Ashley
Consider what you want most out of your school - size, distance from home, lots of campus activities, fraternities/sororities, and dont forget majors offered. I personally knew I wouldnt do well living in a small cramped dorm with another person, so I chose a school that was within commuting distance from home until I got old enough to move into an off campus apartment. Its most important to think about what will make YOU most comfortable. Dont get caught up in what schools your highschool friends are going to or what their plans are.
Aleashia
I would advise parents/students to go visit the campuses during the middle of a semester to see what it's really like. I didn't visit the Old Dominion campus, but I got lucky because Old Dominion is a great school.
Sarah
Choosing a college is a huge decision. It not only decides where your degree will come from, it shapes where you will live for 4 years and the people you will be surrounded by. Make sure you get the opinions of current students and really take a look around the entire campus. A one-day tour may be offered, but take the initiative to really get a good look at the school of your choice. Weight the pros and cons, but at the end of the day, remember that you will have to live with your decision so make it a good one.
Alyssa
To start I think the student and their parents need to explore what field will be best for the student because once the classes begin the student will be working to that certain field. If the student changes his/her mind later the classes they took in the beginning might not count and all that money will be lost. They also want to explore how the campus is set up; the more open the school is I think it is more vulnerable to strangers on campus and crime. The next topic the parents and students need to keep in mind is if the college has the field you are interested in it and if they are well known for that field. To get the most out of the college experience would be to live on campus and join activities provided on campus. I hear most people talking about greek life; this might be a good way to keep the students in check with their school work because tey have to do good in school or they will be kicked out of their groups.
Brian
The most important thing i would suggest for parents to do when choosing a college is to know your child. Do not pick a school based on where you want them to go or what you think looks good. Pick a school that will challenge their weaknesses and build on their strengths. There are so many success stories in the world from people that attended unknown colleges or no college at all. Dont get caught up in the "Name Game". Send your child to a place where they can grow, succeed, and eventually perform in the workplace. Prestige may get your student in the door of a company, but experience and self awareness will keep them there.
Students should be honest with themselves at all times. If you know that you are going to have problems getting up in the morning to go to class, do not schedule morning classes. If you love the beach, a school near the beach is probably not a good opption because it will be even more enticing at 3 oclock in the afternoon when you have to choose between that or English 101. Lastly, Apply for scholarships and dont be scared to ask questions!
Mike
Find a place that you will have fun at and enjoy the area, and the people at it.
Meris
Make sure the student likes the campus alot, that theres grocery stores, etc. availble around the campus, and that the dorms are likeable. Living on campus is better first year and then consider living off campus.
Brittany
I believe the student should visit alot of different colleges. Also i think it is important to visit colleges that may not be as big or as well known so that you can meet new people and have a better experience. Out of all the kids that went to college in my high school about 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of them went to the college about 15 minutes away, a small liberal arts college. When i came back from my school that was 5 hours away i realized how much i had grown and matured. The people that stayed around our town were the exact same and hadn't made any new friends.
Michelle
When it comes to choosing the right college, the first big thing is the location. You need to decide whether you want to live close to or far away from home, and you need to figure out how living out of state will affect your tuition costs. How the college treats your major can also be helpful in finding the right one. Do they respect your chosen field of study or do they treat your major as less important than others on campus? Also, in choosing the right college, focus on the cost of the overall tuition and your access to financial aid and scholarships. The cost of going to college is steadily increasing and it is necessary to find one that fits your budget while satisfying all the other categories that are important to you. Organization will help you make the most out of your college experience because it keeps you from missing deadlines or social events and allows you to plan ahead. Having small goals that cumulate into larger ones will also help. Finally, remember that you are in college for an education. If you value learning, then you will make the most out of your college experience.
James
Make sure that the college is affordable. Also make sure that there are extracurricular activities YOU are interested in trying. If you are an adventurous person, try to stay near a place that has new, and familiar, adventures that are easy to get to. If you decide to work while in college, make sure that there are places similar to what you may think you wish to study and that there are different place to fall back on in case that area just isn't you.