Boston University Top Questions

In order to find the right college, it is very important to explore different colleges, ones of different sizes and locations, in order to get a feel for what is right for you. Interacting with a student at each college you visit is also very beneficial, as they can provide you with the typical life of a student there. To make the most of the college experience, it is necessary to study hard and complete all of your schoolwork on time, as well as to regularly attend classes. You should take college very seriously and understand that you pay all that money and spend time at class to get the best education possible and learn everything you can from your professors in order to provide yourself with a successful career afte college.

Make a complete financial plan. Make sure the right fit matches the finances.

Find the college that best fits you both mentally and physically. Forget the reputation of colleges and their rankings, focus on what you want and desire. In the end, whichever college you may choose, you will be there for four years of your life making friends, meeting faculty, and learning, the key to being successfull in college is being happy. Choose a college that offers the things you look for and don't get caught up in which college is more prestigious or well-known.

Make sure you visit every type of campus (urban, city, small, large, country, ect.) Once you've chosen the schools that you feel you would feel most comfortable on visit it more than once. Spend the night on campus and attend a class or two. Meet and talk with students and professors.

Although name recognition is important, students should really chose a school based on where they think they will be the most happy. The top ranked colleges do not have the best teachers. Look at each major closely to see which has the best courses to offer. If possible, it is ideal for students to visit the school during the academic year so they can really see what a day of a college student is like at that specific school. Students: Some professors will remove your lowest grade. Make sure at the end of the semester that they have removed the correct grade. I had two instances where teachers did not drop the test or large quiz as they were supposed to. My grade significantly increased once they removed the grade as they had outlined in their syllabus. Participate in discussions as much as you can, because the teaching fellows or assistants are often more helpful than the professor. Try to get an internship as soon as you can in the field of your interest. Having a real ideal of what you will be doing in your future can be a very large motivator to try your hardest in classes.

First of all, do your research! Identify what kind of college you want to attend. If you make a smart choice about the university that is right for you, you will do well. The size of the student body is extremely important- it can be hard to adjust to living on a big campus if you are from a small town. If you are academically oriented, you may prefer a campus with a low student-to-faculty ratio, so you can ensure that teaching undergraduates is the faculty priority, and that you will be mentored individually to develop and pursue your own interests. If you enjoy extracurricular activities or sports, make sure the college offers what you are interested in. During your undergraduate education, it helps to have an idea of what you would like to do afterwards. If you are planning on graduate or professional school, focus on your academics, your social life will inevitably interfere. If you are looking for a job when you graduate, then don't focus too much on GPA- maintain a solid B average and make the most of your time with friends, you're only going to be in college once!

I would advise students to really think about what they want most in a school. Choosing your major is very important, but there are many other factors that will impact your daily life in college: location, social life, diversity of the campus, size of the school etc. To me, location was a key factor in choosing a college. I wanted a large city with good transportation and lots of things to do so I would not get bored. That is exactly what Boston University is, and I love it. The city of Boston impacts my college experience much more than the student-to-teacher ratio does. I also strongly encourage students to visit several colleges before deciding where to apply. Some schools may sound great on paper, with strong statistics and ratings, but once you get there it may just not feel right. Especially if you are going to live in campus, it is very important to look at your college as a place where you will live, work, and socialize, not just a place to study. Find the schools with your desired field of study and then narrow them down based on which you feel to be most liveable.

When making a decision about finding the right college, the most valuable method is to visit the campus multiple times and talk with current students. Before I decided what college to attend, I felt like I got a realistic picture of what the student experience at my college truly was by doing this kind of research. To make the most of the college experience, one must get involved. Take the initiative and join student groups, go to sporting events, participate in on-campus activities. I met all of my friends through volunteering or joining clubs, not through classes. Also, since I go to school in a city, making use of the city outside campus is extremely important. Students at urban schools tend to be more willing to explore the city, and not stay on campus all the time.

B U is a big school. That has it's problems: there's a lot of bureaucracy, the intro classes are big, you can sometimes feel lost. But it has a lot more advantages. You can find every type of person here, even though at first glance the populace seems a little shallow. There are students who are goths, sorority girls, musicians and businesswomen. You can take classes in many, many different fields, so if you're not sure what you want, BU offers so many choices that you're sure to find what you are looking for. Like any school, there are good professors and bad professors. Some are amazing and open you up to new worlds; others are boring, but if you're careful, you can find the good ones and enjoy. There are the problems, of course. It can be a bit overwhelming in a big school, and it is a very urban campus, so if you want open green space, you're out of luck. BU is also female heavy, so if you're a girl looking to find a boyfriend, BU isn't the place to go. However, the gay community is huge.

