Westmont College Top Questions

I think the most important part of choosing a college is visiting, and seeing if it feels like the place for you. If you study hard, you will learn whatever you desire, no matter what school you attend. Just being happy where you are is the most important thing.

Go to a college that offers what you want, not what your parents want, and you will be satisfied.

I think there's a very delicate balance between what an upcoming high school graduate wants from their future college experience and what they'll need to be subjected to during the process to come out of college as someone with a solid sense of who they are and what they want to do based on their experiences. Find a university that forces its students to question their inherent beliefs while providing the support and freedom to come to their own conclusions. Look for a school, no matter the size, that seems to really have the individual student's interests at heart as well as a diverse curriculum that stretches both the left and right sides of the brain through courses in the arts and sciences. To make the most of the college experience, be slow to instinctively reject the unfamiliar, such as clubs or activities you've never been subjected to. Go to a variety of the mixers and activities planned for student interactions. As "lame" as we like to tell ourselves they are, if you subject yourself to them, these experiences can provide the foundation to a new and great life in college as well as after.

Prospective students and parents should always be attentive to the desires and emotions of the prospective student. With that said, the prospective student should determine his or her preferences and their respective priority. For example, a prospective student may determine that a low student to faculty ratio and a particular religious affiliation are more important than the variety of abroad programs and the location of the campus. A prospective student may also decide a liberal arts education that creates a multi-disciplinary, communally focused environment is best for him or her. The students' preferences will define the best kind of college for them. In considering all of these things, prospective students should determine what kind of environment would allow for them to have the most amount of personal growth. The college of their choice should challenge their perspectives and help them realize their vocations as well as provide occupational training. The experiences that will shape their perspective and develop their passion will be the uniqueness that sets them apart in the professional field as well as in life in general. Therefore, prospective students should select a college that nurtures the development of the kind of people they want to be.

I would suggest following your heart in regards to which school you know you want to go, but at the same time looking at all your other options to weigh what is available for you instead of jumping into your first choice school. Once in college I would plan your four years as soon as possible so that you are not wasting time in classes that do not serve your major. Work hard but do not overcompensate. College is only 4 years long and it goes so quickly. Study abroad, take out student loans if you can to avoid spending too much time working, and invest in deep long-lasting friendships. Live on campus for at least two years to experience living in that tight-knit community, going to sports events, and being an active participant. Get to know your professors and tell them when you are struggling. Don't overwork yourself or get caught up in what your degree will look like on your resume. Instead, take care of your mental and physical health and don't forget how important your social skills and well-being are to your education as well. Make sure you study abroad!

I think that visiting college campuses is very important. It gives you at least an impression of the kind of environment in which you will be spending the next few years of your life. It is also important to look at the statistics that are important to you and finding information about the particular program you think you may be interested. Once you've picked the right college and begun attending, it's really important to be outgoing to some point even if that's not how you're used to acting. You need to put yourself out there a little bit so you can meet people who may end up being your friends for life. Classes will help you find new friends, but introducing yourself to and spending time with people you live near is important, too. In the end, it's up to you to make the difference.

Go visit the campus Decide if you like the small or big school Talk to students that go to the school..see what they think like and dislike

I would recommend that students decide what they want to get out of their college experience when they begin looking for the "perfect" college. Every school offers something different and it just depends on what your dreams and goals are. One aspect of college that I think many applicants overlook is the loation of the campus. For me, this was the most important factor,a nd the one that ultimately made my choice for me. I got to go to school in the forest and by the ocean. My campus was beautiful and there was always so much to do in the surrounding areas. Also, the community that exists on-campus is extremely important. If a student is looking for a close-knit group of friends and professors than they should seriously consider a small college. By the time I graduated I knew everyone at my school and they knew me. I would eat lunch with professors and go camping with friends on a regular basis. I never felt alone and there was constant support when I needed it. Finally, I would advise high school students to consider the amount of rigor and diversity they expect from their classes.

Visit the campus, get involved, be yourself. Don't make a decision based on someone else but on what you want. Plug in and make the most of it. Enjoy the time. Don't stress out too much about the classes. Relationships matter more.

