California State University-East Bay Top Questions

First of all, find the school size that is right for you. Visit the campus and hear about the school from the students who actually goes there. Do not pick the school because of the name. When the school starts, visit your professor during the office hour and introduce yourself. In the beginning of the school, professors usually don't get visitors so they'll be happy to see you and get to know you. Talk to your advisor. Your advisor will help you till you graduate and make sure you are doing good in school. Most important thing is to get to know people (faculties and students). The more you know is the more you'll success.

For the student, find the college that best suits your academic and social goals. Academic should always come first, so choose the College that is strong in your field. However, remember that College is also an enjoyable social experience. If you like the fast paced city life, pick a urban campus but if you like the mellow courntry side, pick a rural campus. One of the most important things to learn in College is how to balance life. You want to learn and get good grades so you can have a great future, but don't forget to enjoy yourself either. College is a lot of fun and it is a special time in your life, so live it up! For the parents, help your child throughout the picking stage. However, do not make a decision for them. Parents need to understand that they need to learn a balance as well. Be there for your child, but do not get in their way. College is where a lot of kids become adults. Be there if for them if they need it but don't be afraid to let them make their own mistakes. That is how they will grow.

Deciding which college to go to is tough. When looking for a college, the student needs to find a college that suits all of his or her needs. Each school has a strong point that they do extremely well. A student should be looking for a college that excells academically, works with and for the students, and provides a complimentary social environment to ease any stresses. Parents also should have peace of mind where their children are attending. An environment that is safe and reasurring to the parents that their children are safe is essential.

Get involved. Get involved with on-campus activites. Get involved in sports. Smile and say hi to your classmates-you all will be crossing paths for the next four or five years. Make the most of it. And parents? Trust your child. Allow them room to explore. Let them make their mistakes. Fixing every hiccup will only hinder them and not allow them to learn and grow from their experiences. If they want to take an interpretive dance class, a wine making class, and a swim class all in one quarter- let them. This is their time to find out who they want and potentially can be. Going to college is a big step in the growing up process of life. Pick a place you can see yourself earning a degree at. Surround yourself with positive people who are motivated to do well. Form study groups. Create fun ways to remember facts-the more they make you giggle, the more you will remember them during your midterm. Ultimately, stay cool, calm, and collected. Whatever you choose to do, make sure it's for you and not for anyone else. Finally, have fun. It's going to be a blast.

One peice of advice I would give both parent and student is to know where you want to go in life (as in a major) to choose the best school in which offers the best teachers and opprotunities to fullfill the degree you desire. Be aware of what you want: a commuter school, a social campus, type of environment, etc these things will help you make the best decision for which college to choose.

The advice that I would give parents or students in finding the right college would be to look into all the options ahead of time, seeing if the school you want to go to has your major and if there's is viable help and assistance in getting a job after you graduate.

Be open minded.

Make a list of all the attributes you love about your high school. Be sure they are lovable qualities. Determine what you would love to have access to when you are not on campus. Determine how serious you are about college; will you go to grad school? Do you want to find a new place to network and begin life after graduation or will you want to establish yourself elsewhere? Ask yourself (the student) what you really want from your college experience. Once you can write down all those attributes, begin looking for schools that fit those criteria. It is so important that when you close your eyes to imagine the perfect college that those criteria are a part of that image in your mind. Do not compromise the place you want to be because of cost or how far it is from home. Those things will not make a difference after graduation. Be in a college because you feel "at home" or comfortable knowing that the following four years will be spent there and in the surrounding community. The whole college experience is what you want to make of it. Enjoy every moment.

It is important to have fun in college, but do not loose sight of why you are there! Many people loose sight of their goals, and they delay their success, or drop out of school all together. Try to stay physically and mentally healthy, and remember that you are paying good money to learn. College is a way to become successful later in life, it is not a means to delay adulthood.

College is what you make of it so as long as you want the best exprience you can have it as long as you keep a strong focus on what your goals are.