Yale University Top Questions

I would suggest that parents let their student go with the school that just "feels right." Finances are a very important concern, especially given the current economy, but when you consider the overall happiness of your student and their college experience, you can't put a price on that. A student who is happier will have better grades and will be a more competitive pick for graduate school or job placement. The ultimate success of your student should be the overriding factor in his/her college choice.

Think about how much you value being constantly overworked and miserable, and decide on a college accordingly.

Whatever you choose, it's always the right choice. Remember that who you marry is more important that where you go to college. Don't stress about where as you're applying, just focus on trying your best to get into as many respected places as possible, then choose. When you're at college, don't slack off. Make the most of every opportunity. These are the best days of your life!

Dear Parents and Prospective Students, My main piece of advice to you is to follow both your heads and your hearts. The reasons Yale was my dream school on paper are obvious -- it's the best in the world academically and in almost every other way, it offers wonderful financial aid and student support. The reasons I finally chose it -- and adore it to this day, a year after graduation -- are less obvious but equally important. Yale is the kindest, most open and most vibrant place I have ever experienced. I would not have been happy at college -- and so enabled to succeed afterward -- had either one of those factors been missing. Weigh what the college offers you academically equally with what it offers your soul. You need both. If you hate your environment and everyone in it, you are likely to fail. If your environment offers nothing besides good times or comfort, you are also likely to be dissatisfied -- only perhaps a bit later in life. Finally, most importantly, don't be afraid to take risks! Ignoring that tiny voice telling you to dream bigger (whatever the situation) is the worst thing you can do. Good luck!!! Helen

Too many students make college decisions based solely on ranking. The truth is, there are as many different colleges as there are kinds of intelligence. People should consider size of the college, location, and extracurricular activities. Also, I've found that most people I know are happy where they end up. So it is foolish to base all of one's hope on a single college; it just sets us up for disappointment.

Look carefully, but don't go crazy searching. Maintain a mutually respectful parent-child relationship if you are looking together! In my mind multiple colleges could be the "right place" for you, for different reasons. The most important thing is to find a place where you can be yourself without feeling that you have to change your beliefs and passions. HOWEVER, be aware your interests will inevitably evolve somewhat (or a lot) during this time. While you technically become an adult when you graduate from high school, the few years following that milestone are incredibly important for figuring out who you are and what you love. My advice is to chose a college that provides just enough discomfort to encourage personal growth and enough variety in academic and extracurricular persuits to help you discover new passions and/ or refine old ones. And when you get there, enjoy! Get caught up in the world of your university. Don't expect perfection (all colleges have their weaknessness) and know it will be difficul at times. But realize, somewhere in the back of your mind, that this is a rare and wonderful time in your life, a memory before you know it.

Figure out what exactly you want from your collegiate experience: do you want to live in a city, do you want a very small college, is being close to your family really important, etc. After you figure this out narrowing down your choices should be easy. Once you get to college, try new activities, be more social than your usual are, let people get a chance to get to know you and you'll be surprised what you find out about other people. Listen more than you talk and ask lots of questions. In your classes strive to be the best and really take the time to get to know your professors. Even though this is the hardest thing to do, it is really important to find a balance. Do not let school consume you. Take a day once a week to enjoy being with your friends. Don't worry, everything will get done but at the end of the day, your sanity is what is most important.

The focus of the individual in determining his or her future should always be the inidividuality of the the individual. In other words, always start from fully realizing who one is and what does one truly want to achieve in the society before considering what is fashionable, profitable, or idealistic. Not matter how competitive or difficult a task is perceived to be, one's unwavering interest in the matter can make it perfectly doable. Similarly, not matter how tedious and repetitive an activity is rumored to be, one's genuine interest can make it enjoyable in the most delightful ways. Such a rule suits both for the college search process and any activities that one may go through. To simply shoot for the "best," as most people would consider it to be, is definitely overrated. If every person in the world does that, there would be no uniqueness in the world. Society would quickly degenerate into a monochromatic, unchanging collective mass. Many people say that college is the first step to the rest of the life, and that is exactly why one must find that one place and those few things that defines one to be not like any other.

Finding the right college is as much about the student body as it is about academics, financial aid, and campus life. After all, the student body represents the citizenship of what will essentially be your hometown for four or more years of your life. The student body will provide you with your neighbors, your peers - even your greatest friends and your worst enemies - and it is important that you get a feel for the students before making a decision on any college. Campus visits (not during summertime) are key. They allow you not only to live with students at the college, but also to see where they live, how they live, and what they do. Not what the university tells you they do. Not what the university-paid tour guide tells you they do, but what they actually do. And who they actually are.

Don't let the process of getting into college consume your/your child's life. I got into a great school, but the stress of high school took such a toll on my mind and body that I had to take 2 years off to get a handle on what have become chronic health problems. There are lots of great places to go to college. There's a lot of luck involved. Don't take the acceptance/rejection letters too personally. Don't get set on one school. You never know how it will turn out. And even if college turns out to be a difficult experience (like it was for me), the adversity will show you who you are and prepare you for the real world. In fact, the emphasis these days on getting into college (as opposed to learning) frustrates me so much that I've decided to become a teacher to try to be a good influence on my students in our increasingly misguided society. Work hard in high school, but be yourself and have fun. Focus on being the PERSON (as opposed to the college applicant) you want to be!