Westmont College Top Questions

RESEARCH is the most important thing you can do to find the right school. This includes internet reviews, forums, talking with sudents, visiting, and finding out what the local community thinks of the college and its student body. The local reputation of the school can mean much more than national standing, especially if you are considering staying in the area after graduation.

Really look at all the schools, and the little details like housing, food, and car situation.

Do not select a college for its prestigous name but for how it relates to you. What are your passions and what disciplines will be strongly developed at that institution? What is the environment of that campus and how would you feel living in it? Are you somebody who would thrive off of personal relationships with the professors or would you rather be lost in a sea of people?

Find a college that will allow you to develop as a whole person--not just academically. Try to get a feel for what the typical student is at each college you're applying to, because you're going to be spending a LOT of time around these people. Surround yourself with people who will help you grow into who you want to be.

I believe the most important factors when choosing a college are knowing what you want and how to find out if the college matches up. Some students have few requirements beyond being close to home. For me, I had a list of criteria longer than the Mississippi River and it required months of intense research for me to find a college that came close to matching my specifications. What I learned from that experience was that choosing a college is a lot like dating: Don't think that just because it's not love at first sight, that it's not meant to be. I've heard stories about people who step onto campus and just know that it's where they belong, but I personally was too terrified to really enjoy any of my numerous college visits. Luckily, I had done my research and already memorized all the statistics (class size, majors offered, etc) so I could devote my attention to the details. By the time I had made my choice and freshman orientation rolled around, I knew what to expect, both good and bad. After surviving the first year, I can say I have never regretted my choice.

The most important thing to realize about looking for a college is that a great college experience doesn't just prepare you for the career you'll have for the rest of your life. No, the real power of college is that it can prepare you to be the person you will be for the rest of your life. A great college will help you learn what it means for you personally not just to succeed professionaly, but in life. It will help you to learn your passions and forfify your deep beliefs, and gain a deep understanding of what is truly important to you. And it will help you to gain character, wisdom and strength that you'll need to be true to what you really care about in life. If you want to lead an exceptional life and live the life you were meant to live, a great college can be the best preparation. And to make the most of college, remember that it's not just about the classes. Take advantage of the knowledge and the growth you can gain from relationships, extracurricular activities, or just the random experiences that college throws at you.

Explore your opportunities. Visit colleges. Really think about the decision. Know what you want, small school, big city, close to home, out of state. I honestly only applied to one school, because I knew what I wanted and found the perfect place. It is expensive, but in my opinion, it is completely worth it. Go where you feel you need to be and should be. Parents, let your kids make this decsion for themselves, it is the beginning of their life as adults, so let them choose what they feel is right. You will all end up happier that way in the end.