Hope College Top Questions

After being a homeschooled student for most of your life, becoming a college student will definitely be a very difficult adjustment. One thing I wish I had known and practiced before beginning college was scheduling and organizing time. Yes, you will definitely know when your classes are and, eventually, you will learn what time the Dining Hall opens but what about everything else that happens during the day? Do you have enough time to finish homework AND study well? Will you have time to form relationships with others in your dormitory and classes? Will you set time to relax and have fun? Making a weekly schedule helps to organize times for all of your daily activities. Obviously there will be slight deviations to go to orchestra concerts, homecoming or just hanging out with your friends (and that one guy friend you developed a liking for) but having a schedule will allow you to take control of your time. Additionally, your days will be so much less stressful and you will be able to obtain a decent amount of sleep. This first semester of college would have been a better experience had I structured my time better.

Try to prepare yourself to go out there and make new friends inside your dorm right away. All the classes are hard work so be prepared to study. Even though it may seem scary, it really is not and you will get used to it right away. As a high school senior, work all summer and work hard. College is expensive and if you are paying for it by yourself, you need to start making money. You will not have as much time as you think to work during school. Finding a temporary summer job is difficult. Agree on how you will communicate with your roommate and talk about other necessary agreements your first day. Practice good time management during the summer so you can swing right into it during the semester. Look at your schedule and figure out when you can have free time and when you need to study. Other than that, just take it day by day as it comes. Enjoy every moment of your first year and have fun!

If I could go back to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to get involved right from the beginning. As much as my orientation leaders stressed that getting involved was vital to becoming part of the campus, I did not listen. If I had joined all of the activities that I had signed up for at the Activities Fair at the beginning of orientation my transition into college would have been quite a lot easier. What I realize now is that joining clubs and getting involved in volunteer activities are what helps people make friends and create safe environments for themselves. I wish I had done that from the very beginning of my college experience.

It is important to put yourself out there when you go to college. Be open-minded and work to make new friends - college is the best and easiest time to do this (when else do you get to live within a five block radius of all your closest friends?). Be prepared to work hard but also make plenty of time to have fun and enjoy the many activities that will be offered by your college. Take advantage of all of the free activities offered on campus - you won't get them again until you reach "Senior" status. Don't be afraid to be generous with people - generous in your friendships, giving of yourself in your studies and getting involved on campus in ways you didn't expect to. It's important to stretch yourself - you may find someone or something that you never would have encountered otherwise.

Dear Self, please obtain an excessive dosage of a chill pill, and proceed to consume this!! Seriously, just relax. In fact, spend that $1000 graduation check on a much needed retreat into the wilderness so that you can simply contemplate life for a while. You aren't ready for college yet, and trust me, it isn't as great as you are imagining it. The best thing you can do to prepare yourself for college is to take a year off and support yourself in a minimum-wage job. You need to learn the value of those tens of thousands of dollars you are about to spend. Your life lessons won't be coming from the week long freshman orientation party...your lessons will come from real experiences. Don't seclude yourself to a college bubble. The institution you choose doesn't matter as much as what you choose to do with your four years. Don't get caught up in academics. Study your brains out, but also find a way to explore your dreams. Travel, attend mission trips, and volunteer in your community. When you look back your education, be proud of what you got involved with.

College is about school. I know this may sound obvious, but I was worried more about the social side of college than I was the academic. Keep your grades up, and friends will come!

Take advantage of every opportunity and enjoy every second of the next 4 years. Your first year at Hope college will be awesome, and it goes by so fast. Don't worry or be anxious at all because you picked the perfect school, a school that will not only provide you with an extremely high quality education, but also a school that will change you, and stretch you, and build you into someone you could never even imagine you can be. Study hard and enjoy what you learn because even though it seems hard and exhausting at the time, it's incredibly rewarding in the end. Never judge a book by its cover. This goes for people as well as classes and on campus activities. Be open minded and give everything and everyone a chance because you only live once, and you can never get these next 4 years back so make the most of them, and don't leave Hope college with any regrets or any "I wish I would haves." Making the transition is easy. So don't be nervous, be excited, because you are about to begin the best, and most rewarding, 4 years of your life!

