Spring Arbor University Top Questions

I would tell the student and their parents to start looking at colleges early! Do not wait until your senior year; start thinking about what type of college you are interested in your sophomore year. My next advice is to be proactive. Get out there and visit any college that you are considering. It does not cost anything, so this will help you get a feel for that school. Along with physically going to the school, communication and thoughts about the school should be discussed by you and your parents. As for making the most out of college, my thoughts are to do as much as you can! Now is the time to do what you have always dreamt of. After college is over your freedom is going to be limited by your working situation, family, and other responsibilities that go along with growing up. Another key element to making the most of your college experience is to invest your time into the people surrounding you. College friendships are so much different than any other kind. Of course focus your time and efforts on your academics, but it is also important to create relationships that will last a lifetime!

Take a lot of trips- really have a peace about where you are going before you jump in.

Advice that I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to know what they want to gain from their college experience based on a few major things including housing, security, religious affiliations and/or churches nearby, and of course the programs that they are hoping to be majoring and/or minoring in. For me, the biggest factor that played in my choice was the location and the financial aid available to me. The Christian background also played a major part in my decision as well as the major and minor that I chose, because I personally knew the faculty because my mother works as the secretary in that department. Because of these reasons, I knew what I was getting into not only because of personal experience, but because of researching into all aspects of SAU so that I knew as much as needed. One suggestion I have found beneficial would be to plan a campus visit and possibly an overnight stay to experience everything that you can.

Standing on the threshold of adult-hood, high school seniors need their parents to guide them to a school that fits. High schools push their students to find a college that accommodates them academically and matches their skills. However, it is the job of parents and students to identify their goals for college. For instance, what do the students want to accomplish during their stay? Will the school challenge them to grow as responsible human beings? Will the campus broaden their cultural understanding? Is the student?s personality taken into account? Factors such as school philosophy, population, and environment should be studied and compared to the student's natural predisposition. A shy, intense chemistry student cannot prosper easily in a mass-populated party school, regardless of the good chemistry program. It is very important that the school suits the student?s personality and objectives. Furthermore, it is the student?s job, after finding the school, to make the most of his college experience -- which means the student must pursue his goals relentlessly. A student should always remember that he is paying to achieve these goals. Get the most out of college: choose the right school, work hard, and have fun.

Advice to parents: Please do not dictate where you think your child should go. Yes you are wise and have so much to offer your child in this process. You as a parent are obligated to help facilitate their search. My biggest fear was that my parents would TELL me that I could not go somewhere because it as too far, please do not limit your child to a school that is close to home just because you are not ready for them to leave. Advice for students: Find a place where your heart feels at peace. Do not just choose a school because that is where your friends are. It may be the right place for them and wrong for you. When choosing a school really look at their rules. If there are rules you disagree with or believe that you cannot follow don?t attend, it will ruin your college experience in the long run. When it comes to making the most of your experience, you need to try everything, become as involved as you can, get to know your professors, and find lifetime friends. Those things will make the most out of your college experience.

Make the decision that is the best for the students needs.

In order to find the right college and make the most of the college experience you need to take the time to invest yourself into learning about the university or college that you may attend, then the one you are attending. Before you choose a college you need to visit and consider your future plans when you are deciding. You should choose a college that will get you where you want to be when you graduate, then invest yourself into how you spend your time when you go to that college. Take time to meet new people and experience other ways of life, but also learn what you believe and who you are as an individual. You need to learn to manage your time to get the most out of college, it is not only the extreme of studying verses the extreme of socializing. There is a balance that goes along with college, and the sooner you invest yourself into learning about the college and find the balance of your time you will definitely see the benefits and will also get the most out of the college experience.

Have your child attend their local community college first. He/she can take care of the normal pre-requisites before settling on a major course of study, without spending a lot of money. Ideally, your student should be required to work and provide some of the money for college. If he/she does invest personal money in their own education, they will feel more emotionally invested in their own success, and will work harder.

I highly recommend visiting the campuses that you are most interested in. However, visit them more than once. In order to get a good idea of how the campus works in low stress and high stress times, visit once during exam time and once when classes are regular. It is a good idea to talk to the students also. Many students, if they are not in a hurry, will be glad to tell you a few things about the school that your admissions rep might not.

