Saint Mary’s College of California Top Questions

many high school students feel they need to get as far away as possible from "home" in order to be on their own. in my experience, though, picking a school that was about a 2 hour car ride from home, instead, was perfect. it's far enough that i really am on my own, and my parents don't show up (un)announced all the time and drive me crazy, but it's close enough that (especially during freshman year) if i need my parents, or if i just want to go home for a weekend, it's only a car ride away, instead of having to pay for a plane ticket, hope there's room on the flight i need, find rides to and from the airport, etc. an added benefit of the car-ride-distance vs. that of the plane-ride is the extra ease of moving in and out of dorms/ apartments: just packing up your car, instead of lugging a thousand suitcases and paying all the new extra baggage fees.

Ask other students their experience and also ask students that left, why they left. You can never know how the school really is till you attend it, so try to sit in on some classes.

To parents I would say do not worry about the money, there is always someone out there willing to lend you or your child money to make it through college. That seems to be the biggest concern of parents is money and the children will see that and choose a school that does not have a quality reputation or education and will lead them to regrets about their schooling. Also parents need to be there to support their kids through the college experience because its not easy. To the students choose a college that fits an atomsphere you like. Find a school that is the right size, offers your desired major, and will put you were you want to be after graduation. Those are the things that will make you like or dislike a school and will alter your experience. Get involved is another piece of advice I can give because you'll enjoy college more. Lastly, stick with it, no matter how hard it gets you'll regret giving up. That first year is the most important because its a totally different atomsphere and your going to take awhile to get use to it.

Choosing a college can be one of the most important decisions in a seventeen or eighteen years old life. My advice for students is to look at the schools you have been accepted to and take the time to really think where you will be most happy. Do not worry about where your friends are going, you will make new ones. And remember all the other freshman are in the same position as you, scared and excited. Besides it is always fun to see your high school friends at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break. Also, you can visit them at their college or they can visit you, which is fun because it gives you a chance to experience other colleges. If there is a school deep down inside that you want to go to but your worried your parents will not be happy, it is to expensive, it is to far from home, or you do not know anyone, those excuses are not good enough, do what you want and what will make you the happiest. College will be a much better experience if you make a decision for yourself.

My best advice to any parent and student is to allow the student to go to there dream school. Nothing will ever fulfill the dream of attending a great school that the student can succeed in. If you are happy in the place where you will be learning, you will most likely succeed academically, socially, and spiritually. Especially if you go out of your home state you want to be comfortable where you are. I am speaking from experience. Also make sure you have one person in which you can rely on when times get tough. It doesn't need to be a person from the institution but it can be a family or friend who lives near the community. Don't let any obstacle come in the way of you achieving your best, expecially financial obstacles. You can work to pay off your debt, but there is no work that you can do to change your past or past decisions. Make the best of school! Good luck!

Make sure to visit the colleges you are applying to and be open minded. Ask lots of questions, but know what type of school you are looking for before you appply or visit. The most importatn thing is to participate in an overnight program. You don't really get a feel for the school until you have lived there!