Augusta State University Top Questions

My advice would be for parents to really be involved in the whole college application and selection process. I didn't get very much guidance from my parents because I'm the youngest and they'd already been through it many times with my siblings. For students, I encourage you to make a list of things that are important to you in a college and then select some that fit most of your criteria. If you do that, you'll most likely be happy wherever you end up. No matter where you go, make new friends. Thats one of the best parts of the college experience.

The one piece of advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to first visit the school the students and/or parents are most interested in to get a better feel for the school and whether they can envision themselves being at that school for the next four years. Many times students and parents get so caught up in the financial aspect of the institutions, which is important, but it is also important to visit these schools because although the idea is to get an education, you also want to attend an institution where one can also grow personally and build long lasting relationships. Also, the institution and the town it is located in should have a feel of a home away from home, which would also minimize the feeling of being homesick that many first-time college students can have.

The most important aspect of life most certainly applies here; "don't settle". If you don't think that you will be happy then you won't. A big mistake some my peers and I made was not to venture away from home and that cost just as much as living sixty miles as, maybe not in actual dollars but in experiences! I haven't experienced nearly as many situations as some of my friends who moved away for college and I can't go back and change that. Apply for all the scholarships and aid early because you don't want to let the cost drive the decision, experiences and education have their own rewards and in the long run you are learning to fish and not just to eat!

Make sure you go to the college that you want to go to. Don't let your family keep you back. If you do go to a college near home, you should live with your parents. I was required to move out and had a hard time working and going to school fulltime. If you have to work, make sure you get a roommate to work parttime. If you have to work fulltime, try to go to school partime and go during the summer. Take some classes that you want to take. Don't just take the ones to mark off your list to graduate.

The most important advice I would give to parents and students when trying to find a college is to go to the prospective colleges and take a tour. This gives you an oppurtunity to see how the students and professor interact as well as how well the student life interests the prospective student. Also take this time to find out about living accomodations. This will be important as roomates can be distracting and very influencial on learning. The living situation should allow the student to be safe, have fun yet still provide the oppurtunity to learn and study when the time comes. Make sure both the parents and the student is comfortable with the choice and take your time to analyze other colleges in the same ways as well so that you leve yourself with options that will best fit your needs.

The advice I would give to anyone would be to first make sure the college has the major you are looking for and I would go and visit the college and talk to professors and students to get the feel of what college life on that campus it. In order to make the most of your college experience would be to get involved with college activities and really be involved in your classes and participate. In order to learn one must participate. Study groups are a excellent choice because you meet friends and you also learn other ideas from classmates. Also, I would recommend that you love the major you are majoring in and be involved for example do research.

Visit the college that you are thinking about attending. Sit through some of the classes to see if this is the right school, and you will also learn about the friendliness of the classmates you might attend classes with. This also allow you to see the atmosphere of the school as a whole. Having gone through the process of visiting campus also give you an idea of the staff in the offices you will come in contact with while at the school. Lastly, once you find the right college get involved in the activities the school offers. Learning and getting involved with the people makes the time more enjoyable for everyone involved. Most of all, have fun and take classes to give you an overall view of the future.

Consider everything. Not only where the college is, but what is available to you off-campus. Look at what goes on after class, the student life, the availability of professors, the class size, etc, and consider what's best for you. Don't look at a huge city college if you're a quiet country girl. Don't consider a small community college in the middle of nowhere if you're from New York City, unless that's what you're looking for specifically. Don't get stuck on academics. Get involved with something, even if it's just an intense study group. Branch out and make friends with people that are different from you. College is where you learn to be yourself, not just get an awesome education. Network with teachers, make friends with classmates, and get involved with a club that is affiliated with your major. You won't regret it.