Lewis & Clark College Top Questions

Don't stress out too much because you'll find the right school for you, even if it's not the first one you go to. Evalute all those basic questions like how many people you feel comfortable speaking in front of, if you even want to speak in class in general, what you want your community to be like, where you want to grow up and spend four years of your life, etc... they really are important questions. Think about what things you'll want to do besides school work and make sure where you choose is conducive to those outside interests. If you are able to visit the campus and try to hang out with the kids. Most people are very warm to prospective students and want you to make the right decision for you. Definitely attend a class if you can and see how comfortable you are with the setting and how interested the students seem in the lecture as well as in their teacher, since those are important signs as well. And honestly, go somewhere pretty, because when you start to miss home an ugly place is no fun.

I would advise students to look for what THEY want, not what their parents want. Mom and dad really do have your best interests at heart, but they aren't necessarily the best judges of where you should go to college. You should find a place that feels like home to you, regardless of what they say about it. If a school is right, you will know it. The best way to get that feeling is to visit the campus, and especially to do overnight stays if possible. That's the best way to understand what daily life is like there, so you can base your decision off of it. If you get a mediocre or negative feeling from a college, then you're unlikely to be happy there. Trust your instincts, and you should end up in the right place. If aren't confident with your decision, remember that if worst comes to worst you can always transfer to somwhere else--you're signing up for a school, not signing the rest of your life away.

Use your gut feeling. You know what feels right when you see it. Follow your heart and head- make friends, involve yourself around the campus and community, thrive in a place for learning. Don't bother with people you don't like or treat you the way you deserve- make sure that your voice is heard- this is your experience and make it one that you will never forget.

Think hard about what you want to study--the primary goal is, after all, your education. If you are truly undecided, take a close look at the requirements for majors you may be interested in at each school and also at how easy it woudl be to take a variety of subjects until you find your niche. Pay attention to what current students say about the ease of choosing classes and also proffessor's accessibility. The other key piece of advice is to look for a school where you will fit in as perfectly as possible so that your college experience is a good one. Will you fit in with the other students in life style and learning style? Will you fit in with your surroundings--the campus, the weather, the city, will I be able to get home easily? Lastly, become as involved as possible as soon as possible with the things you love to do. Sports, music, student groups, volunteering, look to see if your favorite activities, or the ones you've always wanted to try, are available on campus or are easily accessible.

I would tell students and parents to begin searching for schools before there Senior year of highschool. I chose to wait until my senior year of highschool to search for a college/ university and felt very rushed to make a decision.

Parents, listen to what your kids have to say. Students, remember that choosing a college is not a permanent or irrevocable decision and you can usually feel when a place is right for you. When you get there, find people who are interested in the same things as you and enjoy their company.

Although choosing a college is a daunting task, there are two main categories to consider when searching for the right college. The first is the on-campus community. Walking around the campus, talking to students, and going on a campus tour will allow a prospective student to get an accurate feel for the school, especially if you visit during the school year. Ask current students about dorm life, meal plans, classes, buying textbooks, favorite professors, student organizations, and what they do in their free time. Think about what kind of campus living situation you would prefer- dorms or sororities/fraternities? The second catergory is the off-campus community. It is just as important to spend some time exploring the surrounding area, as the student will spend much of their free time off-campus. Are you looking for a big city, or a small university town? It is important to look at options that are the opposite of where you grew up. Things to consider are public transportation, performance venues, local coffee shops, and bookstores. Choose a college where you feel excited about both the on- and off-campus communities. You will learn equally in both places!

When looking for a college, its important to focus on what type of school will work for you, rather than what type of school others prefer. Consider your learning style: whether you need one-on-one attention, memorization or project-based class work, heavy or light work load, and any other criteria that apply to you specifically. Equally important is what type of campus community would mesh with your lifestyle. The most important thing to remember in your transition into college life is that no matter which school you go to, whether it is your first or last choice, your experience will be what you make of it. If you apply yourself to learning, take control of your education by challenging yourself, and enter college with a positive mindset, you will succeed. Treat both your successes and faliurs as learning opporunities. Step out of your comfort zone, both intelecually and socially, and take some risks. College is the time and place to explore who you are and where you want to go in life, so explore! Don't set limitations and pre-conditions. You will stumble upon your greatest self-discoveries in unexpected places and situations.

