Quinnipiac University Top Questions

get involved on campus. and make sure when looking for colleges, that the kids are around on the weekend and its not empty on the weekends.

Let the student decide what they like, dont force them into something that they will not like or else they will not adjust and do well. Look at a lot of schools, visit them, go on tours, do your research.

Researching the academics, location and campus scenery are all important factors to consider when seeking the perfect college, but I would advise future students and their parents to not overlook the student body. When I was searching for my perfect collegiate fit a few years ago, I wrongly assumed that every school would have an appropriate level of diversity--I would easily find friends wherever I went because I was bound to click with someone. How could a college not be diverse? I mean, students were coming from different areas with different socio-economic status and different ethnicity...right? Though it is true that I found students from all different backgrounds, some social standings, ethnicities and geographic areas are more prominent than others. Every school has a personality and it is important to delve into each potential school's persona before deeming it "right". Shadow a student for a night to ask questions and get an insider's view of the student body. Remeber: it is you peers that will shape your college experience. If you fit well with the general students' personality, you will feel free to let your own persona shine as an individual in a larger environment.

Parents and students should make sure that they find a school where the student feels comfortable and thinks they will be happy. The name of the school is not always as important. I have many friends that went to schools purely based on reputation or rankings and were not happy, which resulted in the student deciding to transfer. As long as the student is doing well in their classes and is happy, then they should be grateful and happy with the decision they made.

I encourage every family to visit the school, and if possible, take advantage of any opportunity for a potential student to shadow an undergraduate. This will enable them to see if they really connect with the setting. Be sure to research the dorms and meal plans as well because both can really make or break a college year.

I think that you have to be true to your self - don't pick a school based on the fact that it has a great reputation. For example, don't go to Harvard just because it's Harvard. If you have a major in mind that they don't offer, you're going to get a better education at a lesser known school. You will get "the feeling" about one or more campuses - follow that gut instinct! It may not be while you're visiting the campus, it can happen at any point. I'd suggest narrowing your options down to a few, then visiting those few campuses several times, talking to some students and following them around for the day to get a feel for what it's actually like to attend the college. Most importantly, have fun!

It is very important to visit and research schools before you think that they're the school for you.

Take your time. There is no rush to find the perfect college. Talk to students and get a feel for the campus. Be open minded. Do your research. When you finally decide and enroll, walk around campus with a smile and the mindset that you are being educated to help make the world a better place.

If there's a school that is very important to you, stick with it. Even if you're not immediately accepted, you may find it better to wait a year to get into the school, than to go for a second choice that you're not entirely sure about.

Don't pick a school based on its appearance. Also make sure you and your student understand how student loans work before racking up too much debt.