Goucher College Top Questions

Three phrases you should keep in mind: +Size isn't everything: Honest! The size of a school should be an important factor when you choose, but that doesn't necessarily mean it limits your opportunities. Big and small schools both have their advantages and disadvantages; think hard about whether you want more social activity or a closer community, more educational offerings or a closer relationship with your professors. Look for schools that offer the opportunity to cross-register so you can get the best of both worlds. +Location, location, location: Urban, rural, in between? How close to home? These questions are more important than you might think, and it's different for everyone. +DIY (do it yourself): It's what you make of it. Make this choice yourself-- your teachers, parents, or friends aren't going there, you are. Once you're there, take advantage of what college has to offer. The best school in the world will do nothing for you if you just sit in your room. Join a club, try out for a sport, run for student government! The best way to enjoy college is to take responsibility for your own experience-- and love what you do.

Visit each school, talk to students (one's other than the people leading the tours). Stay overnight, maybe for a weekend so you know what social life is like.

By the time you've figured out whether you want to attend a liberal arts school or a tech school and whether you're looking for a large or small community, you'll easily find several at which you will be equally happy - so don't stress over minutia. The right school will simply feel good to you, and you can trust yourself on that. Once you are in college, use every resource and opportunity you can. You're there to think, so take advantage of your teachers' availability outside of class and start good, thoughtful discussions whenever you can. You're there to socialize, so be friendly to everyone you meet and strike up conversation with everyone you wish you knew better. You're there to work towards a career, so participate in as many clubs and activities related to your goals as you can. College education is an incredible privilege, and it throws countless opportunities into your path. You cannot take every single one, but if you take as many as you can, you will leave with a well-rounded, impressive and memorable foundation for the rest of your life and learning.

Don't look for the most prestigious or well known university, it may not be the right fit for you. Instead, try to take in all factors: location, majors, size, mission statement, and go from there. As cliche as it sounds, college really is what you make of it, so try to get out there and meet new people: join clubs, start study groups, network with your floor.

When visiting colleges, I would recommend that parents let their child choose what is best for them and not the other way around. Too many young people are being presssured into getting the best grades they can get in high school so that they can get into a respectable university like Harvard. My college, Goucher College, was not very well known to me when I chose to apply to it. My first choice was Notre Dame , but I chose Goucher because I felt it was a better fit for me. My parents wanted me to go to an in state school in Florida, but I fought hard for what I felt was right for myself and I feel good about my choice. My entire family lives in the Baltimore area and in my personal opinion, I feel more comfortable at college knowing that my family is here. My advice,again, would be that parents and their children come to an agreement on where the child wants to attend college, but to ultimately let the child decide, because it is their future and they will have to get used to making life altering decisions such as choosing a college.

Don't be fooled by a big important name. Even if a school has a good reputation it doesn't mean that they will make you feel important. Visit the campus and see if the students look happy and friendly.

When we are young, we buy shoes with "growing room". In college, the same approach is needed. The school needs to have a good fit, snug in certain places like academic course-load and loose in others, like the amount of clubs and activities available on campus. Know what you want out of a college. You wouldn't buy a pair of sneakers for an occassion that asks for formal dress, so why would you pick a large athletically strong campus when what is best for you is a small, intimate campus in the woods?

Visit a lot of schools! I wish I had visited more schools.

I consider choosing a college to be one of the most important decisions in one?s life. After visiting over 60 schools, I chose one I thought was right. Unfortunately, I learned very quickly that it was not the right place for me. The best advice I could give anyone is to spend a lot of time at the school before committing to it. You can never really know what the environment is like until you see how classes are and what types of students attend the school. When you visit on holidays, you never see the students or classes. In my case, I just do not fit in with the type of people and I would have known this had I spend the night on campus. Also the classes are very small and that is ultimately not what I need for my personality. I do not like to have discussions about theoretical issues; I?d rather be told what I need to know and that?s it. I would also recommend that students do not let their decision be based on what their parents want as the students are the ones who will ultimately have to attend the school.

Students should always make sure that their decision is best for themselves. Sometimes students get caught up in doing what is right with respect to their significant others, friends, or family. When it comes to college, however, no other person will be as affected by the decision than the student themselves. Do what ever is best for yourself....you only get the opportunity once.