Knox College Top Questions

Many people focus on going to a school with a "name" or a reputation for something, like research. However, if those kinds of schools don't fit you as a person or your personality, it doesn't matter what their merits are, they are not going to give you the best education. The best education comes from a school that fits YOU. College is about getting a degree and hopefully securing future employment, but it's also about improving yourself as a person. College should help you learn not only about school subjects, but also about your own subjective take on the world and on yourself. At graduation, you should be a pro in whatever major your choose, but also know yourself better than you did four years before. Search for the college that focuses on you and your own personal development, as well as your academic development.

Make sure you visit the college campus and if you are interested in sports, make sure you meet with your coach and find out how it fits. Also determine your academic dreams, if you are looking for a tough academic school, meet with professors and decide if the college meets your needs. Also, if you are in need of financial aid, meet with the financial aid office with the campus and pick apart the package they have awarded you. Good luck! The perfect college is out there for you so stick with it (and it might not be the college you think!).

Don't be afraid to say after your first year that you would rather go somewhere else. Most of the time its easier to get into a school as a transfer student anyway, so if your not happy then make a change. And live on campus, preferably a dorm, atleast one year. It will be crazy and frustrating and annoying at times, but you will walk away with some of the best friends of your life. You will also learn to not be so uncofortable with nudity. Demand what you want from the school, if you scream for it long enough the administration will come through. And don't take out too many student loans, I"m really in debt now and regret it beyong everything else.

To prospective students and parents, As a senior I feel especially able to offer advice on making the most of your college experience. My best advice when choosing a school is to be realistic about your abilities, academically, financially, and emotionally.Pay attention to the average high school GPA and SAT/ACT scores reported. These do not necessarily indicate potential success, but they do provide a good picture of the students you could be attending classes with. To some degree all colleges are competitive, be realistic about you ability to compete with those students. At the same time college should be challenging and provide a step up from High School. Finding the perfect balance is a key to a successful college experience. Be realistic financially, but do not let school loans scare you away. A good education does not necessarily need to come with a huge price tag. Lastly, college is about exploring new things take advantage of every opportunity! College has been a fabulous experience for me and with a careful college search it can be for you too! Good luck! 2009 Graduate from a Small Private Liberal Arts College

College is, for most people, the first chunk of time they have away from their parents, which really allows it to be quite a formative time. So, you really have to go to a place that has less restrictions as opposed to more. College is learning new material, certainly, but it's also (to sound oh so clich?) focused on learning about yourself. So, you want a lot of options at whatever school you're going to, as that will provide you with many more paths on which to take yourself. For future job searches, since so many people go to college these days, most people don't really look at your undergraduate degree, so don't worry. Feel free to do what you want, and worry about doing something with it later. Don't stress, it'll be awesome.

College is one of the most imortant periods of life. When chosing where to go I believe it is most important to connect with the people you will be surrounded by, including both students and faculty. Therefore, one should talk to students and proffessors who are actually at the school, rather than going solely off information gained from brochures and administrators whose job it is to sell the school. Campus visits are helpful, but not always practical. If you can visit for more than one day you will gain a better feel for the college than if you simply come for an afternoon. Additionally, when parents and students visit together they should spend some time exploring the campus seperately. The information presented to students and parents can be different and it's important to get as much input as possible about what life at the school is really like. If a visit is not possible, read student generated reviews, and make an attemt to correspond with individuals at your top choice schools. Web sites that review faculty performance are also helpful when determening the overall quality of teaching at the school. Most importantly, chose the college that feels right.

Take an overnight visit if possible so that you can get away from your parents and THEN see how comfortable you are. And go to a college in a location different than your home town/home area. Expanding your horizons is uber-valuable.

pick a place that interests you and do not be afraid to socialize and get your hands dirty. College is the best time of your life if you want it to be.

Don't be closed minded based on the size of the school. A lot of small schools are very highly rated.

Keep an open mind and don't be too discouraged if you don't get in or are waitlisted at your top choice. Have a wide range of schools that you'd be very happy attending. Parents, allow your children to make this decision for themselves (but help with the applications fees, of course). The best thing my parents did was let me go wherever I wanted for college; there was no school too big or too small or too faraway that they didn't want me to go to. Just let your child find wherever they're happiest. End of story. Students, be mature in your decisions and don't choose a school that's 800 miles from home just because you want a change of scenery. I applied to 19 schools in the U.S. and the U.K. and I ended up going to a school three hours from where I live in Chicago, but the flat prairies of Western Illinois are definitely a change of scenery for me.