Boston University Top Questions

Think about your expected major and career plans and evaluate what programs the school has to offer to make sure that particular college or university is the correct fit for you. You should not pick a college based on low tuition bill or geographic location, although those are definitely factors to be considered. The area around campus is definitely important, as often that is where you will want to spend your free time and you need to make sure there are activities there you want to do. If you love culture, don't pick a college in a "college town" and focus on one in a major geographic area, because the quality of entertainment will be much better. The best way to make the most of the college experience is actually to put a lot of time into your preparation: read about the adjustment to college from high school, plan out your courses, read the textbooks and lecture notes before class if possible so that you know what your professors are talking about. Making the most of college involves really being in college mentally and physically and yes, stress every little detail.

Choosing the right college can be a difficult experience as well as adjusting to the first semester. I would encourage the students to look within themselves and see what they have to offer to that particular field of their interest. Sometimes, the students don't always know what they want to do in their life. It's o.k. to visit colleges, talk to teachers, advisors and other professionals about career goals. It's good for them to volunteer in order to gain skills, but also to know their strenght and their weakness. By knowing their limits, the students could develop in any circumstance. Then search for a school that has the best to offer in that field. If in doubt about their college choice, they can make arrangement to attend a class in that school for one day. The key to success is to ask questions, but to also look for the anwers. Do the all the assignments regardless if the Professors make themselves available or not. Learn to communicate with difficult instructors by humbling, but most of all the tudents need to learn how to balence their schedule with work, activities, school work, family and friend.

The best advice I could give is to keep an open mind. The one thing I knew was that I didn't want to go to school in Boston, but when my mom suggested I give it a shot, I kept an open mind and as soon as I walked onto Boston University's campus, I loved the location, the campus, the students. It's also important to (generally) find a good liberal arts college since most students, including me, change their major a couple times and it's important to go to a school that has a good program in just about everything. When looking at colleges, really trust your gut feelings about the school. This will help you end up at school you love where you really can be happy and make the most of your college experience.

After transferring from the University of British Columbia to Boston University last fall, I realized that it is not always up to the university environment to make a student happy. I think that there are many "right" universities for every given student, and what students and parents should remember is that in the long run, the student is getting a thorough education and being prepared for the future. To make most out of the college experience, I would like to give three points of advice. First, get to know your campus. Walk around when you have some spare time and find little niches that make your large campus feel like home. Second, remember that you have the power to choose your academic path. Do not let other people force you into studying something that you are not passionate about. And third, remember that you are responsible for your own happiness. When I first came to Boston I felt very lost and alone, but after spending more time on campus I felt part of a community and I forced myself to make new friends. It was up to me to make a better experience for myself at Boston University.

I can honestly say that I did not take the college application process as seriously as I should have. There is a lot of paperwork and it all seemed like too much. But it does matter. A student should take their time to really research colleges and find the ones they want to apply to. You should first decide how big or how small of a school you want to attend. BU is a large school, and there is really no close knit 'campus'; however, a big city school was exactly what I wanted. I got lucky and found 'my people' my first year here. You also want to look at 'where' you want to go to school: warm weather, cold weather, a big city, small suburban area, etc. You want to look at what you want to major in, and decide based on the programs they offer for that. Money is a hug factor as well. You want a school that will offer financial aid packages with grants and scholarships. It's going to be hard to start paying loans after college.

Don't pick a college by a major. The college should have the major you are interested in but don't always look for the best program. You will be happy if you answer te big questions first. Do I want to be close or far from home? Then decide if you want a city school or rural campus. After that, it's how big. Do I want to know everyone or see different people all the time? Then go to those schools and see if you like the people there. You don't want to end up at a really liberal diverse campus just because it fits all the other criteria if you are really conservative and wouldn't adjust well.

look in to financial information programs.

To really take the time to learn about the colleges they apply to.

know that your education is worth all the money in the world, and that financial aid is possibly the greatest thing on earth.

Be Socratic in your college search: know yourself. Determine your core preferences, such as what type of environment makes you happy, then use that knowledge to pinpoint several schools that match your personality. Don't apply to a school unless you can truly see yourself living and thriving there; if you use a school's rank or reputation alone to decide, you may ultimately end up unhappy. After all, you want to choose a place where you can be comfortable enough to have many personality-expanding experiences. At college, the best thing you can do to combat homesickness or nerves is to throw yourself into the swing of things. Don't overload yourself with coursework and activities, but stay quite busy. This should give you a sense of belonging more quickly. No matter what you choose to participate in, bring some love to it. People want to meet people who have positive energy to give...so don't be afraid to smile. If you are feeling stressed or overwhelmed, use your school's resources to help get you back on track. Never hesitate to ask for help. Finally, have fun! Allow yourself to enjoy the craziness that college often provides.