or Boston, is better equipped to serve his needs than one in the countryside. Last but not least, the financial situation of the student and his family must be taken into account. If a university considered superior to a student fails to impart adequate financial assistance, then it may be necessary for him to attend one he regards a little less. Remember, keeping an open mind is key.