Concordia College at Moorhead Top Questions

Finding the right college is not a choice that can be made without some sort of research. To parents: this decision is one that your child must make. I advise you to be as supportive as you can possibly be. To students: do not wait until the summer after your senior year to start researching your future. Keep in mind that this is a decision that will direct your life in a certain direction, but you will not be stuck in that direction. Your life after high school will be a time for you to learn about who you are through what experiences you decide to be a part of and how you react to them. Whether or not you decide to go to college, I cannot stress enough exposing yourself to the world and learn from your decisions. You will make good and bad choices, be able to learn from both of them. I advise you to really analyze what you would like to do in the future, most likely something that you enjoy doing now, and talk with your parents about how you can pursue that goal. Most of all, be confident in yourself. Best of luck.

It is essential that the prospective student and their parents talk and discuss together about what they should do after high school. For me, I was thinking that I would really enjoy going to a LARGE school with lots of students and enormous class sizes. After talking with my parents however, I realized that I would not enjoy being at a big school, and that I am more of a small school guy. If I were to go back in time, I would definitely try to realize that any college was possible. I stuck around my hometown when looking at colleges, and I wish I would have looked at schools in other parts of the US and world before committing to Concordia College.

I chose to go to college becasue I wanted to explore the "realworld." Unfortnatly, the college I chose was not a good fit for me and my first glimps of the "realworld" was ugly, unloving, and void of creativity. I sensed my life going in the wrong direction and, before long, overly-idealist-I sprialed into a deppression that made me cynical, hopeless, and suicidal. My decison to transfer was the hardest and wisest decision I've made. That said, here is my advise to you about college searching and the socalled "realworld" that somehow gets attached to it: Choose a school you think will fit your values and needs but never become complacent. Listen to the voice inside of you that tells you when things feel right and wrong. You want to go to college and explore the "realworld" that grown-ups talk about? Here's a hint: the "realworld" is HUGE. And the best thing is, we're cognitive, mobile creatures submerged in it all. Somewhere you'll find a community that wants the beauty you have to give and has the beauty you want to see. It exists, and believe me, it's more real than anything.

I would strongly encourage students (and parents) to consider what kind of person they would like to become in life. Personally, I seek to become a kind and decent human being, someone who considers the well being of other people, who carries in their person a sense of dignity and character that describes how they have learned from where they have been, that they are doing some good now, and that knows where it is they would like to go in life. I seek to be a contemplative soul, a good citizen, and to to live my life in such a way that might encourage others to also seek such a life. I want to be able to take great pride in the quality of the hard work I have done, but at the same time know the humility that I can and should always try a little harder to do my very best, be it in high academic research, or in helping a fellow human being. At the same time, a person must never lose sight of the joy of life, that good things do come to those who wait, and to never lose a playful and happy heart.

When choosing a college there are three things that come to mind so you can get the most out of your college experience. First, I would recommend picking up a college guide. This will just help you learn more about the programs offered, tuition costs, the campus culture, and many other things about the college. Then, I would recommend checking out the college's website. This will give you everything you need to know about your school of interest. Lastly, although the above research will be key to finding the right college for you, you have to talk to current students of the college. No one will be able to answer your questions as clearly and honestly as a student that is currently attending the college. This information is going to be stuff that you can't find in school brochures and will be much more valuable to you. Once these things are completed you should have a pretty good idea on where you want to go.

Make sure you feel comfortable living there for a prolonged period of time. Get help when you need it. Ask questions of your professors, other students, and staff.

Do not get caught up in the cost. It is going to be your home for four years and it is an investment in your future. Schools give out great financial aid and if there is a school that you love, you can make it work.

When I steped on Concordia's campus, I truly felt that I was at home. Everything just felt right. I would suggest making plenty of visits and finding what feels right. Sit in on classes and see if you can go to some extracaricular activities that you might be interested in. If you find that you want to participate and be apart of that comunity, there you go. Money has a way of working itself out, that shouldn't be the dessision factor. You are going to spend 4 years at a college, enjoy it and be in an environment that is going to allow you to become the person that you want to become.

Don't worry about how much its going to cost right away. If its the best one for you that you can think of, then apply, and if it's the right college they find ways for you to afford it

Make sure you find a place where you know you can fit in, and be able to cope with others around you.

