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.