Gordon College Top Questions

My biggest advice is that if you find a school that you LOVE, go there, regardless of the price or even whether they have the major you are looking for. Don't let money be the biggest deciding factor. If it's the right place for you and you know it, everything will work out. There are plenty of less expensive schools I could have gone to, but I chose a more expensive school where I thought I would be happier. Yes, I accrued a somewhat significant amount of student loan debt, but I'm happy with the education and experience I received. Enrolling at my school was the best decision I'd ever made, and if I had to do college all over again, I'd enroll at the same school. If it feels right, go with your gut. Don't let logistics cause you to change your mind. Once you are at that school, do everything you can to learn about it: its history, its environment, its people, its mission. Talk to people, especially upperclassmen and professors. This will help you more than anything to find your niche. And of course, get involved in teams, clubs, and organizations.

I would advise both parents and students who are preparing for college, to take your time looking. Start early and make sure you set aside days for as many visits and overnight stays as possible. It is extremely important that the student feel comfortable in the environment and can picture themselves being happy there. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions that matter to you. Do not be afraid you will seem bothersome or pushy, or worry you have too many questions. Find a college that welcomes you when you visit- you should not feel like you are an intruder if you sit in on a class, or that a you are an annoyance to a professor, advisor, or host student. Make a point to meet with professors in your major, and talk to other students in that field to get a feel for the program and its credibility. Above all, make a point not to settle for a college where you will be unhappy, and do not be afraid to go for things which seem out of your reach. Determination is something colleges deem very promising in students. Be confident, know what you want, and go for it.

Find affordable schools that match what you are looking for. Visit as many schools as possible. Once you finally select one, get involved as much as you can. Meet lots of people and don't spend too much time studying. But put enough effort into your studies to do well. Play sports, join clubs, attend sporting events, serve in the community. Don't shut yourself in your dorm all year. Parents, let your children discover who they are on their own. Keep tabs on them but let them be themselves.

I would advise going to the campus and actively speak to students attending there while in the selection process. Also, talk to professors and sit in classes. I would also advise finding a school with a wide range of majors because it is likely you will change yours and it is no fun to change schools just because they don't have the major you want to change to.

Focus on the schools that have extra-curricular activities and majors that you are passionate about and an environment that feels good to your. If you are not happy about where you are and what you are doing, and you fail to get connected you will miss out on one of the most important periods of growth in your life.

The advice that I would give to students is to make sure that the college has the acedemics and the extra curricular activities that you are looking for. While you are in college I would encourage students to get involved in stuff so you can meet people and get the most out of your college experience. Most importantly students need to make sure that they balance their school work and social/free time. Dont be the type who just plays all the time and doesnt get any work done but also dont be the type of person that stays in their room all the time and does work. You shoud have a good balance of both. The advice I would give to parents is not to dicourage your kids from going to the school that they want to go to. Let them live their dream the best that they can.

Make sure you visit the campus and talk to as many students there as possible. This is the best way to really get a feel for what life it like at a given school.

Don't just look at "name brand schools." The college I attend wasn't my top choice because I had never heard about it, but it is the PERFECT school for me, as I've found. It is also incredibly academically challenging, although I assumed it not to be when I first heard of it. Don't think that only "Ivy League" schools have good educations. Go after what you want for size, major, and location. Make sure they have extracurriculars that you like, because you will be spending all your time at school. Do not just apply where your friends are applying.. college is a place to find yourself away from the friends you've grown up with for the past 18 years. Remember that college should be enjoyable, but also a place to get an education, not to party. You're paying for the classes and the institution, so you should be getting something out of it!

Find somewhere that you can be yourself and you feel comfortable. One that has a major (or two, or three) that interest you and extracurriculars that you think you'd like to participate in. Find a school that you can picture yourself going to and you think you'll be happy at. Look at a selection of schools that vary in their student body size, cirriculum, activities, and rules. Look at schools 500 miles away as well as in your backyard...you never know what you're going to love! Also, try them out....go to an overnight, book a visit; it might look different on than it did on the rack! During your freshman year, GET INVOLVED! There's no better way to make friends and meet new people and learn to love your school even more than going out and doing things. Take up a sport, an instrument, join a new club or start a new hobby, just get involved. If your school isn't all you thought it would be, remember, its OKAY to transfer. You aren't obligated to love your school, so don't be afraid to leave if it doesn't suit you.

Look at all options before deciding on one