Boston University Top Questions

Don't be afraid to take a chance. Even if it's not your first choice, go with your gut. It could be the best decision of your life. And don't think your necessarily "stuck" wherever you choice to go. It's your life - play by your own rules! Make the best of what you can. And definitely get involved! Make friends, be active. Study hard, work hard and enjoy life and live it to its fullest potential.

Finding the right college is an extremely important process. Make sure you take your time and really look into each and every school. The first thing you should think about is the size of the school. There are monumental differences between large and small schools, so be sure to make a list of pros and cons then eliminate whichever schools you think might not be the right fit size-wise. Extracurricular activities are a great way to meet amazing people with similar interests and everyone should at least try going to a few meetings. Sports events are also an excellent form of bonding with your fellow students and feeling a sense of school pride, especially at large schools. Either way, college is a learning experience so whichever school you choose, make sure you exhaust all of the opportunities because when you graduate, you want to be able to say that you got the most out of your college and education.

Always visit the campus before making a decision. Regardless of reputations, programs, rankings, and all of the other data admissions offices throw at prospective students, the most important thing is that you feel like you fit when you visit the campus and you know that you will be successful and happy.

Finding the right school is both important for yourself and for your parents; that was not my thought either when choosing to attend Boston University. It seemed more important for me to go to a school I wanted to attend rather than the ones my parents had hoped I would choose. When considering what school is the right one for you, consider the following things: it is important that you find a school where you will be both socially confident and comfortable with the academic challenges. Find a school that offers programs in your interests and take that in mind over the overall ranking of the school. It was my own personal mistake in not fully considering tuition costs. I have financially burdened my parents with the expenses of BU, and the cost of living in Boston. Consider the financial situation of your parents in your decision, or speak with someone from the financial aid office at the school before making up your mind. College is an awesome experience, it is my opinion that no matter what school you attend, it is what you make it!

Go visit the compus and maybe attend a class and come with a list of questions to discuss with students, not necessarily the guide. If you do not know what area of study you lean towards, look at schools that have enough areas you can transfer into. If you can not afford a particular school and you don't receive financial aid, have a second choice school.

When choosing a college, visit many different campuses and go with where you feel the most comfortable. Often times the best school for you will simply feel right. Talk to students, tour guides, and administrators, and ask questions about the school and student life. In order to make the most of your college experience, study hard and join in different extracurricular activities. Join a club sports team, cultural club, music group, or school related group. Take advantage of the opportunities the school presents such as guest lecturers, performances, tutors, and free coffee. Find a place in the library that is most comfortable for your study preferences and go there often. Explore the area around your school - take a trip into the city, walk around campus, try new restaurants. Go to your professors' office hours: get to know them, and utilize the help they offer. Be open to meeting new people, and meet as many people as you can. Make friendships that you will carry with you for the rest of your life. And most importantly, learn as much as you can within those four years.

It's a once in a life time experience. Make sure you know what you're getting yourself into because it'd be a shame to go somewhere half-heartedly only to regret or find out that you don't love it. Love it going in, love it even more coming out. If you don't get in the first time, work it hard and then transfer! I't about finding your community, involving yourself with the right kind of people to follow in the footsteps of, a place to best find and make yourself in.

really go to the campus and watch people. do the people seem like the kind of people you would be friends with? sit in on a class and see if you are interested in the teaching style in the particular school you are applying to. find out about activities you are interested in and see if they are offered on campus. spend the night with a friend there, if possible. experience the nightlife and make sure it's what you want.

Do your research. Visit schools. Read up on student ratings. Sometimes you think you know yourself and what is best for you, but you can be surprised by your change.

I would advise parents to listen to their kids and what they want in the school; you can't make a decision for them. It's hard to say whether a school will be what you expect prior to enrolling, so I think people need to try to be relaxed about the decision process as much as they can, and remember that no decision is final. Many people transfer and are more aware of themselves after having had the experience of something that wasn't right for them. The admission and decision process can be extremely stressful, and make sure that you're giving adequate support - but not pressure - to your child in this time. Things will work out, and college should be secondary to a person's overall wellbeing anyway - so relax!