uyen
College is a big part of a student's life. It can determine what career you will end up with, who your friends are, and teach you many life lessons.Parents should be involved in the selection process with you to find the right college. You both should go visit the colleges together and see how living there would be like. Get the environment vibe. To make the most out of the college experience: stay in the dorm at least one year. If not, move out while still in college. You will have a lot more freedom than if you were to live with your parents.
Jessica
My advice to parents and/or students on finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is basically do what is best for you. Many students follow friends and significant others to college. Majority of the time the college a friend or significant other chooses may not be right for you. When looking at colleges you have to look at the demographics of the area, the class sizes, the student to teacher ratios, and even the cost of attendance. In order to be happy at a school those four areas need to be within your liking. If you are not a big city person, do not go to a big city school. If you like small classes, pick a school with small classes and a smaller student to teacher ratio. Then the last thing the cost of attendence is one of those things that can and will stress you out. Most schools now do not let you take your finals until the bill is paid. Stressing over a bill and finals at the same time usually ends in the bill winning. In my opinion, finding the right school will make your college experience very fullfilling.
Mercedes
I would tell parents not force students to pick particular schools. Also parents should invest in taking trips before or after the application process so that student has a greater sense of what the schools are like before they are enrolled. I would encourage students to make a list of at least 8-10 schools, so that they will have options. Most importantly if students start early they will have a greater chance at recieving scholarships and other forms of aid. Personally, I think going out of state is the best thing ever because the student has the ability to learn and become self sufficient in so many ways. Nonetheless where ever they attend, maintaining a level gpa is always good but not to lose out on social activities; being happy and content should be key and that will lead to success.
Terreca
Finding the right college should be a shared experience with family. You should tour as many colleges as posible and make sure they meet your personal goals and needs. Once you've found the right choice get involved in activities, network with professors, and make friends for life.
KHristen
Make sure you are going to the school because of it's academic standing and not because of it's party history. Partying is fun, but it gets you nowhere if you can not function for class in the morning. Decide together what living arrangements would be best for the student, and whether or not going to an out of state school to far away is a good idea for you. School maybe stressful at times, but it is all worth it in the end. And never ever ever ever forget to STUDY STUDY STUDY!
Ashley
chose a college that fits you, and will get you to the next level of your career
Jillian
My best advice for students is to pick a school that has EVERYTHING you want and will benefit your personal growth.Do not pick a school because your friends are going there or because its a really popular school.DO YOUR RESEARCH.Know everything you possibly can about the school.Not just the good aspects but the bad as well.Do not pick a school because your parents graduated there.A good school for one person may not be the best school for the next.
Parents-Offer advice, not criticism.Allow your child to pick the best school of THEIR choice.Support them and help them every way possible.Encourage them!My parents picked my college and I'm not happy and it definitely has a negative effect on me.But I learned to make the best out of a bad situation.
Deha
Always visit the college during the school year to see how campus life is. Pick a school that has the major that you want or is known for excellence in certain majors. School size and location does matter and include those factors in the decision making process.
Kimisha
To find the right college, one has to do alot of research. Look into schools that best meet your and what you want to pursue after graduation. Visit colleges and talk to current students to see how they adapted to the enviornment. Good Luck!
Janae
When looking for the right school for you, make sure you consider location, size, ethnic diversity, interest of major and WEATHER. Believe it or not, these things make a huge difference in whether you will enjoy your college experience. Know who you are as a person and what you want from a university. Choose an academic major and do research to find out what schools focus on your major and offer the most opportunities for you. Find some schools that fit your criteria- if you prefer a large urban campus, with warm weather, look for schools that have those attributes. These decisions will make you happier in the end. Be sure to consider the cost of certain universities that fit the budget of you or your parents. Although making sure you find a college that fits all your criteria can be quite difficult, it is a very fun and memorable time during a student?s life. Once you have chosen your school and have started the school year, be sure to be open-minded to the people and environment, remain focused, and be ready to have the time of your life!