Elon University Top Questions

Don't let anybody tell you where to go to college. Pick the right school for you where you know you'll feel welcome. College is a place for you to find who you are and what you really truly love in life. When you find the school that's best for you, you'll know. Make the most of your college experience by balancing studying, sleep, and socializing. Surround yourself with friends that make you better, stronger, and happier, and you'll be sure to have the best four years of your life!

"40 colleges that change lives" by loren pope

There isn't just one right school out there for you. It's all about making the best of a situation.

There is so much pressure on students to go to a prestigious college or university, but it is important to remember that the biggest element is to be happy with the school that you choose. There is a college out there for everyone and it is important to remember that when it comes to the college process, everything happens for a reason. Once you get to college it is crucial to be yourself and be open to all possibilities. College is a great time for self-discovery and getting to know yourself away from the safety of your family and friends that you had become accustomed to. Take risks, have a great time, and work hard because it will all pay off. College is a great experience that only comes around once.

When looking for the right college, always try to find a school that offers all of the majors that you would possibly be interested in. Also, learn about the financial planning office and all of the options you have for earning money on and off campus. Be sure that the school guarentee housing for all four years, because some schools do not guarentee on campus housing for juniors and seniors. Lastly, be completely sure that the things that are important to you are properly represented. This is very important because nothing hurts your adjustment more than being disppointed and unhappy about your choice.

Choosing a college that is right for you is a very difficult and stressful decision. When choosing a college, I suggest focusing mostly on class size and the availabilities of the professors. Every school is likely to have an active social scene, however each one varies in the quality and accessability of it's faculty and the size of classes. Personally, I chose a smaller school with small class sizes because I feel that having a personal relationship with your professor is important in succeeding both inside and outside the classroom. With smaller classes, professors are able to get to know the students on a much more personal level, and therefore able to give them personal help with the material they are teaching when it's needed, as well as recommendations in the future for jobs and internships. Professors have a lot to offer, and getting to know them personally is the best way to gain access to their wealth of knowledge. Once a student arrives at their school of choice my best advice would be to get as involved as possible. It's a great way to meet people and find your passion.

I think it's important to remember that a school's reputation doesn't dictate the effect it will have on the student. So many people are desperate to get into well-known colleges with the belief that the school itself will ensure them a bright future. But in reality, it's the individual - the lessons he learns and the choices he makes - that makes a college experience worthwhile. It's ok not to know exactly what career is right for you as you enter college, but try to utilize the many opportunities in college to explore different areas of interest. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Also, even though social life is an important part of college, don't forget that you're ultimately there to learn and gain specific skills to apply towards any and all of your future goals.

Look past the popularity of a school and look at its history, its campus traditions, and the things that make it unique and special. If you choose a school based on this, you're guaranteed to enjoy your time there. Take advantage of every opportunity your school has to offer. It's one of the only times in your life when opportunities to try something new will be available with such frequency and regularity. Go to cultural events and speakers; get involved in philanthropy organizations and give back; take lots of pictures and thoroughly document all your experiences; be completely open to new friends and ideas; take classes you didn't have the opportunity to take in high school and allow yourself to fall into your life plan, rather than force it. You're going to grow and develop as a person because of what you experience in college and you want to make sure you graduate as a smarter, more well-rounded, and better person for it. Lastly, don't take anything too seriously. You're not an adult quite yet, so enjoy this last chapter of your adolescent life with as little stress, disappointments or regret as possible

I would advise parents and students to visit the college first and get a feel of the atmosphere. Ask questions and research major posibilites. Look into study abroad and other programs the university offers as well as the size of th university.

The most important thing to do is to visit the school and preferably visit it with your parents once and then again without your parents and spend the night. It is important to stay over night at the school and attend some classes to really get beyond the typical college tour and really understand what the college is all about.

I had no idea where I wanted to go until the minute that I stepped on Elon's campus. As much stress and preparation as we are told to put into "the college process" theres nothing that can compete with your gut instinct. College is your home for four years as much as it is your school, keep that in mind and you'll make the right choice. The most important things that I have learned about myself and life in general have not been taught to me in the classroom. My best advice to you is not to apply to a million different schools because "your dad went there" or "they've got a great business program" but instead to take some time to get to know a handful of schools really well and then apply to those. Always remember that college is just a stepping stone to the next stage in life and in order to make that transition you have to remain true to your gut instinct, and guess what, if it doesn't end up working out, you can always transfer!