The advice I would give myself if I could go back in time as a high school senior is to not wait last minute to get all your college preparation together. I would of started as soon as possible. Freshman year would of been a perfect time to decide what I would have wanted to do and what classes I could of took to help with preparation for the college courses ahead. Also researching different kinds of scholarships and grants that are available to apply for. So you could save some money while going to school to start your career. And most importantly, ask for help when you need it. Don't try to do it on your own. Your High School Counslers are there to help you and you will definitely need their assistant to help you make the transition from High School life to College life.

My college experience thus far has been amazing. I have grown academically by learning how to think independently and maintain a curious nature. By taking advantage of the undergraduate research at Hope I have been able to learn what it is like to be on the frontier of science and help discover new and interesting things that will help the world become a better place. On top of the academic successes I have had as I strive to fulfill my double major, I have grown as a person as well. I have learned a lot about myself and have taken a nice look into the mirror to see who I really am and what I really believe. I have found friends that support me and I know they will be with me for life. Overall, my college experience has been fantastic and it can only get better as I continue to work hard and attempt to become someone who can help change the world.

College is one of the words that has never talked in my family, because I'm the first generation in my family to attend college. I have attended Eastfield Community College for two years, and it has been a amazing experince for me. I have an opportunity to to a member of National Science Foundation (NSF), and did a summer research intership sponsored by NSF. It was an amazing exprience for me to work with real scientists and had a chance to write my own scientific paper and poster. I presented my research paper to the whole facutlies at my school and also in some local universities. Attending college is one of the most importand decision I have made in my life. There are so many goals out there that only through education so that I can reach them. I have learned many things because of the diversity in college. There are many different cultures, languagues, and so many things I have learned just from people around me. I know Eastfield College has provided me an amazing college experience, but it is time to move on to new enviroments, that is Texas A&M. See you (Aggies) in the fall.

I believe that Hope College has exposed me not only to an excellent education, but to real life experiences that have taught me more than I could ever learn in a classroom setting. I am so thankful for having such a wonderful college, which exposed to me to so many different field placements. Hope College is a place that strives to help you learn beyond the classroom. I did many different field placements from working in a hospital to working at a camp for adults with disabilities to teaching third graders the consequences of doing drugs. At each one of these places, I learned a little bit more about myself as I was challenged beyond my comfort zone. Hope College is a liberal arts college and strives to be a place that exposes you to a variety of different areas. Graduating from Hope College I feel like I am a well-rounded individual, who has been challenged to think in ways I never did before.

In short, my experience at Hope has shaped me into a better leader. Because the campus ministries here are not compulsory or overtly involved in every aspect of life at Hope, this has encouraged me to undertake ministry opportunities on my own. The "Christian character" of Hope is not enforced but certainly encouraged, meaning students can believe whatever they want to believe. The space that this policy leaves for spiritual growth has motivated me to pursue deep relationships with others, start a Bible study, pray for the student body, and take my academic pursuits seriously as belonging to the spiritual life. The mixed atmosphere of Christian and secular culture has been a challenge at times, but I believe it has helped shape me into someone that evaluates her beliefs with wisdom. I have not become a lazy Christian for lack of a challenge but instead learned to love others that are different from me and to articulate exactly what I believe. Articulation and love are two signs of the leader into which life at Hope College has shaped me.

