Saint Mary’s College Top Questions

Even if you "know" where you want to go, make sure to visit a variety of schools. You learn a lot by being exposed to schools of different size, location, religion, etc. Financial aid is also extremely important. Many people shy away from private schools because of the cost, but if you are a good student and can demonstrate financial need, they are often a better value. As far as the experience, make sure to become involved on campus. Even if you are just a little bit interested in something, check it out. You may find a passion, new friends, or even a new career direction.

I would definitely suggest visiting the colleges being looked at. I have lived ten minutes away from Saint Mary's my whole life and I absolutely did not want to go there for college. I am so happy that my brother's girlfriend attented the College and I went to visit her. I have never felt so at home in a place in my life. I would strongly suggest visiting as many campuses as possilbe, even the ones you wouldn't think you'd like because you very well may be pleasently surprised, I know I was.

As a student make sure that YOU like the school that you are going to attend. Make a weekend trip to the school, attend classes in the major you are interested and and stay with a student on campus who is interested in the same things as you are. If you like to go to parties, do NOT stay with someone who doesnt go out. If you prefer to stay in on the weekends and relax, do NOT stay with someone who is going to take you out to the bar. Apply to a lot of different places, you never know which one you will end up liking the most once you visit them all. Study hard, but make sure to enjoy yourself, this is college and you only get to experience it once. Live it with no regrets but be safe and smart when going out. Have fun and make a lot of friends while finding out who you are and what you want to be.

Make sure you choose a school that you are comfortable with. Always consider location, academics, social life, extracurricular activities, etc. The right school truly depends on you and what you are comfortable with and like. Also. always remember if it does not work out you are not commited to a school. You can transfer. Good luck with your search =)

Visit more than once if possible. Stay overnight and attend classes with a current student to see what life at that school is really like. Don't pick a school based on one program - most students change majors at least twice.

My words of advice to parents and students is to get involved. I believe that joining clubs or finding something that you are really passionate about is a way to help further your college education, but to also make the most of your college experience.

To find the right college, one should visit as many colleges as one is interested in. It is necessary to find out everything possible about the schools that one is considering. If you choose a school and think that you don't like it as much as you thought you would, give it some time. It would be a tough start at any school. Once you find the right people to associate with, everything gets better.

Take your time and start visiting campuses early. Colleges love applicants that are eager to receive information from their college, and show early interest. Take advantage of the opportunities provided by the colleges to visit with students. Take advantage of the opportunities to spend the night with a student to get a true feel for how life really goes.

The advice that I would give to future students looking for their perfect school, is that first and foremost they do what they feel is right. There will be many influences from the significant people in their lives, but they need to make their college decision on their own terms. I would strongly urge students not to choose a school solely because all of their friends, their boyfriend/girlfriend, or best friend is going to that school. They need to pick a school based on their needs and wants. I can almost garuntee that with the right disposition they will gain plenty new, meaningful friendships. I would also suggest, that even though it may be hard to actually leave home and move far from your home, they should not rule out a school because it is "too far from home". If they find a school that feels right and seems to fit them, but is too far away, they should consider it and know that "home is where your heart is" and will not be as hard as they believe. It may take time to adjust but in time they will most likely enjoy their independence and freedom.

Senior year is when the mailbox overflows with information about colleges all over the country. One thing to do as you receive letters is to have a pocket folder: one side for maybes and the other for yeses. For those schools that are not on the maybe list or the yes list, keep them in a separate folder, just in case you change your mind. Another thing that can be helpful is a visit to the college campus. This is what sealed the deal for me. Shadowing a student at a college to see what a normal class day was like and seeing how a student handles day-to-day activities can be helpful when trying to decide what you wanted from your college experience. This is something that needs to be decided before choosing a final college. By knowing what you want from a college, you can formulate questions to ask during a campus visit. One final suggestion is to apply to several colleges. If you know someone who attended a college you are looking at, ask them for an alumni application. Doing this, you can get a discount on the application fee or even have the fee waived.