The College of Wooster Top Questions

Don't sell yourself short, or settle for less. College is a time and place that transforms you. It's about learning new things and expanding yourself. Become involved in the campus community through activities. Don't let first impressions turn you away from people or things. Simply put, be open-minded and involved. Allow yourself to be challenged. Don't let finances hold you back. Your education is important, and is not something to sell yourself short on. Parents of college students need to be supportive of their child's education. They also need to be open-minded.

Do not let your kid pick his/her school based on cliche criteria, because they aren't what truly matters. For example, if a campus looks like it yields some good indiscriminate sex, and that's what your kid wants, let him/her go there. The reason for that is if your kid isn't happy MOST of the time, they won't be able to concentrate on getting an education to begin with. Outside-of-class satisfaction with one's life makes it possible to learn. So be open to what your kid really wants and let him/her decide based on that.

I highly suggest visiting the schools being considered. If an overnight visit is available, it can offer a unique view of campus life. As for making the most of the college experience, the first week is vital. My campus offers a half week dedicated to first years alone. There are seminars and activities designed to give students the opportunity to meet and socialize with other first year students. The quality of your college experience is entirely up to you. You can choose whether or not you will make friends, if you will involve yourself in extra curriculars, and the effort you put into your school work. Your choices in those areas can make or break your college experience.

I think that it is really important to pay attention to your gut feeling about the school. Logistics such as academics, money, and location are important. However, I think people do not give enough credit for their instinctual feelings about a school. It is very difficult for me to explain to people why I chose Wooster because I just had a good feeling about it. Sometimes it is as simple as that. In terms of making the most of the college experience, do not be afraid to take risks and try new things. College is the optimal time for exploration and we will never really get a chance like this again. Be sure to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. You will be grateful for it later, whether it ended up going poorly or being the best decision of your life. Any experience is a learning experience.

Pick a college with a variety of opportunities. You don't know what you'll be like in 4 years, so pick a place where you can explore a huge array of options, even after choosing your major. But don't give up excellence in exchange for variety. A wide selection of poor options is much worse than a limited selection of good options. Don't resign yourself to mediocrity! P.S. Enter extension 5794 after my phone number to connect to my room phone and voicemail. (your form won't let me type that in up there)

Don't apply to too many schools; just pick five at most that are really attractive to you. If you aren't sure you can get into the schools you want, pick one really safe school where you could still see yourself enjoying college. Size, location, and programs of study should be the initial criteria for narrowing down your list, but after that the extracurricular activities, general character of the student body, and interaction with professors should help you decide where to actually apply. Be sure to visit campus and stay overnight if possible to meet actual students and professors. Where you feel comfortable will be the best choice.

Pick a college based on the community it offers. Small school vs. large school. Big city vs. small town, and also consider academics.

I think one of the most imortant qualities of a school to consider it its size. Having a 15-person class would be a wildly different experience than having a 100-person class. Another aspect that I find highly important and beneficial is the availablility of college professors. My professors are pretty much always available, and it has had a hugely positive effect in my life. The size of your college could make or break you, so consider carefully what would best suit your learning style. The only other crucial advice I'd want someone to know: be completely open-minded about the people you make your friends. I have friends now from all over the world with all different lifestyles, humors, and tastes. Many of them I hadn't liked to begin with, or wouldn't have met unless I hadn't joined the program I'm in. Many of them are not the kind of person I usually would hang out with in highschool. I'm so glad that I eventually kept an open mind, because I couldn't imagine college without any of these people.

Let them do their own thing. Let them go where they want. Be there during the whole application process - take them to visit schools, help with essays, explain paperwork, give advice when asked, but let them make the decisions. Let them study what they want - don't mess with their course choices. And above all, realize that when your child goes to College, he or she becomes an adult. The rules change. Your relationship changes. When they come home, treat them as adults. Think about how you would expect your parents to treat you if you went to visit, and treat your kid the same. Expect that they will have changed. But always be ready to welcome them. Shit happens - and home might be the one place they need to turn to. Make sure it's still there, and that it's still home.

A piece of paper can never tell you that a school is right for you, you have to go and visit. You can feel a school when you get there, and you sometimes just know. Sometimes you have to stay the night, visit some classes, talk to students and professors, but those are things you really should do, and you can't do it without visiting. Do not let a brochure and a smiling face decide your life. Schools are not always wht their brochures say they are. Only you know if a school is right for you, and to know that, you have to experience the school. No one else's experience will match your own.

Go to different campuses and get the vibe from each. You will know which one is right for you/your child. Also make sure to go to classes and talk to professors in the fields you/your child is interested in.

Make sure you're RIGHT for college. Lots of people go because they are expected to, just because they can afford to so why not, or because they think it would be fun, and those people are a drag on the community of learners that is there for the right reasons. If you want education for education's sake, go with liberal arts, no matter the cost. You WILL get good job offers, (even with my majors, English and philosophy, I was offered every job I applied for, and we're talking political jobs to outdoorsy jobs to jobs in the oil and gas industry.) If you aren't thinking about education, just the opportunity to get 'real jobs,' and aren't the kind of person who does the reading and participates in class discussion, go to a big, cheap state school. Take advantage of every opportunity in college---studying abroad, internships, research grants, clubs, teams, and organizations, and definitely try new activities. I learned so much from studying abroad, things that you can't learn in a classroom in the US. My friends got to go all over the world to research, all on the school's bill!

Make sure it is someplace that you could see yourself four years from now. AS well as push current students to tell you the negative things about the school so you are not suprised when you arive on campus!!

One big piece of advice would be to look for scholarships as early as possible, because you'd be surprised a how many outside scholarships there actually are, and how quickly they run out. Also, do research on different schools and see which ones offer you the most for your money. Take some time and write out the things that you're looking for in a college, whether it be ethnic/cultural diversity, small/intimate classes, or located near a big city. Everyone looks for something different when trying to find a school, just make sure that you find what's best for you, because for all intents and purposes, that's where you're going to be stuck for the next four years. Remember, college is what you make of it. The amount you put into it is the amount you're going to get out of it. Although you should remember to enjoy yourself, academics should be your first priority. Think of it this way, good grades equals good job, which equals good money, which means living the good life. Don't sacrifice a lifetime of success and happiness for four years of laziness and alcohol consumption.

Just this: There is no wrong reason for choosing one college over another. If the tie-breaker is the proximity of a McDonald's, then so be it. It is, afterall, where you'll be living for the next 4 years.

When a prospective student is in search of a college, they should always take their time. Also, they should make sure they know everything they are getting to. It's not possible to know everything, but by talking to current students and administration things will get easier. To the parent, be patient. It may get frustrating when your college bound student cannot find that right school. Help with the research process and get all of the information that is out there. Also make sure that the financial aspects of school are taken care of when the school has been chosen; (loans, grants, scholarships, etc.)

The student needs to listen to his or her intuition, want to pursue a higher education, and own his or her decision completely. It's natural to be nervous about making such an important decision as choosing a college, but if you're able to walk onto a campus and can picture yourself happy there, consider why, and let that help you make your choice. I never pictured myself at a small school--I assumed I would go to school in an urban environment since I was raised in the city and couldn't imagine living in a rural area, ever--but when I ruled out my top (urban) choice, I knew that I needed to prioritize what had always been most important to me--academic excellence. I knew that even if it wasn't the first school I thought of, I would be happy someplace I felt I would be enriched. And being on campus at school has become the most comfortable place for me--when I'm home, I'm counting down the days until I can really be home again. If you plan to spend four years in one place, make sure you're happy.