Go to the school, and tour it with only a tour guide and then walk around by yourself, then you can get the feel and atmosphere

No matter what school you chose, you will cherish your time on campus and the relationships you make.

Do not look at the sticker price of a college and decide based on if you can afford it or not, but make your decision based on the knowledge you can obtain from that instition. Depending on what you are striving to become in this world, it could and is in my opinion well worth the extra money you might pay in the long run for the added experience. One has to look at colleges that cater to the specific field they desire to study, but can not and should not focus on the price because no matter what walk of life they come from there is always scholarships out there to help them succeed.

Really research the school and go somewhere because you want to, not becuase your parents want to or because your friends are going there.

Be open and look at any hunches you think you might have.

Go with your gut feeling; if the campus feels "right," it probably is!

I would tell them to definately visit the campus. They all look great on paper but once you step on the right campus you will know. You just get this feeling that it is the right place for you. As far as making the most of college I would just encourage students to take full advantage of everything your campus has to offer. Don't just go to class. Join a group and two and really get involved. These groups will teach you more things about life than some of your classes!

Finding the right college to go to was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I had looked at many schools before choosing the one that I did. When I toured this school I realized that it just had a certain feel to it that I could not ignore, everyone was happy to see me, and they were actually interested in my concerns and questions. The college that one geos to does not need to have the best "name" such as Harvard or Yale, but the best feel, which is a kind of instinctual feeling. As for making the most of the college experience, all I can say is that one needs to get highly involved in campus activities. Of course, studies come first, but being involved in many different things exposes you to many different aspects of college life such as diversity, alcohol awareness, and almost anyhting else you can think of. I have found that being involved on campus has led me and my friends away from bad situations like drinking, and towards positive situations like campus entertainment events. In conlusion, get involved, have fun, and don't be afraid to be yourself.

My advice in finding the right college would be to choose one where most of the people seem similar to you. Concordia is a perfect fit for me because almost everyone here is as dedicated to their grades and their area of study as I am. I feel like I really belong here because there are so many other students who have goals and values similar to mine. About making the most of the college experience, I think that students shouldn't be afraid to step outside their comfort zone. I like to get all of my homework done early, but sometimes, I have to let it wait until the last minute to spend time with my friends. I feel like grades are a huge compenent of college, but if that's all I thought about, I wouldn't experience college at all. No matter how swamped I may feel, I have to take time to have some fun and spend time with people I'm close to. College is a time of independence, and students should make the choices they might not have been able to before. College is about learning, but it's about experiencing life as well!

Let your children choose what colleges they want to apply to. When I was finding colleges I wanted to apply for, my parents would only let me apply to two out of five of the colleges I wanted to submit applications to. Because I could only pick two colleges, and was being discouraged from applying to the college of my choice, I felt pressured to do what my parents wanted me to do. Even though I applied to the college they didn't like and was accepted, I felt I was letting them down even though I was accepted to a private college. I never found out my options, either, because I was limited to only two colleges in my application process; if I would have to transfer, I would have no clue what college would accept me now. Students: do what you feel is best for you. Parents: please understand that, in today's world, your children need many options in order to succeed and denying them college choices could possibly be crippling to their future.

Before visiting a campus, be sure that the school has potential majors that you are interested in considering, activities in which you want to participate, and opportunities to place you outside of your comfort zone. Visit the campus on a school day when school is in session. You can get a better feel of the community you will be entering. Choose the college that feels right to you when you visit the campus. Do people smile and say "Hi?" Do you feel welcomed? Do you have emotions that make you excited to return to this place? Once at college, get involved in the opportunites offered as soon as possible. Take your school work seriously so your education will be meaningful once completed, but get involved in co-curriculars. Choose one activity you know you will like and one that stretches your comfort level. Meet new people, immerse yourself in new cultures, and travel abroad. Money will work itself out in the end, but the experience is worth much more than the dollar sign says. Enjoy the years of college, they go by fast, and keep your relationships, they will make your experience last a lifetime.

The most important thing for me was visiting the college and meeting the students. Try to find people who aren't supposed to tell you it's great and get more than one opinion and experience. College is different for everyone but you have to come in with an open mind and step outside of your box. Make sure you feel comfortable and ready to learn. There are going to be things you don't think at every college but finding the one that fits you the best is possible and sometimes the college that fits you the best might surprise you. Don't listen to what you heard about the school either. Keep an open mind and make your own decisions after visiting. Good luck!

