Anderson University-Anderson, IN Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Troy

Make sure you consider more than academics. Nearly every college or university will offer a strong education and provide quality proffesors as well as study help, so you need to make sure the place you pick is in a nice location and provides the opportunities to participate in the activities you desire.

Ellen

I would advise parents and students to look at a lot of different schools, including different types of schools (public, private, big, small, etc...). I also encourage parents to let their child make the final decision about where they want to attend. Choosing a school is a very big process and it takes a lot of time and consideration before a decision can be made. However, I do suggest that you don't go to a school without visiting campus first.

Rachel

Choosing a college is a big decision in someones life. It is important to choose a school that guarentees a good education. A student should be challenged but also offered the individual help that he or she may need. The opportunities a school offers are also very helpful in preparing for a career. A school should be helpful in assitanting a student in getting involved and providing opportunities to build a student's resume and experiences in the field of study. Making the most out of a college experience is up to the student. Getting involved is very important. There are many ways to get involved in a school. A student should find healthy activities that help to strengthen them as a well rounded individual. Churches, intramural sports, musical ensembles, or other campus based groups are all a good way to get involved. In conclusion, there are many factors in picking out a good colleges, but it is up to the student to make the most out of every opportunity available.

Katelyn

My advice would be to visit each school that you are considering and to meet with a faculty member in the field that you are thinking of studying. Also, it is important to ask questions, afterall, you will be paying that school tuition and most likely spending the next four or five years there so you want to be happy and know all that is possible before making your decision. You need to visit when students are actually on campus, so you can get a feel for what campus is like and see if you can see yourself in that setting. If possible, stay overnight in the dorm, so you can get a feel for what that experience is like, and again, see if you can see yourself there for the next several years. Something else that is important to consider is the vacinity to where your home is located. To help make your choice, make a list of all the qualities that you want in a school, and see from which schools you visited fits the most important points in your criteria. More often than not, you will just have a feeling for what school is right for you.

Bethany

As a student who has most likely never lived away from home, it is important to find a school where you will feel comfortable and have no problem adjusting. You may not know what that school looks like for you. Weigh the pros and cons of different sizes and locations for colleges; you may find that you prefer one over the other. Consider the majors a school offers because ultimately that is why you are attending college. Money is an important factor so look for a college that will give you the best education for the money. Once you have selected a school and have begun attending, it is imperative that you do not judge the school right away because even if it is the right choice for you, it is still an adjustment. Get involved! Academics is the most important aspect of your college experience, but it is not the sole benefit. College is where you discover who you are, so do not be afraid to try different clubs, sporting events, and other activities. The friendships you form at college are the ones you will keep the rest of your life so meet as many people as you can.

Liz

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Jeremy

Find a college that first has a broad array of majors. Find one that fosters lifelong learning and is open to exploring new ideas. A college which has many activities and allows for you to create your own is a great wasy to enhance your social life and initiate what you are passionate about.

Mallory

Follow your heart!! I thought I had my mind set on a ultra-conservative christian school in Ohio. It is a great school, and I have had relatives that have graduated from there. However, when I went on an actual campus visit, I didn't really see myself fitting in with the campus dynamics. I came on a visit to Anderson, and just loved the atmosphere. I could really see myself attending this university. I will warn you that when you decide on a college, first impressions may or may not change, but that is life. Get involved, and be social. You need to remember that college is a place where you get to study what you are going to be for the rest of your life, so don't take it to lightly. But still make time to build friendships, and make lasting memories.

Ben

Visit as many campuses as you can to get a feel for what you like as well as what campus will be the best fit for you. Once you're there work hard but be sure to have fun.

Nathanael

I would visit as many schools as you can, ask a lot of questions, and once you decide on where you want to go I would get involved with activities and extra curricular things that will help you get a step towards your goals when you graduate. I would also build a lot of relationships.

Peter

To parents I would suggest that they give wisdom to their child in order to chose a good school, but do not mandate which school the student goes to or use the fact that they are paying for the education to get the student to do what they want. To students I would say follow your passions and desires even if that isn't what is popular in your household, and trust that in some way provision for that will come. Accept wisdom from adults but don't accept controlling demands over your life.

Katherine

Choosing where you will attend college is is an important decision and it works out best if you find the place you want and stay there. Changing schools mid-degree will make an already hard process harder. I say go with your gut. If the staff seems friendly, accessible, and helpful, then you will suceed because they really care and will go the extra mile for their students. To make the most of your time find a way to get involved as soon as possible. Don't soley focus on academics. Grades seem important while you are in school, but once you graduate no one cares if you got a C- on your Music History test your sophmore year. Make mistakes, but learn from them. Take time to hang out with friends. College is the only time in your life where you will be surrounded by people going through the same thing as you. These shared experiences will help create lasting friendships. Try not to rack up credit card debt. Don't estrange your parents while you are in school. They will ALWAYS be around. And finally, don't over induldge in the cafeteria buffet... you will regret it later.

Laura

Visit the college campuses to decide what is the best fit for you. Make the most of your college experience by taking opportunities to engage in service projects and social events. Attend the college counseling center to help negotiate the difficult transition into adulthood.

Danielle

Go with your gut instinct...and pick a college that has a good program for the major you want.

David

It's all about relationships and learning to live with other people. Go away from home but close enough to visit. Always call mom!

Crystal

Find a school that is right for you. If you know what you're going to major in look around colleges with great opportunities concerning your major. I'm a Chemistry major, and one thing that was important to me was finding a small school with small classes. This way I'm able to do my own research whereas a school with 2x as many students have a grad student runt their experiments.

Peter

For students, going to community college first out of high school has helped my college experience be more fulfilling. I was able to take general education classes that transfered to a 4-year university and it also gave me time to truly figure out what I wanted to do with my immediate future. It saved me so much money, and kept me from wasting money on an expensive four year school. For parents, be supportive of your students passion, never force them to do what you think is best or what you want. It's their life. Never manipulate their college decision with paying for their schooling or not. Give advice, but ultimately it should be their call.

Elise

Before you visit start looking at colleges and universities, decide if there is anything you know you want. For example, if you know you want to go to a smaller college, only look at smaller colleges. If you know you want to stay close to home, only look at colleges in your state or area. I ended up looking at dozens of colleges and universities before coming to a decision, and it would have been so much easier if I had narrowed down the field BEFORE I started searching. In addition, no college is perfect. No matter where you go, you're going to face problems and have to deal with shortcomings. However, you can make the best of it. It's very important to get involved in campus life and in activities outside of class. Staying involved will keep you busy and making friends and you will most likely have more information to embellish your resume in the future. To sum it all up, pick a college based on your needs and your feelings and when you get there get involved!

Daniel

Go with your gut.

Adam

There is a plethorah of colleges for individuals to choose from in America. A student will not know what is "just right" for themselves their first year; you find that out once you get to a university and adapt your lifestyle. For finding a college that feels better than others, though, a potential student should always go to anykind of orientation the campuses offer. This includes staying the night with some current students, talking about what the university offers, and generally just getting a "feel" for the campus. It seems that some places connect with students more naturally than others. Once a student finds this college they should not be caught up in trying to do as much as they can; especially not their freshman year. That is the hype that so many institutions put out there and many people fall for it. This burns students out and can discourage them in the remaining years as an undergraduate. Rather, take the years as they come; savor every moment in and out of class. Study to become educated, and not just to get a degree for a job. Don't stress out; relax, enjoy, pray, think, learn, love. Do your best.