Amber
As I am a student that transferred, I would advise students to not stress about picking the right school. I remember feeling so much pressure to pick the "right" school, and felt that if I made the wrong decision, all hope was lost. I loved the school I attended my freshman year, and I'm glad I spent that time there. However, it was right for me to transfer and it was a decision that really paid off for me in a lot of ways. Transferring is difficult, but it's a decision I'm very happy with. I just wish I'd known beforehand that nothing is final and I never needed to worry about making the "wrong" decision.
Sarah
The next four years you college pick will be our home and the people around you will be your family. Makesure to visit every college you think you might attend and trust your gut. Deep down you just know which place is right for you. Also, see if you know anyone on campus and go to a game, stay over, or go to another activity to see if you can see yourself there. LIke i said, its in your gut, you will just know!
Jessica
Just focus on what career path you want to pursue and then find out what school is best qualified to help you in gaining the right education for whatever career you would like to pursue.
Josh
Look look look. The student will know when the set foot on the campus.
Alyssa
The most important thing to do before applying to a college or university, in my opinion, is to visit the campus first. Walk around, really get to know your surroundings and if it feels right then it is. Get to know what the college has to offer other then classes. What kind of sports they offer, like varsity, recreational and club sports, and also what kind of clubs they offer. Find one that interests you, that way when you finally arrive at school you know exactly what you want to get involved in. Also by getting involved you meet a lot of people, some whom may become your really good friends. This will make the transition from home to college life even easier. Most importantly, make your final decision based on what you want and feel, not what others persuade you to do.
Mia
I think that college is an amazing experience that everyone should have the opportunity to experience. Choosing the right school for your child or for yourself is very difficult. It's better to go into college at least having an idea of what you would like to major in, and go from there. But if you're undecided, like many incoming college freshman, choosing a school with many options in all sorts of fields is your best bet. Going on lots of college visits is also a good idea, you'll get to see where you could be potentially living, and if you don't like the atmosphere, you're more likely not to enjoy the school. Once you get to college, take lots of classes to discover what you're interested and what you might want to major in. And remember, most students don't know what they want to do with there lives, and that is completely ok.
Jessica
If I could give advice to any student applying for college, I would offer them two words: be true. Look into who you are. What are your unique interests? What sets you apart from a group? Be honest with yourself when you decide which college fits you best. Your friends from home will always be there when you go home for breaks, so don't follow them to their school of choice. If you are true with yourself and pick a college that best fits your needs and interests you will find people with similar qualities and a school that offers what you need. Sometimes this means being the only person from your graduating class to attend a school but it is well, well worth it because your friendships and knowledge will last you a lifetime.
Lauren
Look for a medium size school, if you dont like it you can always go to a bigger or smaller school, because college is a hard transition as is.
Nichole
When i was choosing a college I was focusing a lot on the image of the school. I wanted to go somewhere that had a big name and sounded good to my family and friends. The advice i would give to others is that the name of the school really doesnt matter. You need to find a school that will fufill what you are looking for. The environment and the people will affect you more than the name of the school. I would advise someone to concentrate on how comfortable they think they would be on that campus. Is it the right size, how big of classes do I want, and has my major been successful here in the past? As long as you are happy where you are, and recieve a degree the name or image of the school won't be important at all.