Colorado State University-Fort Collins Top Questions

I have to go take a test online right now -so this can't be as heartfelt as I'd like. But really do research on what you want and where that is offered. Decide first what you want and THEN where to go. Don't pick based on popular names or reputation only. Do what you need to do to succeed and be happy. As to making the most of college - have fun. Be brave to meet people and get involved in things that interest you. Focus on your school, because, after all, that is why you are there. But have fun, too, and try things you've never dont before. Work hard + play hard = succeed.

Talk to people who have been through the program in which you are interested. Advisors and professors will more often than not give you a juiced-up version of their department and programs, but people who have been there and gone through certain programs for years have a better view of how a school and its programs run. I would highly recommend working during college. Not only does it provide you with some extra cash, but it is so easy to make new friends in a work environment. Almost all of the friends that I keep in touch with today are from where I work or where I used to work. Remember that drinking isn't everything. There is much more to do with your valuable time. Don't waste it getting wasted.

I would say get involved in extracurricular activities and make a point of meeting and hanging out with people in your classes. Go to a university thats strengths and pride are in the department youre interested in.

My advice to all parents, begin early and be thoughtful in the selection of the college. The right college will make all the difference in your child's experience and pending success. Spend time at the college during school hours, talk candidly with students and professors, read reports about the college's ranking in your child's area of interest and ask about parking/living/rising tuition costs before your child enrolls. If you do these things, your child will be most closely fitted to a college that will meet his/her needs academically, financially and socially. Finances might not be the most important determinant, but don't kid yourself into believing that the out-of-state tuition won't come with a high price tag. Remember, some students are receiving the same education for a fraction of the cost! Don't assume your child will be able to handle frat parties without your guidance; take this into consideration while planning how far away your child should go. Even if the school is ranked highest in your child's major, that one factor might not be enough to make that school the best for your child.

PICK COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

Don't let school bankrupt you, but go to school!

Advice I would give would be to always visit each campus to see if the campus has the "right" feel for a student. There were a couple of colleges that I thought were wonderful but then I visited the campuses and I decided right then and there that the college was not a great fit. Once at college, the best thing to do would be to get connected to campus organizations. Once connected, one will have a greater sense of community to that college and will be happier in the long run because they are constantly doing things and not being singularly focused on academics. Academics are important but so are getting connected to the community.

To parents and students looking for the right college, I would tell them that the process is much like dating. Before choosing the college that is the one, it is important to see other colleges and know what is out there. Like people, universities are diverse: big, small, academically focused, very social, etc. Getting to know four or five colleges minimum before choosing the one is essential in making the best decision. Once students say, ?I do?, to the college that has what they want, it is important for students to fully commit and get as involved as possible. To really enjoy the college experience, a student must really develop a comfortable relationship with their university. The student should get to know how the college is available to them academically, socially, physically, and mentally. Students should also bear in mind that if they realize the college they have chosen turns out to be the wrong match, it is okay to ?divorce? and transfer to another institution. As a final note, I would remind parents and students that parents should act only as a guide and advise their students during the ?dating? process; not actually do the ?dating? themselves.

Many students graduate high school not knowing their full potential. They are often lost in a state of confusion, rambling to find any answer to their life questions. Most of us are scared to go through this tough experience; however, my advice to future students is to grab that confusion and run with it as long as you can. That is what college is all about! I came to college knowing what I wanted to study, yet my career choice within that degree changed many times. Most students change their majors often because they are still confused. Find the college that fits with who you are and who you want to become. If you want to be an artist, go to the best artistic school there is. Make the most of your college career by not holding back on any decision. Don't let your family or your finances stop you from going where you want to go most. They will always support you in the end, and sometimes, you need to move away to realize what it is that you really want to do. Never look back and never have any fear.

My suggestion would be that prospective students come and visit the campus; to get a feel for the attitude. Visit the library and the student center and see what the students and faculty are really about. Check out some of the extracurricular activities available and notice in what direction they seem to be going. If those all add up to the students own personality and interest the campus will feel much more like home when the attend and there is a higher chance of them feeling content with the workload we all have to deal with at the university level. Acedemics should play an even larger role in the decision making process. Prospective students should look not only at the overall acedemic community but especially in the major they choose, knowing that over the next four years that community will be a second home.

