Saint Norbert College Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Chris

Make sure the school is right for you kid and not for the parents, its hard to plug you son/daughter into an environment that will make them successful, but its useless if they dont like where they are at, you need to let your kids choose for themselves and experience thier college experience their way.

Mackenzie

Make sure you visit as many colleges as you can when making your decision. I would recommend overnight trips to the colleges so that you can get a better feel for the people and the atmosphere. Once you have your search narrowed down visit the top picks again. Make sure to ask any other questions you might have and compare the top picks. And try to get as much financial aid as possible. I also reccomend going to a college away from high school friends so that you can make new friends and not be stuck in the same group of people the rest of your life. Once you're at the college of your choice try to meet as many people as possible. Try to get involved in activities or clubs or sports on campus.

Peter

Research the schools very extensively. Be sure to ask what the school can offer in terms of finding a job (a good job!!) after school. Stats about {4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} employed after graduation can be unreliable. Remember that you go to school to get a job.. not to work at McDonalds or a book store.

Adam

Remember that nobody is promised tomorrow--sieze each day and every opportunity because you are ultimately a product of your decisions. Life happens along the way when you are making other plans so take time to slow down at times and remember to enjoy every minute of every day.

Jonathan

Be sure to take high school seriously. Visit the colleges before you apply (and definetely before you accept an admission offer). Try to go somewhere where the administrators are also professors.

Benedikt

My advice to parents and students about finding the right college for them is that they need to first figure out whether or not they want to go to a big, medium, or small school. This right away will help eliminate many options. They also need to take into consideration their major and athletics. This is a very important part to picking the right school for you. Students should also take a tour or visit the college as well to see if they like the atmosphere and see if they can picture themselves going their. It is also important to distinguish whether you want to be in the city or in a college town. With these in mind when at the college, make use of the available programs and extracurricular activities that they offer. You want to make the most of your college experience and get the most value for your tuition. Take advantage of the programs they offer and the on school entertainment and social programs, as well as the carreer services, and available educational and other help programs. Most of all find a school that you feel comfortable being at.

Lauren

I would tell the parents and/or students to base their decision upon the "homeliness" feeling. When I visited my current college, I knew it was right based on my guilt feelings. I could also see myself living here, based especially upon the "homeliness" feeling.

Steve

Pick a college that fits you. You need to be comfortable when choosing where to go or you won't be able to learn effectively and happily!

Renee

parents need to know about what their kids are going to be doing on weekends. they need to make sure that the school has enough options for weekend activities and that their children are going to be safe depending upon what they decide to do. students need to decide what kind of atmosphere they most feel at home in-they need to shadow 3 or 4 times to get a feel for classes, dorms, and campus life. it's immensely important to make sure that the school is welcoming and gives the student personalized attention. to make the most of college, students need to branch out, get out of their comfort zone, but that does not necessarily mean binge drinking every weekend or drug use. some of the best experiences come from service trips and volunteer work, not parties.

Jessica

Tour schools until you find one that is a great fit for you. Go with what feels right.

Amy

Get on campus. Take a tour. Staff and students will tell you a lot about the community of the school. To make the most out of the college experience, get involved. Join study groups, volunteer and go on serivce trips. There are many blessings that one can experience in four short years, and the only way to experience those blessings is to get out there and meet new people. The new experiences and people will take you far.

Allison

Definitely visit whatever college you are looking at and if you can take your mom. You can never know what a campus is like until you are there walking around and seeing the buildings for yourself. If at all possible do a shadow day and observe a couple classes, eat the cafeteria food and look inside the dorms. It is even better to have an overnight trip and spend a night on the campus to see what the students do after classes. It's good to take notes on these trips but I storngly believe that the gut feeling counts the most. I took two tours of St. Norbert and both times it was amazing. I also remember visiting another college, which shall not be named, and left before the tour ended because I didn't feel at home. I say take your mom because sometimes the trip and information can be overwhelming and moms are incredible at knowing what questions to ask as well as retaining the information. My mom told me, after St. Norbert accepted me, that she saw me going there after the very first visit, and now I'm getting an amazing education and social experience.

Brian

My advice to parents or students would be to make sure that they take a tour of any college before making their decision. The college experience is not simply based in academics; the experience is influenced by a wide variety of interactions. The location of the college, the size of the college, and the activities at the college all play a significant role in the college experience, and the way the student will interact with these three things will provide either his happiness or disappoint with the college he or she attends. Every college offers academics, it is what makes a college a college, but the campus and surrounding community that the college is a part of is what really contributes to a student?s success in life. He will learn social skills and build lasting relationships that will serve the student for years to come. If a parent or student chooses a college simply for its academics, they may luck out and find a college that that offers great academics and a community that will provide for the student, but it may go the other way as well. A college tour would have benefit towards a student's success.

