Saint Mary’s College of California Top Questions

First and foremost is to find a school that has the major the student wants. Next, look for a school that is reasonable for tuition price and availability of on campus resources. Always take a tour of the campus and ask questions about the school and what it has to offer. If the student wants to explore and attend a college that is far away from home then let it happen. The child wants to be able to have the sense of freedom to see if he or she can be independent. Do not restrict the child from what he or she wants to do. It is always great to be supportive about a child's decision. Lastly, do not go to college just to party. Parties come and go but grades are the ones that defines a person. Do not waste time in college because you will regret it.

it's hard to say, since everyone is so unique. Really try to know who you are as a person and what type of experiences you're looking for in a college. If you want to party a lot, St. Mary's wouldn't be the best choice. If you're dedicated to social justice and liberal arts, st. mary's would make sense for you. Also make it a point to visit the colleges you're seriously considering BEFORE sending in an application, and asking people who attend that school what their experiences are like.

If I could give any word of advice to parents or students searching for the right college fit, it would be to set high standards and dream big. Don't settle for second best. Visit the colleges you want to apply to and be very critical. Ask lots of questions and make sure that it is the right fit for you (not your friends or your family or the location in relation to home). Once you have found the school that seems right for you, make contact with present students and ask what events are happening on the campus. Try to participate and realy step into the college's community. It will make the separation process (that begins the minute your parents leave after moving you in) a whole lot easier because you will have friends to lean on and a new family to be a part of!

Please find a place that feels like home. The studies become as your routine and therefore you can do great!

Have no doubts and know that things will work out, don't stress out about it. It will be fine.

Seek out information by going to college fairs, asking questions, visiting colleges, anything! Have a positive attitude because what you put into it is definitely what you'll get out of it!

Spend as much time at the colleges you are considering as possible before you make a decision. Spend time with the students there. Visit campus on the weekends. Go to classes. Ask students their opinions of the school and don't just attend Admissions hosted programs! The Admissions Offices and the students working there are trained to tell you about the best aspects of the school. This information is important, true, but just as important, are the worst aspects. Find out what students dislike about campus, classes, the faculty and then decide if these are things you can live with. Find the school with the best AND worst aspects that suit you best!

My advice to parents is, let your children decide what they want. Make sure they are making the right decisions for themselves based on what they believe they need to suceed academically while feeling comfortable and safe in their environment. Do not force them to do what you want them to, but be there to support them and make sure they choose a school that will help them progress rather than a school that is unengaging and has a reputation as a party school. My advice to the students is, be mindful of what you are getting yourself into. While party schools with easier classes are appealing, the whole point of college is to learn more to help you get ahead. Don't waste this opportunity in life to better yourself. After your undergraduate years, you may never have another chance to improve yourself. There are a lot of experiences in college; learn from them and apply those lessons to each following year. Remember moderation, don't be too excessive in staying home and studying or in going out and partying. You need a balance to keep your head. Choose the school that will push you to succeed.

In order to find the right college that is perfect for you, set up tour dates with many varities of campuses, and set up dates with a professor or adviser who works there to know what kind of school you are really getting into. Find the kind of atmosphere and size fits you the best: big, small, city-life, rural, suburban, college down, sororities and fraternities, there are many different aspects. Make sure the school has a great financial aid program and provides the major you wish to proceed. As for making the most of the experience, make a good group friends fast (try not to be a wallflower; its hard to become one anway because there is always someone you can relate to) so you can become better friends with them and develop lifelong relationships, but do not isolate yourself to just that group. Join clubs, play intramural sports and find a job so you can have spending money for the weekends. Study as much as you need to, but do not forget to be social and have a good time because the stress can be overwhelming at times and we all need a break. Have a great time!

Visit the schools and talk to the students. It takes a couple days to really get a feel for a campus; make a list of what you want, prioritize it, and evaluate each campus based on those needs. Be careful not to be sidetracked by smaller, more short term gratifications--remember that you'll be living, studying, and sleeping at the school for nine months a year, so take everything into consideration before choosing!