Messiah College Top Questions

Make visits to your top choices, and talk to the students about the questions you have. Most students are willing to answer questions and will be honest, and visiting will give you a feel for the ins and outs of every day life at the college Give thought to school size- it plays heavily into the experience, socially and academically. Think about location- your distance from home will affect how frequently you're able to return on long weekends and breaks. Consider the climate of the school- a consistently cold environment can really bring you down if you're not up for it. If you're sure you know what field you want to study, research which schools are best in that specific area- just because a school isn't on a top 20 overall list doesn't mean it isn't excellent in your area of interest. If you have an interest in studying abroad, make sure they have diverse programs beforehand. Once you've chosen, take advantage of the extracurricular activities offered by the school. Most schools have trips and activities freely available; keep your eye open for them and if you're interested, don't think twice.

To Students: Reach for your dreams, and don't let anyone tell you what you can't do. Apply for every school that interests you. It's better to try and to not get in than to always wonder "what if I had applied?". Study hard, but don't be afraid to make friends and have a social life. Pick a major you love, and stick with it even when it gets tough. Forge relationships with your professors, they will be your most important friends and mentors. Don't fall in with the wrong crowd, remember, you're an adult now and need to act like one. And stay in touch with your parents, because when the going gets tough they will be the ones to back you up. Most importantly, enjoy the experience, you only get this chance once.

The best advice I could give would be to visit the schools that you are thinking about attending and if possible stay with and talk to actual students who are attending the school. Make certain that the school you are considering is strong in whatever area you want to study and if you are uncertain then try a liberal arts school that has a lot of options and is not adverse to students trying different things. Also, don't give up on a school because it seems to be expensive; their is financial aid available if you are willing to search and work for it.

Go to a college that has many activities that you can do, especially on weekends.

College is what you make of it. You can make it a really fun, creative, stimulating, inquisitive time or you can make it boring, miserable, and dull. It is up to the student to make the college experience into what that student wants. One way to make the college experience great is by choosing a college that fits the students needs. This means considering what size college and what type of college (public/private) the student would like to attend. It also means considering things such as what majors, sports or clubs the college offers. If a students that finds colleges that are generally what he/she is looking for, choosing between schools becomes much easier. It is a decision that should be thought about seriously by the student buy it should not be a decision that is stressed over needlessly. As long as the college meets the student's basic needs then it will be a good fit for that student. College is what you make of it.

My advice is to look beyond the numbers. As high school seniors, students and their parents are bombarded with teacher to student ratios, diversity percentages, the number of clubs, how many majors are offered, the acreage of the campus, and so forth. Although college is an important next step after high school and a stepping stone to a bright future, it's also a once in a lifetime opportunity, and students should use it as a growing opportunity. Every college has professors, every university has classrooms and dining halls. Ten years from now it will not have mattered which college or university you took your general education courses at or where you got your degree. What will matter is the person you are. At which school are you going to be a better person after 4 years? Where will you make your life-long friends? Where will you make the memories that you reminisce over years from now? Where will you find your character developing along with your intellect? To make the most of the college experience, students should live in the moment and take each day in stride, because it's the small things in life that count.

Forest Gump once said that "Life is like a box of chocolates." I believe this is true. You cannot know what kind of chocolate is in the box unless you open it up and try them all. And yes, you will get chocolates that you don't like and ones that dry your mouth out, but you will learn for next time which ones to avoid. There will also be those chocolates that are so good, you wished that they filled the whole box. College is like life (and chocolate). You never really know what you are going to get. You may chose colleges or activities that are like the bitter chocolates. They may leave a bad taste in your mouth and make you not want to try another one. Keep trying though! College is full of the good chocolate times and bad. It is only through trial and error that you get full of wonderful memories...oh, and chocolate.

Choosing the right college to attend is one of the most important decisions you will make. At this college you will be trained in the profession you choose and most likely work in until you decide to retire. Something that may seem scary at first really can turn into a nightmare, or a dream. To find the right college, I would have to recommend getting as much information that you can about colleges that fit the requirements you want. If you are interested in a college in your state, with a certain tuition, and certain major, do the research and find the schools that match. Upon researching the matching schools, write pros and cons, which will help you put down on paper all the randomness that is flowing through your mind. The college years are said to be some of the most memorable times of your life. Making good decisions is an important part of this experience, the first decision about where to go. If you don't have a certain major choosen, don't stress. Academic advisors are available to help you make the deciison about a career. Most important, make friends, but choose them carefully.

I would advise parents and students to start the college search early and to make sure to visit the college before making a final decision. Parents, be sure to listen to what your child is interested in so that they end up at the school where they want to be. Distance is also a crucial issue when it comes to choosing a school. I would advise students to go far enough away so that there is a feeling of independence yet close enough for the comfort of security. To make the most of your college experience make sure you put yourself out there and meet new people. Classes are important and so is making friends and building relationships that last a lifetime. Work hard but have fun at the same time.

Deciding which college to attend is an important decision for the student as well as the parents. In order to ensure the right decision, it is essential that the parents and student communicate with each other early on what they want from a college; level of academic standards, proximity from home, religious/cultural affiliation, cost/financial aid, etc. The student and parents should make a joint decision about the right college after visiting multiple campuses and determining which would be the best fit for the student, as well as which college the parents are comfortable with. This process takes time, and the parents and student should start it as soon as possible. Once the student decides on a college and moves in, s/he will want to make the most of the college experience by making friends and participating in extracurricular activities. students should join as many clubs and activities as possible that cater to their favorite hobbies. In these clubs, students can find lifelong friends that share their passion and enjoy their company. Building relationships while succeeding academically at the college chosen by parents and/or students will help the student make the most of his/her college experience.