Gustavus Adolphus College Top Questions

Pick a school that fits your personality and has your area of study, regardless of cost.

Four years is a long time. Go where it feels right.

Remember that big schools with lots of small departments can give you the same effect as a small school, especially if you want the city atmosphere and life. Small schools in the country are as quaint as they seem, and if you're used to a fast-pace, a small school may not be for you. Big schools offer lots of smaller groups to join so that you feel at home just the same. I love my school, but I would have been more involved and had more friends at a bigger school.

It's good to take a lot of time and consideration in your search for the appropriate college. Gather all the information you can about a college, but know, too, that a college likes to represent itself in a particular light, so there will always be parts of a college that you don't like or that they don't publicize. With this in mind, weigh each college very carefully. Sleep on it. Think about it for a while. And after considerable thought if you haven't made up your mind, just pick one. Your gut reaction can lead you in the right direction too, if you're head can't decide for you. That's what happened for me: I was debating between 3 schools and just decided one day to go for Gustavus. Lucky me, because I love it! Remember, too, that if you hate that school you can always drop out and pick another. No big deal!

Find a school that fits you. Some schools have very strong programs but little or no sense of community within them. Being at a school where the people are as important as the facts is a great experience, so if you can find a school with a strong academic program as well as a good atmosphere, you'll do great.

I would advise parents and/or students to take the time to visit the colleges they are interested in prior to making their final decision. Take the opportunity to visit during a non-school sponsored visit day to have more opportunites to talk to current students, professors, and other employees at the schools and get a real feel of what the school is like. Be sure to do an overnight at the schools you are considering prior to making your final decision, as this can really impact your feel of the school. You have to remember that the atmosphere of a campus can really change from day/classtime to evenings, so it is important that you have an idea of what both are like at the school. To make the most of the college experience, just enjoy the time you are in college, because it goes by so fast and it is so easy to just sit back and let the time get away from you.

I think it is important to find a college that has all of the main academic and cultural aspects that you want, but no college is perfect. You make your college experience, regardless of where you attend school. Money, classes, and social activities are important to look at when deciding which college is for you, but the most important thing to consider is how you will approach your college experience. If you visit a college campus and can picture yourself being an active student, consider going there! If you visit a campus and can picture yourself being overwhelmed by the amount of work or people, maybe it is not the college for you. Yes, the college you choose will have a huge effect on your life, but the attitude you have toward it is what will really matter.

Get out and look. Research can only do so much and although its very helpful, get on campus and ask students what they like about their school. Talk to students, faculty, administration and coaches. Colleges want to to attend their school so they'll make accomidations for you. They may like to jazz up their school's facts a bit, so ask around campus. Sit and people watch even for a bit. The student should figure out by the end of the day if they can see themselves at that school or not. And parents, don't be too pushy, its the students choice.

Visit colleges as much as you can. And when you feel that the place is a fit for you, trust your instinct. Take notice of how people talk to their friends and others passing by, that is how the community will fee to you.

find a place where you feel most at home and comfortable

Well, hard to offer general advice given my personal idiosyncracies but I'd reccomend that if you don't have any close friends at the end of your freshman year, don't come back. And don't go out of state for the sake of going out of state, have a real reason. Oh, and pick the most bang for your buck, not just what superfically appeals to you or appears to "want you the most". Websites will tell you most of what you need to know, so as long as that shit is mostly equal PICK ON COST AND PROXIMITY, not the stupid, aforementioned intangibles.

