Washington College Top Questions

Take time to honestly assess your financial situation to weigh and consider whether or not you would be better off at a cheaper school for a couple years before transferring to the school you really want to go to. This has to be compared to the social life that may be lacking if you end up at a community college for those couple years, and for some it may not be worth the cheaper path. In any case, you only (presumably) get one chance to go to an undergraduate school, so it's necessary to keep in mind that you are there for an education first and foremost. Despite that, college is a time that you will be free from many of the restrictions that will be imposed on you once you have to get a full-time job in the real world, so don't underestimate the importance of enjoying your time there. The best advice I can give is to not mix work and pleasure. When it's time to work, then work so you won't have it hanging over your head. When it's time to play, go out and have a great time!

When people enter therapy for a specific trouble- let's say relationship problems- the first thing a therapist will often do is tell them to immediately cease all purposeful attempts at maintaining the thing that is causing the trouble. So the couple would be advised to stop all relationship talks, fights and active struggles to make it work, because things can only work if the pressure is relieved. This is my first advice when making any major decision, especially college- relieve the pressure. Realize that there is no "right" school, no "perfect" place, no Utopia U. With this in mind, you can begin the search for the right school FOR YOU. That school DOES exist, and you can find it. The most important thing is to put yourself out there- I strongly suggest visiting and applying to as many schools as you possibly can. And then, don't make your decision based on anyone's opinion but your own- not your friends, not current college students, not even your parents. It will only be the RIGHT choice if it is YOUR choice. And if you do that, making the most of your 4 years is as easy as living them.

Be sure to spend as much time INSIDE the school environment as possible, by visiting and staying overnight multiple times. Eat the food and try to imagine eating it every day. BE SURE not to take what people say at face value because they are trying to sell the school and may have a different perception than you will. Know what to ask-- ask sutdents who have been through the process (especially ones who have transferred because they tend to know about misrepresentation) what questions to ask to get to the bottom of it. I recommend making sure you have a clear view of the transportation system, the student activities (not just lists, what actually goes on), and asking specific questions about what people do, not just "do you like it".

Make sure that you find a school that's the right size for you. I found this to be most important. You also should focus on the experiences it will give you outside the classroom.

find the college that feels right. there is no need to apply to a hundred colleges pick your type five and go with your gut. You will know when you arrive which one is a fit for you. Also remember, the most expensive schools do not garuntee a better education.

Searching for colleges can be stressful and confusing. Each person gives you different advice and viewpoints. Finding a college can be based on credentials, locations, student populations, and professors, but what really matters is not finding a college, but finding the college. Everyone has a special fit. Do your research, send in their applications and carefully written essays, set up interviews, and go on the tours. But what really makes the difference is seeing college-life firsthand. After narrowing down to about three colleges, sign up for overnight visits. This allows your teenager to live in a dorm-room, meet college students, explore the campus freely, eat in the cafeteria, attend classes, and get to know how the professors interact with their students. If your child has specials needs, physical or emotional , set up a meeting with the college's special accomidations coordinator and the on-campus healthcare staff. Finally, let the choice be their own. Deciding upon the right school is like putting on a wedding dress--you just know. When my mom picked me up from my overnight at Washington College, I knew right away that this was the place for me. Let your child find their fit.

The best advice that I can give to anyone in the process of choosing a college right for them would be to visit and explore as many as possible. Peolple should take advantage of the opportunities to visit and take tours of almost every college because this is a place that will be called home for four or more years. I visited about ten different colleges and Washinton College stuck out in my mind as being beautiful, intellectual, and a place where I could see myself learning the most and having fun doing it. The only problem is the price which recently surpassed $40,000 a year. I hope I can stay at the place I love for the next few years of my life.