Wake Forest University Top Questions

Make a list of schools that your grades and SAT score falls into. Then decide where you want to go to school and look into the schools that are on your list and in that area. Take a trip to visit those schools and see what the school looks like and is all about. Your school will just click for you so don't freak out if you don't find something right away. Work hard when you get there and take care of your studies. Take advantage of everything the school offers. If the school paper has a list of things to do before graduating, save it and try to complete the list. Going to a women's volleyball game and theater performance can make a great evening actually.

It's important to do a variety of research when looking for the right college. A tour of the campus is helpful, but it is given by people that will only tell you good things--they are trying to sell their school. Ask friends and their families to see if they know anyone that goes/went to the school to find opinions of others. I also would recommend going to a school that's higher on your list over a school with cheaper tuition or one that offers more scholarship money. These are the best four years of your life, and you don't want to settle for second best if you can scrap together some extra money to go to your favorite school or take out a loan to make it happen. Get to know the people in your dorm if you live on campus freshman year. At many schools, you don't get the chance to live on campus all years, and it's a good way to get to know people. Get to know your professors as well--they'll often have office hours, and it will help you in the long-run to have these connections.

-ASK for a spot at the schools you are serious about - this sets you above a majority of the applicants and gives your applicaiton life -visit every university that you can as soon as you hit your Sophomore year -don;t let your HS teachers discourage you form taking trips to colleges- it is ok to miss class- but make up your work -always visit when school is in session- so you can get a feel for the people and aura of academia -take time to look for the places you would enjoy studying- or spending time with friends e.g. coffee shops or libraries -spend the night on campus with a current student! -the school for you will be the one that feels like home- the "best fit" for YOU -when chosing the school for you (after receiving acceptance), visit your favorite again and then list pro's and con's - see yourself on campus with friends and in class- think of yourself in class and in the library- during exams etc. -RUSH for greek life regardless of any preconceived notion- you will make friends and meet so many more people than if you you chose not to rush

Find a college that you will be comfortable and confident attending. Your college will be your home for four years, and you want to be somewhere where you can be yourself, and make the most of the experience. While at school get involved in activities you love and enjoy and you will easily make friends whom you will get along with and are compatible with. If you have an open mind it is impossible not to have an amazing experience at school.

Go to the school that presents the most doors you are interested in. Just becuase there are opportunities doesn't mean its right for you.

There is no "right place" for any one student, and a good deal of the decision should depend on what feels most comfortable for each individual. Narrowing a list down based on size, location, afordability, or other general criteria can bring you to an excellent starting point, but visiting and interacting with students is vital to getting a real taste for what the school is like. On paper, some universities will seem like a perfect fit and others will not; these views may be drastically reshaped after a weekend on campus. One very critical point to keep in mind is, DO NOT select a school because you think you should go there based on its academic reputation compared to all the alternative colleges or universities you have been accepted to. There are hundreds of quality colleges/universities in the US. A diploma is just a piece of paper, it tells very little about what you learned in college other than your area of academic concentration. The amount of effort you put into your academic studies and what you choose to do during your collegiate years will carry you in the next phase in life, not the name on your diploma.

Visit as many different schools and possible and go with your gut. Also, make sure that if you're paying full price for the school that it is absolutely worth it.

Visit a lot of schools and make a realistic list of ones that you can get into

I would advise students and parents to visit each school before applying. There is no way to tell whether a school is right until you walk around its campus and see the people that go there. To make the most of one's college experience, I would advise a student to get involved and approach everything - both classes and social groups/events - with an open mind. It is easy to fall into the trap of simply extending you high school social life and behaviors into college, but there are infinate opportunities to get involved in new things and I would highly recommend taking as many opportunites as possible to do so.

I would tell a student to talk to current student at any given school they are looking at to find out if the interests/concerns of the student are the same as their own. It is important to be around people who care about similar things, otherwise you will not have a great experience. If you have conservative views, than it would be a good idea to seek out a conservative school, and visa versa. Once at school, I would say to get involved in as many things as possible. Introduce yourself to everyone. Learn as much as you can, because you will remember this experience for the rest of your life. It is also a time of finding yourself, and you cannot do so unless you look. Work hard and play hard. Try not to stress as much as you feel you should. Enjoy the experience, there will be nothing else like it.