To any student who feels lost about going away to college, follow your heart. Don't worry about how much it costs to go there. My advice to you is to visit the campus and when you step out of the car: close your eyes, take a deep breath and truly think, could I spend the next four years of my life here? While on your visit if you feel an overwhelming "yes" in your heart than that is the place to be. College is such a huge part of your life. Choose a place that is going to make you feel fufilled in all areas of your life: spiritually, physically, emotionally, and academically. Because the place where you go will have an everlasting effect on you for the rest of your life, it is where you could meet your future spouse, your friends, and create a name for yourself.

Do not factor tuition price into your decision of a school. Apply and recieve an award letter first.

The right college makes the four years away from school either a benefit or a waste of time. Young adults are really becoming who they are during this time and this is why it is important to make wise choices. So many students do not suceed because college is a party to them. However, I believe there is a way to find a balance between the two. Students can learn to have fun without making poor choices. While this is true, there are far too many students that have not figured out how to do this. Friends make all of the difference. While it is hard to know excactly who you will become friends with, it is easy to see that certain schools have reputations, good and bad. That makes all of the difference. I choice to go to a private school that costs much more than state schools, but I know that my school has a good reputation. Having a good experience and growing alongside other students is what I have gained most out of my education. I do not regret the fact that other schools party constantly and have much lower tuitions. I took the right path.

Do not base your college choice on a planned college visit. Meet someone and stay with them for a weekend, outside of scheduled visit. Talk to the students. What you see is not what you get. Know what to look for before you go. Don't go in having no experience and not knowing what you should be looking for.

There are so two main things to look at when determining the right school. The first is to look at the programs that the school offers, and the second is to look at the campus life and community. A prospective student should look at the programs that he or she is interested in. Something that is helpful in this process is to make a campus visit. There a person can sit in on classes to see what they are like, and talk with professors. There may even be an opportunity to stay the night. An overnight experience gives potential students the opportunity to see what campus dorm life is all about. Visiting the school gives a person the chance to talk with actual students about the different classes available, the amount of community that the school has, and extra-curricular activities that are offered. Not only is a school a place for students to learn, but it is also the place where most of the students live. The right university is the place where a student feels at home.

I would definitely suggest going to a small university because there, you are not only a number. You know almost everyone on campus and you can get connected and build relationships easier. Spring Arbor is a wonderful college with the Christian life that not many other colleges have.

The best advice that I received was to apply to as many schools as one can. It is nice to have one main choice, but still apply to any college that interests you. Also, go on as many campus tours as possible. It is hard to be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure that a college is right for an individual until he/she has walked through the campus and got a feel for the type of campus life there is. College is not about partying all of the time; however, one should still find activities on and off campus to get to know others and the community in which the campus is located. The final advice is to chose a college for yourself and not anyone else. No one else has to attend the college except for yourself.

For a wise selection of the correct college, and thus the experiences to be had within it, you have to examine multiple things, without utilizing the college's admissions team for sole evaluation. Getting into the nitty-gritty of a college is vital to knowing what it is truly like. Visits with people that one knows are greatly effective for hearing the truth about the school you are looking at. Coming in on a non-tour day and finding a professor or two from the field you are approaching would be wise, so as to get a feel for the personality of professors you will take more classes with. The academics are important, but a degree can be found anywhere. Make sure the setting is conducive to your lifestyle. Understanding the rules base at a prospective university is also extremely important. For example, as a resident assistant at a private, Christian school, one would be surprised about the amount of students that sign the forms submitting themselves to school policy and then constantly break them in private and complain about them publicly. Knowing what you are getting into is vital to being satisfied with your school. Overall, know your surroundings.

Do research about the school before you sign anything! Talk to students around the campus while your on your visit there and ask them how they like it, ask a variety of students also, not just one or two.

In applying for colleges, I would strongly suggest sending in applications to more than one place. Visits to different schools are important as well so that the student can see what goes on. When I visited Spring Arbor University, I felt a strong connection with the teachers, and with other students, and I fell in love with the place. Prayer also played a large role in picking out which school to go to. I knew that this was not just high school but something more important that I really needed to think about. It was the beginning of the rest of my life. Once you're at college, there are so many new emotions and feelings that can be overwhelming, but it is so important to get plugged in with a group of people who will help you along in your education. I have heard so many times that college is where people finally learned who they were and what they stood for. College is fun and exciting, but it is also challenging. It has the potential to change who you are as a person, and it is what you do with that, that will determine you you will be.

