Northwestern University Top Questions

Finding the right college should never be about the best ranking. If i had known this in high school, my application process would have been far different. I chose the highest ranked school I was accepted to, and I love it here. However, there are many factors of college-life that my school does not offer me. Sometimes I miss the small, artsy feel of my high-school, and sometimes I feel like I'm missing the big state-school mentality that my friends tell me stories about. I would say that students have to choose what they want, whether it is a place where they can really fit in with a small group of individuals, or with the university as an entire student body. This is the decision that will affect your college experience the most.

The authenticity and value of a college experience is only confined by a student?s will. This value is independent of the caliber of school, quality of student, or demographics the student belongs to. Instead, college satisfaction deals with the comprehensive notion of one?s ?fit? with their environment. Granted, the student must first apply, be accepted, and attend the school that best supplements their future academic and social endeavors. However, a student?s actions and adaptations do not rely on the college settings that are offered to them. Moreover (and as ambiguous as it may sound), the student?s core mindset, intentions, and heart are responsible for their personal happiness. The question, ?how can a student make the most of their college experience?? is infinitely open-ended as is the question, ?how can a college experience make the most of a student?? The constant and widespread worry over what college to attend is fruitless. As long as a student is determined, passionate, and wholehearted, college offers a unique experience where educational gains are boundless and everlasting.

It isn't important to know exactly what it is you want to do "in the real world." It is important to know what makes you happy at this stage in your life. How important is it to you to be challenged academically? How important is community to you? What kind of community do you want? Once you get to school, try as many new things as you can. Freshman year is all about collecting new experiences. You can always get rid of the things you don't like, but if you're paying for college, you might as well get every thing you can out of it.

It's not really where you go, it's how you go through the 4 years that matter.

I would tell them to make the best decision that they can make with the resources and information that they have and don't worry about what you can't control. Soon you will realize that you actually can't control very much. I chose my school mainly because I thought it would give me a great opportunity to play sports at the collegiate level and hopefully one day at the professional level. Needless to say, that plan didn't work out but all was not lost. Luckily, I had given some serious thought and effort to my academic future (a "plan B" if you will) and I ended up falling in love with scientific research. Now, I am going for my PhD in Bioengineering and love it! I don't know if I've made "the most" of my college experience, but I know that I left satisfied. I've always tried to only open doors (or create new opportunities) and close them only when they keep me from opening other doors. From there everything worked itself out and I'm sure the same will happen for you. Good Luck!

When looking at colleges, try not to be pressured by other people's opinions of schools when making your decision. Make sure that you are choosing a school where you feel comfortable, not one that is considered more impressive to other people. Once on campus, make sure to get involved. Join student groups and get to know the people on your floor and in your classes. Realize that if you aren't enjoying school, there are always ways to improve your experience. If you are unhappy socially, try talking to new people in class or getting involved in other student groups. If you are unhappy academically, ask around for help. Professors are usually very good about helping students who have questions, and there are often tutors or TAs available to help you understand concepts. Also remember that very little you decide while in college is permanent. Majors, dorms, and even colleges can all be changed if you are not enjoying your experience.

The most important thing to remember when you're trying to find the right college is that you should base your decision on what you really want out of a school , not on what you've been told college is supposed to be or what others tell you is right. It's important to remember that you only have four years to make the most of it, and while that may sound like a lot of time it can go by really quickly. Take full advantage of the extra curricular programs and organizations because they provide a unique opportunity to meet people and do things you may never have been exposed to otherwise. Finally, the most important thing to remember is confidence. It's easy to second-guess yourself or become one of the crowd in college, but you have to remember that you got into the school based on your own merit and you deserve to take full advantage of everything the school has to offer. Try everything the school has to offer and step out of your comfort zone, because some of the best things we find in life are things we never expected to like.

It is very important to visit the campus of a college that you're interested in and talk to students who currently go there. You should take a tour of campus and attend any relevant information sessions offered by the admissions office, but it is also very important to talk to students who aren't tour guides. If you don't know anyone who goes there, just stop someone walking by. The way that a "stranger" (current student) reacts to you can be a good indication of how friendly people are on that campus. Ask current students what they think about things like: do students have fun, or are they very stressed? Are there a lot of extracurricular activities? Are there cultural events on or near campus? Are students from different places? How's dorm life? Is there public transportation? Is the campus safe? Students will generally be more honest about the social scene and academics than university-trained students.

Finding the right college and making the most of the experience can be daunting; but if you keep an open mind and strong sense of self, your college experience will be fantastically rewarding. My high school guidance counselor told a friend of mine that, because of her learning disability, her only hope for higher education was community college. She graduated cum laude from Indiana University. Whether you are certain of your future profession or not, the right school is waiting for you. Take a good look at yourself. What makes you happy? Don?t settle for a school because you think it?s your only option. Set your geographical boundaries and evaluate the schools in that region against your personal criteria. The right choice may not be the obvious one. Once there, embrace opportunity. Take valuable risks. You will gain from these years only as much as you invest. Don?t predefine yourself, but don?t lose sight of who you are. At freshman orientation, an upperclassman told me, ?Blink. That?s how fast college goes.? They may go by like the blink of an eye, but your college years will be rich with memories that last a lifetime.

Finding the right college is not necessarily something that can be accomplished until one stands in hindsight. Look for a college that has the right size that you think you want; but remember, a small college might get to be too small after freshman and sophomore year. Remember that your preferences might change in the next four years, thus, making the most of your college experience is keeping an open mind throughout your time at your institution. Every semester can bring new chances. Different classes can be a renaissance for your academic vigor. Rushing a sorority or fraternity can do the same for your social life. So stay open to new things and you never know what will be the next step in improving your college experience exponentially. If anything, I have learned that during high school, I never could have thought of the things that make me happy at college that I know now. So find the college you feel most comfortable with, but also take comfort in the idea that you and your school grow together. And you will grow to feel at home there if you go about it in the right way.