The stress of getting into college may be more difficult than college itself. Although their may be some disappointment, keep in mind college admissions administrators know what their doing and they know what type of students will thrive at their institution. So in the words of the Beatles, "Let it Be". Work hard, be thoughtful and insightful, but if you are not accepted to your first choice, brush it off, sooner than later. Visit schools and talk to students. You can really get a feel for whether or not a school is right for you by immersing yourself in the environment and seeing if you click with any of the current students. Taking advantage of all that college has to offer can be an overwhelming thought. The most important thing to keep in mind that this is YOUR experience. I have seen many people get caught up in their resumes and GPAs that they miss the point entirely: learning. And learning is not confined to the four wall classroom. Go outside, explore, meet people, and relate your studies to real life experiences. Take college one day at a time , really soak in your surroundings, and spend quality time with friends.

In these economic times it is imperative to think about your goals. Are you looking to have a good time or looking for a good job? These days employeers and graduate admission councilors in the "practical fields" are looking for dual degrees or majors in Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. For instance, if you're thinking of focusing in Business make sure you at least have a minor in something useful that will set you apart during your job search such as Sociology, Psychology, Economics, English, etc. These days having a degree from a top tier University alone doesn't get you an interviwe. You need as many internships in your resume as possible and more than one major. Also, make sure you have internship experience in the city that you want to live in after graduation. For instance, if you want to work in Washington D.C. or on The Hill make sure that you do at least two internships in that region. Local government internships don't count. Volunteering can also be useful while searching for a job. Make sure you take advantage of the Community Service Office at your choosen school.

Students should go to the school that they can see themselves creating a future and thriving. It is important to be comfortable in the school you are choosing to go and not attend becasue of parental pressures or to stay with friends. The first semester freshman year is the hardest I can assure you, but it gets easier. With time you adjust and adapt to the new enivorment and learn to live on your own. Also I would go to a college not because it is considered a "party school", but for its educational value. I know that college is considered to be the best four years of your life but it is also the four years you have to learn and grow before heading out into the real world. A quality education is far more important than how much fun or cool a school is considered to be. I have found the perfect balance between school work, part-time work and a social life in the city of Boston. My schedule is demanding and stressful at times, but I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. Make the most of your college experience.

Don't let money stand in the way of what makes you happy.

Go visit, and trust your instincts. Feel everything out. And if it doesn't work out on the first try, you can always transfer.

Make sure you visit every school and ask questions about everything from the social life, to the faculty, to the cost of living and what people do on the weekends. Even the little things are important when finding a school that is a good fit for you. Then the trick is to take advantage of everything they offer at the school. Get involved, meet people, explore the city or area that you're in. You'll miss it all once you're not there anymore.

Go with your gut and by how the people who already attend treat you. If you feel welcomed from the get-go, that's your school. Try to envision yourself in that school as an upperclassmen; if you can see yourself there, acclamated with a job and friends, that's your school. If you have a hard time seeing yourself happy, don't do it. College is the best years of your life, and you don't want to waste them trying to enjoy yourself when you could just do it instead.

I would tell students to put down their guards and truly step into the college experience. The first few months can be extremely tough to deal with, but if you allow yourself to delve into the college life it gets much easier. You have to allow yourself to open up and try new things. There are so many people to meet and establish relationships with, that it can bit severely overwhelming. Going into college with a open mind, allows you to appreciate others and to deal with the first year pressures a lot better than if you didn't walk in openly. College is such a rewarding privilege that you should be taken advantage of to its fullest extent.

The best advice I can give when trying to find the right college is basically what I did to choose Boston University. I vistied about ten schools and never had the feeling that I had at Boston University. Go to the prospective school and walk up and down campus. If you get the feeling that you belong then it's the school for you. If not, then you should keep looking. I walked BU's campus and felt at home and I knew that it was the school for me. I would also suggest visiting the school on the weekend and trying to experience the social life and dormitory living at the school. Most schools offer a great education and the social life can really be a make or break factor.

Everything happens for a reason.

In choosing a school, make the choice only for you, not for what your parents or your friends think is "right." If you have a feeling that you love english and history, don't go to a school that specializes in business and science. What you really love will always win out in the end against what you feel you ought to do. Once you make your choice in a school, really make the effort to give it a chance. It takes at least 3 months before you can say you really know what the experience is (the school, the social scene) and it takes a bit longer to get out of basic intro classes. Find professors and talk to them. Most will be overjoyed (and a bit surprised ) to see you have an interest in their topic. Their advice and contacts will come in handy after graduation. Lastly, do an internship! Do two or three! It's never too early to start getting a handle on post-graduation, and the field work experience will come in handy when you're trying to get people to pay you. No matter how busy you are, you can always do an internship.