what school is right for you?

[KSigkid]

There's a whole host of things that should factor into the college selection process. How does it stack up academically, so that when you leave you can either go to the grad school you want, or get the job you want? What kind of feel does the campus give you? Does it have some activities (school newspaper, debate society, etc.) that interest you? Does the campus location fit your style (is it in a city or rural, is it an actual campus)? Also check into costs, and scholarship availability. Also, if there are any faculty in particular that you want to study under, try to make sure that they teach all students and are at least marginally available. For example, Elie Wiesel teaches at my alma mater, but he only teaches a couple of classes, and it is mostly grad students who can get into his sections.

I know not every high school works this way, but my high school's guidance department was excellent in explaining the process and helping decide what place would be best. It might not be a bad idea to see if people from your high school went to the schools you are interested in, just to get a students' point of view.

It's a big decision, but good luck. When it turns out right (like it did for me), it's a great experience.

[FSUZeta]

if you are considering medicine, then as you are looking at colleges, you may want to find out what percentage of their graduates apply to and are accepted into medical schools and how many are accepted on their first try. ask the admissions counselor how closely the professors work with the pre-med students, and if there are any special programs(like mock interviews) that help prepare the students for their real medical school interview

check your pm.

[PhoenixAzul]

When I applied, I applied to a really bipolar group of schools, and was accepted into all of them. I applied to :

Penn State main
St. Bonaventure
Ball State
Bethany College (WV)
Otterbein College
University of Alabama (yeah, I know)
University of Pittsburgh

There may have been others. But here's the deal. I wanted, no, scratch that, NEEDED to get away from people in my high school. I was done with it. Those people were poison, and would have ruined my college experience. So remove the poison, go out of state! That meant that Penn State, Pitt and Indian Uni of PA were out. Plus, I wouldn't have been given much financial aid because I didn't qualify for "need". I needed merit.

I visited Ball State and St. Bonaventure...both were WAYYY too big for me, and had to have a big emphasis on partying...not what I was looking for. Plus, Ball State's representatives were rather rude to me when I did my visit.

Now on the other end of the scale was Bethany. Bethany had been part of my childhood because my grandfather is an alum. My brother also went to Bethany and would have been on campus w/me for 2 years. Its a beautiful school...BUT it is in the middle of NOWHERE and has a student body of 500. Yes, you read that right, 500. Plus it is too close to home. Plus I would always be known as Brother's Little Sister, and the whole point was to get my own identity. Plus their art and journalism programs were not quite what I wanted.

Then I found Otterbein. When I first started looking at schools, I wanted to be an Equine Veterinarian and OC has a great program in equine sciences, but I decided that my math and coping skills were not good enough for vet sciences and that my real calling was in journalism and art. Otterbein was far away from home but not too far, small but not too small, in a small town but connected to a big city, private, collegiate, perfect class size (1:14 i think?)...all in all, wonderful. It just felt right, and I know that seems trite, but when you know, you just know. As I sit in my dorm with my senior ring on, I'm ordering my hood and gown right now and wearing my letters. I'm so happy to be here. The college made every attempt to get me here. I was offered nearly 17,000 in merit aid. They sent me to Northern Ireland. I was able to get involved in nearly every aspect of campus life (newspaper, religious life, governance, GREEK LIFE!!!), I started a rowing club...the campus offered those opportunities, and made them accessible. I think that's another thing you've got to look at-- what sort of opportunities are there to be a leader? Its one thing to be a member of x club, but can you LEAD. OC has those opportunities.

Sorry, I'm getting sort of teary right now. I had my last undergrad thesis defense meeting today and I'm sort of seeing the light at the end of the tunnel...

O-T-T-E-R-B-E-I-N let's go O!!!

[WVU alpha phi]

[QUOTE=PhoenixAzul;1396727]When I applied, I applied to a really bipolar group of schools, and was accepted into all of them. I applied to :

Penn State main
St. Bonaventure
Ball State
Bethany College (WV)
Otterbein College
University of Alabama (yeah, I know)
University of Pittsburgh


I visited Ball State and St. Bonaventure...both were WAYYY too big for me, and had to have a big emphasis on partying...not what I was looking for. Plus, Ball State's representatives were rather rude to me when I did my visit.

QUOTE]


St. Bonaventure in upstate NY? My dad went there.. doesn't it only have about 1500 students?

[ADqtPiMel]

I was accepted at:
-Miami (OH)
-UVA
-William & Mary
-Butler

I really did like UVA, but I knew as soon as I visited that I belonged at Miami.

[KSigkid]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I was accepted at:
-Miami (OH)
-UVA
-William & Mary
-Butler

I really did like UVA, but I knew as soon as I visited that I belonged at Miami.

It's funny, it was the opposite with me and BU. When I first visited I didn't think I would go there, but ended up choosing the school because of the scholarship package (money was a big concern in my household) and the mix of journalism and other programs. Luckily, on my first day I knew I made the right choice.

[macallan25]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I was accepted at:
-Miami (OH)
-UVA
-William & Mary
-Butler

I really did like UVA, but I knew as soon as I visited that I belonged at Miami.

Texas
SMU
UVA
Washington and Lee
Alabama
Georgia

[Phimuteach]

My advice: keep an open mind! When I was applying to colleges, my parents were going through their nasty divorce. I wanted to get the hell out of dodge, so I only applied to out of state colleges (in SC where I grew up) These are the schools I considered:
USC honors program
College of Charleston
Furman

I ended up going to College of Charleston and then transferring to Ohio University my junior year. I think if I had gone to Clemson, I probably would of loved it, since it's very similar to O.U. Alas, being a gamecocks fan (my Dad got his MBA at USC), I didn't even consider Clemson.

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Texas
SMU
UVA
Washington and Lee
Alabama
Georgia

Very good!

[ADqtPiMel]

Originally Posted by macallan25

Texas
SMU
UVA
Washington and Lee
Alabama
Georgia

I looked at Washington and Lee and ultimately decided against applying because I wanted to go to a bigger school. That ended up being the downfall of W&M and Butler too.

Also didn't hurt that Miami pulled through with a merit scholarship.

[mu_agd]

Originally Posted by ADqtPiMel

I was accepted at:
but I knew as soon as I visited that I belonged at Miami.

Hey, me too!

[WVU alpha phi]

I knew since junior year of HS that I definitely wanted to get out of Maryland, so I didn't even bother applying to in state schools. I looked at East Carolina, UNC Charlotte, Clemson, Virginia Tech, and WVU, but ended up only applying to ECU, Clemson, and West Virginia. WVU was actually my safety school but when I took the tour, I really liked it a lot. My mom was obsessed with Clemson's campus but I couldn't really see myself there, so East Carolina wound up being my second choice and Clemson my last. It really is true what people say about just "knowing" what school is right for you.. the only time I've regretted coming to WVU is during January and February when it's FREEZING and I see my East Carolina cousin's away message about having a BBQ. It makes it worthwhile though on the first warm day in the spring when everyone skips classes and just goes outside and drinks all day long.