Brian
In looking for the appropriate school you must consider many things. First, does the school have majors that would lead to a desired career? Second, where is the location? Thirdly, I would ask what type of college experience you are looking for. Are you looking for a party school or a school that places you in your studies all the time? Next, I would have the prospect look into what clubs or organizations interest them. Clubs such as fraternities, sororities, sports or any other. Next would be the living space. This is the part that separates college from high school. You can live at home with different hours or you can live with your friends in your own apartment. Housing gives a student the experience and can make or break the feeling of college. Bottom line, what things make the student happy? Or what things can you look for in a college to fulfill those needs and wants? Lastly, money is a concern, but it should not be the driver of the decision. Choose where to go because you want to go there.
Aimee
Make sure you look at all your options, and make sure you have your finances set each year. If you don't, life will be hard. Also, don't fail classes. Get your homework done right away, then you can play later without having to worry.
Nathan
I found that if i would have taken a year of basic classes to really find what i enjoyedd i would have been better off. At the Milwaukee school of Engineering I was not able to do this, whereas i may have been able to at a different school. So my advice would be to make sure you really know what you want to do before you choose your major.
Robert
Figure out what is most important in the students life first. Decide what type of needs the student required at a school. Find out if the student prefers a fast paced, more work type environment or a slower paced, more time to grasp the concepts environment. When a college is decided, ensure it contains a degree the student is interested in and possibly backup degrees if the student is not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure of his or her career choice. Also check the surrounding area of the college campus for entertainment during the weekends.
No
1. Choose your scope (general region where you want to go to college)
2. Choose a major
3. Make a list of all possible colleges
4. Get the general facts and see which colleges meet your logistical needs.
5. Find student and professional college reviews (they will be more honest then a college's admissions office)
6. Visit the colleges (campus tours and shadows days are good)
7. Apply
8. Visit the colleges you are accepted to.
9. See if you can afford your top choice
10. Accept and succeed
Matthew
Research the job placement rate of the school, the difficulty, and the campus life. Without a good campus life, college can be much more stressful.
Jeremiah
If you are there to become an engineer, start studying and take summer courses. You can never learn too much; unless you do. Then, if you burn out, relax until you can study again. Then repeat the process.
Chris
When choosing a college, I strongly suggest not favoring the colleges that offer the biggest scholarship. Make sure to do your research and find out the total amount of tuition that you still would have to pay. I made the mistake of attending a private school that offered 10K/year, but did not realize that it still would have been cheaper to attend a state school. After doing the research, then definitely go on a tour of the school, and talk to college students around you. Make sure to ask some random students questions about the college because the tour guide, even if a student, will more than likely be biased and supportive of the school in most aspects.
Once attending college, I strongly encourage you to get involved with the campus in anyway possible; clubs, sports, frats/sororities, on-campus jobs, volunteering. From my own experience, the more involved I got on-campus the more enjoyable my time here became. Plus several studies have shown that students that are more involved with their college perform better academically and make more friends. Life is what you make it. Your actions will determine what you get out of your college experience.
Marcus
To find the right college, you must first find out exactly what you want out of college. If you want to meet people and party then find a decent school that is known for its parties. If you wish to be in a certain fraternity or sorority and want to be academically challenged, find the best school with that greek organization. That is the only way to make the best out of college. You have to pick the one that most suites what you want. Once you do find the right college, you have to maintain the right attitude towards it. Make friends that have similar interests as you do. Being in a new environment can be a challenge but having those friends will make your transition to college that much easier.
Jeremy
Participate in a shadow day, if possible, because this can help give you a feel for what life is like on a daily basis at that school. If you know an alumnus of the school, try to get in contact with them and get their perspective and advice. Read reviews on the internet if you can't visit the campus in person, but keep in mind that your experience might be different from the experience of others. Apply to at least a couple schools, so if your first choice is not for you, there are other options available. Consider in advance whether you want to stay close to home or go far away, because it will likely make a difference in how often you see your family. Plan your finances and decide whether you can handle the expenses involved with your choice of college. Value the advice of those around you, but only to a limited extent, because in the end it should be your decision.