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It Can Make or Break Your DecisionJun 04 '00 Write an essay on this topic.Congratulations, you are a high school senior. What are you going to do now? Hopefully you won't go to Disney World (as tempting as it may sound), but decide where you'd like to go to college. When my senior year rolled around, I was filled with a bunch of emotions. Excitement (finally a senior), fear (finally a senior), curiosity (finally a senior), but not really sure what to do. There were many colleges knocking on my door, and I wasn't really sure which of those doors I wanted to answer. Luckily for me, at my high school, Edward R. Murrow, we had many opportunities to interact with the colleges and universities in the area. I think it is very necessary to visit college campuses. You can read about a college all you want in a brochure, but you won’t fully understand the college or university until you are in their environment. I remember during my senior year, we had a trip to St. John’s University. This trip was one of the deciding factors in me attending St. John’s. It was an all-day trip and there were about 2-3 buses of high school seniors en route. First off, we all had fun. We got a full tour of the campus; we saw the campus in it's "natural" state (we were there in October), and had an overall feel for the campus. I remember when we passed by what was then known as the Quad Lounge (the area where the Greeks hung out), and we saw all the guys and a couple of us gals made a joke that we were definitely going because of the guys. But on a serious tip, this is something to consider long and hard because this is the school you will be attending for the next 4-5 years. That campus visit really helped us to understand a little about the university, the students, the professors and the overall atmosphere of the campus. 1. Take the tour: Trust me, you will thank yourself for doing it. You will get a better understanding of the campus after you’ve gotten a tour. Most of these campus tours are very fulfilling, and you’ll get to see all the buildings, classrooms and important offices. Make sure you get to see the Financial Aid, Bursar, Admissions/Registrar’s Offices (these offices will become your new hangout over the next four years, you won’t be able to avoid them, so make sure you visit them). Also make sure you visit all the different academic departments and Dean’s offices. They are always willing to give you information about their curriculum and requirements. 2. Ask questions: And when you’re done, ask some more questions. There is no such thing as a stupid question. You never know, someone else may be thinking the same thing, but are afraid to ask. If you are unsure about something, make sure you ask and clear up any misconceptions you may have. 3. Talk to the students: Hey, they have first hand knowledge of what the campus is like. Get an insiders view of the life of college from a college student. Get the inside scoop on life at the school (the academic and social life). The students we met on our tour were friendly, helpful and willing to answer our questions. Some of these students told us of the best and worst professors, the best classes (within your major, of course), and were really down to earth. 4. Walk around the campus on your own: It’s great when you’re with a group of friends, but sometimes it helps if you do it on your own. Get a feel of the campus, try to picture yourself as a student at this campus and how does it make you feel. Observe the students and faculty, how diverse is the campus; are people friendly and helpful to one another? Sometimes by just walking around on a campus can help you better understand the environment. Remember, you’ll be in college for four years. You want to make sure it’s someplace where you will be able to do your best, interact with your professors and fellow students, but most of all a place you can call home. I look back at my years at St. John’s as some of the best years of my life. I wanted to give back to a university that gave so much to me. For two years, I was an orientation advisor to new students and that was a great project for me to get involved with. I can honestly say that tour during my senior year helped me make the right decision and I was very happy at the school of my choice. I hope this clears up any fears or anxieties you may have about college. College is supposed to be some of the best years of your life. Make sure you don't make the wrong decision. Take the campus tours. You won't regret it. I didn't.  |
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