Wheaton College-Wheaton Top Questions

I would say remember that college is about the over-all EXPERIENCE, in terms of life skills. You learn to interact with people and make friends and network and learn discipline. If you focus on the school/grades aspect, you might get overwhelmed. But you should remember that college is so much more than the classes. It is a precious time in life where you are around the greatest number of people your own age than ever before/again. Do not take this for granted, and what you put into college, you will get out of it. Enjoy the social aspect, but don't put too much emphasis on it. Remember that being able to attend college is a great privilege.

Know beforehand what you can and cannot tolerate, who you want to be surrounded by, and what you expect to get out of college. Education, challenges, expansion of your tolerances and limits, and character formation are all good things to consider when picking a college.

Be realistic about how hard you are willing and able to work and pick a school based on this assessment. Don't compromise, and look for good financial aid packages.

I believe the most important aspect of choosing the right college for you should be based off the community you want to become a part of. You need to decide if you want to heavily involved in a sorority or frat house, a community outreach program, or a sports team..etc. Most students change their mind on what they major in and most of those find jobs in other areas. It is most important to find a community that is open and supportive when it comes to study, growth, and knowledge. College is the time when students are first away from home. This becomes the time when you find out who you really are. Each person gets the choice of who they will be; what will they do, who will they know, and how will they act. The relationships you build in college create who you become. People say you become like the people you spend time with. In order for you to make the most of your college experience, it is important that you choose a community of people who value similar things and can stretch, encourage, and support you in your endeavors during these years. Good luck!

don't put off what you need in regards to making your application quality. build relationships with those whom you will be able to request recommendations for your application. visit colleges and universities that you are keeping in mind. take into consideration what you want and need (location, distance from home, financial aid, tuition, room/board, majors) plan, plan, plan. this will save you a lot of time and money from being wasted.

Take time to talk to professors when you visit. Find a school with professors that are encouraging and want to get to know you. While at school, work hard, but play hard too. Get involved in something you are interested. Do an internship or study abroad.

Make sure to find a college that fits your personality best. Don't just base your decision on what kind of academic standards they have. Make sure that you are comfortable there and that there is room for fun as well. You want your 4 years of college to be a good experience.

Get a practical major. If it's an artsy major, get your education certificate.

When visiting a college on designated visitor weekends, I have seen first hand that it is not the most realistic experience you could have. If I could do it over again, I would come on a non-visitor designated weekend and sit and observe the student union, classes, etc. Stop a student and ask them questions. Most students love talking about their school. I had a few parents stop me and ask me questions. Once you find your college, make the most out of it by sitting back the first semester and soaking in the required stuff. Then observe which activities people enjoyed, and which ones were overwhelming. Pick which activities you will be involved in and be committed to them. Study hard, and play hard.

Think about what things are most important to you... while the primary purpose is to get a degree to prepare you for future jobs, it ends up being more about the experience. This includes learning to be independent, building relationships, and trying new things. You want to find a school where you feel comfortable when you visit, but it must also be able to challenge you so you can grow. While it's easy to get caught up in things like location, GPA, and ratios on paper, none of that will matter if you can't find people with whom you can relate and professors who care about you enough to help you and guide you personally as well as academically. Schools with lots of on-campus housing are great to help you get connected. I wouldn't recommend choosing a school based on your prospective major, because most students end up changing their mind. Also, if you are going away to school, avoid schools where people leave on the weekends. Some of the best memories are formed on the weekends just hanging out with people.