Clemson University Top Questions

First of all, the student who will attend the college needs to make the final decision. Parents who desperately want their child to attend their alma mater or want to make the decision for their child will have to face and respect the fact that it may not be what their child needs, and that it isn't the end of the world. That said, kids will often find out that their first choice isn't as good a fit as they thought it was after they visit; this is normal, though it does disorient one a bit. Parents, please be patient if this happens. Also, don't become incredibly angry if your child turns down a scholarship from one institution to go to another. While finances are important, if your child goes to an institution that they are unhappy with to begin with, it will wear on their grades and mental health, and which is more important in the long run: money or your child becoming a happy, healthy, mature adult? If your child is truly passionate about the institution, they will find a way to help meet its costs, and show you just how mature they truly are.

Be sure to visit the college and talk with professors about their goal as a university and make sure that goal is what you want. Furthermore, talk with students presently enrolled and figure out the goods, the bads, and the future of the Univesity.

I would say make sure that when you visit the campus, you can see yourself there. Definitely ask students who already attend their opinions. Once youre in school, get as involved as possible, but dont forget about classes.

Research which schools are best for the major of your choice. Be social. The longer you wait to make friends, the harder it can get.

I think there are 5 important steps in deciding what college is right for you or your student: #5: Figure out what you want to do Once you have an idea of what kind of field you want to go in, then its a lot easier to narrow down schools. Such as, if I wanted to be an engineer, I would apply to schools with good engineering programs. #4: Figure out what size of a school you want to go to If you think you'll be overwhelmed, then apply to small school; if you want to be around a ton of people, apply to a huge school #3: Figure out where in the nation you want to go Pretty self explanatory: go to a region that you would love to live in for 4 or so years. Its the best time to experience something new! #2: Figure out if you want to go to school with friends from high school Some people want to, some people don't #1: VISIT!!! The best thing you can do is to visit the top 3-5 schools you're deciding from! Just visiting Clemson made me fall in love with it!!

Do not rush into make a decision about which college to attend. Research, research, research! Also, do not worry about knowing exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life. College is the perfect time to find out just who you are and what you would like to do. There?s not a person that has been in college that can say that it was not hard. Do not be discouraged no matter what, and never give up on yourself regardless of how dismal your situation may seem. Remember to relax and enjoy yourself (within reason) so that you can stay sane in the process!

You will not know exactly what you want to do in life until during / after your college experience, so pick a school that is well-rounded, with lots of excellent departments, and vibrant student life. That way, your student can be exposed to lots of new ideas and make a more well-informed choice about his / her career. I would stay away from schools that care more about pedigree than school spirit because the environment of 'working hard' and 'having fun' coexisting is really important for the success of these college years. If you're too stressed to have a fun time at the theater or downtown dining or pep rally, then your education is not worth the sacrifice. If you feel like you are not being challenged at all in your classes and you can't tak to you professors about new ideas that you have, then your education is not really turning out as an education at all. And, make sure that the housing and meal plans are up-to-date, convenient, and accessible; if you don't have somewhere nice to go home to at night, it makes a long day even longer.

If you have a specific field of intrest or intended major in mind make sure to research it well. There are a lot of colleges out there that have outstanding programs in majors you wouldn't expect and it is easy to miss a great oppurtunity. Use accrediting sources to find programs your looking for and make sure to take a campus tour. Most students, especially freshman, will be living on campus for a least a couple of years and getting a good look at the campus and area around it is essential to knowing if the college or university is going to the right place for you. Guided tours are great but usually they are limited and only show one side or particular buildings on campus. Make sure to take time to wonder around on your own time and path, finding places where people are living their everyday campus life.

I think you need to weigh all of the options available out there. It is very important for prospective students to tour the campuses that they are interested in, but they should go above and beyond the university tour and try and talk to a current student about social, academic and other aspects. It is important to do alot of research on the university and apply for aid as needed. Once at the designated college, each student must focus on their academic work and try to balance out their free time for social events with studying. It is hard to get off track so it is important that each person has good will power and can easily adjust from the change from high school.

