Roger Williams University Top Questions

Don't base your final decision on only one visit to campus on a formal tour. RWU was originally my third choice out of four colleges even after the formal tours. However, I attended an accepted students day where I was able to interact with current students at all of my intended colleges and RWU quickly moved to first place. Seeing the students in action is the only way to get a true feel of what it will be like to study and live there. Meeting current students can change your mind very quickly either for or against. Take all things into consideration, including distance from home. I orginally wanted Florida because of my major but was able to find something much better without having to deal with airfare. I am extremely happy that I attended accepted students day and ended up where I am. RWU is the best for me!

You need to look at all different schools in all different places. You need to look at colleges in warm places and cold places and you need to look at schools near and far from your home. You also need to look at schools of different sizes small and large.

Visit campuses and talk with students who are NOT employed by the university giving tours to find out what the campus is really like!

To make sure that the program is excellent, that the classes for the major are small so that the student can know their professors and vice versa, and that there are a wide variety of clubs/organizations available to make friends.

Be informed. I think it's important to completely understand the schools you're applying for; academics, surrounding area, clubs/groups, food services, etc. You also have to be realistic as to how comfortable the student is leaving home and changing their life. If they don't seem quite ready, a school smaller and closer to home may be the right choice during the adjustment.

Make sure you know what you are looking for in terms of small or big sized colleges. It can get overwhelming to go to a college with a lot of people as opposed to a smaller college, where there is more attention placed on the individual student.

My advice to parents would be to actively help and support their children find the school which would best fit them academically and socially. Parents should not force the coice of a univiersity based on what they think is best for their child, rather what the child feels is the best for them. Students should take a seperate look at the school to discover what it is that truly interets them. For example-spending an overnight at the school will give the student and opportunity to bond with students already at the unversity and to get a sense of the social scene instead of just the academic scene while touring with parents. I feel that it is most important for the students to discover the social scene more in-depth because if they disocver that outside of the classroom they are unhappy in the enviornment of the university they will be unhappy in general, leading to a potential transfer of schools.

Visit all the schools you appply to. You will know what school is right for you when you are standing in the middle of campus and you feel like it could become your second home. Don't give up and settle for a school just because you are sick of looking. Doing research and traveling was the best thing that I did because it opened my eyes to how different each school really can be. Whether you are a city person, or someone who needs to be by the ocean (like me) the only way you will get to know a school is to experince it through a visit.

Do not decide what college to attend based on financial needs. Colleges (especially private) meet the students financial needs. When you (the prospective student) steps foot on a certain campus, they will know if it is right for them. When looking at the college, it is also good to pay attention to the social groups there. College changes people, and someone wouldn't want to change for the worse.I would ultimately live on campus because it allows the student to grow into a responsible adult -- sleeping on college dorm beds and having a community bathroom is apart of the experience. I would not go to a college where the residence halls do not have a common room becase it allows the students to grow closer together with their community. Don't attend a college where everyone goes home on weekends because that spoils college experiences. Also, don't ever be discouraged by not being able to have cars on campus because it's usually to keep students on campus to give them a richer college experience. Moreover, attend a liberal school because conservative colleges will seem more like boarding school than college.

The best piece of advice that I could give to any student or parent would be to make sure the person attending the college likes the college campus. This is very importatnt part, because if you hate the college campus, chances are you will not enjoy the school. Also, get involved when you get to college, it is a great way to interact and meet new people. Hall council is a fantatic way to meet the people you are living with and to also make changes where you see fit. Get your work done on time, go to class, go out on the weekends and enjoy yourself. College is not only about working hard but it is also about making friends and enjoying yourself. After getting your work done, treat yourself by having fun. There is always something happening on campus, so stay connected and involved and you will never have a dull moment.