Maryland Institute College of Art Top Questions

Parents and students need to choose not the school which presents itself best, but the school which is the best. The measuring stick for 'best' is irrelevant, so long as the student knows what he or she is looking for. Perhaps one school has immaculate grounds but a terrible library, and the student is pursuing a research-heavy degree. Perhaps another school has fantastic academics and an 0-16 team. The world-class pre-med program is irrelevant to the high-school star quarterback looking to make a name for himself. Parents should consider just how heavy that financial burden will be four years from now. Is $80,000 really worth it for a private school's liberal arts education, when a similar education could be obtained from the state school for a fraction of the cost? If the student is interested in an expensive liberal arts school, consider enrolling at a community college to knock out the general requirements at little or no cost, and then transferring to the larger school for the degree-specific courses. It's difficult in the whirlwind arena of high school to choose a college wisely, but it's possible, with careful consideration.

When it comes to selecting a college and hoping to have a fabulous four years of life spent there, there are really no guarantees. A few thousand dollars can be spent searching for the right fit, but is there ever a perfect fit concerning a home other than the womb--although it's not to dishearten visiting campuses. The only guarantee is what the student makes of what they have been given at any given location, which is simply a point on a map. What a student brings to the school--and really anywhere--determines the kind of experience they are going to have. Some suggestions that seem universally applicable are the following, but not limited to: 1) approaching all the professors in the student's schedule and really getting to know them, 2) doing all the work necessary for each class, as time permisses, 3) sleeping and eating and cleaning regularly, 4) maintaining a social life of some sort to retain stable composure. Find a place that suits your economic breeches, go there, work hard, and remember to play just as hard or harder!

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Spend time there. Imagine yourself as a student. Go to classes. Ask students on the streat questions. Don't rush your visit. Consider the area the school is in among your top reasons to go. spend time around town. Be involved. Go to class.

Be yourself, and try to have fun as well as being responsible.

When visiting various campuses don't get too overwhelmed; when you visit the right school for you, you will know it.

When you are looking for the right college, you need to visit the school and tour the facilities. Speaking to the students will let you get a feel of their classes, and how they really feel about their college. The students at the school will be the most honest with you. Walking beyond the campus into the community will help you get a better feel of what it will be like when you attend, whether it be a city, or suburban area. If it is in a city, make sure there is public transportation available near your campus and not just by a car.

go to a college that seems enthusiastic about the major you intend to go in to.

When you're looking for a college, make sure you find somewhere that you are going to enjoy being for the next four years. Being in a good environment is not only going to help you enjoy your time better, it will help you be comfortable branching out into new areas, minimize stress, and create an all encompusingly better experience. On top of that your parents won't be wasting money by sending you to a school where stress and discomfort would lead to underachievement and could ultimately lead to you switching schools and wasting time, class work, and money recovering the classes you missed. Talk to the students, they know the school better then the admissions officers and can give you a better feel for the school and the environment. Wherever you go just remember to have a good time. Studying is always important but so is getting into the real world and interacting with people. Go somewhere you enjoy being and get out and have fun every now and then, if you ballance everything right you will have both a successful and an enjoyable college experience.

Visit the schools while there in session, most schools give tours, you can sit in on classes, try the food, use the bathroom, talk to some students and just get a feel for the area. You'll be able to get a much better feeling for the school that way, because of course the school looks good on the website, they made it look like that. You really need to see it for your self to know if you'll like it, and try going to more than one school so you can compare.