Hobart William Smith Colleges Top Questions

Having been accepted to a large city school (BU) and a small upstate NY school (HWS) I am glad I chose the later. The small class size and tight community here creates an ideal enviornment for learning and bonding. I love this school but really need the scholarship money as the economy crashes and college prices soar. When looking for a college, one should focus on the campus and people when visiting and ask themselves if they would feel comfortable at that institution. I am so happy with my choice of school and hope I have enough money to get through the last years.

I would take into account the present financial state of the nation in deciding whether to stay in-state or find a school out of state. If the student really wants to leave the state, realize that with that decision comes extra baggage. Most schools financial aid packages will only partially cover tuition, the government grants and or loans but that little chunk that is left is hard to manage (especially if you aren't a resident of that state). That being said, encourage them to look carefully through all the schools in the entire state, don't restrict them to a certain part. And ask them where they could see themselves being for the next four years. Looking for a college is not about how many frats it has or parties, but does the school offer your major. How willing are they to let you make a major as you go( or change a major)? Ideally your college experience will cultivate a better YOU and thus the YOU from freshmen year will not be the same YOU that walks across the stage at commencement(graduation) with your teary-eyed family members and friends watching you from their seats.

Make sure that when you visit the school, dont just take the campus tour and then be on your way. Get a little more in depth. Talk to the students attending there and get their input on the campus and how life is. Visit the town and see how it is and if it has the essentials; grocerys, apothecary, fast food, liquor store, movie store. Also check to see if there are interesting things to do in the area. College is not only about learning a new trade, ist about learning who you are and how you are going to live your life and if the school you are going to does not cater to those needs then its not the right place for you. Find your niche and have fun.

Go with your gut, and don't listen to what other people try to push you towards. You will feel it if you're supposed to be on that campus. Parents: Let your kids decide on their own! They're 18; they're grown-ups, they can do it. Once on campus, prepare to be overwhelmed. That's normal. You aren't going to love it right away, most likely. But don't be afraid to ask for help--counseling services are there for a reason, and it can help you start to love where you are.

visit them all

Vist schools before you even apply. While you can learn a lot about the school from information packets, from other people, and even just on line, nothing compairs to going and literally getting the feel of the campus. Also, don't be too quick to rule places out. I never thought I would go to a school out of state and I am now on the other side of the country. Once you are in a school get to know your roommate. This is the person you will be spending a great deal of time with over the first year and if you are willing to give them a chance you just might find a new best friend, at least I did. And I know everyone says this but it is true, GET INVOLVED!! There is always something to do on a college campus so go meet new people and try new things, it will make the adjustment to living on your own much easier if you have something fun to do. Finally take advatage of every opportunity you are given. While it may not always be easy go abroad, do the internship, learn everything you can, and have fun.

Definitely visit the schools you are interested in. There is no way to tell what school you will fit in just by learning about it online. Attend the school that you feel most comfortable at and have strong programs in academic fields in which you are interested. Find a school that has a strong study-abroad program - it is a once in a lifetime opportunity that could greatly impact your life in a positive way. Don't go to a school based on its prestige - it's not necessarily important where you graduate from, but how you you perform and live your undergraduate life while you're there.

The best advice I recieved was: be willing to attend any of the schools you apply to. Your safety school might be your only option so make it a good one. Also, it is optimal to attend a school in which you won't be the dumbest in your classes or the smartest. You want the experience to be challenging, but not overwhelming. Do not stress too much throughout the process. You should take the time to explore yourself and decide what best suits you.

Visit colleges that you are interested and listen to the students. If you know what you would like to study, get to speak with a professor in you interested field. Check out ratemyprofessors.com too! College is almost always scary your freshman year, so think about speaking with upperclassman.

Parents might find it helpful to understand that their son or daughter is the one attending the school, and so the decision, and the decision-making process, should be primarily left to him/her. Letting go like this is of course scary, for both the parent and the student, but it gives the student a sense of responsibility over his/her life, and it allows the student to feel confident in his/her ability to make decisions. Parents can and should, of course, still play an important role in the helping the student find what he/she wants in a school. Students should try to remember that college is more than an education; it is a community one must be a part of for the duration of studies. Therefore, it is important to really know what a school is offering. Finding the right college is much like buying a car: you don't just purchase a vehicle, you look inside, check out its history, and take it for a test drive. Researching schools is much the same. It's important to be thourough and deliberate, and at the end of the day, make a decision of which you are proud!

Take your time looking at schools. It seems like common sense but it will change the direction of your life. If you are not happy with the schools you were accepted to do not be afraid to take time off and find what is right for you. Spend time on campus and make sure it is worth your time and money. Also, I believe that the most important aspect of coming to college is being ready for the experience. It is an institution that is meant to teach you skills that are essential for the rest of your life and if you are not ready to take full advantage of this then you should take time off before college to figure out exactly what you want to get out of it; be it a social experience or a career track. You will only get one go at this time in your life so don't rush though the process, it will all be worth it when college spits you out the other end into the so-called real world.

Money does matter. If you go to a school you can bearly afford, you feel pressured to stay there, even if that school stops being where you want to be. Make the decision that allows you to be most flexible. You will definitely change at college, and your college might not change with you, and you want to be able to go to the best place for YOU.

I think it is very important for a student to feel an initial comfort and excitement when first walking onto the campus. Figure out in advance if you want to go to a small school with intimate classes, tons of help from the professor and smaller parties or if they would rather enjoy being a number in the classroom and huge parties where you hardly ever see the same people twice. Make sure that the decision is the students and not the parents since the student is attending the college. Think about how much you want greek life to surround your weekends. Realize that you can still love college and have fun even if your not on a varsity team or in a fraternity/sorority.

Visit and stay over night in a dorm with other students. That way you can really see what its like there

I would go into college willing to be open. Really push yourself to the limit to be as outgoing and friendly to every single person you meet. You never know who you will meet through one person and who eventually will become great friends. I would push yourself even if you find you are not happy because eventually you will find people/ schedule you are more compatible.

It is essential to take into account all of the positives and negatives of each school in question when determining which school to attend. To ensure that the right choice is made for the student it is important to place proportional emphasis on all aspects of the decision making process. Undue emphasis regarding financial decisions, athletic decisions, friends/boyfriends/ girlfriends, although important factors to consider, must not be conducive to the final decision. College is a place to learn not only the subjects of academia but also the subject of self, it is a place to grow and become the person one will be for the rest of their life. In saying this I stress the importance of future. In making the decision about which school to attend it is necessary to imagine how each school can shape the individual in the future regardless of cost, sports recruiting or many of the other irrelevant basis for decision. When it comes down to it, each student must decide for themselves where they feel most comfortable, can achieve their highest goals and are able to balance all of their ideas, interests and desires to become the person that they want to be.