Finding the right college for you is one of the most important choices you will make in your life. Not only does your choice impact your future, but it also determines the course of four years of your life. The college search is all about finding a place you can call home. When you go to campuses try to picture what your every day life would be like. Visit during the regular school year so that you can observe current students. Pay attention to how they interact with each other. Do they look happy? Do they seem friendly and welcoming? If you have a chance, take a moment to ask a current student or two what they think of the school. It's important that you can picture yourself in their shoes. Take time to note for yourself what factors are the most important to you. Do you want a mostly residential school? Do you want a large school or a small school? Is religious affiliation important to you? You have to know what you want before you can make this decision.

Choose a college where you can live away from home. Actively work at figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life. When it comes to choosing a major, don't worry about what will "sound good" or get you a good job. When I first arrived at college, a professor told me that hardly anyone gets a job directly related to their major anyway, so to pick something I enjoyed studying--it was some of the best advice I received. Class is NOT everything. Most of what you learn will be outside of class--classes teach you good information, but the rest of college teaches you life skills and (hopefully) how to think. Don't be so caught up in grades that you miss learning and forming relationships. And whatever you do, don't waste your time, money, and brain cells on drugs and alcohol. Instead, be willing to face yourself and what is going wrong or is difficult, and if you need counseling, get it--there is no shame in it and it can be exceptionally helpful. Open up to those around you too--they are often going through similar things.

The most important aspect of college education is finding a school that has academics that are right for you. There are so many people that realize later that a school doesn't have the right academic programs for them and end up having to transfer. It's also important to take into account, what kind of person you are. Do you like the quiet? Are you a partier? These are hugely important because social life can affect the total aspect of your college experience. If you have social stresses in your life it can affect your academics, so make sure you choose a college where you fit both academically, socially and emotionally. The college that you should also be in an area that you like, because you are going to be there for the next four years or more.

Visit Visit Visit! You need to visit the campus in order to see what it and the students and professors are like!

I would advise students to take a looking into many differen colleges before they begin the application processes. Becuase application fees can get a little expensive decide the top five or six schools to apply to after you have looked into maybe fifteen to twenty different colleges. I wouldn't recommend choosing a school just for the name, i had never heard of the school i attend now before they sent me a letter my senior year in high school, and not i cant imagine myself anywhere else. After you have been accepted to the schools of your choice, make sure you take a visit up to the campus to see if it fits you. Have a conversation with a professor, or someone who works on campus and you might find insite about the school you would have never known otherwise. When you are visiting schools, im sure you won't have a planned major that you will be studying, but make sure the school supports what you might have in mind of majors. Make sure that you will feel comfortable and relaxed at the college you will be choosing, your deciding a big and exciting part of your life.

Search, not for a place that is simply strong in your area of interest, but search for a college where teachers and students treat each other as fellow human beings on a journey of discovery. Do not go into college expecting all the answers (or even worse, assuming that you already have them) but expect to learn to ask good questions. Be open and earnest in getting to know your peers one on one, but don't waste you time at parties. Try to understand and fathom how blessed/lucky you are to be at a college (whether you or your parents are paying for it) because so many worldwide are starved of intellectual stimulation. This humility should allow you do thrive and be excited in trying circumstances, and also humility will give you passion and feeling of purpose in caring for the needy. If nothing else realize the value of balance. Balance socializing with studies. Physical activity with rest. And get involved with professors early on, take the initiative, and be willing to try new things. Give your classmates the benefit of the doubt and try not to judge people.

My advice to students who are looking to apply to college is don't just look at the big name colleges or universities because you are accustomed to their abbreviations (especially because of sports) but take the time to think about what it is that you are looking for in a school, and don't exclude the small schools! Take the time to look around and don't limit yourself. There are different options that are out there! There are so many schools that you are bound to find the perfect one for you! My second advice to students who have started their college experience is to not have too high of expectations. Give your college experience a chance, give your friends and professors a chance. If you go into your new school with a set idea of how it will be, it is possible that you might be let down. Instead, let your new school show you what it has to offer and what it expects of you. It expects you to get involved to make friends, and it expects you to work hard to do well, and it expects you to take pride in it as a student.

Make sure you learn what you want to learn. That's kindof the point.