For me finding the right college was relatively simple. The second I stepped foot oncampus I knew that I wanted to spend the next four years at Gustavus. The campus was beautiful and I felt like the administration was very open and accepting. The advice that I would give to parents and future students looking at prospective colleges is to really think about the fact that this will be your home for four or more years. You need to pick a school that you feel comfortable in and that can become your home away from home. While academics are very important and the reason for going to college, there is more to the college experience than just academics. You also want to consider what the social scene will be like. There are schools where this will play a significant role in your college experience and at other schools you can decide how much the social scene will be a part of your life. Ultimately I think that this is a decision that only the student can make. It is their future that they are starting and a decision that they will have to live with.

let the kid choose

To find the right college, find a college whose values match yours. That needs to be your first priority. If you don't, you will never be satisfied with the college's decisions because they will never represent you fully. Some schools list their values in their mission statement; other schools, you may need to call and ask about. If you narrow your choices down to schools that share your values first, the rest is easy. To get the most of your college experience, find a good balance between academics, student organizations, and social life. Sometimes these can overlap (e.g. Greek organizations are great as a student organization and for social purposes). If you find a balance, you will learn what you need, get the experience you need, and develop great interpersonal skills (and life long friendships!). This will get you the maximum fun while at college, while giving you the skills you need to succeed and have fun after college as well.

I would tell anyone trying to decide on a college to look at whatever interests them. It is not good to have regrets so make sure you always at least try-even if you think it is totally wrong for you at first, you could end up falling in love with it. Also, always do an overnight visit. It is so crucial to the college experience and picking the right school. While in college make sure that you find a good balance between academics and social life. Get yourself a good group of friends and make sure you stay in contact with your family- they are so helpful with whatever you may need. The first year, mainly the first semester, is going to be really tough at first, but it gets better and better and eventually you will fall in love with the school and be able to call it home. Just always make sure you give the school some time before deciding whether or not you hate it.

I would suggest going to the school and asking students who aren't assigned to tell you what the school wants you to hear. Go into a dorm and ask a few random students what they think. Otherwize personally, I would suggest looking at another school. The education I am recieving isn't worth 38,000 dollars per year. The school administration disgusts me.

If I could give any information to High school students before they choose a College or University; I would tell them to take as long as theey need to decide and to make sure that they visit the school more then once. I think that the most important part of choosing a school is how it feels. How you feel it fits with who you are and what you want to do. I feel that visiting the school more then once gives you this perspective. I believe that when you are visiting more then once, go with your mom once and then your dad the next time, and then both parents at once. Somtimes parents can be a little controling when they visit ta school for the first time, especially if you are a first child. So remember to take your time and make sure the the school has the right fit for you!

Firstly, I highly suggest sitting in on classes. Sit in on a class for a possible major AS WELL AS one that you expect you may not enjoy. This will give you an idea of courses within your prospective major as well as those that you may not like very much/excell at. This is important as it gives you a glimpse of how the college will suit your strengths and weaknesses. Secondly, you may want to stay overnight. It will give you a picture of the social scene. Granted, there will be things you won't see - both good and bad on every campus - but you will become more familiar with students' attitudes. Community/campus-life can make you either ecstatic or miserable, so look into it. Don't forget financial aid! Your "dream" school may be a severe detriment to your family; and you may love another just as much. Finally, explore extracurriculars! Academics are one thing, as are the people there; but many people's passions lie in other activities. So whether you are a musician, artist, or athlete etc., explore what your college has to offer. It may even be what finally attracts you to it!

You'll know what school is right for you, it is a gut feeling that tells you where you belong. Trust yourself! Don't make this decision because of money or where you think you should be, go where you want to go.

College selection can be stressful and overwhelming, as it will be home for the next four years of your life. It is important to tour colleges to see if the campus feel is right for you. This will also allow you to meet students and professors. It is important to keep up in classes, do the readings, turn in homework and papers on time. This will keep your grades where you want them and leave you with less stress. Get involved. But not over-involved. This is how you make friends and enjoy your time when not going to class or studying. A lot of time, your college experience is what you make of it, so most importantly, do what you need to do to be successful in your classes as well as making good friends.

Determine whether you would like to go to a small or large college first. Also, try to get into a college that is academically challenging it will really help you in the long run. FInancial aid is always an option for these high tuition private colleges.

VISIT overnight and try out what you're interested at prospective colleges

Choose the one that feels right.

