Seattle Pacific University Top Questions

Look at the programs that you are interested in, ask yourself what do you want from the college. Do you want a college that is more holistic or community based or faith based? Do you want a competitive college? These are all things to consider.

Seek out a college that matches your morals and visions in life. Don?t settle and sacrifice what you believe in just because most of the school matches what you want. There are so many colleges out there that one will eventually prove that ?feel? you are looking for. Visit the campuses and see if you can spend a night in a dorm to see what the college life is like and whether or not the people are worth spending the next couple years of your life with. Yes, look at the statistics of academics and graduates, but also look into what the college is doing for the community around them. Your life is too important to waste at a college that doesn?t meet the standards of excellence that one requires, but also be tolerant of the fact that most ideals are hard to come by. However, above all else, try something new and don?t be afraid to leave home. Parents, don?t be too gripping either, but let your child live, enjoy, and learn from what this new experience teaches.

Get to know people. The friends you will make in college will be with you for life! Don't get so bogged down in classes that you can't take a break to have fun with friends on the weekend. Have a part-time job. It will help you have a break from studying and give extra money for expenses.

I would tell students and their parents to visit the top schools that they are interested in. To visit classes and spend a night or two in the dorms. I would tell students to get to know people at their college and to get involved in clubs and attend campus events.

GO VISIT THE SCHOOL. Arrange to stay the night in a resident hall/dorm. Eat on campus. Observe classes. Contact the department chair of programs you are interested in (i.e. nursing, history, music etc...). Ask the chair about their program, ask for a tour of their building, ask about specific scholarships that might be available, ask them to refer you to current students who can answer more questions. THE 'PERFECT' SCHOOL PROBABLY DOESN'T EXIST. If you go for a semester and loath it, you can transfer! It happens all the time! IF YOU ARE REJECTED, APPLY FOR WINTER TERM. Every school loses new students after the first term. They need to fill their beds, your chances of making on the second try are much higher! STUDY IN DIFFERENT CITY THAN YOUR OWN. Mom and dad: don't be helocopters. Call or email once a week, come to family weekend, and get out of the way. Students: you'll learn, grow, and be challenged 150{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} more if you get out and away from your hometown. STUDY ABROAD. It's worth going into extra dept for it. When else in life will you get to have that experience?

Take a study skill class your first quarter. My class was the most beneficial class I've taken because it helped me make the most of my study time and helped me do more with less stress. Also, buy your books online. There are a number of sites offering cheap books and often times you can buy an older version and have no issues. Older editions are usually very similar and are sometimes more than half off; doing this I've saved hundreds each quarter. Lastly, get to know your professor whenever you can! If they know you they are much more likely to help you and look out for you.

Finding the right college can be a challenge, but think about what your top three priorities are in your college experience. Is it important to you that the college is close to a mjor city, or near outdoor activities? Does the college need to have a greek system or certain sports? What programs are you interested in? Keep in mind that most freshman's major will change. So don't look into just one program, but see if there are several that you're intersted in. Then look at schools that fulfill those requirements. And then visit, take into account financial aid, apply to the schools and see where your inquiry brings you. When you start college, get involved in activites. This way, you'll make friends quickly and you'll enjoy college more fully. Also, be aware that college courses are harder than the ones you took in high school, so put aside more time for your schoolwork than you'll think you need. If you don't end up needing that much time, you can always adjust later. It is better to do too much at the beginning than too little and have to play catch up.

Visit the school. Meet the people and look around the location.

Preview at the schools you are looking to attend and be sure to spend a night on campus to get a feel of what life is like there. Don't underestimate the value of a quality campus community because it really helps to know that a lot of people care about you and are willing to help you with whatever you needs might be. Distance from home and cost of tuition should be secondary concerns when selecting a school to attend. And don't worry if you don't know what you want to study because there is plenty of time to figure that out at school.

My advice: like the city or area in which the college is located and to believe in the school's values