Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

The best piece of advice that I could give to parents and/or students about finding the right college would be to research every aspect of the college and the opportunities and activities it has to offer. How successful you become can be effected on how comfortable you are in the college of your choice. Location and size are huge factors because of how small or big your school population is and how far away from home it is or even if it is located in a city type setting or a country type setting. Also you can make a pros and cons list to better figured out which college suits you best. In order to make the most of the college experience, I would say to explore your options and see what the college has to offer. You can join all different types of clubs or even go into the greek society. Also the friends that you make in college are the friends that stay with you for the rest of your life. Basically, have fun and try new things to better broaden your aspect of life away from home.

Come with a game plan. If you have goals then create sub-goals that help increase your success. Dont allow the first year to go to waste. Although you will hear alot of jargon about everyone does this or that, the more successful students start out strong and have a much easier time adjusting by doing well their first year. If you're under 21 dont succumb to peer pressure, when it comes to alcohol. Many colleges, such as Kent State will either dismiss you from the school or limit certain degree program opportunities such as education and business. Buy a planner!! Organization is your best friend and will prevent over night cramming or turning in late assignments. One thing that I had to get use to at Kent was the lack of homework and only 2 or 3 test a semester. Alot of information is covered and before you know those midterms are approaching. Probably the most helpful advice is make yourself go to every class. Dont allow a few miss classes be the differences between getting a B over an A.Make friends that have similar interest especially career.

I think that it is important to consider what the student wants to achieve, not what the parents want students to achieve. College is not for everyone, it takes a lot of time, money and committment. Sometimes it is better to spend a little more money to go out of state to a college that will give you a boost in your career. Weigh all of your options carefully, not every program is the same, not every school is the same, and not every student is the same. Shop for a college like you would for a new car- one does not run out and buy the first one they see because it is their favorite color- do not choose a campus because it is pretty!

The advice I would give to parents and students about finding the right college is to assess your likes and intrests and find a college that supports them. If you like a smaller environment, look for a smaller college. If you like sports look for a college that supports that.

For students and parents looking for the right college, the most important thing is to pick a college that applies to your needs. For example, someone wishing to pursue a career in the medical field, reasearch the schools of choice and find out what kind of programs are offered to meet your needs. Also, a school that is somewhat close to home can be an advantage as well. When the student is feeling overwhelmed or exhausted he/she can go home and take a break with friends and family. While in college, students need to keep an open mind about their surroundings. For a small town person, going to college can be a culture shock as there are people from all nationalities coming to this school. College is inteded to be fun as well as a great learning experience. This time in your life can't ever be replaced and it's important to make the most of it.

My advice to students to help them find the right college would be to look at colleges closer to home first. Sometimes the best education is right outside your door, not necessarily hundreds of miles from home. I think students tend to want to get far away from their hometown, but then realize how much they miss home. As much as I love Kent, it is great to drive home every once in a while to be with my family. College life is fun and exciting, but it is nice to know I can come home to relax when needed on a weekend. I attended a local college for my first 2 years, then transferred to Kent. This not only saved my parents quite a bit of money but helped me transition to a bigger college with less stress. There is no greater value than that of a college education. It is by far the wisest investment one can make in their future.

Overall, the college that you pick is extremely important for the student and family. Prospective students should look at every aspect of the school including social life, sports, student life, and most importantly academics. Students should also take a tour of the college to make a final decision of whether or not they can actually see themselves at the university and see the greek life and student involvement there. Choosing a school for your college experience is an extremely important and tedious process that should be taken seriously from every point of view. But, most importantly make sure that you, the student, will have fun, be safe, and excel academically!

I would say that the student and parent have to feel comfortable when they are on campus. When you find the college you are looking for you can tell by the feeling you get. You see and talk to other students and know you will fit in. The campus feels like home, and you don't want to leave. To make the most out of college i think you have to prioritize. You can attend the parties and still have good grades if you are organized and diligent about your work. One of the biggest mistakes you can do is get behind in classes or not go to them. Just pay attention in class ask questions and get to know the proffesor. There is no reason why you can't go to parties and have impressive grades. You just can't go out every night.

In order to be successful in a college, students should make exceptional effort in visiting and getting to know the on-campus staff and current students. Walking around the campus, talking with students and asking them about the ups and downs of the university, checking the town in which the campus lies (crime factor, property damage, annual income of residents, hospital ratings, etc) should all be apart of finding a good school. This will be the student's new home-away-from-home and should be treated as such. No one would move to an area that they did not extensively check out beforehand, and a college visit (preferably several) should be no different than looking at relocation. Also, as in high school, there should be regular, set study days/times so that work is finished in time and that there is still enough time left for recreation. Yes, a student is in school to learn, but the brain can only process so much information at once without having an outlet, else stress sets in and the student's health and grades suffer. In addition, finding one friend per class is beneficial as well for notes, studying, and companionship.

You should really look into the college and see what they have to offer and if what you are going there for will be worth your while. I also recommend visiting the school and seeing if you fall in love with it. If you are not sure about it when you see it or when you see the surrounding area you should not go there. Even if you love what they have to offer if you can not see your self happy there you should not force it upon yourself. College is about gaining your indepence and finding out who you are. So do not lose yourself trying to fit in with the "crowd". You will meet so many new people and they become your family. College is your second home you should be happy with it.