College is a very unique and exciting time of life, but it is also a time full of great change and growth. The most important thing that I learned in college is that learning is a process, and that I don't have to have all the right answers. It's okay to change your mind, your major, and your school. Take time to completely plug into your new school: get involved in clubs or other activities, stay on campus over the weekend, and try out campus traditions, even if they seem a little bit weird. Finding the right college means finding a school that will both nurtue you when you are struggling and challenge you when you think you've reached your limits. A great school will have faculty members who are interested in you and your future goals and are passionate about helping you achieve those goals. They should be more interested in who you are as a person and then in how high your GPA or SAT scores are.

College is an extremely important time for teenagers to grow into young adults. There are many different aspects when selecting a college that can help or hinder the growing process involved. Although different schools are good matched for different people, it is important to remember that attending college and paying large sums of money is manily about getting an education. It would not be necessary to attend a school without the education process, and if there is not enough emphasis on excelling accidemically, then the whole process would only result in waisted time and money. Finding the right school that provides the necessary emphasis on accidemic success which affects the future is extremely important. However, it is also important to meet people with similar interests and paths in life, because often the people met in college are friends for life. Having the appropriate social life at school is also a siginificant part of the growing up process. Finding the proper balance to education and a social life is the key ingredient in sellecting a school that is a perfect match for a prospective student.

Start looking at colleges EARLY. Its really important to consider the type of college you'd like to attend after high school while your still a sophmore in high school. Many more academic schools require "pre-college" tracks, emphasize extra curricular activities, look highly on AP classes or all three. If you know what colleges expect from you in high school your college search will be easier because you will be more prepared and have a better chance of getting in to the schools you like

RESEARCH is the most important thing you can do to find the right school. This includes internet reviews, forums, talking with sudents, visiting, and finding out what the local community thinks of the college and its student body. The local reputation of the school can mean much more than national standing, especially if you are considering staying in the area after graduation.

Really look at all the schools, and the little details like housing, food, and car situation.

Do not select a college for its prestigous name but for how it relates to you. What are your passions and what disciplines will be strongly developed at that institution? What is the environment of that campus and how would you feel living in it? Are you somebody who would thrive off of personal relationships with the professors or would you rather be lost in a sea of people?

Find a college that will allow you to develop as a whole person--not just academically. Try to get a feel for what the typical student is at each college you're applying to, because you're going to be spending a LOT of time around these people. Surround yourself with people who will help you grow into who you want to be.

I believe the most important factors when choosing a college are knowing what you want and how to find out if the college matches up. Some students have few requirements beyond being close to home. For me, I had a list of criteria longer than the Mississippi River and it required months of intense research for me to find a college that came close to matching my specifications. What I learned from that experience was that choosing a college is a lot like dating: Don't think that just because it's not love at first sight, that it's not meant to be. I've heard stories about people who step onto campus and just know that it's where they belong, but I personally was too terrified to really enjoy any of my numerous college visits. Luckily, I had done my research and already memorized all the statistics (class size, majors offered, etc) so I could devote my attention to the details. By the time I had made my choice and freshman orientation rolled around, I knew what to expect, both good and bad. After surviving the first year, I can say I have never regretted my choice.

The most important thing to realize about looking for a college is that a great college experience doesn't just prepare you for the career you'll have for the rest of your life. No, the real power of college is that it can prepare you to be the person you will be for the rest of your life. A great college will help you learn what it means for you personally not just to succeed professionaly, but in life. It will help you to learn your passions and forfify your deep beliefs, and gain a deep understanding of what is truly important to you. And it will help you to gain character, wisdom and strength that you'll need to be true to what you really care about in life. If you want to lead an exceptional life and live the life you were meant to live, a great college can be the best preparation. And to make the most of college, remember that it's not just about the classes. Take advantage of the knowledge and the growth you can gain from relationships, extracurricular activities, or just the random experiences that college throws at you.

Explore your opportunities. Visit colleges. Really think about the decision. Know what you want, small school, big city, close to home, out of state. I honestly only applied to one school, because I knew what I wanted and found the perfect place. It is expensive, but in my opinion, it is completely worth it. Go where you feel you need to be and should be. Parents, let your kids make this decsion for themselves, it is the beginning of their life as adults, so let them choose what they feel is right. You will all end up happier that way in the end.