Finding the right college is difficult but what I found helped the most was actually visting the college campuses. As a student you don't know how you feel about a place until you're actually there. Seeing the faces of the people who are already students and conversing with them helps tremendously with the decision making process. As for making the most of the college experience, the best thing to do is to get out there and meet people. Once you get the hang of managing your work load, a person should get out there and join in the campus activities whether its a sports event or just a social gathering. Most of the people I made friends with in college were through these types of things. My campus was constantly holding forums or had ice-breaking events like an ice cream social. At first these things may seem boring or uninteresting but you don't know until you try. So my advice would be to try everything, whether you think you'll like it or not just try it and you will have the best experiences in college.

Make sure you visit the school before making the decision. Also., figure out whether you would go to large or small school, and if you can pay for the tuition in a reasonable manner.

Look at ALL possibilities. See the big schools and the small ones. Look at urban vs. rural. look at diverse schools and homogenious ones. When I looked at schools I never even considered looking at a big school, but now i feel suffocated by the mear 5,000 on my campus. People grow and change so much in the fist year of college, and that growth also needs to be taken into account. Look at where you have come from and think about where you want to go. Its important that you not only see yourself at a school your freshman year, but for all four years of the traditional college education. Choose with your head, but also your heart.

It's not always about finding the "right" college, but seeing how well you can adapt to a challenging situation. There is never going to be a perfect school, and there will always be dissatisfying aspects, but it is possible to be satisfied at any school you choose. College students are very resilient, and we can usually make the best out of any situation, do do not stress about finding the perfect school.

The most important thing you need to do is to find out who you are. A social person won't feel as wanted in a sober research school and a researcher won't feel welcome in party heavy school. Picking YOUR social outlook is the most important thing, as not only does it affect your schoolwork, but that of others around you. If you choose wrongly, you will be depressed and resentful which will make the others near you feel like their perfect school is not good enough. Plus, you would have to go through the pain and embarassment of a transfer to where you should have been the first time. Academics can be overcome through hard work if need be, but where you fit socially is what will define you in your college life.

The college experience embodies so much more than just academics. My one piece of advice to parents and students who are trying to find the perfect school is to look at the students who attend the school. While your number one reason for being in school is to become and educated individual and attain a sense of civic responsibilities, just remember that you are sharing your experience in college with other people. The other constituents at any particular University are what truly what make-up a school. If an individual is unable to fit in with fellow students at a give University, there is no opportunity for this particular person to learn and grow. The etymology of the word "college" is the Latin "collegium", or society; learning at the college level transcends the walls of rooms in buildings along campus. One will carry with him/her the the knowledge learned from his/her colleagues - such is the essence of a true "college experience".

Choose a school based on the programs you want. You can bbe happy anywhere as long as you have the opportunities you want. If you want to study abroad, have a certain academic program, or be a part of the greek community, those should be top reasons for picking a school.

Visit as many schools as possible before making your decision to see if you feel at home there. Make sure you are ready for the academic demands before selecting your courses and major. Ask for help from the school officials if you have any problems. Try to get along with your roommates. Make friends as soon as you get there. You'll need them!

Visit the schools and do over night visits at the school you're most interested in.

The most important thing I learned about preparing for college, and making the most of it once I got there, was learned in my high school classrooms. During a required "College Match" class each junior had to participate in, I begrudgingly took personality tests and researched the top universities. But after the class had finished, it made me realize that starting early is the key to making college a success. While I don't mean that preschoolers should be contemplating their Ivy League entrance essays, I do think that juniors and seniors should begin to think about what they want from their college and how to get there, allowing themselves to ease into the college mindset. And once you make it into the dorms and lecture halls: get your hands in everything. Try out clubs and activities you never would have in high school. There, it is likely that you'll discover your passions. College is an exciting and fruitful time, if you allow it to be. And by starting the search early and making the most of it once you get there, there will be no first- day shocks or graduation-day regrets.

As countless college students and alumni will advise: you MUST visit colleges to truly get a feel for the campus and decide if it is the "right" school. Visiting a college helps prospective students get an idea of the student and environmental atmosphere, and this visit should include a tour of the campus and dorms, a visit to at least one of the dining halls, and a conversation with a current student. Tour guides are paid to speak well about their school, so talking to another student can be very revealing (in both a good and bad way). To make the most of the college experience there are a few things that need to be done. 1) Time management: improve it and have the will power to say "no" to a night of partying when you have a paper due on Monday; 2) Social management: learn about yourself...if you need some alone time here and there, make sure it happens. In college, you are constantly surrounded by your friends. Personal time can be extremely beneficial to new college students; finally, 3) Responsibility: realize that every homework assignment you submit says something about you. These years create YOU.

Focus on the journey of college, not so much the destination. Excelling in school and finding a prosperous career is important, but don't forget to have fun, get involved, and try new things. Go with your gut in finding the right school.

