Pari
Pick a college based on what your child wants, not what you think is right for them. Also, don't look at just rankings, make sure you really like the actual college as well.
beatriz
the school spirit, firends and the area your surrounded
Patricia
You'll know that its the right school for you when you walk around the campus and get that feeling. You can't describe the feeling until you experience it. Don't be afraid to ask students on the campus any questions that you might have. Visit everything, the gym, the dining halls, the dorms, everything. Its a big decision you're making and you might as well get all your questions answered.
Ashley
There are so many things about college that I learned once I got to Villanova. First: EVERY freshman left their friends from home, and their family, and they are just as nervous as you are about starting at a new school and have to mkae new friends. It's a scaring feeling but it's also exilerating. It's the first time you really get to branch out on your own and be the person you truly are, not who your parents think you are, or your high school friends, but the person you want to be. I also realized that a major part of college, besides academics, is the social life. A lot of students come to college afraid of the "expectations" of drinking. Although there will be many opportunities to be confronted with the choice to drink, It's always YOUR choice. No one can force you to do anything you are uncomfortable doing. I found a great group of friends my freshman year who all respected my choice to obstain from alcohol. This isn't to say that they felt the same way, but they never excluded me from parties, or pressured me into anything.
Kristen
choose the college that feels right.
Anne
Parents and students should first and foremost do their research before choosing the school right for them or their children. I recommend taking as many AP and honors courses as possible because they tend to go more in depth into the subject matter and will help students decide on the major that is right for them. They are also more representative of the caliber of work that is expected of a college student. Most importantly, parents should listen to their children and children should spend most of their high school careers forming their own opinions about what they like, what they are good at, and how they want to spend their time because they will also be spending their parents money (in most cases). There is no worse situation than paying $50,000 in tuition for your child to go to a university to study something they do not enjoy.
Joshua
When it comes to looking for the ?right? college, there are two schools of thought: follow your heart or follow the money. However, the best advice for the college search and the experience that follows is to find a balance. When looking for the right college, find a school that has your desired major, activities, and sports but is still affordable. Following the money may lead you to a school that does not suit your needs, while following your heart may result in a large price tag. However, not all the right colleges are expensive, and not all of the expensive schools are right.
Balance is also a great quality to have in college. The student must juggle friends (both at college and from home), activities, academics, and sleep. It?s a delicate juggling act, but once the right balance is achieved, college does, in fact, become the clich? ?best years of your life.?
Stacie
The best advice I can give to a prospective student is when choosing a school, everything matters. Do not sacrifice one area for another. Do not disregard the social life you might have there for the wonderful or well known professors. And certainly do not disregard your academic goals for your social life. You need to find a school that you believe has a good balance. If you ignore one over the other then you will hate your college experience and never mentally grow. Once you have found your school, you can make the most out of your college experience by just going with your instinct and doing what you want to do. Your college experience will not be worth any less if you did not join a varsity sport or organization if you did not want to join. Do not be boggled down by the do?s and don?t?s (and there will be times where you will). If you can look back at all the things you did and did not do and are happy with yourself, then that is all you need. The crucial part is that you ARE TRYING to make the best of it.
Emily
The most important piece of advice that I would give students about finding the right college is to go with the school that YOU think fits you the best and the school that will challenge you the most to grow as a person. Try not to allow outside influences such as your parents, peers, or society influence your decision in which school you attend. Although it may be difficult to make this decision without taking other factors into consideration, ultimately it is your decision and no one else's. College is about growing as a person and as a student and it is important for the school to challenge you, but it is also important that you feel comfortable at that school. When making your decision, although you can consider other's opinions, make sure that the school is right for you. It should also be a place that has something that you're passionate about whether that is sports, community service, religion, whatever. Finally, try not to stress out too much about it! The college you attend is important, but there is more than one college out there that is right for you!
Tyrelle
Make sure you know more about the college