West Virginia University Top Questions

The advice that I would give starts with what type of person the prospective student is normally. If you are an outgoing person who loves to be around people than colleges and universities like WVU are where you want to attend, if not then look into smaller schools. The second most important piece of advice I could give to a student or the family is to look at the academic programs and offerings of each individual institution he/she/they are thinking about as it pertains to what the student wants to focus on; the right college offers what he/she needs in order to succeed in his/her desired field after he/she graduates. The third set of cents I would propound would be to look into how much each school costs and the financial aid that each gives/accepts - having the money to pay matters a lot. The rest of my advice would be to visit each prospective school and try to talk to at least 3 students about how they feel regarding this schoo.l. All of this should allow the student and family to come to the best conclusion.

This is such an important time in your life. First sit down and talk to your parents and listen to what they have to tell you, remember they have already been down this road. Do some research on where you would like to go and if they have want you would like to take. Determine how far you would like to go and what the cost is going to be. Go visit the colleges, take the tours they offer and talk to other students that attened that school to get ther opinion. Lastly, choose the college that feels right and fits "you".

Finding the right college for your child is a complex decision. What remains essential is the final objective of these four incredible years in its totality. College CAN be one of the most liberating and eye-opening times of one's life. Inherent in this notion is the fact that spreading one's wings necessitates self-determination, self-control, and responsibility. Without a clear goal in mind, without vision to where one's decisions will lead, it becomes easy to be lost, adding to the never-ending stereotype of the typical reckless college student. In your search, your child's choice is paramount. In that choice, however, be sure to find a place that offers exposure to diversity, supportive organizations, and a mentality that will lead towards progressive thought: a vision of the forest for the trees. College can be really fun. The key to a great experience is simply to recognize that college is just a step... and the fun does not have to end here.

Just find a place where you feel most at home. College, even though it is about learning and receiving a good education and also finding a good job, that's not all. My freshman engineering teacher told me his thought on what every student needs most to succeed in college. And it is not good teaching, or a place with the best facilities for all needs, but a place where you have friends. Friends are a vital part of succeeding in college and if you can find a place where you feel at home, making friends will be so much easier for you and you will have no problem succeeding. I didn't go out much or spend a lot of time with friends my first year, and therefore my GPA dropped, but this year, I am spending more time with friends and focusing on studying and I already am doing much better in school and feel that this year will be much greater than my previous year. Finding a place with good friends is the key to college success. And good academics and facilities do not hurt either.

Parent(s), you are very important in the process of transitioning to college and you most likely already know that. However, remember that regardless of where you financially can afford to go, the decision of what college to attend should ultimately go to your child(ren) even if you are affiliated with or an alumni of a particular school; the decision process is very tedious, but absolutely necessary. Encourage your child to visit as many colleges as possible before applying to them and do not let state borders constrain you; many of these visits should be during Junior year of college as the application process is normally at the very beginning of students' Senior year. If financial issues arise, remember that there are many loan possibilities (such as Sallie-Mae) that can help you pay for college. For making the most out of college, students should be aware of their potential and the environment they're learning in. Students should be encouraged to be outgoing and focused to successfully mix their social life and schoolwork. Overall, remind them that they decide what kind of experience they have because, as cliche as it sounds, school is what you make it.

The best advice I could give a future student is that choose a school where you feel like you can belong and also make sure that the enviroment like distance, weather fits your personality.

Parents: Now is not the time to try and fix anything you felt like you should have done for the last 18 years. Your kid is who they are and hopfully you love them for that. Don't worry. They will be fine. Students: College has a lot to do and you are on your own for the first time to do it. DO NOT think you can do everything. Enjoy expanding your horizons as much as you want but don't do it at the expense of your studies. You don't pay thousands of dollars to play video games or join a fraternity. Lastly, college is faster than high school. Your decisions will have more value and there will be more of them to make. Trust in yourself and the people around you to help guide you but YOU alone know what is best. Enjoy every minute of it!

The best way to find the right college is to go and visit a college. Listening to what people have to say about a college is usually helpful, too. I would visit the college you are interested in on a school day and just walk in on a couple of the lectures taking place. It does not really matter what lecture you sit down in, but it is more helpful if you listen to a lecture close to what your major is going to be. You just can not be shy to make the most of your college experience. You have to be eager to meet new people and just try new things. It may take a little bit of time to adjust to your new settings, but most people get the hang of it. The only thing you really have to do is to pretty much be yourself and you will find the other things.

I would advise them to go and visit the college of their choice before attending.

Students need to consider a number of things when choosing a college. To begin narrowing their choices, students should consider what schools offer excellent programs in their area of study. From this list, they should explore each college to determine school size, class size, availability of clubs and activities of interest, housing options, transportation, demographics of the student body and faculty, distance from home, etc. Knowing this information, the student and his/her parents should look at each school to determine how the personality of the school fits with the student's personality. For example, a very shy young woman from a very small, rural community may be overwhelmed by a University in a big city. Likewise, a student with liberal ideas from a large city or someone who thrives on constant activity, large and diverse classes, and being independent might find a small conservative, rural college too constricting. College is so much more than just academics. It is the path to the future. Students must consider not only the academics available at their chosen school but also the schools culture, diversity, size, and other factors in order to select a school which fits with the students own style.