Knox College Top Questions

If you're not sure what kind of school you want or in what setting you would learn best, visit colleges of all sizes in cities, in towns, and in the country. Find where you fit. It should be fairly obvious, if not on the first visit, then definitely by the time you are making your final decision. The most important thing is to make sure you are comfortable with the student body, because you will be going to school with them for a while. If they are all artsy or competitive, and you're not, that may not be the school for you. Sit in on a class, stay overnight, eat the cafeteria food - do everything you can to picture yourself there and when you get there for your first year, do your best to be yourself or find yourself. Make friends, join a club, take a random class just because it looks interesting - enjoy your independence, but call home evey once in a while, because your parents will most likely miss you. Take advantage of everything the school has to offer. When you leave there wiser and more responsible, you will have gained something infinitely valuable.

Student need to find the right fit for their goals. The absolute best way to do this is to speak with current students at the school and look beyond what the Admissions office provides. There is often much more to a school than the admissions staff is willing to provide, and such information can make or break the decision on whether or not to attend a certain school. For example, while many prospective students will get a college catalog, they won't get a college course schedule. I was shocked to discover that the courses in the catalog were not offered every term, and that some of them wouldn't be offered for years. This was extremely frustrating and disappointing. Furthermore, look into the details and reputation of the specific program you are interested in. While a school may have a good (or bad) overall reputation, the specific program you prefer may be a completely different story. Try to discover the qualifications of the professors and the detailed program requirements so that you know exactly what you're getting yourself into. Finally, ensure that the town and area fit your needs and are not too large, or too small.

I would advise students to look through a lot of colleges: on the internet, in books, through friends, family. You can never do to much research. Most of you at least have at least a vague idea of what kind of college they want to go to, follow it. I would also advise you to take a look at a few colleges that at first glance don't seem to fit you, you might be in for a surprise. Don't be scared to apply to a large (8) number of colleges, throught the common application it's fairly simple and if money is a problem most colleges will give you a waiver. Also make sure that in that group there are a few 'sure' colleges where you are certain you will get in and a couple that you feel are out of your league, it never hurts to try. Don't be scared to tell colleges that you will probably attend the least expensive, if they realy want you they'll make an effort. And don't forget to visit as many colleges as you can before you decide where you will be living for the next four years.

I really don't want to sound prejudiced, but make sure your college is willing to offer you a decent financial aid package, even if you're so-called middle class and/or Caucasian. I was offered a work-study award, but could not find a job and therefore forfeitted the award. If you take a class with an adjunct or visiting professor who hasn't built up a good reputation among students in previous classes, you're rolling the dice with your tuition money--not smart. Ask around before you take a class--a professor can make all the difference, for good or for ill. Unless your school is like Wheaton College where you have professional chefs and food made from raw ingredients every day, you're probably not going to like the cafeteria food for very long. If possible, cash out caf meals for dining dollars, which are more flexible and can be used to buy things at college convenience stores, etc. E-mail, IM, or phone your roommate in advance and learn about them over the summer. Building a good rapport early minimizes headaches later.

My advice on choosing the right college would be to visit many different campuses. Decide which campus to attend based on which one you would feel most comfortable living at for however many years it takes to complete a program. I feel it is less important to choose a school based on the program you think you want to complete because it is likely that you will change your mind many times after being exposed to new ideas and paths. The important thing is being in a comfortable environment that is conducive to expanding your mind.

Try and find the college you think is the best fit for you by visiting and researching and by all means, apply there, but don't freak out if you don't end up going to the your first choice. Just give it a chance; believe you can have fun and love it there. I'm going to my last choice school (out of seven) and I have ended up enjoying it beyond what I ever could have expected - I love it there.

Do your research, and never attend a school based on pictures seen online and in the prospectus. ALWAYS visit the school and make sure you talk to the students about how they feel. If 3/5 people say the school is great, but 2 seem to think you shouldn't attend the school, go with the 2 (as pessimistic as it may sound). Also, as a general rule of thumb, health/science majors should avoid private schools at all costs. Their funding is insufficient to allow the student to truly benefit from the learning experience.

Students, be yourself and don't worry. You don't have to be where you are, you are free. Do what you want and be happy, no pressure. Parents, let them get dirty.

Investigate and question as much as you can. Remember, if you don't feel comfortable when you visit, you probably won't feel comfortable while you attend.

Meet as many people at the school as possible-- it will give you a great idea of what to expect at the school. I even used the internet to get to know people at my school. because I was not able to visit. And don't forget that while the college decision is a big choice, it is not the choice that will define you for the rest of your life, so please don't panic! I had several friends who were in a huge frenzy to figure out where they wanted to go, and I was pretty calm about it, and I am just as happy with my choice as they are. Yes, college is about learning and the future, but what's the point if you're not having any fun?