University of Vermont Top Questions

Be prepared for the college transition that the student will go through - even if they think they will be fine, know that something might happen that could make the transition difficult for them. I was a "home-body" before I left for school and still thought that I was going to be fine, but then had a very hard time a month into the first semester - but I gave myself time and found the resources I needed and I am so incredibly happy now. Take into consideration the distance that the college or univeristy is away from home and make sure that the student knows that they can always go home or that their parents are there for them if they need anything - it is so important to just know that. No matter what, the student will find the school that is right for the, even if they have to transfer after their first semester or year - they just have to give themselves time.

It is very important to visit the campus, meet with teachers, and talk to students. Do research past the major your currently looking at, and make sure the school has other majors you are interested in (most students will atleast consider changing majors). Apply to more schools than you think you should.

I feel that the first thought to consider when looking for colleges for yourself is what makes you happy. Is it the beach? Is it a particular sport? If it nature? Depending on this, you should think of locations where these things that make you happy exist. Following this I would make a list in colleges in the areas which you feel would make you happy. If someone is looking for a specific program which is strong at a college, that may also be one of the first attributes to a college to consider. After the area's you preferr and the major area you preferr is chosen and linked to a number of colleges, other attributes to a college can be considered such as SAT requirements, tuition price, size of student body, etc. Overall chosing a college should be a process that is somewhat instinctive; if you feel that a particular college is the one of you, it very likely is.

Choose the college where you feel you fit in the most, even if it may not be your first choice.

Attend a school, which provides a comforting and safe environemnt to study

make sure you look into the town and apartment costs and how the school treats the students (i.e. not like cash cows)

I would visit the campus and talk to the students. They often will enlighten a person on what it is really like to be at that school.

Definately consider financial aid - it's one of the BIGGEST issues you'll have to deal with once you're at the school, and if you don't take it into consideration in the beginning, it will absolutely come back to bite you, and could really hinder the learning process because it will prevent you from registering on time, will always be on your mind, and is really hard to rework once you have accepted the package offered. Also, make sure you like the area around the college - a lot of students pick a college they like, but after a year, discover they don't like the surrounding area, and end up transferring, which can be another real pain.

You can probably be happy at any number of schools so don't stress about which choice is the absolute "perfect" one. The important thing is to make the most of it once you are there. If someone invites you to do something a little out of your comfort zone, go anyway. If you aren't a little uncomfortable then you aren't growing, and growing is what college is about. You only have four short years to take in everything you can before you have to go out into the real world...to be a full time college student is to be living a charmed life so don't take a single second for granted. Play hard, work harder, and squeeze every drop you can out of the college experience.

Visit the campus, talk to students, make sure the major you're looking into is a good one at the school (some schools have a lot of majors but the program may not be a focus or is farily new), look for a school that is known for the major you are looking into (or a school that is known for a lot of majors if undecided), make sure the school has clubs/sports you're interested in, take cost into account, look at the dorms, talk to professors, try to get the best feel for the school that you can. Also the school might not be quite right when you get accept or first look at it but it's all of what you make of it. You might feel lost when looking for the right school but take your interests into account and the area you would like to live, if you don't like snow don't pick a school in the North. But remember it might not feel like the right school when you're looking but it can become the rigth one once you've been there and made friends.