Yale University Top Questions

The best advice I can give to students looking for the right college is to never choose a university for the superficial reasons. Most students say they chose their college for the great science department or amazing professors, but in the grand scheme of things, neither of those will help in making you happy. It's the smaller things that can make such a huge difference in your daily mood and help you adjust to a brand new life. Look into the weather at your schools. There's nothing like a week of rain to ruin your morale. Talk to actual students who had to make friends and deal with being in a new place. A first-hand opinion will always be better than a glossy pamphlet. And lastly, the only person you should listen to is yourself. You are the person who will have to live there and deal with the adjustments. I made a mistake in my choice of college because I listened to the polls and wanted the status of an ivy league college. I ended up being very lonely. Try to choose a college that will make you happy. Because in the end, nothing else matters.

Selecting a college is one of the most exciting and intimidating decisions an eighteen-year-old student will make. The crucial step in choosing a college is making a campus visit and talking with the students and faculty. The atmosphere and the location of the university are also important factors in this selection. If, for example, a student is interested in studying in a big city, he or she should make sure to select a school in an urban environment. Distance from home is another important factor in this selection. In order to make the most out of the college experience, students must look beyond grades and coursework. Students need to interact with classmates and join student organizations, in addition to focusing on their studies, in order to make the most out of the opportunities available to them.

Look within your range and follow your heart. Usually when you visit places you can feel a chemistry with them, positive or negative, so listen to that and do what's good for you.

Where you go DOES matter--and some colleges are better than others. But it's WHO goes to your school that will make or break your experience. Is the student body full of passionate, intelligent truth-seekers; or binge-drinking, book-phobic thrill seekers? Are the professors accessible and interested in teaching, or closed off and focused on writing their next book? These questions can only be answered be visiting the campus and getting a feel for the place first-hand. Ask questions. What do students do in their spare time? Do they *have* spare time? How much homework would you expect to do each night? What do students want to do with their lives? Are they happy or depressed? Sit in on as many classes as you can. Go to a theater rehearsal or an athletic practice. Take a good walk around the environs and see how people are spending their time. Can you see yourself being happy here? Do you feel "at home" during your visit? No amount of poring over admissions statistics and comparing financial aid packages will give you a complete picture. Four years is a long time--let your heart influence your decision.

Remember that you're not choosing just a major or a city or a pretty building -- you're choosing a whole new environment in which you will imerse yourself in for hte next four years, so take all aspects of campus life into consideration when making your decisoin--including the opportunities that you will have post-graduation.