Villanova University Top Questions

DO NOT PROCRASTINATE. stay focused and do not allow distraction to get in your way.

Don't go to a school that you think everyone else wants you to go to, go to the school you can imagine yourself living at.

There is one vital thing to know when making the transition from high school to college that many individuals might not think about. Far from looking into campus diversity, professor availability, class size, dorm necessities, and dining halls; the major transition aid may be found close to home. This help is found within yourself. It is being fully aware of what YOU like. Embracing those aspects of life will enhance the college experience and limit transitional strife. What do you enjoy? What drives you? What sparks an interest in you and makes you sit up on the edge of your seat? These essential questions must be answered to be ready for the college life that one is about to experience. You must sincerely and honestly know yourself. After finding what you take pleasure in, pursue it. Don't let distractions like starting salary, ease of coursework, or male to female ratio push you from something that you love. Always stick with it. At the end of it all, the responsibility of your college experience will rest on your shoulders and yours alone. One must trust, believe, and truly know oneself inside and out in order to experience ultimate college success.

Communication is priority number one. As a high school student there are many thoughts that go into attending college, a lot of which are misguided. It is important that parents are active in their child's college search, sharing similar enthusiasm as their son or daughter. Playing the objective role is also important. As adults, there is a certain insight to life that at 16 and 17 years old your son or daughter may or not have. Understanding one another is also very important. While staying firm with certain things such as finances, the other choices such as location and type of school is up to the student. Although parents help their students along, it is the students ultimate choice. A support system that starts with the process of selecting a college and helps guide him or her through their college experience is the most important ingredient that a student can use that does not come up on a school stat sheet.

Finding tthe school that is the best fit is really about discovering who you are. Your parents can't tell you what school is best for you, and although I'd love to say that you'll walk onto a campus and know it's "the one," for some people it's not that easy. Searching for your school is a journey of discovery in which you need to explore your individuality and the kind of experiences and memories you want to walk away with four years later. Once you've narrowed down the criteria for the kind of school you want, find schools that have the right academic programs to fit the subjects that interest you. Eventually the you'll find a great school and once you have, make the best of your experience! Get involved in things you're interested in but never had time for, take classes that intrigue you, balance your academic and social life, and make memories that are worth keeping for the rest of your life. Remember above all that college is the best time of your life and you want to be able to look back happily on the experiences you had there.

Parents and students need to be open minded to the entire process of choosing a college. They should really try and spend at least a day exploring it and talking with the current students. This way, they will not only hear what the tour guides tell them, which often is just one side of the story, but they will get to experience and hear about the 'real' university. Just because a college might be ranked higher or sound better because of its name, does not mean that it is right for the student. Furthermore, a student really needs to embrace the university that he/she attends through the different community services, clubs or programs that are available. Although making friends might not be as easy at first, one must remember that every student is going through the same thing and being warm and friendly towards one another can help making the college experience that much better. '

make the right decision

Enjoy it while you are there!! Be sure the college has the programs and classes you want first and foremost. The rest will fall into place.

Selecting a college can be one of the most confusing and stressful times in both the student and parents lives. Try to visit the campus more than once before deciding and try to speak with current and past students for their input. Above all, if the tuition is within your means, follow your heart!

I would definitely suggest visiting the school you are thinking of attending and talk to as many current students as possibe.