I would recommend that students take their time in order to find the college that will be able to meet their academic needs and career goals. Also, I would tell prospective students and their parents to take a look at financial aid and possible scholarships when looking at the prices of different colleges. I had a hard time trying to decide between two colleges because while I favored one over the other, the one I preferred was much more expensive than the other one. However, I worked hard during my junior and senior years of high school in order to earn a few scholarships, and that was what allowed me to attend the college that had been my first choice. Above all, I would recommend that students follow not only their minds when choosing a college, but also their hearts. When you tour a campus, be sure to check out the places, the people, and the atmosphere in general. You'll be able to tell if it all feels right to you, and when you feel comfortable with your choice it will be reflected in your entire college experience.

Visit the school, on a day when classes are in session, talk to students you run into, not just the tour guide. In fact if you can dump the guide so that the student can answer honestly without a fellow student judging that would be best. Talk to the faculty and ask students (not the tour guide) how easy it is to get in contact with them. Remember that the tour guide is there to make the school look good so they may not give you the best answers. Once in college participate in college activities, talk to people and work on making friends right away. Try to avid judging people by their looks, some of the most interesting people and those that make the best friends may not be who you would have hung out with in High School. Remember that this is not high school and if you act like it is, both acaemically and in your personal relationships, you will not get the most out of it.

Visit the school at least twice before coming. Once in summer where you will be able to enjoy this small, but picturesque campus. Then, come again in the heart of winter - say February. This will give you an indication of how brutally cold "cold" can be. This might also give you the peace of mind knowing that your son/daughter will certainly not be squandering his/her time - since no one really wants to go out in Winter.... Though this might not be the most ideal of college towns due to the generally small population of the surrounding area I believe that it is quite an excellent school. Concordia College does not give away A's - these are rewarded through hard effort. It is an institution that is making every effort to engage its students to deal with whatever the world throws their way. Granted it is not perfect, but despite the other Universities available to me I chose Concordia because it has showed that the people here care. I stayed the full time because this caring was shown in tangible manners of growth and continued development.

be happy

Find all the available resources and USE them

College is a time for growing and exploring. Students should arrive at college prepared not only to work hard academically, but also to work hard to become an informed and developed citizen of the world. Ultimately, people go to college to get a degree and eventually a job. It is considered a means to an end. This is a worthy goal, but it is even more worthwhile to find your vocation: your true calling in life. You'll buy tons of expensive textbooks, learn all sorts of obscure facts, and write seemingly endless papers in your field of study. These are all necessary components of a successful college career. It is even more important however, to step back at the end of your four years and realize how much you have changed. All the details fade into the background when you realize that you've been transformed. So, as you enter college, be sure to work hard, complete assignments and make new friends, but most importantly, remember to look at the big picture too. You aren't here to figure out if A is a better answer than B. You are here to grow into yourself.

Finding the right college is about finding a place where you feel at home. It is important not only to look at the academic programs available but also the campus life and what the faculty is like. Once you find the college that you feel like you can be at home at where the classes are the right size, the faculty want to see you succeed and are willing to go out of there way to help you, and where the extra curricular activities give you a sense of community then you can finally begin the college experience. To get the most out of your college experience you have to be open to everything the college offers. There are many sport, music, and theatre events on campus but there are also great leadership opportunities as well. It is important when you are in college that you get involved in the activities on campus, especially the leadership opportunities, because they could help you grow as a leader and help you to learn more about what you want to do after college. The most important thing, is to take classes that are of interest to you and give them your all.

Concordia is a great college - make sure your child visits several schools before deciding where to go so they have the chance to compare and contrast several places they may be considering. Let them know their options - hopefully they have the opportunity to go to a variety of schools so getting to know the differences between each school.

Besides being a place of academic enhancement, college is a place to discover one's self. It becomes a new home, often both physically and socially. Since many people glide into college directly from high school, college is a new opportunity to think freely without the excpected guidelines of family or old friends. One begins to recognize his or her priorities and place in both society and the world. For some deciding on the right college may include solely academics, sports, or social life; but hopefully one finds a balance of the three. Touring a college, meeting students, and seeing one's possible new home is the most important part of choosing the right college. Taking advice from others, such as a parent, can be helpful but should not be the deciding factor. One should feel comfortable and excited, and most importantly be able to see a positive future filled with endless potention. After all, it is one's perspective on the world that shapes his or her opinions and sence of self.

