Sweet Briar College Top Questions

When looking for the right college, find a place where you can see yourself going and fitting in. I would definitely try to visit the college and spend the night with a student, in order to get the feel of college. Visit during the week and sit through a few classes. Look for a college that has a number of possibities education-wise and a huge variety of extra-curricular activities. Ask the questions of what types of classes do you want to take, what types of clubs do you want to be a part of, how big do you want your classes to be, and where do you want your school to be located? When thinking of these questions, you can narrow your choices. Most of all, when choosing a college, follow your heart.

The best advice anyone could ever give is just to follow your own heart. You'll know where you are where YOU need to be. Don't let anyone choose for you. This step will determine your life.

Remember you'll be living there. Make sacrifices for better academics, but pay attention to the community support you'll receive. Know what you need to work well. That may be good theatre, access to the outdoors, a beautiful campus, or great lab equipment, but pay attention to yourself. Some smaller places are great fits for non-conformists, activists, and students looking to make a big splash with a lot of work and leadership experience later on.

Look at school where your child will be happy. Where they will be safe, get a good education and benefit from all of the programs the school offers. Good luck.

Try to visit the college multiple times and stay the night if possible to get a feel for its atmosphere. Try to sit in on some classes. Make sure you eat the food! Don't be so detail-oriented. I focused on a few small things that I liked and completely disregarded the big picture.

Research colleges you are interested in, and visit all of them. Pick your top colleges you are interested in and find out what you have to do to get in, GPA needed etc. After visiting these colleges, and maybe sitting in on a few classes you should have a good idea of what you want or don't want. Apply to all of your top schools and a few "safety schools" just in case. When applying, take your time on the application, remember you are basically selling yourself to the college/university. Most schools require you to write an essay, take your time and plan it out, DO NOT WRITE IT THE NIGHT BEFORE THE APPLICATION IS DUE! Ask someone to proof read it after you, just to make sure. Study for your SATs, some schools do not look at the writing portion score, but then again some do. You need to do your best. Finally, Make sure you turn EVERYTHING in on time, turning things in late makes you seem irresponsible and immature. Colleges don't want students with those characteristics. Go where YOU want to,YOU need to be at a place where YOU will be happy!!

It is difficult to know where to begin when searching for colleges. A helpful start might be to use a college handbook to find various colleges based on what you know you are looking for, whether it is the location, class size, activities available, or degrees offered. Visiting the colleges you have chosen is probably the most helpful part of the college search, as well as spending a night with one of the students and visiting classes. Doing so will give you a feel for what campus life is like. Take advantage of college interviews. During these interviews, you will usually have the opportunity to ask questions, which can sometimes reveal whether the college is or is not right for you. Writing down your opinions about the colleges soon after visiting them will help you when making decisions later. Take advantage of your college experience. Try challenging yourself with more difficult courses or a larger course load. Become involved in activities around campus. Use the services offered by the school to help you succeed. Try doing something new and expand your horizons. What you gain from your college experience depends on what you do with the opportunities it offers.