Go where you feel comfortable. Ask tough questions to tour guides. Make sure that the school follows your values, but also keep an open mind. Even if a school doesn't seem to have the same beliefs, your beliefs may be strengthened. You are going to college to learn for your career. Make sure that that is the number one priority of the school.

Go with what FEELS right, not where you THINK you should go or where others think or want you to go. If you're not comfortable where you attend, you won't have the right experience and won't be able to grow.

Stay over night to get a better understanding of what the college is really like. It would be best to try to stay with someone who is invoolved in things that you like to do so you can get a good feel for what your experience will be like. The first year is really hard; just push through and you will be all right.

The student needs to feel like they fit in academically and socially. It can't be one or the other.

Where the school is and what programs are available aren't nearly as important as what the people and students are like on campus-whether there is a community feel. Make sure to talk with people on campus and see what they think about it. College is all about building lasting relationships and memories-as well as academics.

Like any experience in life, we must take chances that are presented to us by taking full advantage of them. After having open heart surgury 2 months before I came to school, I was stressed about what my future was going entail, and worried about fitting in and having people accept after such an invasive surgery. I pay for college all on my own. Someday I want to attend graduate school to become a doctor in psychological therapy. My goal is to help teenagers who suffer with depression and anxiety. Because I went through these kind of problems myself, and after having 4 people close to me either commit suicide or try to attempt it, I wanted a chance to help face the evil of this terrible disease. So I followed my gut feelings that were leading me in a positive direction toward this school, and with help and support from my parents, it was the best decision I could have made. I have experienced so many downs in my life, but I truly believe that there is always a positive, good side that can overcome anything that tries to hold you back. You just have to believe in yourself.

Visit campus and ask yourself, "can I really see myself here?" When the school is right, you just feel it. Keep visiting and keep applying until it's right.

Make sure your child feels comfortable when visiting the campus. Have your child attend a few classes and stay overnight in a dorm so they can get a feel for what college life would be like at that school

I would say to go wherever your heart tells you. I chose a college that was four hours away from home, but I just knew it was the right place for me. You have to be comfortable wherever you go. I had no expectations when I entered into college, because if you think it's going to be a certain way, you'll only get disappointed. I didn't know that I would have roommate issues or change friend groups, and I'm glad that I didn't have any expectations of what college was like, because I really didn't know.

Really look around at all of your options. You can wait and see which schools will give you the best financial aid and decide what kind of education is really worth your money. Liberal Arts schools may seem like an extention of High School, and for awhile I wasn't happy at my own school because it was the only one I applied at. But now that I'm starting to look for jobs, I can see that the skills I've aquired here, are actually valued in businesses in my field of study. I also feel more flexible when looking ahead and acknowledging that I will be changing jobs many times in life. So for me it is most important to have a broader education which creates a stronger foundation for my life ahead, instead of only being educated for one degree and one job. This is a huge decision that goes beyond the four years you spend at the school. But I would suggest a liberal arts education to someone who wants a higher education and a stronger understanding of the world and themselves.

To pick the college that is right for you, you need to listen to your gut reaction. You will know when a college feels like it is right. Go on many college visits and most importantly, stay overnight. Staying with a current student is the best way to know what life at the school is really like. To get the most of your college experience, get involved and be friendly. When you come to college, no one knows who you were in high school so it's an oppurtunity to start over. I was really shy in high school but when I came to college, I started talking to a lot of people and just asking them simply to go to lunch or hang out sometime. It allowed me to get to know a lot of people. Most importantly, have fun. College is supposed to be the best time of your life so make the most of it.

My advice to parents of beginning college students would be to first determine whether or not your child has a good idea of what they want to do in their life. If they do have a good idea, then I would recommend looking for a college that has specialties in the particular field that they are interested in. If they do not have a good idea of the career path they want to take, then I would recommend looking at liberal arts colleges. After you have determined the type of college you are interested in, you can begin looking at colleges that your child thinks they could handle for four years, and you look at the cost of each college, and how much they award for financial aid. In addition to all of this, I would visit the colleges you are most interested in to get a feel for the campus as well as the students who attend it. If you do enough research, the college your child will eventually go to will become apparent.