Kevin

Make sure you visit campuses and meet with faculty. Also, go on a day when school is in session so you get a feel for the school

Stephanie

Make sure you tour the campus and ask as many questions as you like. Look around- there's no harm in that. Make sure you are choosing the college because YOU actually like it, not because your brother, sister, bf/gf, friends, or family want you to go. Be sure the campus lets you be you.

Rachel

Choosing a college is more than just choosing a school, it is also choosing a home and a future. Look first for colleges with your intended major. Then from amongst those, search for the college that suits your personality best. Examine the facilities that they offer. Do they have sports you like to play, clubs that share your interests, a strong financial aid program? Look at the how many students there are in each class, the size of the campus itself and its location. If you are having any trouble with the search process, talk to your guidance counselor. They are there to help. Location, size, academics, athletics, and clubs are all things you want to look at while searching for a college, but the best way to decide which college is the right one for you is to see it for yourself. Arrange a campus visit so you can get a better feel for the place and ask any questions you have in person. You want to find a college that will give you the education that you are looking for, but you also want to find a college that you will be happy living at.

Kim

Go with your heart

Bradley

Pick a school that you see yourself doing well in. Pick one that best fits you. If you like bigger places then think of a bigger school, but if you are shy or do not like bigger schools then look at smaller schools. How you see yourself in the school is probably the most important part. If you think you will see yourself being successful then give that school some consideration. Also, the campus and the location of the school may be important. Choose a school that is in a good area and has places to go on the weekend, or are easy to get to during the week. But in the end, it comes down to what you want and he you see yourself at that school.

Katrina

Look at every college, even if you think it's not for you. I started out at a big fancy university, but felt lost. When I transfered to my current smaller, liberal arts college, I felt much more at home. You never know where you'll find a place to call home!

Dani

Finding the school that makes you feel the most comfortable, and the most "at home" is your best option. If that is across the country, or across the road does not matter, but you need to feel safe and like you are at your own home while you are at school.

Koren

To have the best college experiance one must love the college they choose. Finding the right school is all about the student understanding themself. He/ she needs to know what environment they are most comfortable in and which makes them most productive. The student needs to know how many other students they want on campus and how big of a city they want that campus to be located in. If he/she is used to a big city with a million things to do, a small town may not be the best place to attend college. The student also needs to know what they want to get out of their college experience. If their main goal is intense acedemics, it is better not to go to a school known for its party scene. The most important thing to having a good experience is knowing who you are and finding friends that share your values. At college, your friends become your family and if they don't have the similar priorities it can be difficult to have a great time.

Gerald

Look for a college that is very successful. Not all good colleges are just strict homework. Here at St. Norbert College I feel like i don't need to always be tied up with homework, but there are times I feel i need to spend large amounts of time in the library.

Andrea

Do what's right for you, no matter what the price tag is.

Molly

Cost shouldn't matter. How much you want to invest into yourself and your education is what matters.

Anthony

I would tell people to stay close to home, choose a college that fits your needs for whatever you want to do with your life but i would advice to look in your home area. Family and friends are very important in a students life and can be there for you if needed.

Kyla

The advice that I would give to parents and students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to first visit the campus you are applying for and attend classes there to make sure it feels right to you...if you don't feel comfortable there, then you won't be happy on that campus. I would also suggest that while you are attending whichever college you choose, get involved - if some people you don't really know asks if you want to hang out with them, do it...they could become your best friends, or at least lead you to other people. They best thing you can do in college is to make really good friends who can support you through all the hard work and heartbreak. College without friends would be unbearable.

Shanna

Explore all your options and make a pros and cons list for each of your choices. Remember to visit each of your top choices since colleges can be deceiving through pamphlets, etc.

Preston

First of all, one of the most important things is to find a school that has the strong academics in the major that the person is interested in. Then figure out what college best fits you family's budget. Lastly, make sure the facilities and living options, etc. work well enough for the person.

Elizabeth

Parents should only make sure that their sons or daughters aren't choosing a school for the wrong reasons (boyfriend or girlfriend is going there, cool housing, or because it?s the cheapest). Students should look for a school that they feel comfortable at, one that isn't too big or small for them. Think of the college as a community and its size can represent the size of a city you wish to live in or feel comfortable in. Also, look for a school that is doing research in your area of study. Surviving at school, is as simple as making friends and talking to professors. This can be very hard for shy or noncharismatic people. But, you can always find shy people to be friends with. Professors love talking about their research, ask them questions about it and get to know them, it?s much easier to ask them for help in class if you know your professor well.

