University of Delaware Top Questions

I would first advise students to visit any schools they are interested in. Environment is important in college life and living somewhere you don't feel comfortable will ultimately hurt your college experience. Happier people will typically receive higher grades than unhappy people, so it is of the utmost importance to choose a school where you feel you can be happy. This also involves distance from home. It's important to be on your own in college, but if you're too far from home you may regret it. As far as once you are in college, my best advice would be to make as many friends as possible. Choosing only a small group of friends may put you in an awful position if you end up not liking them as much as you thought you would. Also plan your time and make sure you study. For parents, help your students find a school that is both fun and academic. After all, all work and no play makes for a dull student. College should be fun, exciting, and challenging. Look for these qualities when choosing which college is right for you.

One thing is to start searching early. Look for colleges which have distinguished faculty in their fields. Make an appointment and go visit some of your potential professors. Make sure you like them and get along with them. Especially for smaller majors. I'm a music education major and I have mostly the same professors for all four years. If I didn't get along with one of them, life in college would not be near as enjoyable as it could be. The last, most important thing is to walk around the campus. If your meant to go there it will feel right to walk around the campus. If not you will know.

I would say really think about what is important to you. Do you want to be close to home? Have a school with sport teams? The big city feel or small town? These questions can help you answer all the questions. Do research about each school and the programs offered and what sets each school apart from the others. Go visit! It is important to see the campus first hand and go multiple times if you are highly considering a school. Drive around the town and see if you can imagine living there for 4 years.

Find a school that matches your personnality, not your degree

I would suggest to students to look around at a bunch of colleges and visit before you apply. I also suggest that you apply to a couple even if you have a first choice. I would say the best way to make the most of your college experience is to get involved! Find a school that has activities and clubs that interest you. Join a club, greek organization, sports team, or communittee service organization. It is a great way to meet people your own age and even older students who can give you advice and help you through your first year. Remember college should be the best time of your life so make the most of it. Meet as many people as you can. You never know who can help you in the future. Lastly, work hard! School is never easy and you can get caught up in the social aspects of college so make sure to keep yourself grounded and focused. Remember, you will get as much out of college as you put into it!

VISIT! Try to visit the colleges that you are seriously interested in. See what kind of tours they do. Some allow you to do an overnight stay with a current student. If you are not sure what you want to major in don't pick a really expensive school at first, you can always transfer once you figure out what it is that you really want to do. Also, apply for as many scholarships as possible there are so many scholarships which mean less money you or your parents have to pay. See your high school counselor and talk to them about colleges, visits, scholarships, and any other concerns you may have. This is a very big decision to make and your counselors are there to help you find what will best suit your needs!

College is more than just four years of work, studying, and a little stress. It's more than just parties and fooling around. It's a right of passage; an incredible experience that students should feel blessed to be given such an opportunity. As a result, I feel it is important for prospective students to really consider their college choices. The choice should feel like the right choice - not just a hasty decision. But no matter where a student decides he or she should attend, it is imperative to go in with an open mind, and to try new things. These four years are our time to explore who we are, and to make the most of it - to ask questions, to make new friends, to start a new club on campus, etc.

Tour any and all colleges that seem like they have a program that might interest you. When you are touring colleges go on the official tour but also just walk around the campus to get a feel for it. If the campus doesn't feel "right" or you don't feel at home then it's probably not the school you really want to go to. Don't make your decision based on the tuition or financial aid, your happiness is about where you think you fit in not the money it costs to go there. Find schools with extra-curricular activities you are interested in, they are a great way to make friends and keep in shape if they are athletic organizations.

When it comes to finding the "right" college for students and parents, I would advise them to visit the campus and to have a general understanding of the programs that are offered at the college. Some colleges do not offer the program of interest of the student, which many parents and students do not realize. I would also tell them to consider the location of the college when it comes to deciding which college would be best for the student. Some questions to think about are "does the student prefer to live closer to home or across the country?" or "would the student prefer living in the city or the suburbs?" Making the most of your college experience is a common concern among students and parents. I would recommend that the student get involved in clubs and organizations in the school to meet new people and to explore areas of their interest. In addition, I think that it is important to attend sporting events and any other events held by the college to really feel like he or she is a part of that school.

My search was very major orientated (I'm a wildlife conservation major). I would pay attention to size of the school as well as how diverse its students and its majors are. If the student has no idea what they want to do with their life, I suggest they go to a large school where they have many options for majors. I also suggest spending a weekend there (just the student) so they can get a feel for the social environment on the weekends because that is an important factor.