Hofstra University Top Questions

Parents and students looking for the right college need to keep in mind that the first year is all about adaptation, so comfort in your academic and social environment is important. At the same time, it pays to challenge yourself and try something new, so the final decision shouldn't be too comfortable.

I think finding the right college and making the most of the college experience comes down to the student finding the place where he/she can call home. The student needs to visit campuses with his/her parents and eventually they will come to a place where they just fall in love and compare every other school to. That is the place where he/she will be the happiest. I think it is also important to find a school that has a large number of options in terms of degrees, you never know if what you want to do is what you are going to love doing. Find a place where you can be happy, have fun, and get a good education.

Do your research and then do it again. Definitly visit the school and talk to the studens. They usually have the most honest and unfiltered awnswers.

MAKE SURE THAT YOU CHOOSE A SCHOOL THAT FEELS GOOD TO YOU, ACADEMICS ARE VERY IMPORTANT, BUT IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CHOOSE SOMEWHERE THAT MAKES YOU FEEL AT HOME, AND NOT OUT OF YOUR ELEMENT.

When I started my college search, it was hard, especially without a major in mind, to decide what I wanted. But, I needed the college that would give me the ?real world? experience I craved. My advice to anybody college-bound is to think hard about where and how you want to live. Although the program you choose is important, you still live at your school! I can?t say how many of my friends and classmates have transferred, but I know what they had in common. They picked because of distance, their major, or a significant other. Now, I haven?t seen many cases where those reasons were enough for choosing a lifestyle. There?s nothing wrong with transferring ? life is trial-and-error. But what?s better than getting it right first try? There are colleges in that offer all kinds of experiences ? all you have to do is look! It's easy to forget, with big things like academics and financial aid to worry about, to think about the little things that are going to make up the life you will live for four years, and the experience you will remember for the rest of your life.

I would advise students to do extensive research about their colleges of choice because I know from experience it will make or break a decision. I would also suggest students to look into job/internship placing programs the school provides. Especially in such a competitive market these days it?s important for students to an edge especially coming out of college. I would also suggest doing research regarding the surrounding area of the school so the students can become acclimated before attending the college. As for parents, I would suggest providing as much support possible for your child. Even though as parents, you all have hopes and dreams for us to become very successful, but you have to remember your child is attending college to make of their own. It should not matter to the parent the child?s major or minor choice. The best help parents can provide is support and it really does go a long way.

When looking for the right college to go to, make sure that the surrounding area is to your liking. If you like the city, choose a city setting or right next to a city, if you like the country, go to a countryside school. Also, check to see the activities on campus and get involved! The more school spirit the more fun you will have. Finacially, look for schools that have a good finacial aid program and choose someplace that you know you can get a scholarship. Making most of your college experience involves a lot of accepting and adjusting. Accept that your roommate may not be your best friend and accept the differences in your life to be positive and effect your life in a good way. Get to know different people. There's a lot about culture that you can learn from just one person or a lot of people. Be open to change and knowledge. Go outside of your comfort circle because when you do, that's where life is.

Make sure to think long term and find the school that matched your personality. Do not select a school just because of the name- make sure it is the right fit for you.

I would tell them do visit all the campuses they can and also to visit them together so the parents can help the student find the right college for them but untimitley choosing the college they go to should be the students choice.

When finding the right college, I'd advise parents and students to each make a list of all of the attributes they desire their dream college to have. Then I'd tell them to exchange their lists and see what attributes could be compromised. Then I'd tell them to visit the colleges that fit their desires and discuss what they liked and disliked for each. Having a child go away to college is very hard on the parent and it is important to keep an open mind and be understanding. It's time for the student to find himself and figure out what he wants out of life. The college experience should include taking chances while being focused in school. The college process and experience will be more enriching once both the parent and child find common ground.