West Virginia University Top Questions

Students: Pick a school that let's you be who you are, and do what you relly want to do. Choose a major that you will enjoy so you will succeed! Have fun, but do not get carried away with parties, drinking, and doing what everybody else is doing. College is a time of liberation and freedom, but it is also time to grow up, and show your parents that your mature, you can make it, and assure them that they raised you well. This is the time to determine who you are and where you are going with the rest of your life. Do not get discouraged if it is hard to figure out, but never give up. Parents: Let your children choose their own path. It is harder to learn by experience, but if the wrong route is chosen, the lesson is learned forever. Students will make bad choices at times, but they will also make excellent choices at others. It takes some time to settle in and get uses=d to the teaching methods of different schools. Be patient. Be caring. Be supportive. And most of all let your child be his/herself.

To parents and students, first take things seriously then have fun. I know that sounds like a contradiction but its not. Students need to balance class/ work time and social time or they will either get burnt out or party too much and get behind. As for choosing a college, remember campus terrain is important, if there are alot of hills chances are you'll attend class less often and try to find a school that will work with you financially. Money is a very big deal, having books and supplies can add up, plus spending money is a must. Secondly, choose you major wisely then take your most challenging classes in the first two years, that way you'll know if you chose your major wisely and have time to correct it if you did not. Parents this is important, loosen the reins on your child...this is a time of independence. Your child needs to experience things for themselves in order to become independent and responsible... you can't understand something unless you experience it for youself.

The advice that I would give parents and/or students about finding the right college would definitely be "go with your gut." It may sound simple but believe me, as soon as I set foot on my campus I knew I was where I belonged. I can only wish the same for everyone else going through that difficult process of elimination. As for making the most of the college experience, have fun, stay open minded, and party just as much as you study. It's so extremely important to have a good balance between both social and academic aspects.

Find somewhere that feels like home. It makes it easy to adjust and easier to stay focused. Don't feel pressured into picking a school because it's the school where your friends are going or where your parents want you to go. Never be afraid to have some fun, but always be sure to keep your school work the number one priority (it is why you're attending college after all).

I believe college is ultimately what you make it to be. There are probably certain colleges that have the specific attributes you are looking for in a school, and you should definitely apply to those colleges. However, if for some reason you are not accepted into one of those schools, you can still find the people and programs you are searching for in other colleges. You might have to look more diligently, but they are out there. In order to ensure more opportunities in college, I suggest considering a bigger university. Bigger universities, by default, have more alumni, which usually indicate a larger endowment to offer students greater opportunities. College is an experience that allows you to learn more about everything in life, including yourself. Do not be afraid to try something new! Join a club of some sort; you are sure to make fast friends with people who have some of your same interests in mind. Take advantage of internships, tutoring, and career services; college is fun, but you still want to have a job afterwards. Exercise; it reduces stress, fatigue, and your chances of gaining the "freshman 15." Enjoy it; college is everything you make of it!

I would give the advice to parents and students to take your time, and really research and absorb what each college is offering you. Figure out what it is that when you leave school you want to say you accomplished, and see what school best suits that need. Also pay attention to what students say about financial aid and how easy or hard it is to attain because this saves many headaches down the road. I would also encourage them to visit each campus at least once. To make the most of the college experience you really need to put yourself out there and do something you would not normally do. Do as many activities as your coursework allows. Be as diverse and well rounded as possible because the college experience is about breaking inhibitions you can't at other parts of life. I use my own example in that I never thought I would ever join a fraternity. After having issues with my friends I knew before college I decided to try it out and it is now the best decision I made. I put myself out there and tried something different, which is what you have to do.

First and what's most important determine which school is fininacially applicable to the family's income. If the tuition is ok for your family then you shoud look for information about the major your expecting to pursue when you get there. If you go undecided that's not a problem because I'm sure you'll find some type of concentration that intrigues you. The most important thing I would say is definitely visit the school because as soon as you get there you'll just have a feeling that you belong there.

There is no such thing as a college that is "right" for everyone. Although its very stressful at times, finding the right college is a beautiful opportunity to find out more about yourself, even though it doesn't always feel that way. There are so many crucial decisions that need to be made; private or public, small or large, in-state or out? It can be overwhelming hearing everyone's contradicting "advice" and opinons but you must remember yourself during this whole process. Dont go to your dad's alma mater because you feel you have to, and don't bother attending your third choice school because something like finances got in the way! You have to lay all your cards on the table and decide what is best for you, because whatever choice is made will shape your future, hopefully in a positive way! Keep in mind that you cant put a pricetag on memories, and an education will last you a lifetime! Be happy, breathe, and relax - you are on your way to finding out why college is often referred to as "the best 4 years of my life!"

My advice would be to try to find a college that both parents and students are comfortable with. Some schools may have a better reputation, some may have ungodly amounts of extras to try to try to drag you in, but at the end of the day, none of that really matters compared to how well the student immerses themselves into their studies and their own life. I feel that it is nearly impossible to find a school that a student is going to succeed in by simply looking at class sizes, average GPA, activities or even by the school?s reputation; simply for the fact that everyone has different needs out of their home, which is what college becomes. If you are not comfortable in your own home, how can you be comfortable in your life? How can you sit down in a tense environment and be able to focus 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} onto your studies? Sadly the short and the sweet is that you cannot, which is why I feel that choosing a campus and a college by the feel that you get from it, by walking its streets, and seeing its people.

I would recommend choosing a college that fits your educational needs first (of course) but also that will keep your social and extracurricular interests as well. Make sure that the school has opportunites that fit your personal interests such as sports, community service groups, clubs for your major, exercise opportunities/gyms, etc. I would also personally encourage joining social groups such as a fraternity or sorority as well because that has made a very positive impact on my college experience. These groups are not only for fun but they encourage and require academic success to stay active and enjoy all the activities the organization offers. These groups also involove their members in community service events that are not only fun but benefit the campus and community. In addition I would consider studying abroad if that is an interest for the student make sure to search your school's options. Last, choose your major wisely. Make sure that it is something that sparks your interests and minds! Be sure to consider your future such as where you want to live and work because your major and the job opportunities it provides will effect these things. Remember...work hard and have fun!