My advice to parents&future students trying to find that right college experience would be to right out a plan of action, example,A: What do I want achieve in life?(&if you don't know-Are you willing to explore different options?)B. Am I choosing a possible profession for myself&my own interests/talents or am I doing it to make my parents happy? C. Does my personality fit a private or public school? D. Visit! & visit more than once-* Do your homework* Ask questions (doesn't always have to be all serious) activities/sports, weirdest things kids have done on campus for cheap entertainment? E. Money is one thing, but do NOT let it steering you away from a college that fits you&feels comfortable. (so, it takes you 20ys¬ 10ys). F. A good school-allows you to talk to professors&sit in on lectors (email the professor with ?'s--get to know them) show them you're dedicated G. Parents, your kids are going to get bad grades, make mistakes & skip class but remind them no one can take away there degree . H. Life isn't going to end if you're not accepted.

When considering which colleges to apply to, do your research- even visit the campus to get a feel for the setting and overall attidude of the college. Ask students who have attended your colleges of interest what they like and didn't like about that college. Look at the college website to see what courses and majors are offered to ensure that your desired degree could be accomplished there. Also look around the website to find what the college values- academics, sports, the arts, research, etc. Also talk to faculty from the colleges, particularly teachers from the department of study you want to pursue. You ultimately want to choose the school whose priorities are in line with yours. Also consider the size and setting of the campus, and the demographic and size of the student population. Are you willing to walk several blocks to get from class to class, or would you prefer a smaller campus that takes less time to navigate- but consequently has less students. Tuition is also an issue, so make sure you have a plan for affording the costs of college. Apply for financial aid if necessary, but don't let money dictate your college decision.

Enjoy yourself make good friends work hard and stay focused.

Attend a few classes before making a decision. Sitting in on a few classes during a random week would not only give the prospect student somthing to expect from the classroom, but also a feel for how he/she will fit in.

Do your research to find the college that's the right fit for you! Trust your instincts but don't be lazy.

Okay parents, here's the bad news: you need to stop trying to influence your kids when they are trying to decide which college they wish to attend. I know, I know, you just want what's best for them. You want them to think about all the aspects of each school and you want them to make the right decision. But with you nagging them all the time, they are going to feel like they aren't able to make a good decision and they will just want to get their decision over with so you'll get off their backs. Just relax--your kid made it this far, didn't he? He'll know which school is right for him. And kids, here's the bad news: you need to be the one to make the decision! I know that this is a huge life changing decision and it is a tough one to make, but only you can know where you will feel most comfortable and fit in best. It will be worth it in the end to know that you're the one who picked the school. So good luck! You'll do great!

Start looking early. Visit as many schools as you can and ask a lot of questions! If you visit a school during the acedemic year, ask random students in the cafeteria what they like the best at the school. This will give you better perspective than just what the school is telling you.

My best advice for parents and students looking for the right college is to just visit and try and picture yourself there. First, look at a few colleges on paper and look at the stats. Find a handful of colleges that offer what you believe is what you want. If you enjoy making music, find a handful of music schools. If you plan on being a doctor or nurse, find a school with a good pre-med reputation. Once you have found a good handful of colleges you like, ignore the numbers and go visit them. Stay overnight if you have the chance. Don't get caught up in all of the technical stuff. Just try and picture yourself as a student at that school. Chances are, one or two of those schools will stick out to you as a "I can picture myself here for the next stage of my life" school. Just remember, you are going to be living in that place for the next four or so years, so make sure it is a place you truly enjoy and can see yourself easily fitting in. That, afterall, is what is that most important thing.

My advice would be to find the college you feel is most fitting to your dreams and desires. Find a career you love and follow the path that will lead you to your future with all of your heart. If you want to go to a college but don't have the money you need to pay for it right away, take out a loan because even though they will be a lot to pay back, if you truely find what you love to do your need to pursue it with all of your effort.

Attend many college visits and find a place that you will be the most comfortable fit for you. If that means applying at a college that might be more costly than then another one, so be it. Trust me, you would rather attend a college that you will always cherish the time you put into it, rather than going somewhere else that is not right for your needs. Also look into their courses of study and see what the college has to offer for your intended degree.