Choosing the right college is very important, as it is planning at least the next four years of your life. Some people say that it does not matter where you receive an education and that the important part is that you go to college. I would disagree with that. College shapes you and makes you realize many different things you did not previously know about yourself. I personally call my last three years a wonderful learning and growing experience. As cliche as that may sound, it is very true and from the bottom of my heart. No matter what, I would advise people to have faith in themselves and know that they can make it to college and do well at it. We are human and will make mistakes along the way. However, what matters most is that we not only learn from those mistakes but also try and grow from them. College should be a time in your life where you truly find you- your passion, motivation, and what makes you tick. It is necessary to realize it is a hard part of life, but in the end is very worth the hard work.

I would have to say that the most important aspect to college searching is to be as open and honest with yourselfs in what you want in your eductaional experience. Try to find as many options as possible before making any descisions. Don't pidgeon hold yourself to one area of the U.S. or one type of curriculum. And once you find what you are looking for, go into it full heartedly. Don't hold back or be afriad to do something different then what you're used to. That is how you learn and grow as a person on all levels. And finally; become interactive with everyone around you. It is easier to succeed in all areas of life if you have people and resources around you at your despense. Don't be afraid to take advantage of what you have. That is how you can become successful in finding a suitable college and having the best experience available.

Visit the campus first, and visit a class or two. Also don't buy into "brand" name colleges, just because a school is well known doesn't mean its the right fit. Also have lots of fun, you wont get to do it again.

The advice I would give to parents is I believe they need to get involved with their son or daughter in choosing the right school as well as help them research in order to pick the right school for their son or daughter. Also students need to be able to visit the campus and take tours to gain knowledge and a little taste of what their college experience would be like. Once chosen their right school students and parents should take time to plan on how to manage time in school and their social life to succeed in academics and not just the excitment of college. Also if parents are sending their son or daughter to a school where they cannot supervise then they should call and keep in touch making sure their son or daught behaves,stays focused, and pushes them to succeed. If parents and students do these things I believe they will not only succeed, but be very happy in the experience they have in college.

I would have to say the best advice for parents and/or students when finding the right college is to visit the campus and talk to as many people as you can to find out if it's the right fit. You don't want to enroll in classes and pay money just to find out that you feel uncomfortable there. As for making the most of your college experience, I would say to make friends and talk to people that you may not know or may not be of the same ethnic or racial background. I feel that people can learn alot from others as well as make some new life-long friends. Also, I believe that students need to get active in the community and at school. There are so many jobs and internships that suit everyone's interests. I would say to take chances and shoot for the stars...What's the worst thing that can happen? I feel it is important for parents to be a part of the student's decision-making process and to be included in the tours and visits. I think it helps students to get feedback and reassurance.

Make sure you visit the schools you are considering before you decide to attend. Being on campus can really give you a feel of how your experience at school will be. Students, choose the school that is right for you, not your parents. Colorado State University is an incredible campus that welcomes all kinds of students. Make sure you choose a school with a good concentration in what you want to do in life as well as somewhere you feel comfortable enough to make your home for the next four years.

The advice that I would give would have to be make sure that you go to a place that makes you feel like you belong. Going off to college is a large enough change as it is without the added stress of feeling out of place. Also, finding a school that will work with you to make your dreams achievable, whether that be paying for school or being able to study whatever it is that you want to study.

When deciding what college is for you, do not rely on the money or where a friend is going; make sure that the campus fits with your personality and they have what major you want. When in the college of your choice, make sure you do more than go to class. Go to sport games, make friends, and most importantly get involved!

When it comes to finding the right college firsthand experience is key. Participate in campus tours so that you can get a personal experience of the university. Campus tours allow you to see what the environment, students, and faculty are like. Also, talk to alumni about their experiences at their universities. Research is also vital for finding the right college. You cannot just apply to a school without researching statistics about them; you must research. Research everything from class sizes to demographics. In order to make the most of the college experience, the number one thing is to get involved. If you get involved, you will meet people, grow intellectually, and become a stronger individual. Getting involved can be anything from playing a sport, to attending on campus events. College is what you make it, and only you are in charge of what happens.

I would advise that students thoroughly research their schools of choice and make list of 2-5 schools that match what they want. They should visit each of theose schools and take an in depth tour of everything the school/campus has to offer. Parents should help as much as they can in the decision process without interfering with the choices of the child.