To find the right college, I think it is important to explore and visit many colleges, even ones you may not think you will like. This can sometimes give you insight about a different college or just confirm your decision on a certain college. When exploring colleges, find upperclassmen and other students to tell you what they think about the school socially and academically. Know as much as you can about the different colleges so there is no regret when you do find one. Picking a college is a big decision and should be well thought out and researched. Also, it would be a great idea to visit and take campus tours. This can give you a good idea of the size of the campus. Size means a lot when looking a college because big state universities aren't for everyone as small colleges or universities aren't for everyone as well. Don't rush the experience, picking a college should be fun and exciting.

Start your child at a local community college, especially if the student is not certain in what they want to major. This will be a great money saver! When the pre-requisites are finished, your student may have settled on a major, and can proceed to the necessary school program to complete their degree. Consider a Christian liberal arts college, if one is available and you can afford it. The education you will find there will be both excellent and challenging.

I would advise both parents and students especially to visit as many colleges as possible while they still have time. Start in your junior year of high school and don't stop until you think you're found the one you want to go to. Consider everything while looking; and that includes location, programs, scholarship opportunities- everthing. Not only that, but choose the college because it is right for YOU not because your friends are going there too and you're afraid of being alone. As for making the most out of the college experience Ithe best thing that I can say is to manage your time well. If the time that is available is managed correctly then there will be plenty of time during the peak fun hours to get out and do that fun. That way the work that needs to be done is done and a well-deserved reward can be gained. Another piece of advice that I can give is to say that making friends of all walks of life, as well as those in your chosen major, could be the best thing anyone could do.

Finding the right college is like planting a garden. For the best growth it must be a place where there is a common goal and interest, as well as an environment which will help the student to be stretched and tested. The college that is right for a particular student must be one that gives more enrichment, experience, and helps broaden its students horizons. When looking for the right college, it's important to shop around; visit the campus and classrooms. It is equally improtant to talk to the students who attend the college as well as the staff members. It is also important to find a school that has a good new student orientation program, one that invests in the students well being at the school and makes sure the students are well taken care of. Lastly make sure the school offers the career paths the student is interested in taking.

My advice to parents or students who want to find the right college is to go visit the school! I visited every school I applied to, and this made a huge difference for me. You want to make sure that you go to a school where you will feel comfortable and is enjoyable. Visiting the college also allows you to meet with the students and see what they like or don't like about going there. Another thing is meeting with professors. Sometimes the school will allow you to spend the night in the dorms so that you can get a mini version of the college experience. My school allows prospecting students to spend the night in the dorm rooms. They get to hangout with currently attending students and do things that normal college students do. At the very end of the day, in order to find the right school for YOU a person should visit and experience the atmosphere first hand.

When looking for the right college fit, I would tell students to follow their hearts and choose the best fit for themselves based solely on what they desire, and not based on anyone else?s opinion. College is the bridge to future success and it is not to be taken lightly. To make the most out of college, students need attend every class, do all homework assignments, study frequently, and take sufficient notes. Also, weekends are not a time for partying and hanging out with Christmas; it is a time to study, catch up on lost sleep throughout the week, and to study. The library is a great place to do studying; it is not just their for looks. The advice that I would give to parents would be to encourage their children and support them no matter what college they choose. It is not the parent?s job to tell their child which college would be best fitting for him or her, because it is not the parent?s choice; they are not attending college, their child is. With encouragement and support from their parents, students will have a greater opportunity to succeed in college, and later, in life.

Choose the school that makes the student feel most at home. If the student is unhappy then the parents are as well. Make sure the school that the student is choosing has all of the resources one is looking for and can accommodate his needs.

Visit the schools you apply to, and not just for a day. Actually spend some time there. Visiting a school will give you a real feel for what it's like. So do it!

You don't need to fit a college. A college needs to fit you. Don't be afraid to travel to find the right place for you. College is when you discover who you really are. You shed your facades and emotional shells from home and grow again. Never make a college decision out of haste. Know where you are going and why you are going there. But don't be afraid to go in as an "Undecided" Major. Most people change their major 5 or 6 times anyways. Make sure that your college has an outlet for what you're made for. A musician will starve without a place to play his music and a swimmer will decay without her pool. You're needs need to be met. And finally, make sure that you can be proud of the place you decide to go to. You wouldn't entirely trust a salesman about whether or not his product is actually as good as he says it is. You listen to your friends that already have that product. What do they think about the college? Find out from someone who has experienced it first hand.

