Villanova University Top Questions

If I could give one pice of advice to any parent or student trying to find the right college it would be to choose whatever school feels the most comfortable to you and your family because your college becomes your extended home for the next 4 years of your life.

Relax and weigh your options as objectively as you can. Avoid the temptation to choose a school based on its name and pick the school that fits you the best, go there, and do your best. Involve yourself on campus, but maintain your academics as your main focus.

I think that students should make a list of the colleges they would like to visit and then share and discuss them with their parents. Too many parents believe that it is up to them to find a place for their child to go for the next 4 years. Then bring a notebook in the car with you on all of your college visits. When you leave make sure you write down everything that you liked and disliked about the school. This way when you are trying to make a decision in you can refer back to it and not be confussed as to what school had what. Once you pick a school go into orientation and the first month with an open mind. It may not have been your first choice but make it worth it! Get involved! Go to lots of club meetings and find your nitche. By getting involved you will make friends easier and enjoy your freetime a lot more. Also don't fall behind in your work. Budget your time between friends, parties and work. remember why you are at school and don't let that $45,000 a year go to waste.

Visit, Visit, Visit. Websites and brochures do not tell you enough to make a decision. Every university can make themselves look good on a piece of paper. Visit and look at the facilities, talk to the students, sit in on a class of interest. Then you can make a better decision on the college right for you.

To students about making the most of the college experience.... Get Involved On Campus!!

Selecting the right college is a matter of identifying which school best reflects the personality of the applicant. When looking at each school, one must literally envision oneself functioning within the campus on an academic, professional, and social level. Every school will greet new students with a welcoming orientation, an inundation of information about extracurricular programs, and academic guidance programs. Therefore, the differentiating factor that should determine one's choice of college lies in the compatability between what the school offers and what the applicant desires from college. One must account for average class sizes, academic strengths, campus size and population, proximity to major cities, transportation on and around campus, social trends, and financial aid ability. Of course, one will learn quickly in college that the only way to truly judge anything is to experience it first hand. Applicants have to visit colleges that they take interest in before making a final decision. I encourage all high school seniors and their parents to take a day trip, spend a day with current students, and talk to as many faculty members as possible. Only by taking the initiative to search can a student find a school to fall in love with.

When finding the right college, you must know what you want. Ask yourself questions about class size, location, diversity, academics, housing and social life because those aspects of college will have a big impact on you. Look at the financial aid package and the possibilities of working on and off campus. When you can answer these questions with certainty, knowing exactly what you want, you will be ready to pick the best school for you and be able to make the most out of your college career. So remember have fun, be safe, but most importantly understand the sacrifices it took for you to get to college and take your academics seriously. Good luck!

Look past how pretty the buildings are or what the stereotype of the school is and go on the student population and what you want out of your next four years. Don't pick a party school because you think thats what college should be about if you aren't that big into partying. Understand that this will be your home for the next four years and do your best to picture yourself living there.

I would advise parents and students looking at colleges to keep an open mind. I looked at both large state schools and very small liberal arts school and Villanova falls somewhere in the middle. For me it is the perfect fit and I'm certain I made the right choice because I looked at schools of all sizes and types. Therefore I never doubt that I made the wrong choice and I think it's important to be firm in your decision and the best way to do that is to experience everything that is avaliable to you.

Put money aside when figuring out where you want to go. Do not let your parents pressure you, make the choice based on your heart.