Lawrence University Top Questions

Make sure you visit overnight, and do your research on the school! Be sure to go with your gut instinct!

College is the chance to pursue you dreams, aspirations, and goals. It should allow and encourage you to get involved, and be active in the life and choices you make for yourself. Get involved and take advantage of every opportunity you get!

Do all of the research you can to find what schools look to be best on paper in order to follow your dreams. When all is said and done with the paper work: fafsa, applications, and reading, visit the top 5 or 6 schools. Stay on an overnight visit with a current student. From those visits you will find a place where you feel like you belong and will fit in without any trouble. It's hard to go wrong.

The most important issue in finding the right college is finding the one that fits. Most importantly is the student body. Is the typical student one who you could normally have a friendship with? Also, is the weather something that you are able to adapt to? Going to college is a huge transition, and it is beneficial for the student to minimize as many changes as possible. Either way though, no matter what college you attend, there are ways to make it work. Just because it is not your first pick or rather, your top picks, every college has its perks. Finding your niche is the biggest thing and if you think you can do that at a university, then you will do great.

Visit! And meet with the teachers you will be spending a lot of time with! I play percussion, so I had two lessons with the percussion professor and spent two visits observing him in his normal lessons and in his ensemble rehearsals. Once you are at college, take every opportunity presented to you, and remember that college isn't life, take a look outside your college bubble once in a while. Relax sometimes, and be open to new friends and new ideas.

To all parents and students, You should all look for schools that match the students' interests, plans, and motives. Otherwise the student will not feel comfortable in his/her school. For example, what if the student is a serious student who wants to become a physician. A school known for its parties will clash with the student completely. Such an environment could ruin his/her academic standing. Therefore, you should both look for school that matches. It is the best way to truly reap the benefits of the school you wish to attend. Do not attend a school just because of its prestige or its location. Look at what really matters to the student and encourage him to seek a school that will satisfy his interests. Once you both find an ideal college, seek out activities that interest the student from which he may learn. Using the previous example of the pre-med student, this student should join activities such as a pre-med association. Not only will it benefit him/her in his education, but it will give him/her the chance to meet people with similar interests which could grow into a meaningful friendship. In short, get involved.

I have very simple advice, namley make sure that you take time and stay overnight at the school you are thinking of attending. Also make sure that you talk to the students at the school, as they will be honest with you. Teachers, Advisiors, and coahces will tell you half truths and give you a sked view of what the school is really like.

Have fun, don't stress too much and just enjoy this time.

I would definitely tell parents to let students choose their own school because students will have to deal with it for four - or more - years. Also, what really worked for me when finding the right college was researching it through Princeton Review. What also really worked was that I got a chance to visit Lawrence and all other schools I applied to, and just saw the school for myself. I really encourage students to research the school through resources such as Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report to discover the personality of the school, and after that, VISIT the schools! Visiting the school is so important. With that, I think if you research the school and find the one that is appropriate for your personality, your college experience will be great because it will feel right for you. It may become challenging, but it's your school, and through that I think you develop a certain sense of responsibility and honor, and so if you're at the right school for you, "making the most of the college experience" will come naturally.

The one thing that helped me most, being a hockey player, was asking myself "Would I like this school, or is this school a good fit for me if I don't play hockey here?" That really puts things into perspective.