My college experience has been fufilling and worthwhile. Everything i have gained has expanded my knowledge and put me on the right path to starting my career. I have also developed many helpful work ethic skills that would be useful when I am in the field. They are : attendance, character, teamwork, apperance, attitude, productivity, organizational skills, communication, cooperation and respect. With these skills i believe I will be ready and prepared for any employer's needs. I also have experienced diversity and meeting new people that I probably would'nt have met outside of going to college. It makes me appreciate different cultures and ways that are different from mine. I believe college also helps you develop yourself as an individual. Going to college is important for me because I want to better myself and be able to help others in developing themselves. Becoming an elementary school teacher is my most important goal and I am willing to do anything to accomplish this goal.

Hope College provides me with the tools necessary to expand my horizons and be completely confident and grounded in my faith. Since Hope has created such a positive atmosphere and enviromnent, I believe this has been crucial to my academic studies and discovering my own self identity. Hope College prides itself in allowing students to have experiences that most would not have had if they were not in this community. The faculty not only focuses on challenging their students academically but they also have an interest in the lives of their students and strive to create a learning environment for everyone to thrive in. In this time of economic uncertainty, it is crucial to have a college dedicated to creating an environment where intense study thrives. Through the use of internships and classes designed specifically for each field, students are equipped with knowledge of challenges and experience to base their own ideas on. Many fields at Hope have high placement rates after graduation which allows students to network and become the best that they can while in an innovative and affectionate environment. I look forward to the future where I can use what I learned at Hope and become successful.

Attending community college has thus far allowed me to earn college credit while still in high school, achieve 45 credit hours while still living at home, and save incredible amounts of money. My life and social experiences have greatly benefited from being in a mixed environment where I can experience a wide variety of people, including students and teachers who have already given me useful connections. I have been able to work while still at school, gaining both work experience and a nice savings account. I have learned how to be a conscious, valuable member of society who can offer my talents for the greater good. Finally, after taking a variety of classes, I have been able to hone my interests and talents in such a way that I have confidently chosen my career path and am currently working towards it.

Hope was the perfect college for me as it allowed for a quality education in an open dialoged environment. It was easy to approach professors and administration at any time necessary in this small college Christian atmosphere. I improved my social and job searching skills and in the process gained lifelong friends (I hope). I felt it was important to attend such a college to attain a bachelors degree so I may achieve my goals in the work force.

While I have not been in college for very long, I have already made several amazing friendships and learned so much about life. My college experience, so far, has challenged me to think about topics and issues more in depth and taught me valuable skills that I know I will use for the rest of my life. Normally, I am a very quiet person and prefer to listen to, rather than engage in discussion; college has been extreamely valuable for me because I can no longer let my parents do all of the talking. For me, college has been about improving my communication skills with others and learning to take responsibility for forming my own opinions and communicating them to others in a respectful and concise manner. In addition, I have discovered that I love Biology! The real-world application of biology can benefit so many people, so I hope to blend my passion for helping others with a degree in Biology into my plans for the future. College has been such an amazing experience; I am learning so much and I look forward to being able to help others with the knowledge and skills I am learning.

College helped me grow as a person and mature within myself. I was pushed to become independent and deal with responsibility on my own. I had always relied on my parents with decisions, but now it was time for me to trust myself and show the world who I was as an individual. I was my own controller. I decided when I needed to study, what classes I attended, what activities I wanted to be involved and simply what type of person I wanted people to see. I discovered what was important to me and what topics I was interested, which lead me to see what career field I was interested. Not only did college help me to find myself and what my vocation was, I also look back and see how valuable the relationships were that I developed along the way. I came out of college with genuine friends who will always be there for me. I learned how to work as a team and cooperate with a group. If I had not attended college, I would not be the person that I am today, which is the best person I can be. All because of going to college.

