Xavier University Top Questions

My advice for making the right choice for college is to do your research! Make sure you look at many differnt schools. Even if you, or your child has pretty much made up their mind about a school, it's still a good idea to look around more. There are a lot of great colleges and maybe the one you like isn't the best fit for you. The only way to determine that is to visit and research other campuses. The best way to make the most of the college experience is to get involved. You may be shy and worried that others won't like you. No one knows you. All the stereotypes of high school are gone. You are a new person and no one knows your past. This is the chance to be the person you always wanted to be. Just get involved. Join clubs. My daily goal is to introduce myself to one stranger. You meet so many people that way. Everyone is having the same insecurities as you. Go above and beyond what you think your limits are. Do things that you have never done before. Take the risk, it's so worth it.

When I chose my college, a fate-determining weight was on my shoulders. Having graduated, I see that a little proactivity will go a long way to make your choice confident and successful. Do as much as you can in high school to determine your career-related interests. Take an attribute-based, job-matching survey and brainstorm careers you might be interested in. It can be hard to be so future-oriented at 17, but professionals are more willing than you'd think to let you job shadow for a couple days to get exposure to different fields, and it'll make your life much less stressful later on. Once you are more aware of your career interests you can search for schools that offer the related academic programs. You don't need a big-name school to get a job in most fields and later loan payments aren't worth it. While there, invest yourself in 3 extracurriculars and take advantage of on-campus events. Ask for help outside of class; the professors remember your effort when your grade is on the cusp and may know of interesting opportunities in your field. Doors open for a people-person!

To maximize one's chance of finding the right college, it is imperative that students and parents visit at least 5 schools while that college is in session. Visiting a school during a break doesn't show what the school is really like. Once the student narrows his or her colleges down, go spend the night with a student currently enrolled at each school. After the student chooses a school, join clubs and organizations. It is the best way to meet people. There are so many different opportunities to get involved. It really will make the student's college experience more enjoyable. The last bit of advice is to go to class and do the appropriate work for each class. There is plenty of time to play even when going to class everyday and doing homework!

I would say to both that the object of college should be to discover what inspires a student's passion and to pursue it. You only get one chance at finding happiness on the road to self-actualization, so to ensure that your endeavors in college are a reflection of your desires for your life, it would be wise to find a university where you can flourish as an individual, and whose outlook and environment mesh with your own.

I would suggest visiting many different colleges. Apply to a lot of colleges and then make a pro-con list of each college. Start looking at colleges freshman year and never throw anything away, keep all possibilities open. Stay organized. Have a separate file for each college applid to or considering. Choose roughly what you want to do as to start planning what you need to take in high school.

Think about all aspects of the college experience. Sure, academics are a critical part of choosing a university, but there is also a lot more to consider. Social, religious and political issues arise on campus and it is important to be in a place that can foster and challenge your beliefs at the same time. Don't attend a college simply because you seem to agree with everyone else's views. College is the perfect time to step outside of your comfort zone in order to truly and objectively analyze your convictions. Once you have been challenged, you can both reaffirm and redefine how you view the world, which is a type of education you cannot receive in French 101. Oh, and being able to follow a good Division 1 basketball team doesn't hurt either : )

Students need to know that the most important criteria for choosing a school is staying true to yourself. College is the time to find yourself and become independent. I've learned that this is what makes your college experience. I would tell every student to make a list of what is most important to them and make these things the number one criteria when choosing a school. The student has to live with his or her decision, so while it is important to listen to their parents' input about a particular school, at the end of the day the student needs to be happy with their choice. I'll be honest, when the time came for me to finally choose a school I was so frustrated with the entire process that I just chose the school that was "safe." I chose the school my dad liked, where my boyfriend and best-friend were going, and because my favorite aunt and uncle were nearby. But these didn't enhance my college experience at all. I believe that if a student stays true to themself and listen to their gut they will find the right school and have a fulfilling college experience.