Mercer University Top Questions

If I could go in time knowing what I know now, I would go to a state school instead of a private school, because state schools cost less than private schools. Private schools can be very good, but a person could get an education from a state school that is just as good as the education from a private school. I would also make sure that I knew exactly what I wanted to do before applying to a four year school. I would also think about what type of degree programs that the school offers. Some schools are known for certain things, and a degree in a certain field from a certain school might be better than getting a degree in that same field from another school. I would also tell anyone going to college not to let anybody influence their choice of college. A person's choice of which college to go should be that person's choice because they are the person that has to go to that college, not anyone else.

Visit lots of colleges. Don't pick a college because of anything that anyone who works for the college has said to you. Remember, colleges are a business, they see you as a potential customer, and will say almost anything to sell themselves to you. Use that to your advantage. If you have the credentials like a good GPA, lots of extracurricular activities, and strong test scores, do not let a college offer you less than you believe you deserve. Pit the colleges against one another to see who will go the farthest to win your business. As for being succesful in college, it takes two skills. Time management, and responisibility. On most college campuses there will always be something more fun going on than studying for that big exam. Learning how to say no when that person down the hall comes and asks you to go to a kegger, or trivia night, or some other social event is crucial. Engage with your professors because you will get a lot more from their lectures when you know where they are coming from. Also join the professional society for your major. This will provide invaluable support, and networking when job hunting.

Students should choose a college that they like and not where their parents would like them to go, and once you get to college, continue to work hard and enjoy the fun times.

Take all those college advice books with a grain of salt. College is what you make of it-- make it your own experience, and stop trying to follow every piece of advice everyone else gives you.

Make sure you look at all the options, don't just look at the monetary amounts. Even though you may have recieved some kind of scholarship to a school, it does not mean that it is the correct choice for you. Look at the educational aspects, the clubs and intramural events, the school spirit factor, and whether the people have the same goals and ideas you do, because those are same people you will be living with for the next four years, and you can't survive happily without friends and friendly classmates. Also, make sure that the educational requirements are to your level, if you look too high your work may suffer.

The first question I recommend asking is "does the school fit me?" If you want to graduate and still party four nights a week, then you need to ask how academically demanding the school is. The more academically challenging the school is, the less you will be able to party. If you want to go to grad school, then you need to look at the strength of the program you want to go to grad school for. The second question I recommend asking is "does the school feel right?" Visit all of the schools you are considering and get a feel for the school before making a final decision. In order to make the most of your college experience, you must decide what you want to achieve while at the school before classes start. Do you want a B.A.? Do you want an MRS degree? Do you want to leave with a marriage ring as well as a class ring? The answers to these questions will indicate how much time you will want to spend sleeping, studying, and socializing. Of these three categories of activites, humans can only do (at most) two of them well. Stick to your plan.

My advice to students or parents looking for the right college is to start applying early to a few schools. Students should also visit the different colleges that they are interested in, to get a feel of what it is like and the environment. Do not fall into the trap of deciding to follow your friends to the colleges that they are planning to go to, rather choose what is best for you. Also, do not decide whether a college is good for you based on its tuition. Most colleges offer a good amount of financial aid, so if you did well in high school, applied early, and searched around for outside scholarship sources, you should have no problem getting a reasonable financial aid package. College is a fun and an exciting time of your life. Unlike high school, where the work was easy and you rarely studied but still got good grades, college is about working hard and using your time wisely. There are alot of distractions like parties and friends, but if you are focused, you will be able to not only do well in college, but also have alot of fun. Good luck!!

Make sure you can afford the one you choose.

Look for a college that has a history of producting graduates that are outstanding in all fields of study, that offers programs in all fields of study, that is also small enough for students get individual attention from the staff and admistration, that is greared towards learning more that sports or partying. Look for a college that offers moral guidance without interferring or judging your beliefs or lack there, that is in a community large enough to offer much but not be distracting and where the whole community respects and supports it colleges, is one where people of the city are friendly and caring as a way of life. A school where emphasis is always on learning, self improvement and service to the world we live in. A college that has all these thing but isn't overpriced.

Visit every campus and ask copious amounts of questions to admissions and financial aid. You really want to be sure about how stable the tuition rate is before starting at a college and finding out for next year you need $2000 above what you had for the previous year because tuition has gone up. To really make the most of your college experience you do not want unexpected problems with financial aid. You must also get involved on campus. Find a club or just a group of friends to hang out with at leats once a week. Study enough to make exceptional grades but do not lose yourself in textbooks. Find out what your school offers to struggling students before you start to struggle in a class that way you will not panic when you need some help.