on National Colleges, College Admissions, and College Life
Your Top 10 College Questions, Answered
by Robyn Tellefsen
As college looms large, we know you've got about a million questions floating around your cranium. So we picked 10 of the most pressing college questions and answered 'em. Enjoy!
1. What's the biggest difference between high school and college?
Two words: personal responsibility. In high school, you've got teachers and guidance counselors (not to mention your parents) standing over your shoulder to make sure you're on track. In college, you won't get that kind of accountability unless you seek it out.
2. Is college for everyone?
Not necessarily. If you tanked in high school and you've got no motivation toward anything remotely academic, a traditional college might not be the best fit for you. But you will need some kind of advanced training - like vocational technical education - to launch a stable career.
3. What kinds of scholarships go unawarded?
Employer- and region-specific scholarships may go unawarded simply from lack of student and family awareness. These scholarships are often for smaller amounts, but free money is free money, right? It all adds up.
4. Is financial aid for the middle class an oxymoron?
Not always. Stanford University, for example, provides free tuition to most undergrads whose families earn less than $100,000 per year. And for Harvard students whose families earn $120,000 to $180,000 a year, the maximum cost of education is 10 percent of their income.
5. Should I major in something that interests me or in something that's marketable?
If your major is boring, you're in for a rough four years. Your best bet is to choose something you truly want to learn about. When you're passionate about your education, the rest often falls into place.
6. Should I hold on to my high school sweetheart?
The short answer: No. The long answer: It depends on the relationship. Just make sure your pre-college attachment isn't holding you back from experiencing all that your new environment has to offer.
7. What's dorm life really like?
It's loud, messy, and lots of fun. Incidentally, dorm living can provide great preparation for marriage or any other close partnership.
8. Is college a lot more difficult than high school?
That depends on where you went to high school and how hard you worked there. Many high schools allow you to invest minimal effort and emerge with a decent grade. Colleges typically don't provide that kind of latitude.
9. Does where I go to college really matter?
Your college choice is important, but there's probably more than one school where you could be happy and well-educated. Your college experience will be affected more by what you put into it than by which one you choose.
10. Why should I go to college?
Not only do college grads make more money than their less educated peers, they're also healthier and therefore happier, reports the College Board. Sounds like a worthwhile investment to me.
Got more college questions? Comment away!
I\'ve always debated this question... But is it better to attend a community college first and then be transferred to a university?
Hey Niki, That all depends on what you mean by "better." Some people find that going the community college route works for them. There are many benefits to doing this, the biggest one being that you can save a lot of money in tuition. You can also test the waters to see which subjects interest you if you're not sure, or get back up to speed if you've been out of school for a while without commiting to a four-year program. The most important thing is to make sure that if you do intend to transfer to a four-year school, look into that process and be sure that the courses you take will be acceptable as transfer credits later on. Ultimately, finding the solution that is best for your needs as a student is most important, so it's really up to you to decide. I hope that helps. Best of luck! -Dawn Papandrea, Managing Editor, CollegeBound.net by Niki Kue submitted on May 18, 2010
When colleges look at your transcript, do they consider the classes you're going to be taking as a senior as well? The reason I'm asking this is because through my freshman-junior years, I only took one year of foreign language, but senior year I will be taking two Spanish courses. Will colleges only look at the one course and rule me out as not having the three courses recommended? by S Narayan submitted on Feb 19, 2011
When colleges look at your transcript, do they consider the classes you're going to be taking as a senior as well? The reason I'm asking this is because through my freshman-junior years, I only took one year of foreign language, but senior year I will be taking two Spanish courses. Will colleges only look at the one course and rule me out as not having the three courses recommended? by S Narayan submitted on Feb 19, 2011
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