When you first enter the campus, you need to feel the gut feeling that you feel comfortable and excited to spend a good amount of time. College becomes a second home to young adults and it should be a place you enjoy being. Don't go to a specific college for anybody but the student's best interest. College will be a few years that people should remember and look fondly upon in remembrance. When you get to the school, get involved. Being engaged with the university is vital. Give as much as you can to the education and extracurricular activities. The student may not remember every class he participated in, however, he or she will remember the memories that changed their lives: service activities, internship experiences, etc. Live your life and enjoy the blessings you have received.

The best advice I can give to parents is to let their children choose what they want in a school versus what you want. This will make the process easier on the child as they won't feel the need to please their parents with every college choice they make. Then, when the child goes to the school they choose, the parents can rest assured this was a choice their child made for themselves, not for the parent which gives them a greater chance of being happy at the school they have chosen. As for students, I would say not to compromise on what you want. If a school is lacking something you desire, then continue searching. I wouldn't say completely rule it out, but at least look for other options that have everything you want in a school. You're only going to be truly happy somewhere that has everything you want. Once you're at school, get involved with things on campus. This will make the transition much easier and it will be easier to make friends to make the most of your college experience.

Make sure you choose your school based on how comfortable your student feels on the campus. Also, visit the school during a "non-tour" day...that way you'll see more of the real life of the campus.

I want to make this short and simple because thats all life is really. Parents tell your kids to live. Get up each and every day with things to accomplish and fresh air to breath. Dont allow a minute of your college life go off unnoticed. Envigorate your life with things that inspire you and motivate you. Its simple, no matter where you go to school if you just challenge yourself to live each day--sweat a little, tear up a little, make art a little...your time and money will be well spent. Live.

I would tell students and parents alike to keep in mind that deciding on the right college is a huge decision that should not be rushed. Actual visits to the college are often the most beneficial, since it allows prospective students to get a feel for the college they are applying to, rather than just seeing the information on paper. When I was deciding where to apply as a high school student, it was my visit to Elon that sealed the deal- the feeling is indescribable, but once you know, you KNOW. Once you are in college, there are so many ways to make the most of your college experience! Upon entering Elon's campus I immediately saw so many doors open up. Academics are certainly the most important reason for attending college, but it is the extracurricular and social opportunties that really help you make the most of the college experience. There are endless options for involvement in clubs, Greek Life, student government, sports, and various other studant organizations. It is your involvement in such extracurricular activities that allows you to experience all that college has to offer, and provides essential skills in preparation for life after graduation.

tour a lot of campuses to find out what feels right for you

Look at what is important to you when selecting a school. Most schools are similar and you can get a quality education almost anywhere depending on your desired course of study. Don't rule anything out until the end because you never know what may change. The school should fulfill your needs, not the other way around. While it is important that your school of choice be competitive and challenging, remember that four years of academic study in a place that makes you feel good is more important than four years at a renown school that is absolutely miserable. There is somewhere out there for everyone, the journey to finding it is part of the reward.

My only advice is to go with your gut instinct. I applied to many colleges because I had to go through the application process and an audition process. The moment I stepped onto Elon's campus, I felt at home. I felt like I belonged there. I didn't feel that on any other campus. I had one school offer me a lot more than Elon did and I was very tempted, but in the end, I decided to go to Elon because I felt a real connection when I was there. Money is a prominent issue when deciding where to go to school, but I think the fact many people overlook is that you are deciding where to spend the next 4 years of your life. You have to love where you are. The more expensive school is worth it if you think you'll wake up every morning happy to be where you chose to be.

Go where you feel happy.

Important things to consider in choosing a school include visiting a variety of different schools, spending time with actual students of the school, and knowing what programs they offer. By visiting multiple schools, one can get a holistic picture of college life and how it differs according to campus. It will allow you to picture yourself spending four years there. Talking with students gives a decent indication of the type of people that you will be surrounding yourself with for a period of time. Knowing the programs and departments helps you better determine if the school offers the breadth and depth that you want and need in your education.

(I made a mistake. My GPA is a 3.6, not a 2.6, but I couldn't figure out how to go back and change it.) Tell your parents to back off some, try to pay your own way as much as you can (start growing up!), and major in something you love.

Make sure to visit the college. After visiting numerous schools (close to 20), I realized that they are never what you expect them to be. Every university has its own personality influenced by its location, students, faculty, history, etc., and though it may appear to be a fit on paper for your child, you can never be certain until they actually get to experience it. Your student will perform better and have an overall better quality of life if they know exactly what they are getting into prior to being thrown into the collegiate environment. Also, don't make decisions based on prestige. There are numerous up-and-coming schools that will soon surpass the schools that have the "elite" stereotypes. Do a little research and you will find schools that have more appealing price tags with similar or even better academic qualities.