It is important for the student to feel like they belong at the school that they are attending. When touring schools, if you have a choice, try and find a tour guide that looks like they have fun at school and would know the inside scoop. This will help you distinguish what the campus feel is really like so that when your child gets to that college, they can know how to fit right in.

The most important piece of advice I can give a student or parent is to visit the college! You cannot just apply and just decide to go there. You have to get a feel for it and determine if it "fits" you. This is what happened for me. I didn't know where I wanted to go to college for sure, but when I visited Clemson, I fell in love with it!

Look around and go with your gut. It's about finding a family.

Finding the right college is important but the character of the student will determine their chance of success. I would advise parents and students to look for a college that will not be a financial burden, one that has strong academics, and one that offers a multitude of activities for the student to become involved in. Students need to take college seriously and pour themselves into their area of study to thoroughly learn the material and make the best of learning opportunities with experienced professors. However, this emphasis on academia must not lead to tunnel vision. A balanced approach to undergraduate education will prepare a young professional to be balanced in their approach to work and life post-college. Make the best of every moment that you have - study hard and play hard. Meet new people and stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone, help the community and the students around you prosper. Live each day as though it is your last and live with integrity.

I would ask them to find a school where they feel most at home. They are about to spend the next few years experiencing many new and exciting things. They need to find a place where they feel comfortable expressing themselves and becoming an independent young adult. As long as they are able to have a reasonable balance between their academics and social life, they will be able to have the time of their life. If there are opportunities for a person to be a part of some intramural team or some kind of organization, take it. College really is the time of your life and you want to be able to embrace every part of it. You want to be able to look back and realize that this was the most perfect school for you and wouldn't change a single thing about your unforgettable experience.

The common thing I saw among freshman was a lack of reality. The transition from high school to college can be too much to bear for many students. I feel that students should attend summer programs, if available, at the college they plan to attend. This will give them a better feel for was campus life will truly be like. Also, I try to explain to students that college is about balance; the ability to balance school work and leisure sounds simple, but that's the number one mistake students make that is detrimental to their education.

Let your kids visit the school and go out to party there. Its hard for high school parents to allow their kids to do this, but the most important factor is if you fit in to the social scene. Academics should also play a major role, but students need to be happy to remained driven and ambitious with studying.

Make sure that you visit multiple campuses. Do not base your decision on what your friends do. You will make new friends at school, college is about you.

Make sure you have researched all possible options for your school and know what to expect by talking to current students and reading reviews online.

If I had to give advice to parents or students who are looking for the right college I would say... Before you make any decisions about what school you want to go to you should discuss and think about the things in life that are important to you. Having this list when you visit the campus allows you to see whether or not all of those things will be available once you move from home. In addition, I think all students should visit the campus and find a student that is currently attending and talk to them about the pros and cons about the school. Doing so gives you a realistic idea of what your future will look like. After all of those things are done, I would say just trust your instinct. For me, the moment I stepped foot at my school I knew my blood ran orange, and I knew that was my home away from home. If you dont get that feeling keep looking and you will find an aluma mater that you will be proud of for years to come!

First make sure the school is affordable. It can be a hard pill to swallow when a student finds out they have to take out $10,000 a year in loans to attend the school they want. Next, make sure that the school will be a comfortable fit for the student. I think that participating in an orientation session or programs that offer overnight visits are a great start because your student will get to interact with the students at the school they plan to attend and see what their life is like from a first hand perspective. Not to mention there are usually opportunities for the parents and students to meet with teachers and professors who are in the respective major of the student's choice. I think the best way to make the most of the college experience is just by getting involved. Finding something of interest to participate in is a excellent way to meet people who share those same interests, to network for future references, and possibly explore the world. Whether it's playing a sport on an intramural team, joining a specific organization, or volunteering the access to success is at your hands.