Dann

Know how you learn and what will help you get through college best. If it is small classes that can focus to your learning needs, make sure you go to a small school. Once you choose your school and arrive on campus, get involved. Find a club that you're interested in, and join it. Introduce yourself to your teachers and don't be afraid to talk with them outside of class.

Eric

Choose what feels right. People always say, "you will just know once you get there." Those people are right. If you're the type of person who enjoys a lot of interaction than, you should probably choose a small school. If you're the type of person who enjoys state of the art equipment and tons of activity all of the time, then maybe a large school is more what you're are looking for. There is no one certain way of deciding where you should choose to go to school. However, it is important to remeber that it is your decision and no one elses. So follow you're heart. Not the hearts of those around you.

Brian

I would say the best thing to do is to find the place where you feel that you will be the most comfortable. Take into considertation the size of the school and what you want to do, then look at the university and see if they fufill your needs. When it comes down to it, the only person that honestly needs to make the decision is the student. If parents get too involved, students may picka college for the wrong reason and not go where they truly want to. When this happens, these students are normally the ones who decide to transfer.

Benjamin

When finding a college parents and students need to look at many aspects of themselves and find what college would best suit them. A student must look first at how far away do they want to be from home. From there a student should look at colleges of interest in the range from home that the prefer. Once colleges are choosen without a doubt parents and students should tour colleges, this helps give students a taste of what colleges are like and from there they can start to get a sense of what kind of college they are interested in. Choosing a college or university to go to is a life changing event in every students life. This choice leads to what type of future a person will have. The only advice a person can truly give is choose a college that fits you, from there enjoy the time you have at college because it goes by fast and before you it the real world is at your door step and it is time for you to face the music.

Maria

Look at the average class size, the level of expertise each professor has in their field, resources available, overall campus appeal, and job placement after college. Get involved on campus, because it's totally worth it and makes the time here go insanely fast. Never be afraid to ask a professor for help. At St. Norbert College, professors are always willing to help a student who's struggling. Don't be afraid to take a look at sororities, fraternities, and non-Greek social groups. They can turn into your family away from home.

Angela

Visit the college you are interested in and take tours. Also shadow a student for a day while they take you to their classes and cafeteria to check out the food, and to check out the housing situations, size and look of campus, and overall feeling of belonging or homeliness to it. If you are worried about cost, you may stop by financial aid to ask about available scholarships and student loans. To make the most of your college experience, get involved in a variety of different groups to meet a variety of different students. Visit faculty and staff members during office their hours if you just want to talk or need help with the academic aspects of the class. Take the opportunities given to you to try something different or do something you have never experienced before like going on a service trip or studying abroad for a semester. Make friends with upperclassmen, lowerclassmen, and fellow classmen around campus. You make the best connections this way.

Lyndsey

I strongly recommend going to a private school. They are more expensive, but they also give out more financial aid. Almost all private schools have a 4 year guarantee for graduation which is something that is almost unheard of going to a public school without taking winter terms and summer school. The classes are smaller so the professors know your name and get to know you. They are available to students for any help needed. Private schools are more community-based. If you want to feel more at home and make friends that become family away from home, I recommend looking into a private school. Just when looking in general though...look at graduation rates and job placements. Look for a friendly and home-like environment. The college you choose becomes your home for the next 4 years so make sure to choose somewhere you are comfortable with.

Michelle

The advice I would give parents is to let their children make their own decisions, but help lead them along. Do not be too overpowering and protective, if you child needs anything you will be the first person they run to for help. It might be sad being disconnected from your child, but I promise you, your child watched as you walked away after dropping them off. They care. Students, start your search early. When you are in school make sure you leave some time for yourself, I learned that the hard way. Do not let your studys get the most of you, allow yourself some free and relaxing time. Enjoy yourself, four years goes by too fast!

Amy

The best advice I could give to students searching for the right college is to go to the campus, meet some of the people that already go there, and maybe even the professors. Those people are the ones who know what college life on that campus is all about and can really help you to decide if that school is right for you or not. Another important piece of advice I would give is, live on the campus,don't commute to save money. Living at home takes away half of the college experience!

Kaitlin

Visit campuses that you are intrested in, its the easiest way to know if that college is right for you. Once you've found that college where you feel comfortable, get involved its the best way to meet people and make friends along with giving back to your school and community.

Jenny

Find a college that you feel at home about, somewhere that offers what your interested in, instead of what you think college life is like. If your not comfortable with it, your college experience will not be as fun as someone who goes to a college that is right for them. You don't have to go to a big school to find what you need.