Trust your kids

Be sure not to make a decision without visiting the campus and getting to know the area well. You need to be sure that the school and area are the best possible fit for you, after all you will be spending four critical years of your life there. Be open minded, but in the end go with your heart.

The most crucial part of finding the right college is exploring all of your options. It's important not to be pigeon-holed by either parents expectations or by where your friends are going. Look at some schools of all sizes. Figure out if you want to be in the city or the country (or somewhere in-between). Find a school that has the major you want, or if you don't know what major you want, find a school that has a lot of options (and will help you to find the right one)! Most of all, find somewherethat has an atmosphere where you will be comfortable. College is the time of your life will you will learn more about yourself than you ever had before. Its the time where you will develop personal characteristics that will form the basis of who you are as an adult: taking initiative, being responsible, and developing professional skills are just some examples of this. So as important as your school choice is, its equally important that you make the most of your college experience, because it will have a large influence on the adult that you develop into.

Parents and students need to make the choice that is best for the student, not the parents' wallet or ego. A lot of times families push students go to a certain school because of location, money, or family history; students will be much more successful if they make a decision for themselves instead of for their family. Make sure the school 'feels right.'

Make sure that you visit schools that you are interested multiple times during the academic year. Don't be embaressed about asking a ton of questions, about the academics and the social life at the school. Get a feel for what the place is like on the weekends, are the students doing the same things you enjoy doing on the weekend? When you first get to college be open to new things and new people. Let it be a growing period for you. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone. Work on good relations with your rommate right from the start. If you can sense that you're going to have unreconcilable differences, don't waste any time in getting a room change.

When thinking about the college process the most important aspect is visiting schools. Be sure that when you visit a school you are interested you sit in on a class, talk with faculty in the department you are interested in, eat the food on campus, talk with students (beside just your tour guide), and be sure to check out the dorms (not all tours go in dorms - and some just show you one of the best buildings). If students around campus don't answer your questions or aren't friendly then it may not be the right place for you anyway. I found that visiting schools over the summer did not accurately reflect the school, mainly because the campus was deserted. Also, sometimes visiting on huge visiting weekends where there are hundreds of other high school students there can seem overwhelming, and almost like you are at a show, rather then visiting a community. Try to visit on a regular weekday, that way you can get the best idea for what the school is like.

Visit. Visit. And then visit again.

Parents, let your kids choose. Trust their instincts. Students, have the times of your lives.

Find something you really like, like location, size, weather, money, and look into those types of colleges then just apply to ones you think you might like (especally after you visited them if you like them). Once you get accepted, you will pretty much love where you go and be happy with your decision, and if you don't like it you will know what you didn't like about it (maybe didn't have your major, too far from home, too small or big) and just transfer to a school that you then realize fits you better. You will definitely love it then.

Take your time when you are looking at colleges. It is important to ask as many questions as you can and learn as much as you can about each college.

Don't stress. Don't worry about which school you're going to. Don't worry if you'll like your classes or not. Don't worry if you'll be able to make new friends. College, like life, is what you make of it. No matter where you go, you'll meet some people you like and some you don't; you'll have some classes that are fun and some that you hate. Work hard and be yourself, and you'll have a positive experience wherever you go.

The one piece of advice I would impart on every student or student to be would be just this: This is the beginning of the rest of your life, so make it YOUR life, not anyone elses. I spent so much time trying to mold myself into what I thought was an "acceptable" image and learn "appropriate" behavioral patterns that I forgot who I really was on the inside. The moment you see that light, hear that harmony, and know that truth, you will find happiness. I am happier now as a Pre-Law student who doesn't go out every night than I ever was as a slacker who partied all the time. Parents, let your kids live. You won't always be there for them and they need to succeed/fail on their own, this is the safest time for them to do it, when everyone else is finding themselves too! If you truly love something, do it. You can always find money, but it's hard to find true happiness after it has already passed you by. Seize life! Seize happiness, and most of all, seize the opportunity to make your dreams come true.

In many cases, the right university can make all the difference. However, this does not necessarily mean that there is only one perfect school. Attending college is about more than academics. It is a place to grow, mature and meet friends. Learn as much as you can and make educated decisions whenever possible.

Visit the campus of the college you are interested in and interact with the people. You will know.

Trust your instincts about schools- if it does not feel right for you, then don't consider it. Apply early to ensure that you don't miss any deadlines.