Hope College Top Questions

FInd out as much as possible beforehand, so you at least partially know what to expect before you're there.

Talk to students at the school...not those who the admissions office puts in front of you but real students. Pray about it. Know that even though there may be days even weeks that you cant stand your choice...there is a reason for where you are at and something good will come of it. Enjoy the journey. Dont stress- it doesnt help anything and it honestly just ruins all the fun. Look at schools big and small, religously affiliated and not, near to home and far...you may just be surprised at what you end up loving! Good luck!

I would encourage students to visit the colleges they are looking to attend. It was extrememly helpful for me to see the campus, meet with professors I would potentially have, and interact with current students. One of the main reasons I chose Hope College is because I felt so at home when I visited, it felt natural. I would also make sure to see if they have the major/majors you are looking for and not to settle for a major because it is the college you want. To the students I would encourage them to get involved freshman year with activities the campus offers. Not only does that allow for the students to make a connection with the campus and what it has to offer but also allows them to meet other people with the same interests..

I would recommend choosing a college based not upon arbitrary rankings that can be found in various college review books, but instead upon what college is the best personal fit. Too many students, I think, look at raw numbers and then simply attend the college that they feel is strongest in their major or will help them get the job they want. This is unfortunate, since college is not simply about getting the degree and the job. The journey along the way is important too, and more students should choose the college that will help them grow most as human beings, whether that is through sports, religion, volunteer service, or greek life. Students do themselves a disservice when they look to college as nothing more than a supplier of undergraduate degrees, and they become less complete people as a result. Therefore, I would implore students to make sure to look at the big picture of their college application process. If you choose a college that helps you become a better and more complete person, then the name of the shool on the degree won't matter; you will have become eminently employable.

I would suggest researching their college of choice and looking at many different options. I only visited one school, Hope College, the one I really wanted to go to. Today, I wish I would have looked into other schools that were different that Hope. One great thing colleges offer these days are tours of their schools. I would strongly suggest going on these visitation days because they are very informative and very helpful when trying to decide which college is the best fit.

Make sure to research the collges completely to find the best one that fits. Don't be afraid to call up the college or set up meetings to find the place that would best suit you and your personality.

One of the things that helped me the most in finding the perfect school was visiting a lot of schools in different parts of the country and of many different types. I did a lot of research (online and in books) and talked to many different people about the school they went to. The most important thing that I did though was made the desicion for myself and no one else. Of course I listened to a lot of adivce but utimately I made the decision myself. This in turn made me thrilled about my decision to attend Hope and I truely believe that I could not have made a better desicion. As for getting the most out of my college experience, I think it is all how you look at it and take it in. I focus on the good in my school and all the things I love about it. I do not focus on the negative things. I also think that the best thing you can do is to put yourself out there and to try to learn as much as you can from everyone at your school, isn't that what we are here for? Thanks!

I would tell students looking at colleges to look way beyond appearance. When I was choosing my school I was immediately enraptured in the beauty of the campus that I did not even consider any of the other schools that I had visited. Make sure to look in depth at what you want to get out of school, and what college you best think can fill those needs. Don't choose a college for just one reason, such as sports, because that may not work out. You want to make sure that no matter if you are injured and can't play any more, or change your mind of your major, you will still be happy at that school. I would say its very important to make sure to look into the social life and what type of atmosphere you want on the weekends, because that's what you're going to be around for the next four years of your life. If you choose a college that upholds a lot of the values you believe, then you're more likely to find a group of steady, lifelong friends.

First find the size of college you want to attend. From there explore your options! The size of school will act as a good starting point to find your perfect school!You might be suprised to find all the different schools you will find and it could be a little overwhelming. There are so many options out there that you most likly never knew about before you started looking for schools. The college I ended up at, was one i applied to on a whim to have another options, it ended up that it was the best place for me. Don't confine your search to only a few programs. Although you may believe you may know the field you want to go into but so much changes when you get to college. Going into a well rounded school will make it easier to find the major and field for you! Make sure you narrow your choices before you apply, not only will it save you money on application fees but it will make your decision process much easier! Good luck!

Students: Your college experience can be as adventurous and fun as you make it. You will be given many opportunities to participate in activities outside of classes and campus; do these things! You may find your niche at college and love your friends, classes, professors, etc., but in order to grow you'll need to challenge yourself. Study abroad, find an internship or get involved with a volunteer organization. However, make sure that you only commit to what you can do because otherwise it can be easy to become overwhelmed. Things will be stressful no matter how organized you are, but if you are taking care of yourself by eating well, exercising and getting enough sleep they will be easier to deal with. Make sure you get to know not only your peers but also professors. Lastly, when it comes to school work, make sure you start off your freshman year on the right foot. It can be easy to slack off in the fall semester when you are in a new place and meeting all new people and are being presented with tons of activities to join, but the underlying reason you're at college is to excell academically.