Kalamazoo College Top Questions

Be more comfortable with yourself. Have more fun!

The best words of wisdom I can give is to not base your decision solely on what others have told you is "cool" or "the total college experience." Remember that you are choosing a new home for yourself for the next four years! Don't just choose the school with the craziest social life or the best academic standing, but instead look for a place that you feel will not only make you feel at home, but also push you to step out of your comfort zone. They say being a well-rounded applicant is ideal for applying to college, but don't forget that you are judging the college as much as they are judging your application. Look for a well-rounded college, one that will satisfy your academic, social, philanthropic, and other various needs. Look for a place you feel will help you grow, and don't be afraid to go against the grain. Just because all of your friends are attending the local party school doesn't mean you have to, or that it will be right for you if you go. Make sure you are true to yourself in your decision.

Select your school based on what you feel comfortable with. "Where the trumpets sound"

It is very important to consider all of your options before making any decision. Be sure to find a college that has a "major" option that you may strongly consider. Take advantage of all of the resources that your school makes available to you. Be sure to always ask for help and work hard to succeed during times of challeneg. Also, if you have the opportunity to study abroad definitely take it! Study abroad can be one of the most rewarding and fufilling college experiences! Try to always have a positive attitude and leave a positive legend at your college! Have fun and make good decisions!

I would look at your proirities when looking at possible universities or colleges to attend. Are you going for sports? Academic reputation? Diversity? Study Abroad? Classroom size? Also, don'tgotoa school just because many of your friends from high school are going to a certain university. Regardless of the university you attend, there are plenty of opportunites to meet new people and make new friends, you'll appreciate this opportunity.

Do not let cost be the determining factor in your search for a post-secondary institution. College is an investment. Although it may be difficult to find the means to send your son, daughter, or yourself to college, the current costs must be weighed against the future benefits. Take the time to research institutions that appeal to you and make an informed decision after visiting as many as possible. My advice to students and parents in making the most of the college experience is to make every cent of it matter. How? First, go to class. This may seem a simplistic suggestion, but you'd be surprised how many of your counterparts will skip classes. Educations are like anything else: you get what you pay for. Going to class will not only show your parents that you care about what they're paying for, it will set you apart from the rest of the class, lead to better grades, and allow you to form great relationships with professors who can write recommendation letters to employers or graduate schools. Last, balance your work with fun. College should be a time of great academic growth, but also an opportunity to develop socially.

My advice to students for finding the right college can be summed up in a single word: visit! I believe that the only way to truly discover if a school is right for you is by getting a feel for its campus, talking to students and professors, spending time in its buildings, and attending its classes. Obviously, do plenty of research before you arrive so that you are adequately prepared to ask probing questions. Once you have chosen the college for you, my advice for how to make the most of your experience would be to strive for balance. Do study hard, and gather as much knowledge from your professors as you can--that's what they are there for. However, don't stress yourself out too much. You don't want to find yourself in your cap and gown at graduation and realize that you never made any friends at college because you were too busy studying. Of course, guard against overdoing the partygoing too--you want to remember all those late nights with friends! Finally, my advice is to find something at your school that you are passionate about--whether it be a club or your major.

Be honest with yourself about what you like and don't like, what you want and don't want, and who you are and who you aren't. Answer these questions honestly and then look for a school. Also, I would recommend the Colleges that Change Lives book by LorenPope or the website--both are great resources for people who want to know more about liberal arts colleges. I highly recommend going to the school to feel it out before deciding. I don't think overnight stays are essential, but spending some time on the campus is, so go to the cafeteria and eat a meal to get a good feel for the students and how the interact with one another. Sit in on a class you find interesting. Ask about the weather and how it affects the students moods. Also, be honest about what you want from a college education and find a schoolin which you will feel comfortable growing and learning. Keep an open mind and look at lots of different places.

Make sure to choose something where you would not have to take out loans or very much in loans because you wont get a job right after that would help you pay for those.

The most important thing about choosing a college is to make sure there is a good balance of academic life and social life. It's not that you should go to the school where they party every night, but employers like to see a well rounded student when they graduate, and by spending every minute in the library that is not possible, not to mention not fun. So when choosing a school find the place that is going to be academically challenging, but with enough time/availabilty of social outlets. In Kalamazoo, South Haven, MI is only 35 minutes away so in the warmer months, groups of students will go to the beach for the day - sometimes bringing work with them - it's just a great release and getaway from the campus life.