I would say that there are a few things that I could suggest about the college search. Always include your parents in your choices, always visit a variety of places and always trust your gut feeling. Your parents are your support network, and know you better than you think,trust their judgement and keep their opinions in mind when you make your choice. Visit a bunch of places that you may think you dont like. Try a variety so you can get a better feeling for what is all out there. Ifyou could not decided between the last narrowed choices, take the overnight visit option to really geta feel. Do not let money be a factor, if you really like a college, but the money is pretty steep, talk to a financial aid officer, get help from your gaurdian with the forms and GO! Always go with what you love and what you think you could spend the next four years at. I wish whomever is reading this all the best of luck!

Really pick the school that you think fits you. I found what I think is the best college possible for me. It has everything i'm looking of; a deep sense of community, and a passion for learning. Trust your own judgement and decisions and try not to let the financial aspect determine your decision. Remember, what you learn in college and the overall experience is priceless.

Find a school that you feel completely at home in and one that has other individuals that have similar interests. After graduation you may fell like you want to go far from home, but when you grow up you will find what you truly matters to you. When deciding the right school think of the communities surrounding the school and if that is where you want to leave. When looking into the school look into the extracurricular activities and other social events.

College is about more than academics. College is about allowing a student to find himself. It provides an environment that encourages healthy risk taking so that the student can develop himself into the person that he wants to be. As you try and help your student find the college that will be the best fit for him, keep in mind that the decision is his. You can give your opinions and suggest other factors to look at, but in the end, the student has to decide for himself on what he wants his years in college to be focused. The only way that your student will ever make the most of his college experience is if he really loves the college or university he chooses to attend. It is only through feeling completely accepted and comfortable at school that any student will ever be able to fully experience what college has in store for him.

The first thing to do after you decide to pursue a college degree is to visit many different colleges in order to determine what is right for you. Try to visit a large state school, a smaller private school, a trade school, two year school, etc. If you don't have enough time to visit all of these, make sure to research, research, research. It is important to know that you are making a very important decision, therefore you should make an informed one! Also remember that whatever school that you decide on does not have to be the school that you stay at. As a transfer student myself, I know what it is like to regret your decision and how hard it can be to transfer. Now I can say that I am very involved in my college in various aspects, am excelling in academics, and love my social life. However this did not just happen! As a college student, it is up to you to find your passions and get involved on campus. Always remember that it is your future, no one elses. As long as your heart is in it, you will go far!

My advice would be to go with a school that you feel comfortable in and one that has extra-curricular activities that you would want to participate in because it is one of the best ways to meet people with similar interests. I would also suggest finding a school that is very helpful in assessing your needs in all aspects of being a student , and one that gives you a favorable financial aid package.

I highly reccommend using summers and other "iterim" terms wisely. It is easy to run out and get any part-time job to make money for tuition or extra spending money. However using this time to do internships or research will help you know more what career path you want to take and will also give you experiences to talk about during job interviews. Or you just many find out what things you hate in a job and it may save you time later in life finding out that something you thought you wanted to do is really something you don't enjoy!

I think the most important thing a student can do to find the right college is to visit the school, preferably on a normal class day. It is impossible to truly grasp the atmosphere of the campus without being present. It is also important to examine the academic profile of each school and attempt to find a college where the student will be challenged without being overwhelmed. A talk with an admissions counselor can help potential applicants determine this. Once a college has been chosen, I would suggest living in the dorms for at least one year and requesting a random roommate, rather than an old friend. This guarantees an acquaintance from outside of classes and helps a new freshman enrich their experience by forcing them to consider friendships with those different from themself and different from their high school clique. An integral part of the college experience is the formation and development of a variety of unique relationships with people often very different from oneself. The best way to strengthen these relationships is to stay on campus most weekends, for out-of-the-classroom adventures are what truly make each college experience unique.