We asked all of the students that we interviewed, "What advice would you offer to a prospective student who is in the process of choosing a college?" They challenged you to seriously consider what you want to get out of your academic experience. They thought you should talk with current students about living units and what the governing rules are; think about what you like or don't like about your high school and talk to someone on campus about those things; look at course descriptions and ask to see corresponding class schedules and syllabi; and, they encouraged you to start the application process and search early. But most importantly you need to remind yourself that you're attending college to be challenged: it's not all about what you like and what you're comfortable with, rather it's about what you need to challenge your ideas and beliefs to your very core. One student put it very bluntly when he said, "If you go [to his school] for four years and it doesn't change you completely then you're not doing something right."
A successful student at a liberal arts college recognizes the traditions of excellence in the institution, the opportunities of the present in the programs of study, and focuses on the successes of the future by bringing distinction and merit to the college.
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Talk to an academic advisor before choosing your classes.
Talk to professors about the things that you like to do and they might have suggestions for you regarding your college choices.
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| Some students want to take on the challenge of courses of study outside of their majors, but one student complained about the number of distribution requirements at his school, I recognize that I will very soon forget everything I learned in those [distribution] classes because it has no direct application to my daily life and has never been reinforced by subsequent coursework. |
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So let's review: you need to think about what you want to get out of your academic experience; whether or not your school of choice employs "good practices"; not fall for all the recommendations that you hear or read about; look for lots of faculty/student and student/student interaction; find an institution that cares about you and shares your goals; familiarize yourself with a college's culture and traditions; and come up with a truck load of questions to ask about your college choices. Sound daunting? It is extremely daunting, but it's even more daunting to attend a school that isn't right for you! So it's totally worth the effort, unless you really want to entrust your entire future to whether or not George Washington lands heads up…
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