Westfield State University Top Questions

To the students: Don't go to the school that you think has the most parties. Don't go to the school that all your friends are going to. It's about YOUR future, remember that. Find a school that suits you based on your surroundings like location and how big the campus is. Make sure to ask around about your major at that particular school because there could be a better school out there where you can learn!

Look at all the options regardless of cost to find a good fit for your student. Don't party while at school, the statistic of freshman enrollees who actually go on to receive degrees is suprising very low. I believe in setting goals and exceeding them. College is a time to show the world what you can do and prepare yourself for the next undisclosed number of years of your life. Don't waste it.

Keep all options open and consider all types of schools. You may find a school you weren't considering earlier is actually a better fit for you.

Be aware of your financial situation and be prepared to need more money at one point or another and know how you are going to handle that situation.

I would tell students that they should think carefully about where THEY want to go to school. Don't worry about what your friends, boy/girlfriend think, just worry about what you think. I would also tell them not to worry so much about money. Although college can be expensive and money is often an issue, there is financial aid, scholarships, work, and loans can be taken it. I think it's more important to make sure you are going somewhere where you will be happy rather than just worry about the cost of school.

I would say first off to figure out what kind of learner your are as a student. For me I need to be able to be involved in the class and be ableto ask questions and converse with the professor if I need to. That is why a smaller college was best for me. If you learn better by reading the book yourself and teaching yourself then a big school would be better for you because you dont need to speak with the professor or ask questions as much. Also see how the campus is layed out. Academics come first but you want to be able to enjoy your time there as well. So see what there is to do downtown or see how far away downtown is from your campus. Maybe you dont have a car and you want everything to be within walking distance. Or maybe you dont mind driving 5 minutes to go downtown to hae a good time. Visit all your schools of choice first, and dont pick a school based on its name and reputation, make sure the school fits you before you committ

In my opinion, when choosing which college is best for you my first advice would be to visit as many schools as you can. It is very good to see the different style of schools and what the campuses are like. If you are going to spend four years there you want to like it. I would also recommend talking to students because they will tell you the truth as to what their school is like versus a recruiter who wants you to go to their school just because they work for the school. Also, don't just limit yourself to the schools nearby. Don't be afraid to see what is out there. Concerning, "making the most of the college experience" that is up to you. Honestly, I would recommend living on campus versus commuting. It is a great way to meet people, make new friends who will be lifelong and get involved in a whole new world after high school. Good Luck!

You should only apply to schools that you think will give you the best experience and education. You don't want to go somewhere just because your friends are going there. If you already know what you want to do for a career, you should look at schools that specialize in that field. Don't be nervous when you are at school. You will make plenty of friends and build relationsips with your professors.

If I were to give advice about choosing a college for a student or parent of that student, I'd make sure that both the parents and student were confident that they will be comfortable and happy about the situation. If there is something they saw in tours or any other source of information they didn't like, they shouldn't just ignore it and hope that it won't be a problem. You are spending a lot of money and should make sure it is going to what you want. Also they should meet some of the staff for their student's major, make sure they are friendly people who seem like they care about the student's progress. Make comparisons at different schools on what the facilities look like and the overall positive atmosphere. Overall, you basically don't want to spend a lot of money to be uncomfortable.

follow your gut