Colorado State University-Fort Collins Top Questions

What should every freshman at Colorado State University-Fort Collins know before they start?

Shannon

When looking for the right college it is important to examine every detail. Look at the quality of on-campus housing and dining, the layout of the campus, the quality of technology/resources, and the surrounding city. You have to remember that you will be living there for at least four years, so if there is something you can not handle at the school/city of your choice then you should rethink your choice. Also important to consider is the number of majors-that you are interested in-that a school offers. It is quite possible that you will decide to change your major, and if that happens it is much nicer to be at a school that has another major that you want. To make the most out of your college experience, simply remember to keep balance. Don't ignore your schoolwork in order to hang out with friends, or enroll in every on-campus organization that you possibly can. Simply budget your time so that you can do everything that you need/want to.

Nicole

My greatest advice for parents and students is to discuss all of your options and goals together. Things you should talk about: ~ If money is an issue, go to a community college for your first two years and get all the core curriculum out of the way so that you can make the most out of the two years you spend at the college you really want. My first year's classes were in large classrooms with over a hundred students and no connection to the teacher, which seems like an education you can get anywhere, for cheaper. ~If there are opportunities for you, run with it! I have gained so much through the honors program at my school that I couldn't get anywhere else because I was able to discuss my ideas and concepts with top professors who were eager to listen to me. Also, in my first year I gained so much valuable experience through a mentor program, and have earned multiple jobs in my field of study because of that program. Those types of experiences you can only get at a school that is dedicated to what you want to do. Good luck and remember: discuss!

Michael

To find the best college, I would say that choosing a study focus that interests you is more important than the prospective jobs that some fields can have. Once a person figures out what they want to study, they should pick the school with the best program for that study, without making a large emphasis on the location of the school. In making the most of the college experience, I would say that it is very important for students to engage themselves in conversations with their fellow students as much as they can. Also, it is very important to make friends quickly and just be yourself. As long as your friends know the real you, then these friends will potentially be your best friends for the rest of your life.

Caitlin

first make sure that you apply to all the colleges that you would even remotely ever want to go to so that you have lots of options in the college picking. way your options when choosing a college and visit the cmapuses before deciding. then once you move to your chosen college for your freshman year make sure to start early making friends and meeting people in your classes and dorm (especially if you are attending school out of state) also join any clubs or sports that interest you. and finally focus on and dont let your school work suffer = a great college experience.

Cassandra

do general ed at a community college, then transfer into a college..have fun and don't switch majors, just get it done

Katie

In finding the right college, I think it is very important to look into more than just scholarly history, but also to visit the campus and look at extracurricular activities. For many people I know, they went to college based solely on the academic aspect, which of course is very important, but it is hard to do well acadmically when you are unhappy with your surroundings. Being in college is like no other experience, and it is not something that one should waste. It is important to make the best of it the whole time through and it is important to try to find the best place for yourself based on who you are.

Melissa

Get Invovled!

M

You need to have an idea of what you want to do with your education. May be a year of travelling and finding yourself can help with this. Also you need to spend some time with oyur child at some of the colleges you all are interested in.

Chelsea

As a current student I would advise others to choose the best place that fits you by visiting the campus and their website to see if they share the same interests as you or if it is at a location you prefer. If you don't know what you are looking for, it's ok because more than half of freshman that enter college don't know what they want either which gives you a chance to explore what the college offers. And also stay open minded about other colleges/universities, don't apply for just one, apply to at least 5 so you have a good chance of getting into college you were looking into. Also to the parents who's children will soon be future freshman, you need to be suppotive no matter where your child goes because you are the first person they look up to.

Paul

Myself entering college as an Open Option, or no major, student: It is important for a student that is Open Option to have options for classes, majors etc. not only because it allows flexibility without changing schools but it allows the student to enroll in classes that teach subjects unknown. Also as a word of advise, the first two years or so are just core classes, non-major, so don't be discouraged because a major isn't chosen; furthermore, a major is a guideline for classes and can be changed almost anytime.