Having only completed my freshman year at Hope College, my experiences are not equal to those who have completeld multiple years or ever their degree, however; within just one year I have be challenged both personally and academically. Living within the dorms on campus the people I have met and formed relationships with have greatly influenced my growth as a person. I have learned how to manage myself but also how to relax and enjoy the people around me. While Hope is challenging academically, the extra effort I have had to give to my studies has taught me to be a devoted students and has improved my time managment skills. My college experience has been unique and different, personally crafted to fit my personality and needs. It has provided so many lessons, both in life and academics. I have been placed in challenging situations that I would not have been faced with at home, and so for that I am grateful and truly see the value in a college education on campus.

i have gotten so much out of my college experience. i feel that i have really begun to take school so much more seriously than i did while back in highschool. i realized that this is this what i need to do in oreder to have a good job. and plus the friends that i have met there is no way i could ever replace them.

Freshman year, I had the opportunity to conduct research, which is nearly impossible at larger colleges or universities. All of my classes have between 20 and 100 students. The professors get to know you at a personal level and help you succeed in academics and in a career. My professors know what their students are achieving even after they have graduated. They are not just here to teach, but are here to engage with students on a personal level. There are no Teacher's Assistants teaching courses, allowing students to develop a relationship with their professors that can last a lifetime. Through a liberal arts education at Hope College, I learn skills outside of my engineering courses. I learn how to accept other cultures, to network and have developed better writing and communication skills. These various courses allow us to be well-rounded students. Learning about the world around us, instead of continuously looking at the outcome of grades is important. In the business world, we will have to interact with different types of people. Even with good grades, you still have to be open and understanding of other cultures. Hope College has helped me develop these necessary skills.

If I could go back to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself to start working on good study habits. Coming to college was difficult for me because I didn't realize how much you actually need to study in order to get the kind of grades I did in high school. I also would tell myself to let go of my inabition when it came to social situations and not to worry so much about what people might think. When I moved in I was so scared that people wouldn't like me that I kind of barried myself in my studies instead of meeting new people. I have realized that the social aspect of college is almost as important as the acedemic aspect. As a senior I would definitely need to know that some will like me and some won't and it really doesn't matter if you have a thousand friends or just a couple. It's mostly just important to put ourself out there so people can get to know you and you can get to know them.

No matter who you are, where you come from, or where you are going to college, the transition will be a big change and in most cases be a difficult one. There is no getting around that, there is not much to do to make there be no transition. To move forward in life you have to go through changes. Having one or two close friends to talk to always feels normal and takes you to memories of before. Even if you're best friends are not at the same college or even in the same state, talking to them every now and then will definitely cheer things up. The first couple weeks of school are some of the most crucial to developing new friendships. Everyone says 'Hello' as you walk by and seem friendly. After awhile the new excitement begins to fade and meeting new friends becomes more difficult as everyone has already found who they want to hang out with. So be sure to be friendly and meet lots of people as soon as you can to make as many friendships as possible. Just have a fun time and don't be scared to go up and talk.

Be patient, kind and understanding. Go in with an open mind and an open heart. Have no expectations other than the quality of education that you want. Accept others because there are many different people with many different views from that of your own. Everything you have heard prior to attending, don't believe it. Find out for yourself what the school has to offer. Take advantage of all the oppurtunities such as study abroad, clubs, organizations, community service, and do not be afraid to ask for help when needed. The professors are there to help you and if you need extra help, go to the Academic Support Center, they are there for you and want nothing but to see you succeed. If you do not know what you want to do for a carreer, that is OK, you are not alone and the Carreer Services will help you try to discover what you are meant to do. College is a time to experience new things and to discover who you are, so enjoy it while it lasts because the time flies when you are having fun!

As I walk down the sidewalks filled with jovial students sharing laughs and hugs, I cannot help but smile at the truly caring atmosphere I find myself in. I feel our country takes an uncountable number of things for granted, and at the forefront of them all are other people. When I walk down that sidewalk and I share a smile and simple greeting with a complete stranger I keep on smiling long after we pass because it makes me happy. If I were to go back in time I would tell myself to do nearly everything different in my college search. I would not only look for schools with good academic reputations, but really hone in on how the students interact with each other. I was lucky enough to end up at a college with such an atmosphere full of compassion. As human beings, we are social by nature. The most satisfying and rewarding things in life are genuine relationships with real people; friends, significant others, parents, professors. Money and jobs are material things that are secondary. Love everyone, surround yourself with love and remember to give that stranger sitting next to you a big smile before you leave.

