CUNY Hunter College Top Questions

I think that students and parents should try to truthfully assess what the student wants and needs in a school as far as campus size, urban vs. rural, the professors available, areas of interest and financial aid available. As far as making the most of the experience, it's up to the student to decide how much social interaction he or she wants and needs as opposed to study time and research space.

Students: Simply put, college is a learning experience, so take risks and follow your heart. Just dont waste that freedom following other people. Follow your heart to find your inner independent adult. Parents: Keep your child well informed about what to expect in college and what they are responsible for obtaining upon their graduation.

Make sure the college has everything you need first and talk to the students who go there to find out what its really like living on campus

It is important, if not necessary, as a prospective college student to ask yourselves what you WANT in a college degree, not only why you feel you may NEED it. College, however you imagine it, or however it is portrayed to you prior to enrollment, will live up to that expectation. If you focus your attention on what you want out of your experiences, you will discover your perfect university. I do not believe my friends knew what they wanted for themselves in a college, and allowed their parents to force them towards a school or major they did not know they would hate. Now there is much resentment among my friends (many of whom have dropped out) and their parents. As prospective students, you will waste less time, money and stress by self-reflecting on personal goals. As parents, this is a crucial period in which to be generous with your time and advice, while being wary of taking on too much decision-making. Allowing your soon-to-be college students the thinking space to make their own choices is imperative to their success. "Whether you think you can, or think you cannot, you are probably right." ? Henry Ford

Don't pressure your child to go to school in an environment they are not comfortable with and are not eager to engage in. Each person deals with school academically and socially in different ways and one has to be sensitive to these concerns. For all you prospective students, it is important to visit your campus before you enter it, to sit in on a class and listen to the interaction between the professor and the students and to assess the quality and general atmosphere of the school community. Make sure to assess your school not solely in terms of academic setting but also the types of opportunities that can stem from your time at your college. This can include the availiability of professors who are experts in their fields, as well as resources for finding stimulating jobs and internships so that when you graduate you stand out in both the academic and work field. If you need financial aid, make sure to really invesigate what options the school has for financial aid and other merit scholarships. Also, look into other websites such as "fastweb" to better understand your options for scholarships.

Always go on your gut feeling. Choosing a school based on its name isn't always the right decesion for you. Talk to students honestly and ask questions. Be responsible about studying and completing work for classes, because chances are that you or your family are paying for them, so make the best of it. College is a very individual experience. What one may love another may hate, so never trust anyone's opinion completely when it comes to professors or classes. If you're going to party, save it for the weekends. Try and have a social life or at least do something other than homework once in a while, even if you are under a heavy academic load. Having periodic social time or relaxation does wonders to keep you sane.

Develope a balance between your spiritual, intellectual, physical and social life. Too little or too much of either is unhealthy to the body and mind.

I believe that it is very important that you research the colleges. Also visit them, because everything that you see on paper does not add up to the overall picture. Upon entering college a student must have [at least] some sort of idea of what career they would like to pursue in the future. Overall, college is a wonderful institution to gain both intelluctual and diverse experiences.

In this day and age, your undergraduate school is not what really matters. Save your money and go to a good state or public college and work hard. Spend your money on graduate programs because that is all that businesses and firms care about. Also, do not just take the "safe path." College is about figuring out who you are and what you really enjoy doing, not about getting a job or passing classes so you can move on to something else. Take your time and try as many different courses of study that you can. In the end, you should do what makes you happy, not what makes your parents and peers happy. Learn for yourself and keep an open mind. And for the parents, encourage your children to seek out the unfamiliar because the worst thing a parent can do is facilitate a student's own self-perpetuated cloistering.