Susan
I would tell them that four years goes by fast, so they need to make the most of it. Get involved early on. They also need to know that if they are still undecided to not worry because even if you get your degree and don't go into that field there are still many jobs available to you.
I would tell the parents that even if your child is going far away to school do not worry encourage your child to go out and meet people and when they get sick for the first time when your not around espect a phone call. Also, to send care packages it makes them feel good, and loved.
robert
Dont overthink it. It sounds strange, but one of the biggest mistakes in making a choice for college is overthinking. People get stressed out and worried about making the right choice, they look at all the different aspects of multiple schools, and they analyze each and everyone of them till they choose the "right" one. This "right" one could be the complete wrong decision. New students need to try and find a good school, but they should be more focused on finding the place that is right for them. The place that they will achieve there maximum potential, the place they will fit in and learn to the best of their ability. So dont overthink about the schools, narrow it down and find that "special" place that is there for you. Good luck.
Rachel
Finding the right collegecan be a long drawn out process of applications and campus tours, but for many that process it worth it in the long run. Once you've gone on the tour, checked to make sure the university has your major, and applied for financial aid, you can finally enjoy college life. The right college for you should make you feel at home and safe, inspire you, and create an environment that you'll fall in love with. Once you get to college you're faced with so many activities, class assignments, and friends, but the key is to find the right balance between social life and academics. If you stay on top of things with your class work, going out with your friends to the movies will be much more enjoyable and worth while. Get involved, but be able to draw the line when you've got too much on your plate. Go out for a late night coffee run to reward a long night of studying. You need breaks to reenergize; you're going to college to learn, not make good grades. Basically, live each day as a new adventure.
Drew
Visit the campus. See where the students eat, study and hang out. These are what really become important once the decision to attend has been made.
Alexander
I would tell them that it?s not the parents life being forever altered by the experience; let the children makes their own mistakes. There is an overplayed occurrence in our society, parents forcing their alma mater upon their children. College is the time for a person to realize life is not a walk in the park, it has twists and turns socially and academically. Students will find themselves financially weak and in need of monetary help throughout this testament of time, but through the trials and tribulations that are presented, the student emerges the person they will be for the rest of there lives. A student goes to college with an underlying drive to accomplish something, whether it be academically, athletically, spiritually, socially, or even just in appeasing, they go to school for something. They can not "blossom" into adulthood if parents are still at the wheel in their children?s journey, and that is the reason why many do not succeed in college. They are tossed into a situation they mentally did not prepare for because the parents were in control. It should be the students roll to choose there life. Choose their successes, and their failures.
Joshua
The best advice I can can give anyone about choosing the right college would be to visit as many schools as you can and talk with actual students that go there. Not orientation leaders, not staff members, but real students that will give you the complete truth. As far as making the most out of the college experience, just get involved in stuff on campus. These are the best years of our lives and school should always come first, but if the social life is completely void then there is no fulfillment in that. Join an organization, go greek, you can even start your own organization if you can not find a group for you. All it takes are four people and there you go. The college experience can be a blast, you just have to get involved with the community and make your mark on the university.
Robin
Find a college that fits the best qualities about you and your field of study should match (the best things you interested in doing). My theory is that if you love something enough, your work at it your hardest. Sucess wil come....
Conrad
Open your mind. A vast misconception about college is that it is a transitional period between adolesence and the proverbial "real world". In reality, this four-year period is a time wherein young adults discover just who they are and what they are capable of. Open your mind. Those instructions do hold different connotations for parents as they do students, so having experienced the freshman year, allow me to tell you what I've learned.
Parents, its very crucial that you maintain an active, yet distant role in your childs life. It all begins with finding the college that will be most nurturing to the growth of their personality. The more comfortable they are, the more motivated they will be to excel. Upon the initiation of their journey, they will be thirsy for your support but will also crave life out from under your wing. Let them go. See if they pass lifes tests, odds are, you have nothing to worry about.
Students, get involved. The more stimulated your brain is by your daily activities, the more likely you are to succeed. Keep an open mind in all situations and be certain that your grades always come first. Good luck.
Guy
ask actual students, peek in on actual classes, fuck the tour
Lauren
The best thing to do when looking for the right college is to visit it on campus, go through tthe normal preview but also go to the local hang outs and speak to students walking around campus. Get their point of view because there are experinceing it now. Parents be openminded with your students, dont try to force them somewhere jsut show them the pros and cons and more the likely your student will realize what is best for them. When you have chosen a college go to the orientation and any freshman camps and use that oppertunity to meet new people and get more acquainted with your college. When school starts the number one thing to do is find soemthing to get involved in. It doesnt have to take up a lot of your time but you need soemthing outside of school that connects you to your college. You need a reason to want to stay on campus instead of go home and see your high school friends. Second get educated with the resources that are on your campus, they are there to help your every need and you already pay for them so you should use them.