You should always take a tour of the college. I would highly recommend staying overnight and sitting in on a class as well. When I visited my school, after doing all of those things it just felt right. It felt like somewhere I could spend four years of my life. And, I was right and couldn't be happier.

be open minded and always make the best of situations. The area surrounding the college will make or brake your time durin school. Choosing a college that has alot to do around it makes a world of difference. The academics between most schools doesn't differ that much but the surrounding area varies dramaticly.

Check out a lot of different schools, and don't worry about money issues. Good schools usually give financial aid, and if not, there are always loans available. Don't worry about debt right now. Just get a good education and have fun. And make friends! While school is fun and all, making friendships is a vital part of your future success.

College will be what you make of it. If you go in looking at what isn't perfect or if you go in looking at what is new and amazing then that is what you'll see and how you'll experience your college Granted, some schools just don't fit but I don't think there is a "soul-mate" of a school out there waiting. There are just a bunch of suitable schools that will allow you to thrive if you try, you just have to find one.

In my experience, students seeking the "right fit" for a college are best advised that whichever campus with whichever social demographics, each community has a good many niches to be filled, and an individual with an open mind won't have trouble finding theirs. In terms of finding a college, considerations such as class size, academic intensity, and the surrounding cities were the most important to me in my search. Once students have matriculated, I think it is important that they do not estimate what kind of experience it will be at their college, because more often than not, they will be disappointed with what they cannot find. Connections with professors and other students, as well as community members, will contribute to an incredible life-building experience. I also think that it is important for a student to try out different balancing acts at different times during their education, for example playing with extracurricular activities and trading off between leadership and membership. I think one of the most dangerous things about college is that a student can lose themselves in the academic or social pursuit without remembering that the environment they are in now will change drastically in the future.

Even a community college could be the right school if it's the school that makes your child happy. The level of classes is important but not as important as the environment in which your child will be learning.

If you can, take a gap year before you start school. Travel, work, live on your own...give yourself time to experience the real world before you start learning about it in academic terms. It will give you a frame of reference for all the information you will be learning over the next four years. Besides, you need a break after all that hard work, right?

College has become a corporate business in America. When looking for colleges, parents and students have the odd feeling that they are customers. This can give prospective students a strange sense of indifference and hopelessness when looking for the school that is right for them. My advice would be to find your own way of combatting this mindset; once college becomes a packaged product, it loses all its life and potential. You will constantly be comparing the 'contents' to the pictures on the package and trying to judge if you are getting your money's worth or not (this is especially true for parents). But the minute you fall into this trap, you become a passive consumer and lose what makes college a life changing experience: the simple fact that wherever you go, it will be your unique contribution to the campus and classroom community that forges your adult consciousness and worldview. In this sense, the only thing College does for you is provide the opportunity to begin to do things for yourself. So don't just pick the flashiest package; find someplace that seems like they need you, and you will be rewarded beyond your dreams.

In order to find the perfect college apply to all sorts of colleges all over the country. Keep your options open! There are so many to choose from if you do not limit yourself at the beginning of the process, you will have more schools once you have been accepted. That way you are more likely to find the school you will fall in love with. Also jump into the activities that the school sets up for you once you get there. It may seem a little dorky but they are actually a great way to get to know a bunch of people and see who you will be able to get along with later. You may not meet the friends you are going to have for the rest of your life but at least you will find someone to go to dinner with. Just keep in mind that all of these people are in the same position you are in and it will be fine.

Let your children go wherever they want, not where you want: wherever they choose is where they will succeed the best...

Students: Make a list of what you want in a college; clubs, activities, majors, everything. Think about everything you might want to do, even if you think you probably won't do it. College should be a place for you to experience everything you want to experience. Colleges are similar in many, many ways, as you will notice after touring a few of them. What it comes down to is the opportunities. Feel the college out, as well, for personality and comfort level, but remember you will probably be able to find like-minded people everywhere. And don't stress!

Definitely visit the colleges and talk to people who love the school and the people who hate it

It is important to do plenty of research on your own to find the right college for you. The people who have the most miserable time in college are those who let their parents or advisors pick their college for them. Because college is the perfect opportunity to mature as an individual, I was thrilled to go to a college that was far away from home. Living on my own encouraged me to become more independent. For me, staying in Portland over summer and working in the city instead of going back home made Portland feel like my home instead of the place I go for school. By the time I graduated, I knew that I wanted to stay in Portland long after my Lewis & Clark experience. Get involved and don't be afraid to go for what you want. If you are interested in research, ask professors as a freshman so you are involved as soon as possible. Try all the activities that might interest you - and even the ones that sound weird, like the Cheese Club - and pick out the activities that work for you. If you do, you might meet people you never otherwise would have met.