American University Top Questions

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i would suggest pick at school which is best for your major. do not simply attend a school because its in a coolcity. do not just go to school where your friends are going, branch out and do whats best for your life. keep a good GPA and most important, gain experience. do internships, volunteer work in order to find out if this is really what you want to do with your life. dont let anyone hold you back, keep pushing foward and follow your dreams, not whats cool or what your boy/girlfriend/friends are doing in general. first, study carefully what you want to do with your life and than pick your major. think your life as your own, dont plan it around your family or anyone else. think yourself alone and indepedent. than find a college which has excellent programs in your major. study your opitions. also, try to choose somehwere that will make you happy but dont be scared to move to a different area of america. its all about life. if money is a problem, dont let that hold you back. just keep trying because it will be worth it in the lond run.

College isn't just about finding out what you want to do with your life, you need to know what you like and what you don't like. Not just your hobbies, but rather, your personality. Are you a private person or are you sociable, does the hustle and bustle of the city bother you or do you prefer to be surrounded by nature, is diversity important to you, do you like to shop, do you like to party, are you artistic, do you like sports? Even the weather you like should be considered. You can live without access to all the things you like, but to be surrounded by things you don't like will make your college experience miserable, so, know your limits ?what you absolutely won?t tolerate. If you really like one school, apply to a couple of schools nearby as fallbacks so that you'll still be in the area. Neighboring colleges usually have a consortium of libraries and classes that can be used by students of all the participating schools; plus, you?ll go to each other?s games, bump into each other about town and at parties(if you?re into that scene).

"If you're gonna do it, do it to it." This may seem like a nonsensical piece of advice, but it has been my guiding light throughout my college search and first year and a half of college life. It means, essentially, that anything worth doing is worth doing well. A thorough college search and aggressive scholarship application system were two things that allowed me to discover and attend American University, which was the single best decision of my life. I took online surveys, read college magazines and online reviews, and spoke with teachers and guidance counselors at my school as well as alumni. Once I decided American was the right fit and applied there, I went to work applying for scholarships--24 in all--and ended up with enough money to pay for my first year of studies. But it's not enough to just find and attend the right school. Get involved right away--go to dinner with students on your floor, explore the campus, explore the surrounding neighborhood, join an a capella group, join an intramural sports team, check out Greek life. After all, it's your college now. Do it to it.

The best advice I can give is to find a place that you can make feel like home. Take every single opportunity that comes your way, because you wont want to have to look back and think, "God, I could have done that!". And, also, if you decide to get a job and work while you're a full-time student, don't work more than three days a week, because otherwise it will crush you.

Undergraduate degrees are the new high school diploma. That said, don't spend a fortune going to an expensive, private university unless you are absolutely positive that the school possesses some unique attribute or exemplary quality of education that justifies it. Go to an in-state university for undergrad, and if you think your career demands it, go to a more presitgious institution for graduate studies.

To find the right college, you need to actually go to the campuses and visit them. It's rather cliched, but when you go to that place you belong, you really will feel like you already belong there, you'll be able to visualize yourself walking around and studying there, hanging out with friends on the quad, and just feel at home, from the first moment you step on campus. When you go to college, to get the most out of it you need to cut a lot of ties with where you come from, especially if you're going far enough away that regular trips home are out of the question. I know it sounds harsh, and I'm not saying to sever all ties, but the last thing you want to do your first semester of college is to constantly wish you were home, and stay in all the time because your "real" friends aren't there.

College and the college experience is what you make of it; smart choices and a hard work ethnic are necessary regardless of where you go to be happy. Also remember that your years as an undergraduate are limited and taking advantage of the resources around you is essential to truly developing into the type of person you want to be.

I would advise parents and students, when looking for the right college, to keep your options open. Your top choice isn't always the best place for a student. I would say that more a significant number of the students at my university did not have it as their top choice. Yet the retention rates are extremely high, meaning students really enjoyed a school that wasn't necessarily their top choice but surpassed their initial reactions and really provided a well-rounded college experience. Be open to new things and experiences during college. Meeting other students from different backgrounds than yours enriches one's life in ways you may not know or understand right away. Make connections and network. College campuses, internships, and jobs are the best way to lay the foundation for a successful professional career. Lastly, enjoy college! I study hard constantly, but making sure to get out of the library or study room every once in a while to go out with friends will add to a truly memorable and successful college career.

When it come to finding the right college, put down your books and go visit the campuses. Yes it is important to go to a good school, but it is more important to get on campus and see how you feel there. Go with your gut instincts. I felt most comfortable at my now school and I have never regreted going. It's the people who go to a school because they have legacy or because it's a top rated school that are miserable. My father went to MIT and transfered after a semester (to another good school mind you) because he thought it was his top school, and then got there and was miserable because he didn't feel right on campus. You're going to be living there and working there for four years (give or take), you have to feel comfortable in your own skin. As to making the most of your college experience, don't worry about who likes you, you're bound to find some of the best friends of your life just being you. Join clubs that you like, do things that you like to do and life will seem great.