Western Washington University Top Questions

Don't put your kid in the dorm unless you really love paying nearly twice as much money a month to sustain them in bellingham. Its an expensive place outside the campus. On the cheapest meal plan and dorm...without expenses expect that you will be paying around 900/month or so. Not including books. The worst grocery store up here is price like a QFC down south and the gas up here is about 30 cents more a gallon. Clothes cost more too

The one thing that every parent and student needs to keep in mind above all other things is being realistic. Everyone gets caught up in the glossy colorful pages of college brochures, which highlight all the good parts of the school, which make you feel excited and giddy about the prospects of going there. Traveling too far away from home is the number one mistake of college freshman. Everyone thinks an out of state school is so cool and hip, untill you realize it would be nice to go home once in a while. 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of my friends went out of state for school, and about 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} came back. They are all high achievers who chose the east coast, and being from the west coast it just didnt work out. My main point is please carefully consider in state schools, it is in your best interest and can save you time and money with the college application process. I really want people to learn from the mistakes of my friends and the people I graduated with so in turn they can have a more successful freshman year.

I would suggest taking a tour of any campus you are interested in before you even apply. It's even better to do it when school is in session. This gives you a feel for campus life. If you are looking for a large school with a lot of school spirit, then you should look at Division 1 schools. That's not what i was interested in. You should also consider the city that the school is located in. City size is important, too. You should also do research into what you think you might want to study and see what that school offers. Obviously, it is hard to know what you want to do when you enter college, but knowing what a school offers before you attend it can help narrow down your options. As far as making your experience meaningful, don't be afraid to branch out beyond what you normally would do. Try new things and try to put your biases aside. I like my school because it is a good size and I have found a lot of likeminded people. It was easy to make friends and I never really felt that lost.

Make a random list of colleges. I'd say about forty or so. Include the colleges you already have interest in going to, but also pick several you haven't thought about. Then make another list of areas in which these colleges are strong, be that academically or otherwise. Make sure not to include the name of the college on this list. Now go down this second list and cross out all the schools that don't have many things that interest you. Try to narrow it down to about 10-15 schools or so. Look into these schools further, find out if they're out of your budget, or not in places you want to live. Take the remaining schools, and visit them. There is no substitute for visiting a campus, preferably during the school year. Take the tour, meet with an advisor. On your way home, visit a few random schools. Who knows? The right school might not have been on your list. Never pass up an opportunity to go check out a campus. When you find the right school, you'll know.

Never let others make a decision that is yours to make. Trust your gut, and go with what feels right. It isn't about the reputation or the cost. Just because not everyone has heard of your college doesn't mean it is worth any less than the top schools out there. If you go to a school that feels right, then everything else will fall into place; your friends, your grades, your new life! If you go to a school just for the name brand or just because it is your parent's alumnus...that doesn't mean it will fit YOU. Once you get to that school, keep trusting your gut and never back down. You have an opportunity to make the friends that you'll have for life, and learn the things that will cement your future. If you stick to your principles and do what you love, then you will be successful and happy. College is what you make of it. It can be hell, or it can be the best years of your life. It all depends on what YOU decide, not what others pressure you into. Whatever you do, throw your heart into it.

The first thing to decide is what is most important to you, whether that be location, academics, sports, social life, money or anything else. Once you know that, look for schools based on the things that are at the top of your list. Don't settle for just any school, the right one for you is out there. Visit as many campuses as you possibly can to get a feel for what you think you like. The more time and research you put into deciding your school, the happier you'll be with your choice. The same goes for your college experience once you are there. You get back what you put into it. Even if a campus is too far away to visit, you can still get a feel for it by reading about it. I chose my school without ever visiting it and I'm very happy with my choice. Most importantly do what feels right to you. Make your decision based on what you think is best, this is the start of your indepent life and self discovery. Although your parents are great for advice, ultimately the decision should be your own beacause the experience will be.

It is all about finding the campus that is right for you. Some colleges are more into leadership development, others are enviromentally involved and that reflects into both the classes and the campus life. You must also find the campus that fits you size wise. If you function well on a large campus then go for one, but if you need the small campus life to feel comfortable and at home then there are plenty of those around as well. A lost of people look for a college based on areas of study at the school and if you know you want to do something then make sure you go to a school that offers it, but if you are not sure then don't let that sway your decision. For example I am studying nothing close to what I started at, and now am studying for a degree that didn't even exsist when I first started college. You never know what will interest you until you've tried a few new things, and talked to professors and students alike.

When it comes to looking for the right college you need to make sure it fits who you are adn who you want to become. Not just because friends are going or you heard they had great parties. Really getting a chance to talk to students or other people in the community is important. You can also make sure the surrounding area is what you want. Going to visit and staying over with a friend that goes to the school or with a program the school has. That way you can really see what its like. When you come to visit dont go out to eat, eat on campus (you will be eating this food all next year so its good to try it). Sitting in on class is a good way to get first had experience is useful. Lastly give every school a chance, listen to you parents on this (parents listen to the student as well). You never know what you will fall is love with.

I would advise parents/students to realistically consider what is important to them- considering class size, town size, major options and other activities. Realize that the "college experience" is different than the standard story and be sure to make it your own. Enjoy the time, experiment and push yourself to try new things- you never get this time back in your life, live it to its fullest potential and enjoy the ride.

College is about all sorts of learning: factual information, ways of thinking, getting along with different people, even learning about yourself. It's such a key time in your life, and getting the right school for you is the most important thing. You need to feel comfortable enough where you choose to go that you can take full advantage of your education, in all its forms. If that means Ivy League isn't the right place for you, that's okay, and don't let anyone else tell you otherwise. Remember, it's *your* school