Wheaton College-Wheaton Top Questions

It's really important to decide what are the absolutes you really want in your college, and then the things that you would like but aren't completely necessary for you. Things like distance from home, money, campus community, athletics; they were the absolutes for me. Things like college size and academic programs were things that I was less strict about. Based on those absolutes, I found the most ideal colleges and applied. Don't settle for anything less that you really want. As far as attending college, I've found that it is so important to take innitiative in everything. It's harder for some people than others to realize that we are not children anymore, and we make the most out of our college experience. YOU have to seek out meaningful relationships, YOU have to make yourself do your homework, and YOU have to grow and learn on your own. It's also vital to have priorities and live according to them. That is preparation for life after college. You have to know why you're living and what you're living for, and that will give you motivation and purpose while you learn and grow in college.

so, for college students, i have some advice for making the most out of college. college is a unique point in life when you're being molded into the person you will become, so you don't want to leave college the same as when you arrived, you want to leave being affected by everything you've learned and experienced. When we're too busy partying, or studying, we don't ask ourselves the big questions, like why we believe what we believe, who is it we want to become, and how do we make sense of the world around us. college is a safe place to make the transition from kids to adults, so don't leave without having made sure that you have a worldview that is big enough to make sense of the world around you. so on a practical level, ask questions, go to guest lectures, have discussions with fellow students about tough issues. But i think most importantly, hang out with your proffessors, hang out with older adults that you know. they will help you to ask the big questions and make sure that you're getting the most out of your college experience.

When looking for a college, try viewing on a weekend when 4 million other parents and students WONT be there. This gives a good view of what the campus is really like during the school term, not just decorated to welcome you and your loved ones. Also, try and find a few different students to interview (different majors, different ethnicities, from different states/nations, some that love the school, and some that dislike it intensely). Asking them even a few questions can give a good overall view to the school. School should be an enjoyable time; the school should make an attempt to aid the student on focusing on school and not having to worry about paying back loans ASAP. The work load should be ample enough to cause the student to think and grow in knowledge, but not so overbearing that the student has no time for a social life. And if needed, a job should be easily manageable with the work load. Faculty and staff should understand that some students have to work to stay at school and be sympathetic to the reality that a lot of students face nowadays.

Do not go to college just as a stepping stone for your future career. That is important, especially in the sciences, but it is more important to choose a college that will enrich you as a person. It is likely that you will change careers several times in your life, so the most practical thing is not an extremely specialized education but being secure in who you are and what you are capable of doing. Use college to learn to balance independence and community, to help you work through what you believe, and to give you the tools and mentors who will help you become a well-rounded person with good problem-solving skills. Those things will help you no matter what you do. (If you want to work in a career that requires an extremely specialized education, that is what graduate school is for.)

When you choose a college, you should consider practical issues such as academic reputation, tuition/financial aid, campus environment, etc. However, the important thing is your attitude once you get there. Don't assume too much. You will find that reputation isn't everything- sometimes the weird people make the best friends, and sometimes the presigious professors are lousy teachers. If you've never dated before, don't start your freshman year.

Choose the school where you will learn and be challenged the most.

Take the process very seriously; don't make some glib, spur of the moment decision based on where your girlfriend/boyfriend is going (or best friend for that matter). Make the decision that suits your needs best and make the decision very carefully. There is no feeling worse than being at a school that you absolutely hate.

Find a place where you know you'll be comfortable. For instance, decide if you'd prefer a large student body or a small one. Look at the setting...is it in a city, suburb, or in it's own town. Make sure the school has a major you're interested in pursuing, and if you're undecided make sure they have a variety of majors that you might be interested in. Look at schools that are appropriate for your level of learning...don't look at terribly difficult schools if you're an average student. Look at a school that will work for you, but still be a challenge. Make the most of your college experience by getting involved in campus activities. Especially your first two years, this is a great way to get to know new people and find out where you fit in. Take classes you enjoy, but also branch out and take something outside of your major. It's good to be well-rounded and it will enhance your learning experience overall. Work hard, but also make sure you enjoy the time you have at school because it goes by so fast!

The best advice I can give concerning choice of college is a campus visit while class is in session. Simply observing the way a student body interacts with one another and with professors will grant you a feel for the overall ethos of the campus environment. Attend class and observe whether or not the professors stay after, make themselves available for personal discussion, and have a willingness to invest in your life and education. The classes that make the most impact are primarily dependant upon the professor and the atmosphere established for learning the material. Making the most of your college experience involves approaching it with an open mind, aware that your expectations may not be met each day. Friendships ebb and flow, classes are good and bad, but in every instance you can learn something not only about life but yourself; college is a wonderful place to learn and explore--take that opportunity and make the most of it.

Finding a school that ?fits? you is crucial to choosing a school. First, you have to identify what it is you want in a school. If you have a solid idea of what you want to do for a career, it is wise to find a school that has a renowned program in that field. But what if you don?t know what it is you want to do? In this case it is best to choose a school that has a lot of majors to offer because chances are, you will change your major at least once in the next four years. Do you want to be close or far away from home? Speaking from experience, 4 or 5 months away from home can be hard if you never have the chance to go home. Also, if you are going to be missing your state every day, maybe it is best to attend school in state. Remember that if a school doesn?t work out, it isn?t the end of the world. These years are meant for you to form your identity but don?t rush it. Enjoy college because you will always look back on these years.