Boston University Top Questions

If you apply to a school, make an effort to go visit it. Experiencing a campus for yourself is more valuable in the decision-making process than reading pamphlets, reviews, or website about the school. For a lot of my friends (and myself), visiting a school can make the difference of whether or not you decide to apply to or attend the school. Even if you have to miss a few days of high school in order to visit a college, it's a worthwhile thing to do.

I would advise students to spend a day/night with an actual student. Stay overnight and actually attend classes, lunch, and activites to get a real feel of the school. Don't simply ask the students giving the tours. They were specifically hired to say good things about the school, but you need to be aware of the bad aspects as well, because every school has them, and they can make or break your college career. Once you do find the college you think will be best for you, make sure that you begin getting involved early in your career. Talk to your professors on a weekly basis; tell them your hopes for the future and your fears-they've already gone through the college experience, and they can help assure you as you grow and learn about the real world. Don't wait until its senior year, and you realize you will be graduating in 4 months; you will regret all the things you did not do. Rather, get involved, explore possibilities, and find your passion. And most importantly, enjoy your college years; they go by extremely quickly!

I would tell students to visit as many places as possible and really decide what kind of campus was right for them, whether it be urban, rural or suburban. Another important factor is how far they are willing to be from home and how easily they must be able to get home for visits.

Most importantly, for all prospective students, be honest with yourself. Do not let anyone else's opinion influence what you believe will be the right enviornment for you to grow, learn and have the best time of your life in. You only get one chance to make these four years of your life count. Try not to think about the school's name or reputation, just try to imagine yourself there, and if it fits it fits. If there is ever a time to make a decision for the benefit of no one but yourself, this is it.

The campus and students are probably the most important factor in choosing a school. When you visit, you should feel like you could really find a place there, like you could see yourself making friends with the students you see around campus. If you visit a school in the city and its overwhelmingly large for you, you probably wont be happy at a school in a city. If you visit a school surrounded by farms you might feel as though theres not enough culture. Figure out what type of scenery you want to live in and go for a school that matches. Whether youre happiest in an urban environment, suburban, or rural; you need to figure this out before you arrive at school for the fall semester of your freshman year or you might end up unhappy and transfering.

Two of the most important things on my list in terms of considering which school to attend were location and size of the school. Of course you're going to pick a school with a great program in what you wish to major in, but few people recognize the importance of "where" and "how many. " I knew from the start I wanted to be in a big city, but not somewhere like New York where I'd be worried about getting lost everyday. Boston was perfect for me because of it's sense of community and the huge college population that exists here. I also decided early on that I wanted a huge school so I could have the opportunity to meet a variety of people, both from the United States and international students as well. Classroom size and a small campus weren't concerns of mine, but social life and teacher availability were. The best advice I could give would be to consider all the aspects of a school before making your final decision. Every college has something different to offer and you'd rather end up with the whole package then one or two great things.

Choosing the right college is a very important decision, and you should definitely put a lot of time and thought into it. I went to a very competitive high school and thought that what I wanted out of college was to go to an Ivy League school. Luckily, going with a suggestion from my guidance counselor, I applied to Boston University. I didn't know much about the school and didn't even visit until after I was accepted, but in the end, I chose BU over several higher-ranked universities, including Dartmouth, Duke, and the University of Virginia. It turned out that BU had the best program for what I wanted to study - education. I was student teaching during my second semester freshman year. Furthermore, now that I'm in Boston, I cannot imagine going to school in a smaller college town. Make sure you think through every aspect of your college selection process; I would hate for you to miss out on what could be the best four years of your life.

If they go to BU they will not learn anything, not be motiavted to study or work, and will feel outkasted unless they conform to the standard just to fit in. BU sits in the shadow of MIT and Harvard. If you want a future for your child, make sure they get into a good school. BU is just mediocre. More than 50{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of students are accepted, so it's not selective, yet they charge you more than the best universities in the world. Where is the value in that?

College is a time where you learn a lot about who you are and what you like. It is hard to know what you are going to like about a school before you get there. The person I was when I chose a college is very different form the person I am today. The most important thing to look for when making a decision about going to school is finding a place where you think you will have the most opportunity for personal growth. Whether that means going to a school in a big city, a school with a lot of research opportunities, a school with a great academic department that you are interested in, a school with a great athletic reputation etc. you should find a place that provides an atmosphere for you to get to know yourself better. Trust your gut when you visit a campus. I chose Boston University because the moment I stepped on the campus, I felt certain that it was a place that would offer me the freedom and support to achieve the personal growth I was looking for in college.

Truthfully, every student draws from his or her college's "universe" to gain a personal life education, an education broader than books--but deeper than wild weekends. The most telling decisions probably hinge less on reputation and more on the personal experience, the overall environment, and the available "tools." These choices distinguish bustling city campuses from serene traditional colleges; access to monumental government labs is pitted against access to prestigious alumni, and most importantly, the character of the students and faculty--erudite philosophes, Blackberry-carrying wunderkind, normal kids, etc--something difficult to gauge without a campus visit or some insider information. Fortunately, insider information is easier to get with the internet: social networking makes the currently enrolled more accessible, and most students are excited to dish their views to potential peers. Also, prospective students should always reconsider self imposed limitations--far from home becomes essential novelty. Finally, never be afraid to aim high, financially or academically. "Reach" schools can be surprisingly within range, and between private institutions, school aid offices, and government help, the only limit to financial aid is how far one is willing to dig. At college and on the way one rule prevails: be fearless!