College, synonymous to personal freedom, fun, parties, making your own rules and doing what you want to do - is not quite the college you are after. The truth is, for all the fun you can imagine out of "that" college, college will be an experience of defining yourself that will take you places you can't undestand yet. You have one job in college and that is to educate yourself. What that means is that you can either choose to go to class, half-way listen, read the assignments, write the papers and focus on all the campus activitie, parties and new friends, or you can actively participate in the ultimate world of knowledge, intrigue, discovery and opportunity that college provides. Nowhere else in your life are you going to be allowed to openly think and question and challenge like you will in college. So do it. Think. Question. Listen. Challenge. Resist the social distractions. Embrace exploring new ideas. Attend seminars, theatre productions, sponsored readings, art exhibits and rallies. Dig deep and see how far you can push yourself. Ask yourself daily, what does this mean? Why should I care? And seek the answers with vigor.

As I think back to my senior year in high school, I recall many nights after volleyball practice sitting at our home computer trying to carve out my path through an undergraduate program. If I were to live that time in my life I would have liked to recieve the following advice. "Morgan, you feel as though your life could take hundreds of different paths and you have no idea what you where you would like your life to go. The most important thing to realize is that you have time to make your decisions, and that you will end up where you are meant to be. It's commonly assumed that as a freshman in college you need to have a major picked at a college that is the perfect fit. The funny thing is that most of your peers will have no idea what career they desire, and if your chosen major or college doesnt feel right, you are allowed to make adjustments. Just relax and go where you feel the path seems brightest at the moment. You will end up exactly where you belong, no matter the choices and circumstances."

There are many things that I wish someone had told me, and I find myself telling them to new students I know. I would tell myself to study more because college is a lot harder than high school. I would tell myself to have more fun with friends because there are so many great people to meet, and can become friends for life. I would give myself advice on which classes to take, and what professors to avoid. I think college and I got off on the wrong foot, and I wish I had been more easy going. You only go to college once so you have to make the most of it. I have changed so much these past four years that I would tell myself to be open to changes and that I was proud of the person she was becoming. Overall, I would tell myself to slow down and just to enjoy the ride because it goes by so fast.

In reminiscing about high school life, I would remind myself to scan for scholarships more often and fill out FAFSA sooner. I would recommend visiting potential campuses and spending an afternoon talking to the random students around. I would also like to point out the necessity of getting a laundry card way before half-way through semester, as wearing cloths off the floor can only work for so long. And don?t get so wrapped up in school work and new pressure loads that there is no time to meet new people, go to coffee shops, concerts, and scenic community walks. There is life outside of academics and the people you randomly bump into may be a friend for life. And finally, don?t stress so much about where to go to college and how to fit in upon arrival, for God has your plan written out before you were born and there is no way that it can be screwed up. He totally has a master plan all worked out and all you need to do is just be.

To prepare for the transition from the life of a high school senior to the life of a college student, I would offer myself several pieces of advice. The first being: get sleep. It is so tempting to stay up until 1 a.m. on weeknights, but then getting up at 7:30 a.m. the next morning for class is extremely difficult. My Freshman year I found myself falling asleep during class in several lecture periods. Though my performance on tests did not suffer terribly, it gave a poor impression of my commitment to the professor. The second piece of advice that I would offer is get involved. That is the best action that can be taken to create new friendships and a love for the college. I was not very active in extra curriculars or clubs my first year, but I joined many groups in my Sophomore year. By becoming involved, I created bonds to my school and to other students. Peers would stop to chat or yell a friendly hello from across the courtyard as I walked to class. A sense of pride and ownership in my school developed and I enjoyed representing my college.

