Boston University Top Questions

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.