Seattle University Top Questions

Visit schools, attend a class and correspond with teachers and students. Use all the resources available to the decision making process. Decide what kind of school you want to attend, big or small, conservative or liberal. Never choose a school because their social scene is better than their academic programs.

When applying to college, I primarily considered location, mission, and money. I focused on a desirable place to be as opposed to any particular school (which can be overwhelming), then looked for schools in those areas with mission statements that resonated with my personal values and goals. After acceptance, I made my decision based on the critical issue of financial aid. However, keep in mind the wealth of opportunity for scholarships and grants, and keeping a positive attitude about attending the school of your (or your child's) dreams. The college experience is unlike any other and afforded to less than 2{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the global population. Making the most of this experience is crucial. First, try everything once (or at least most things)! I suggest becoming a member of various listservs and extracurricular activities, even ones that seem unattractive, as they may turn out to be a new passion. In my experience, academics move you through their course as necessary, therefore, focus on enriching your experience through furthering your education with outside material and experiences and forming lasting relationships. The best thing I have gained from college is my friendship network that I know will last a lifetime. Good luck!

If you intend to attend graduate school choose a small, intimate school where you can work closely with professors and get good letters of recommendation. This isn't immpossible to do at large schools, but it can be more difficult.

The key thing for me in looking for which college I was going to choose was looking at their mission. If the mission of the school doesn't fall in line with what your are looking for then in my opinion it doesn't really matter how good the program is you want. After the mission I studied the program I wanted to go into along with the opportunities students and alumni have from attending this school. I also would evaluate the surrounding area. For me I know I wanted to live in the city so a school in a rural area wouldn't have been as exciting for me. Your surronding affects how connected you are going to feel with your school and with that your feel to get involved.

Students should apply to more colleges than they have considered to have a back up plan in the event that they do not get into a specific school or the financial situations are diffucult. Having multiple choices will get them the best options a university can offer. One school could have a good financial package while another presents a better educational system. The students can have more assistance available for their needs, and the attention that is needed for their success. In order to obtain the most out of a college, students should use all the resources that the school offers. This would allow them to hear different opinions on a subject and learn concepts more effectively. They should try to read different books availble at the library or join a club which focuses on the class and helps the student understand the current topic(s). They could also access tutors through learning centers around the school. Everything that a student needs to succeed is availble at the school so they would not have to worry about doing less than what is expected.

You will never find the perfect school but you will find the school that is right for you. A school that helps with your dreams, goals and anything else you want to accomplish. People are too focused on numbers instead of going with their gut feeling. I knew that I chose the right school because when I accepted I smiled with relief and happiness in my heart.

When choosing college, you don't have to know what you want to do yet. Pick a school that provides the most opportunities for you to learn what it is you are truly passionate for. This includes a variety of programs, study abroad opportunities, and location is important too. You won't be happy, no matter how great the school is, if you can't enjoy where you're living. Be prepared financially for increases in tuition and housing costs. If certain aspects of a university are extremely important to you, such as a party atmosphere or a more studious atmosphere then pay attention to the difference between big state schools and smaller private universities. Professor to student ratio is very important in the style of learning and quality of education.

Students need to choose a school that fits their personality, goals, and priorities. I picked a school with small class sizes and worthwhile professors because I don't want to wast my own money just dragging through a school where you are just a number, not a name. The most important thing is to feel comfortable in your surroundings. When you have a comfort zone you can achieve greater. The advice I would give to parents is to not push, pressure, or object to your child's choice. They may want to do something different and explore, which is an exciting and important part of the college experience. Parents should help students figure out a budget, as many students may ignore the cost issue, but anything is possible and if the student really wants to go to a school nothing should limit them.

It is important for a student to find the right school that offers them everything they need. A place where they are comfortable and able to make friends; have the ability to grow into a mature responsible adult. To find a school with the right blend of academia and social activities so when the student completes their education they are ready and able to step into the working world with a well grounded feeling for where they want to be. The ability to be active in clubs and maintain a high grade point average assists a person in developing organizational skills that will help them prioritize what will be needed in their life and job after school.

get the right financial aid package.

When finding the right college students need to realize the right school for them is not always the same as their best friend. College is about new experiences and discovering what you want to do for the rest of your life. For parents the hardest part is letting their son/daughter leave home. If their son/daughter does go far away parents just need to consider it a nice place to visit. There isn't much to say about how to make the most of college. Students need to dive in, get involved, have fun, and don't worry if your grades aren't where you want them to be after your first semester they'll get better. Remember everyone has a different adjustment period just keep working hard.

Know yourself! Only then can you follow your goals with passion :)

Some common things to consider for students are tuition costs, classroom sizes, location, safety, extracurricular, and facilities. Those are all helpful in narrowing down colleges but the most important decision factor is the program variety. If the school is well-known for particular majors the student is interested in, that?s the best decision factor. Once the student finds the right school, he/she can make the most of it by joining different clubs and taking diverse classes to figure out his/her passions. A common mistake is when students graduate with a degree they assumed they wanted because they didn?t experience other available options since their freshmen year. As for the parents, words of encouragement and support are the best way to help their child since the student is the only individual who can decide for himself/herself. Another advice for the parents is to not worry about the total cost of college. The cost of college for students are considered a big investment because the money spent for the entire college experience will eventually pay off when students begin to earn their own income. Over a billion dollars worth of scholarships and grants are available as well.

When choosing a school, everyone thinks about where they want to live, how hard they want to work, what are they want to study, and what they want their social life to be like. Those things are all important, but don't forget that the college age is typically very formative. Even though I'm a science major, I really enjoy my philosophy and sociology and other liberal arts classes. I make sure to choose really good teachers and put my time into these classes too, because they help me figure out what I believe and how I see the world. The school I go to emphasizes core classes and human developement and I didn't realize until I got there how incredebly important that was going to be to my college experience.

Getting the most out of college isn't so much about where you go to school as what you make of your time at school. I have friends from high school in the Ivy Leaugue who are miserable because they don't do anything but study, and friends in third-tier schools who are having the time of their lives. College is all about expanding, exploring and learning -really it comes down to the place a student can do all three most effectively. There is no "right college," only a "right attitude" to approaching college. Always be open minded, flexible, patient, daring and without a doubt college will be a life-changing experience. Of course wherever you go, however happy you are, there will still be lows to the highs. Be willing to take everything as it comes as a learning experience and don't sweat the petty things.