Don't focos on percentages and numbers, whether its admission rates or financial aid amounts, find the school that speaks to you, and go for it. When you're there don't focus on the grade percentages either. Learn the material- that's the important part. And experience the "college experience" - employers don't just look for someone who sat in a library for four years.

Take time to visit the colleges you're interested in, and visit more than once if you can. It helps the decision making process a lot. Try visiting at different times of the year, and get an early start in the college search process if possible. Upon your arrival at college, get involved right away, talk to everyone you meet, and be open to new ideas. See what's out there and take some classes just for fun.

My advice to students entering college and to parents of students trying to make the most of the college experience is just to embrace it. There is so much worry and stress that goes into finding the right college and making big decisions that are involved with going to college that often people just get anxious but my philosophy is that things will work out- and our worries don't help anything. There are probably several colleges that a student can be happy at so the myth of "the one and only perfect college for me" just creates more stress, and if a student ends up at a college where they aren't happy they can learn what makes it not work for them and make changes- it isn't the end of the world. When you finally get to college dive in! There will be so many new things to try and people to meet-- explore it all! There are often programs for parents to get involved in as well and these are a great way for parents to keep up with what is happening at the college but still allowing their student freedom.

Keep an open mind when you go on college visits because some of the schools you visit you would say "I never want to go there" but then in the end, thats where you feel like you belong. Look for a school that has a good program for your major. This is beacause since college comes with a high price tag, you definately need to make sure that you are getting your money's worth when it comes to an education. Also look at the professors and how well they know their area of teaching and backgrounds. See how avalible the professors are when it comes to help in a class or anything else because if they are unaccessible when you need them most, that will greatly cripple you. Look at how the students act on campus: Are they smiling? Do they say "Hello" to visitors on campus? How do they interact with the people around them? Try to find a school that has a social atmosphere that you know that you will definately fit into and will be able to form amazing friendship bonds because when you're at college: your peers become your family.

Check them out. Then just go, you will enjoy it if you keep your attitude positive.

I would advise them to visit the college more than once, and not just on visitation days. On visitation days the serve better food, have more guides to help, and as many other things to make their school look better. There are the other days that you don't get to see if you only visit on visitation days and those days are needed to get the correct feel of the atmosphere of the school. It is also important to sit in on classes to see how the classes are structured there and if they fit your learning style.

I would tell them to prayerfully consider their options, visit the schools that are on the docket, see what feels right, and go with it. You want to be at a place where you will be happy. If you are miserable at college, there isn't much you can do other than drop out, and that is not something you want to do. Try to pick out the things in a school that are the most important to you, and don't settle for anything less. If your reasons are faith-based, academic-based, athletic-based, go for it! But remember, you are there to study first and foremost. If you are going to party, party, party, you may want to consider another option until the desire to learn arises. We have minds for a reason. College has the potential to be one of the best chapters in life. Search and search, and when you get any sort of an answer, go with it.

Do not be afraid to follow your heart and dreams; do not follow your high school classmates to the university that everyone is attending. Be strong and choose our own university. Live your life and dreams. Dream big, embrace life and stretch your boundaries, move away from your comfort zone. Do not be afraid of failure, it's ok to fail, you become stronger and learn. At times, it?s invigorating; anything difficult is worth working for and gives a sense of accomplishment. Find the college that fits you and your goals and you will be happy and enjoy what life brings each day.

To find the college that is right for your child or yourself as a student comes down to one thing. Make sure that the college that you choose is the place that makes you feel at home. When you are there you should feel as though you never left the comfort of your home. The people there should be genuine and caring and will invite you in gladly. When you find this school you will know it the moment you arrive there.

