Western Washington University Top Questions

Make sure that you choose a place that will offer the programs that you want to take, not just the place that your friends go to. Don't go home the first weekend, it's one of the best times to meet new people with all the activities that go on during that time. Check out the clubs that you're interested in and ask around if you want to find one. They're all good ways to meet new people and make friends. Don't just stick with students you knew from high school, branch out, you never know who you'll meet. pay attention to your studies, but don't burn out from studying or things will be impossible. Live your first year on campus, it'll keep you in the thick of things and you can meet new people and maybe even find help for the issues that you face. My most important advice is to make sure that you do this for you, not for anyone else. Take control and make your life something you'll be able to look back on with a smile.

Go somewhere will you will be truly happy. College experiences differ and just because your school may lean towards a specific sport, activity, or be very well known for partying or a particular department, doesn't mean that will have a direct impact on your life. You can choose to be a part of school activities or do your own thing. I recommend taking diverse classes, even if you know in your heart you wanted to major in history since you were 10 doesn't mean you can't expand your taking classes outside of your comfort zone. I suggest this not to deter you from sticking to your well thought-out major prior to beginning school, but to help make you a well-rounded person and to expand your horizons. Most importantly, take classes you will enjoy! You get to actually PICK your own classes, times, and professors, take advantage of this!

Make sure you visit the campus and feel that it is the one you could live at for four years. Make friends and feel free to be yourself!

I would tell future college students to go look at campuses before deciding which college to attend, as well as planning ahead financially. I love WWU's campus which is part of why I decided to go there. The campus is comforting and not overwhelming as I've felt at other universities. I feel that it is important for students to balance their academic, work, and social lives. Many of my friends have focused too much on their social lives and have neglected their school work. I, on the other hand, have focused much more on working and school work because I am more conscious of my future. At the same time I have learned that I do need to give myself a little more time for myself to have fun and enjoy myself. The college life is unlike anything that you will ever experience elsewhere, and although new students may find themselves overwhelmed, in the end it will be the time of their lives in a number of ways.

Even if you have a very small idea of want you want to study, make sure the school has qualified resources for it. Also, make sure that there are clubs, extracurricular activities, sports, etc. that you would want to get involved in. Don't make it movie college experience of just drinking and partying, make sure you are active in your community. Not only will you make great memories but you will also make great connections that could help you in your future.

Find scholarships! Apply to as many as possible!

To fellow future students and their parents, when choosing a school for the student go for their interest. Look at the school's community and what they have to offer, not only in academics, and programs that will help them with their the student's future particular field but programs that involve the students. The students should be able to bond with the school and its community promoting comfort and stability. This gives the student that attends to the school a sense of belongingness and offers them positive motivation to pursue in there education. A place where it offers the student a positive atmosphere. Academic wise, students should search for a school that offers programs that excel in the student's field of interest, to provide an education that will help in the future. So when selecting a school look for the environment of the college that will affect the student positvely and a school than can help them pursue in the field of their interest.

Choose a school that has a good department in the major you intend to choose.

As I have also told my kids who graduated also from WWU, find a school that is close to attributing to the degree you are seeking. If you prefer to live on campus, find one that has suitable and reputable on campus housing that you will feel safe in while attending that University. When you find that right University you have chosen make sure to screen each of your professors to make sure you feel secure with them when in class of your subject. Always remember, you pay for your own education.

Personally, I don't think that any college is perfect for any one person. Picking a college is just like any other major step in life; you have to do some big personal searching and accomadating to make a school work for you. You spend four or more years at a University and it can make or break that major part of your life. Thats a lot of pressure. Advice that I can give to any parent or student is simply this, do not over think it. If you overthink a school and it's pros and cons for you, you might end up disappointed. Although on the flip side, you should be aware of what you're looking for in a school. I would recommend making a list of the basics and then find schools that meet those basics that are in an area you'd love to live in and is with in your price range. There might be hundreds of schools that meet one's wants. It's not about FINDING the perfect school, it's ultimately about making a great experience out of the school you do attend. You choose your destiny.