To the student: I strongly believe that what you put into college is what you are going to get out of it. Don't waste your time by making inappropriate decisions that you will regret later. Choose to enrich your life with the things that will last and shape your character. The choices you make today will define who you will be tomorrow, so choose today to be the person you want to be tomorrow. Do not just choose a college because of the athletic team, even if you get a scholarship. Decide where you want to go that would best suit you and the person that you aim to be. Choose a college that will help you grow physically, emotionally, mentally, and most importantly, spiritually. Go to a college that pushes you to become a better person both personally and academically. Go to a college where you feel "at home." Lloyd Ogilvie once said, "no one or nothing can change your disposition without your permission." Motivation and discipline are keys for accomplishing who you want to be in the future. Desire to live right because your attitudes and choices are a reflection of your character. Define yourself!

When looking for a college it is important to remember not to make a hasty decision. You're college is where you will spend the next few years and it will impact the adult that you become. The college that you choose, shoulc be a plasce where you are comfortable, but you also feel challenged. Take time to visit different schools and interact with the student body. The students on the campus are the best picture of what the campus is really like. Once you've chosen a shcool and move on to campus it is important to make the most of every oppurtunity. Four years goes by very quickly. As a student your number one priority is to get an education. A social life is important, but it comes second to your education. Work hard and have fun. Invest in relationships, the friends you make will be your friends for life.

Pick a school that works best for you as an individual. Everything else will fall into place. Don't be afraid to advocate for yourself. Espescially when it comes to finacial aid.

When it comes time to find the right college make sure it is a place that you want to be and that you feel safe there. There is enough to worry about with school work and you don't need to have to worry about being in danger from other things. Also make sure that you go to a school that has what you want to study. It is really hard to feel like you are getting anywhere when you are not studying what you are majoring in. Make the most of your college experience by getting involved. While school work is important (you are paying thousands of dollars for your education!), making friends is important as well. Go to sporting events and dress in the craziest outfit you can find. Join a club and play intramurals. Stay up late and go out to eat at midnight even if you have a class at 9:00 the next morning. These are the things that you will remember the most and that you want to remember college by. You will be glad you did.

The advice that I would give parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college is experience is that it is very important to make sure that both the parents and the student(s) know what they want out of the college that they are looking for. Set goals that they would like to find in a school. Also, if the parents and/or students are spiritual, make sure that they take that into consideration as well when looking for the right college. As far as making the most of the college experience, I would encourage the student to attend to as many school activities that are being offered. Get involved with the school. Not only does that allow students to meet new students and make new friends, but they are also making memories for a lifetime that can never be taken away.

Financial aid is not everything. You should not choose the school with the best financial aid package at the expense of a quality education. Stretch yourself, step outside your comfort zone. Read the fine print before you're stuck there. Make sure credits would transfer to other universities if necessary, make sure they offer you opportunities such as career counseling, job placement, and personal freedom.

Finding the right college is about finding a place that challenges you academically, socially, and spiritually. You need to focus on learning and finding your vocation--which is a life calling, more than just a job. You need to learn to think critically (analyzing and interpreting and evaluating information, not just "accepting" it) about contemporary world issues and gain a wider perspective on life. You need to grow as a person, too--by finding ways to give back to the community and by making friendships with people from many different walks of life. Don't find a college you can "breeze through"--let your choice grow you as a person in many different aspects of life.

Make sure you select a college that is right for the field you want to go in.

To find the best college and get the most out of the experience, a student should play to his strengths. If he is interested in a certain field of study, then obviously, a college that offers said field will be on the list of possibilities; however, finding only the preferred field of study does not constitute an institution's worthiness for a student. Therefore, the student must also visit the school to see if he feels he could fit in not only to the campus life, but into the role of being a student. He should find the school's website, make contact with professors, academic advisors, and even an attending student or two, if he can manage it. People placed in these crucial parts of a college's framework can give an accurate picture and answer questions better than any ad or paper brochure. Also, by making these contacts, a new student will at least have a reference of well-placed friends should he have need of anything. This will give him a basis from which he can continue in the college experience, as well as his studies.

Finding the right college for your personally needs and preferances. I, for example, was looking for something smaller but still with a lot of oppurtunities for advancment. I also wanted a place that could offer a Masters level program in my field. After a long time looking I found Spring Arbor and it really filled all my needs. Another important thing to remember is to be picky. As a student you will be spending a long time a lot of money so you want a place you can love and grow because of. There are a lot of Universities out there and if you look long enough you will be able to find what you need. Also being involved as a student is key. An student can have an active and exciting social life if they really push themself to get involved. Your level of involvment will really matter in how well you survive socially in college. I know a couple students that just could not handle the lack of social interaction so they quit school. If they would have just got involved a little I think it would have been different.