Visit as many schools as possible so you can have great comparisons. If you think you could only thrive at a big school, try some small schools anyway, or if you want to venture out of state, still visit some close to home too. After visiting each school make a list of the pros and cons right away so you don't forget your likes and dislikes for each individual school. Research each school through books, pamphlets and their websites to get a complete description, as well. After I had visited 7 schools, all completely different, I only applied to one because my visits had made my decision that clear. Good luck!

Exploring colleges can be a lot of fun. The most helpful thing to do is to visit the campuses and get a feel for what campus life is like. Also, don't let finances be the largest factor. Your education is a great investment worth more than a given price. Determine what you want, narrow down the options, visit, and choose. You'll most likely be satisfied with where you go if you invest in the community and have a positive attitude. Don't settle.

Do what's the best fit for you not your parents, friends or anyone else.

Choosing a college is obviously one of the biggest decisions of your student's life. It is also one that will shape the rest of his or her life. Preparing students for the real world is, of course, a matter of vocational training, but there is much more to the process than just that. Your student has views that will be strengthened or changed in college. New ideas will be abundant in this environment that is likely not completely under your control. As such, the choice of a college is also a choice about what kind of person this student will be. So rather than just choosing the college with the most stars or the best name recognition be sure to consider what kind of person goes to this school and comes out of this school. Campuses have lives and personalities of their own and you need to be sure that it is one that will make your student a better person as a result. There should be no single criterion that is used to determine what is a good college and each college should be evaluated as a whole. Enjoy discovering the world of colleges available.

Make sure that the student in picking the school that they like not one that the parents would like.

For students: when looking for schools, consider what's important to you, then evaluate the schools you're thinking about based on all of your criteria, not just one or two of them. Don't forget that the point of college is to get an education. When you're at a school, take advantage of the opportunities available to you. Don't focus on partying, but do have some fun. Your professors and/or TAs (if your school is big enough to have grad students) will often want to help you - go their office hours, and don't be afraid to ask questions (if you don't know the answer, there's probably someone else who also doesn't). For parents: Listen to your children. Don't pressure them to go to the kind of school you wish you'd gone to. Try to guide them away from making a truely wrong choice (in ANY way), but remember that at the end of the day it's their choice, and if you press them too hard, they're just as likely to refuse to even consider what you're saying as they are to heed your words.

Visit the campuses you are interested in! It is important to do so during a weekday while classes are in session; this allows you to really get a feel for the campus community. Also try to sit in on a class (preferably in a department in which you are interested in studying). Sitting in on a class helps give a true sense of what it will be like to study at that school. Additionally, talk with students and ask questions while you're on campus. Enjoy!

The advice that i would give is to get out of your comfort zone. By this i mean to live in the dorms, get to know alot of different people, talk to people about their different backgrounds. I have learned that college is just as much about learning about your self and others than it is about the books and the classroom. College is a time to learn about yourself and others and to experience the many cultures, backgrounds, and futures that life has to offer.

If at all possible, visit the campus during the school year and interact with students. Don't feel like you have to go right into college after high school if you don't have a clear career path in mind, you could save a lot of time and money if you wait.... if you are interested in travelling, look for a school that has a large study-abroad program and go for it! The "real world" doesn't often afford the opportunity so easily and affordably. Work hard on finding a group of friends during your first year, but don't be afraid to break away from your high school group. Take the chance to start fresh in a new environment and be who you want to be. Do the things you want to do, prove to yourself that you can be independent. Living away from home makes you appreciate it all the more when you come home for breaks; three hours' drive was the perfect distance for me: not too close and not too far. The "college experience" is fun, but don't forget that you are there to study... appreciate the opportunity you have to determine your future!

All throughout high school i didnt want to go to a small school, when i didnt make it into the big school i wanted to i was forced to consider my other applications. I had applied to Hope only after my mothers prodding. After giving it a good look i became enamored.

First, apply/visit to every college possible. Do not limit yourself to one or two colleges and/or universities! Secondly, once you have chosen a college, get involved in anything and everything you can! Have as much fun, meet new people, and take in every exprience!