Cornell University Top Questions

Seek out opportunities and know that you can be happy at many very different schools.

I think a lot of picking the best college is just going with your gut instinct. I couldn't put my finger on any specific details of why I liked my first pick college, but I knew I had a good feeling about it. Now that I'm here I know I definitely made the right choice. In the end though, it's all about what YOU make of your college experience. If you go in with a good attitude, ready to meet new people and enjoy college, you'll have a great time. If you come in with a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach, it'll take a lot to change your attitude. Find wherever you feel comfortable, and jump in with your chin held high.

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I would tell parents to let your son/daughter choose where they want to go. Parents should play more of a support/Devil's advocate roll. With that said I would encourage high school students to not be afraid to explore schools around the nation or different from where you grew up. Imagine your dream school write down all the characteristics and use that to search for a school that closely matches it. I also wouldn't worry so much about money there are tons of scholarships and even some of the best schools, which people think would be extra pricey , have really good financial aid packages. Explore and feel out whats right for you and don't be afraid to apply to a place you've only seen in pictures. If the pictures are enough to make your heart race follow it. I did and I honestly couldn't be any more happier.

Students should understand that attending college is a privilege, not a right. It is a very important time in a student's life, and in the formative years where a person has to really decide what they will be like for the rest of their life. When looking at a college, don't concentrate on which school will have the biggest and craziest parties, but the school that will influence you to become a better person and a benefit to your family and society. It is also important to look at the financial aspect of education. It is sometimes more reasonable to take a couple years worth of classes at a community college and then transfer to the university of your dreams. This would save money, especially during the economic state we are in right now, and it will allow the student the opportunity to mature for a couple more years and really decide what he/she wants to study. One of the most difficult things to do is to change majors, so the community college allows for changing majors without the huge financial loss of a major university.

Make sure your children know that they can count on you completely while they are there. They need to know that they can come to you for anything without feeling judged or ashamed. College will be the most difficult thing they will have done in their lives thus far, and they need to know and see that you are behind them 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the way.

Choose the college that is going to best fulfill the needs of yourself/your child. The education is recieved is vastly more important than the parties and athletic events that they will attend. Besides, even at the best schools in the country students party, attend athletic events, and have a great time.

So far, being in college has been an emotional roller coaster. Demanding courses, being away from home, adjusting to a new enviornment, and balancing academics with a varsity sport and a social life is very challenging. However, along with the stresses there are also countless memories that I share with my friends that I have met at school. I would suggest to all high school students searching for that "perfect" school to not spend money and time searching for the school that is perfect for you. Find a school that will accomodate your acadmeic needs and simple personal prefernces like size and setting. Then, all that is needed is a good attitude. If you start from day one with a positive attitude and tell yourself you will love your school and that you will be successful, those things will happen. Everything falls into place when you have a positive outlook. This positive attitude even works when you find yourself having troubles; academic or personal. Be positive and remeber to use your friends for help, everyone goes through difficult times. If you spend too much time worrying, you will miss out on the fun thats going on around you.

Compared to what you do once you get to college, choosing a college matters very little. Stop worrying about it so much. Once you get to college, take advantage of every oppurtunity that is presented to you. Join clubs. Go to concerts. See guest lectures. Have lunch with your professors. Study, but do these things even if you think you have too much studying to do. These things are more important.

Enjoy yourself. College is about learning about yourself and learning what is important to you. If you are too stressed or too nervous, you can't possibly learn about yourself as you should in college. Pick a school that is right for YOU. Do not pick a school based on prestige or what others tell you to do. Have fun!

Wherever you end up, meet as many people as possible. To find that perfect fit, look for a school where you could thrive academically and be able to picture yourself enjoying college. If you know what you want to study, make sure you find a school with a solid program in that area. If you are unsure, look for a school with a wide range of majors and once in college, make sure you try everything that you are interested in before choosing a major. Again, meet as many people as you can. Lastly, stay happy, and stay focused.

Visit the schools and talk to the students. You need to pick a place where you feel like home and where you fit in with the students. If something doesn't feel right then look elsewhere.

