Yale University Top Questions

I would tell myself to brace himself and get ready to get down and work - have fun, but we're here to work. Indeed, to have fun while fulfilling requirements. To not procrastinate. To plan ahead. To keep a planner. To set goals for what is desired in the future, and to chart a specific course to arrive successfully at those goals - but be flexible enough for a change of plans if necessary. To remain spiritually active and not get discouraged. To seek out help when it is needed, and to not carry the world on his shoulders when others are willing to lend aid. To be happy, and by choice. To remember my parents' sacrifices in sending me there. To remember that I am accountable for what I do. To take advantage of every opportunity that can possibly be taken. To learn.

Find something that your child is really passionate about, and explore that to its fullest. The best schools, like Yale, are interested in students who are not only intelligent, but can contribute something more, something interesting, to the rest of their class.

Finding the right college is simply about persuing what one truly wants out of life. Visit as many colleges as possible and to make your decision from that. The college you choose should have the academic program that you are truly interested in, not one that you think will make you the most money. If you want to make the best of his/her time in college he/she must pursue something that they have a passion for. I learned this the hard way my first year in college. There is so much material to cover in the classes you take that if you do not have a legitimate desire to learn the information, you won't, and that is both an unenjoyalbe experience and a waste of your time and money. On a personal note, I come from a very low income family that can barely manage to make ends meet and I decided to persue theater studies. Not because I thought it would make me rich, but becuase it is what I truly have a passion for. Money exists to serve you, you do not exist to serve it. Do what you love and the rest will follow.

Pick a college that seems right for you. Sometimes the best college is that one that can offer you more, not by what ranking it has in the country or how renown the professors are. College years are the years that can make or break the rest of your life. Choose well, and remember to enjoy yourself. Work hard and study diligently. But never forget that it's your life, so pick what you think would get you the most out of your experience. Take extracurricular activities that peak your interests, even if they have nothing to do with your course of study. But know when you've overloaded yourself with work and activities. Every now and then, take a chill break, make way for some "me" time. We can't always be working at 200 percent capacity. Even superheroes need some downtime every now and then. College is supposed to an fun learning experience. MAKE it one.

I would suggest, first and foremost, to visit any and every college you are considering. Look at the architecture, have lunch there--little things like these might not seem terribly important during the searching process, but you'll be spending four years in this place and these things become a large part of your life. It also helps you get a feel for the campus culture (strictly studying, hard partying, or somewhere in between). But whether or not you can visit, don't hesitate to contact students or even professors if you have questions; usually they'll be happy to help you. In addition, don't get caught up in rankings or prestige: Choose what feels right for you. Once you're there, don't be afraid to try new things, both in and out of the classroom. Explore! That's what college is about! You'll have opportunities there that you won't have ever again. Take advantage of them. Learn Zulu, take paleontology, go out for the IM rugby team! Have fun! But not too much fun ;-) (College is also about learning time-management. ) These next four years will be some of the best of your life.

Before you apply, research colleges on their own website and not just from college books such as Fisk. Find something unique about the school that really draws you in. Once you are deciding on what college to choose, talk to students. Speaking from experience, people who love their school will talk to any high schooler about their experience and answer any of your questions. Fall in love with your school before you go and visit if at all possible. It is a good idea to go in with an idea of what you want to study in mind, but don't be afraid to take random other classes and switch your major. Joining activities is the best advice. It ges you involved in your school, gives you a place to make good friends, and upper classmen in your activity will be there to offer their own advice. If you get overwhelmed, take a study break and do something fun. College should be fun and it is what you make it.

Don't be afraid to reach higher than you think you might be able to get. There's very little harm in trying. You're already filling out other applications, so you might as well put in a little bit more effort to fill out the one to your dream school, and you never know when that application might turn out spectacularly well. Try to visit the schools you apply to to make sure that you're going to fit in well. Take your time on all your applications, and make sure you represent yourself as the person you are, not the person you think the admissions committee wants to see. Chances are they'll see through that. It doesn't matter where you go to college in the end. College is what you make of it. Have fun, but don't forget to learn. But most of all, don't let anything about college get to you. As long as you stay upbeat and keep a positive attitude about the whole experience, there's very little that can derail you on your road to graduation and life with a degree.

To some extent, shooting for the #1 school based on US News and World Report is a good goal. You are sure to get a good education, and meet interesting people. However, I truly believe that finding the right school is not as easy as looking at a ranking. Make a pros and cons list with categories ranging from study resources to social life and everything in between. Visit the campus. Stay with a friend/family member/athlete/anyone. But most of all, choose a school that will push you academically. College IS a time to have fun, and it IS a time to socialize, but after graduation, your education will lead you the next 60 years of your life--not fast you can chug a beer.

Find a school that you can see yourself being happy at. For me, I knew right after visiting the school that I eventually attended that I wanted to go there. Don't try to overthink your college decision because you'll psych yourself out, just go by what you feel.

Always remember that there is not just ONE perfect fit for you. Don't become obsessed with one school and think that if you do not get accepted you won't be happy anywhere else. Once in school, don't feel pressure to decide a major immediately, and don't feel as if your major needs to be directly tied to your career interests. More importantly don't feel tied to a certain career upon entrance. Always look to try new things (classes, social opportunities, foods) and always look to meet new people. Most of all, always be yourself. There are no more straight up "popular cliques" in college, so the desire to be popular will fade. Always know that no matter what college you pick, you will be able to find a good group of friends. This isn't high school, so instead of thinking of a class' worth based merely on a grade, think about the value of a class in terms of its ability to provoke intellectual discussion.