Carnegie Mellon University Top Questions

Find your niche.

The most important thing is for the student to feel like they couldn't picture going to school anywhere else. The school has to fit your priorities, whether it be money, future career plans, or the general atmosphere. I wouldn't base your choice off of how pretty the campus is or how cool the surrounding city is, but rather on what kind of education you want to receive and whether you think the workload might be too much or too little for you. My big tip is to go off of the meal plan as soon as you can, the cafeteria food is usually gross and cooking for yourself is easy and SO much healthier!

Do not to settle on a college because it is the closest to home or all of your friends go there. It is important to select a college that will best prepare you for where you want to go in life. While money is certainly important, there are many ways of earning the money you need to pay for the education you deserve. Make sure that you visit different schools and talk with the financial advisors at the school about the ways in which students are assisted. The best advice I can give about selecting the right school is to choose a school that you feel comfortable with to commit to for the next few years. Once you find a school that fits your needs, your education becomes what you make of it. Going to class and learning the material is certainly part of school and is important, but you should become active and meet new people. If you become active in the campus community, you will learn life skills that cannot be taught in the classroom. These skills will build the foundation for your career and help to mold you into the person you want to become.