If possible, visit the campuses you're considering. Students should try to look for schools to which they have a good chance of being admitted, but at the same time don't be afraid to reach for more selective institutions. These schools should offer programs in the student's academic interests, and have student bodies/demographics and cultures that suit (or, if the student is adventurous, challenge) the student. Students and parents should also be sure they are on the same page in terms of finances, and also location of schools. In college, don't take too many credits at once; it's more rewarding to learn well rather than simply "get some classes out of the way." Pay attention in class. Don't procrastinate, and take some time every day to review what you've learned. Take advantage of office hours, and talk to your professors. They are usually interesting people. Make sure you eat healthy meals and get enough sleep. Don't be afraid to try new things, and try to keep an open mind. Join a club. Read the news. Most importantly, don't let these years just slip by, because they certainly will! Have some fun.

Don't believe your peers' hype. It's easy to get caught up in yearning for the schools that your best friends lust after, but remember: first, they probably know little about those schools, and second, they aren't you. You wouldn't date someone just because your peers wanted to date them, would you? (Well, hopefully not...) College is your opportunity to begin to discover who you truly are in the relative absence of outside influence, and choosing a college is the first step in that discovery. If you know what you're interested in, look for schools with good programs in that - but give yourself room to change your mind, too: what you're ready to devote your life to can change, fast, so you want a school that 's good at lots of things. And don't get too abstractly theoretical. Visit the colleges! Visit LOTS of them, of all different types. Spend the night, attend classes, talk to students and professors. When you find a place where you feel you could live and grow toward whatever dreams you have, you'll know, and that one's a keeper. It's worth it: college life is fantastic.

What has proven most important to me is finding people who are willing to answer my questions and who actually care about my experience. If at all possible, try to visit any school you find interesting in order to interact with both students and university administration. It will be the people you interact with that will have the most effect on your experience, therefore, make sure you are going somewhere where you feel comfortable asking questions and also feel like your question or concern matters. If not, at least call. Call offices such as the financial aid office, the careers office or whatever you can think of. These are important places and will definitely require a visit or two. This will also allow you to get a feel for how one is treated as a student and whether their attitude is one that sparks more interest for the school. Do not underestimate your interactions with students and with any admin you may have the opportunity to interact with before making your choice.

Determine what you want out of life cause that's what you're going to want out of a college. Don't have your future plans set, but you should know yourself well enough to know what you want out of a school. Is the food most important? Is your social life? Academics? I personally visisted the colleges after I got accepted so I couldn't fall in love with any I didn't get into. I knew I wanted good acedemics, a large school, and one with cultural diversity - and I got Cornell. As for the college experience - don't get discouraged. There is always someone on the same page as you, and in the end, it's only school. Parents, don't be the overachievers for your children. I have found numerous kids stress out because they know they're parents will be upset with their B+. Don't be that parent. To students, don't have the mindset of what can I get out of this college and then leave. I became happier when I realized I was a part of a community and this is my home for right now. Otherwise, live, learn, love, and enjoy!

The student has to follow his heart, or even his gut, as some may say. A student should choose a college based on what feels best: where he thinks he will be happiest and feel the most "at home," in the sense that he has found a place of belonging. The atmosphere is key, which is why college visits are important. If the family can afford to go on a college visit road-trip, take that opportunity to really get to know the colleges that you (or your child) is going to be be applying to. Be sure to try to schedule college visits for a time of the year when students will be around: this will give you a real taste for the "atmosphere" of the school. If a visit can't be made, do your homework: really get to know the schools so that a confident and promising decision can be made. Students, keep in mind that college is going to be a whole new experience, perhaps very dissimilar from your previous education. Be open to this new experience, and take it easy your first semester so that the transition goes smoothly! Good luck!

Make sure you speak to students in whatever major you'd be in at the school. Ask them about mandatory classes, work load, etc. and make sure that's for you! Also make sure you visit the campus and stay overnight with students so you can get a good feel for the campus and student life.

You really can't go wrong with whatever school you go to. Ultimately, everyone I know ends up loving their school.

An Ivy League institution is not always suitable for every child. It doesn't always providethe best quality of education, or best network of people. It really depends on whether or not your child is geared towards academia, or wants a practial education to equip him/her with the tools to become an entrepreneur or business person. If the latter is true, I would suggest going to school in major cities i.e. Chicago, NYC /LA, or save some money, go to state school! There, your child have the opportunity to find internships during the school year. If your child is very studious, sees him/herself going towards an academia, getting a masters degree, or going to law school, then an ivy league institution like Cornell would be very suitable. As for networking, low rated ivies like Cornell are not as useful for networking, because we have some public colleges with half-priced tuition. The heirs/heiresses of oil/steel tycoons don't attend our university. Often I find schools in major cities, such as USC and NYU have better networking opportunities, alumni who give a lot to the school, and help make their diplomas more valuable.