Wayland Baptist University Top Questions

prepare yourself as you will be in for a ride that will take you through great times, stressful times and memorable time.

Each individual possesses different values and priorities, so in order to select the school that is right for you, you must first determine what college qualities are important to you and your parents. Some of the things to consider when choosing a school include the following: location, religion (faith based school or not), major, extra-curricular activities offered, available housing, available financial aid, gender/racial diversity and other services offered. To make the most of your college experience, I would recommend that you begin by exploring different study techniques and decide which works the best for your learning style. Through college, stress is inevitable so creating a support system is essential. My personal support system is my family. However a support system could also include friends, counselors, professors and trusted others. To create a group of good friends, surround yourself with others that share the same interests, values and beliefs that you do. I have gained the most out of my college experience with support from my family, good grades and even better friends.

The most valuable tool for parents and students, when choosing the right college, is a campus visit. You can learn a lot about a school by their website or their brochures, but the only way to truly know whether a particular college is a good fit for you, you need to visit the campus. On a campus visit, you can meet the students, attend a class, take a tour, look at the dorms, and peruse the town. Upon my first visit to Wayland, the people truly made the difference. I felt like I was walking into a family. Everyone was nice and helpful. The campus visit swayed my decision towards Wayland, because I saw how nice it would be to live there for four years. I am very happy with my decision. Even when my family walked through a major crisis, the family at Wayland was there for us all the way. They even sent someone to be with my family in the hospital 500 miles away. That is truly rare.

My advice for those parents that want the best for their kids when choosing a college, would be for them to take their time doing research and finding the information from the college there kid wants? to go. Don?t forget to have patience when choosing a college.

Attending college is a major life change. Pursuing a college education means leaving your comfort zone of your family, your friends, and your social setting for the last four years, and entering into an entirely different world. For some the transition is easy, for others its more difficult, one thing that will make the decision easier for both the student and the parents is choosing the right institution. Tradtion gets a lot of focus when selecting a college. This may mean attending the same college your parents attended, or going to the school of your favorite football team. While all of those things can add to the college experience, what is important is the academics, and the atmosphere. The academics should be the first thing considered when selecting a college. What do you want to do? What do they offer in your chosen field? If you're undecided, do they have classes you're interested in taking? The final thing is atmosphere. Remember, college is about learning and getting a career, but its also about having fun and building life experience, so pick a university that will allow you to do that in an enviorment you feel comfortable in.

First, make sure your child is choosing the best college or university that is going to fit them or their personality and shares the same religious beliefs. The students make the university just like the people make the church. Tell your child to go somewhere where they feel accepted the most, and where they know they will have the experience of a lifetime.

Don't just seddle for what is convient, actually learn about the school and find out whether or not it is really right for you.

Albert Einstein once stated, "Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death." I would advise parents to speak openly with their children bout their goal in life, and how they would like to achieve this - so, first step would be to pick your occupation, and find schools that are known for such areas. Also, it would be wise to remember that not all students are suited for a four year univserity straight out of the chute - many in American media: the Chairman of the Associated Press, Dean Singleton had only attended Clarendon Junior College. So - find a goal and keep it within reach. Strive for perfection, and don't cheat yourself on education. Do not base your choice of school simply on whether or not it is great for partying, because odds will be that you will struggle with you academics, and in result affect your future. Education is something you must be willing to better yourself at day to day - and not cease until you cease. Choose a college where you would be more likely to push yourself and strive, and even obtain happiness through your dreams. Remember, though, happiness is not defined by material wealth.

The college experience is a critical point in one's life, should one choose to go, where the student truly comes in touch with not only a larger world, but a larger self. It is a valuable opportunity to prepare oneself for a future in the workforce, family, and local and national community. More concisely, college is a time for transformation. Transforming oneself, however, is not a haphazard endeavor. Potential students and concerned parents must realize that college institutions have unique identities that accompany different worldviews. Thus, one's religious, philosophical, and ethical convictions are a necessary factor in choosing a particular college that will ultimately continue the molding process of the student's mind. Development of the self, however, does not automatically come from familiar surroundings. Allowing for some diversity in the college choice is an important consideration that can help the student understand other people, establish a stronger sense of already held principles, or lead to the cultivation of other convictions. In the end, college as a transformative experience ultimately demands individual student effort. No matter where a student goes, getting a college experience will result in nothing without the decision to apply one's self.

My advice to you parents and/or students about finding the right college is to research all the benefits and opportunities that different schools can offer you. Keep things in mind such as your individual financial situation and what scholarship opportunities are offered at different schools. Believe me, you do not want a degree at the expense of putting yourself in a negative financial situation for the many years to come. To make the most out of your college experience, realize that there is a fine balance to be found between a study life and a social life. You want to look back and know that the money you paid did not go to waste, but you also want to look back and see that you made friendships that will last for a lifetime. When developing these friendships, find the people who will provide an outlet to help you succeed academically while also providing impacting relationships. You should decide in advance what you need and want from your college experience and then go from there. A positive college experience should provide you with a sense of accomplishment and should leave you some of the best memories of your life.