East Central University Top Questions

What should every freshman at East Central University know before they start?

Noelle

Make sure that you pick school that meets the needs of your career goals, town, activity , and professor interaction with the students

Dianna

Never choose a school based on its name and history. Instead, visit the campus. Talk to the students and, more importantly, talk to the professors for your major. Many times you will find that the right school is the unknown one that happens to have one amazing department. Also, ask how many of the classes are taught by graduate students or assistants. As a general rule, the smaller the class sizes are, and the higher the number of classes that are taught by professors, the better the college experience will be. Also, be sure to find out what forms of support and social activities are available to students. It is important to make sure that you will actually be able to fit into the campus life. Finally, find out what scholarships, internships, and enrichment activities (study/travel abroad, field study, research and presentation opportunities, community service/service learning, etc) are available through the university. These are often an important aspect of the college experience.

Naomi

There are many important parts of selecting a college, but it mostly depends on what is most important to you. Do you want to stay close to home, or do you plan to do a bat-out-of-Hades impression the second you get your diploma? Is academics or sports more important to you? Do you need a good financial aid package, or can you afford to shell out a little extra for tuition? Your answers to these questions will begin to form a picture of the college you want to attend. In my case, I wanted to stay close to my fiance (and my dog), and I was offered a full ride at a middle-sized nearby university My decision was an easy one, but in some instances it may not be so simple. It is important to remember that there is no such thing as a perfect college. But as you look over your choices and and the pros and cons of each, one university will soon emerge as the best college for you.

Whitney

Think about it seriously. And choose wisely. It's okay to changes majors just remember it takes longer if you do!!

Colton

Finding the right school for a student can be a daunting task when first begining. However with the right tools and advice finding the ideal school far a particular student can be a swift process. When determining which school is correct for a student, the student must first ask of them selves a few questions. The first question being distance. The student must determine if they are comfortrable with living more than a long drive from home. If not than a school with the state may be more suited for the student. Next they should decide what field of study they want to persue. If the selected career field is highly specialized then the avalibility of schools and classes may be limited . Fields such as cartography are only avalible at a few schools in the United States. Next the student should consider the size of school they wish to attend. If the student does not feel comfortrable going to a school with a population larger than thier home town than a smaller school may be in order. Once the school of choice so selected then it is up to the student to make thier experience what they want.

Shannon

Look for good facilities and find somewhere that has a good atmosphere and caring teachers. And that has a good outlook on after college job finding....

Lacy

One thing I learned from looking for colleges was, what may have been good for you may not be good for your kid. They are their own different person, as cliche as that sounds.

Coby

I suggest that you look at the cost of tuition first and foremost. My college is considerably less than most but still really high for me and my family. Next, and probably in a tie with the first, look at the area of studies available. Other things to look at depend on the individual in my opinion. I personally looked at the closeness to home. Always think about the atmosphere and environment that your child of you will be going into. College is a fun and interesting place to be and it can only be so if that college is the right one for you.

Tahrea

Future college students need to understand that if they want to party and have fun all the time in college, they are going to fail. There is a very important balance that needs to be paid attention to between studying and partying. Becausae what's the good in having a college education if you got all C's and you didn't learn anything? The most important thing is to choose the college that is best for you and you're particular major. Deciding what you want to study before you start taking courses is very imporetant too. Otherwise you will decide to change your major halfway through school, realize that your school doesn't have the major you want, and find out that all the time you spent in class and all the money you spent on books and tuition becomes inconsequential if you transfer to another school, so you might as well finish up here and then get a degree elsewhere.

Brad

To find a school like East Central were you feel more like friends and family, rather then teachers and students. It makes for a much less stressful experience. Allowing you to do better then you probably thought in every class you take.

James

My advice to parents would be to know their children, and be realistic with them. Most soon-to-be college students look for a college based primarily on the college's name or reputation. Whether or not the college is right for them is not something that they particularly think about. Yes, that huge universty that costs an exorbidant amount might impress the company for which you are applying, but if your grades are lacking compared to someone who went to a smaller college with direct access to a real professor, then suddenly you're not as special as you should be. Basically, a pound of fools gold may look the same as real gold, but it sure is worth a lot less. Remind your children that they can always transfer.

Chris

well you need to select a college that meets your needs. if you are a big city person than maybe you would feel more comfortable in a large city because that is what you are familiar with. on the other hand a small town college may be comfortable for a small town person. research the university and its degree programs. find out if the courses offered will benifit you after graduation when you are applying for jobs. also find out about tuition fees. some universities are more expensive than others. one last tip, dont go to a college where you dont know anyone. if you are going to a college away from home, try to make it one where you know someone. nobody likes to go to a place and feel alone and lost. that is the reason many students get home sick. of course you are going to make new friends, but it is just easier to have someone there that you know and trust already.

Katie

Find a school that offers quality education in the specific area in which you are interested. Some great schools have poor departments in individual areas, and some less-prestigious schools have more effective individual colleges. Keep in mind professor-to-student ratio, as well as professor availability, and choose a school that will challenge you without overwhelming you.

Daniel

I would say that you first need to figure out what you want to get out of school. Every college offers different opportunities and every college has a different atmosphere to it. Once you've figured that out reseacrch the schools you are interested in and see if they fit your needs. Then definately take a tour of the campus. You may get there and decide a big university is overwhelming or maybe that the field you want to study isn't very encouraged at that school. Once you've picked your school make the most of it. Make enough money to always have a little in your pocket but college isn't the time to work like crazy to make money. There is so much to be learned not only in class but outside of class that you really need to enjoy college as much as you can. Volunteer for something you really care about and find a club on campus that fits your personality so you can start to get to know your classmates. College is a great place to build relationships and your education so take advantage of it and have fun, it's over pretty quickly.

Kristen

Picking the right college is a very big decision. The advice I would give is to plan visits to different colleges that you are considering. Once you have visited all the universities, the next step is deciding on the colleges to apply to. The big deciding factor on how many schools to apply to is the application fees. Once you have been accepted to the school of your choice you should get involved in campus life. The best way to get involved is in student organizations. There are a large amount of organizations that you can get involved in. To get the best college experience you should also interact with your professors. They are the ones that can help you get the most out of college. They have connections that can help you in the future.

Ajeena

you have to go get a tour from the college you are wanting to go to. check out all the financal aid and scholarship opportunities. dont go somewhere because it closer to somewhere or something like that. go somewhere that you feel yourself at.

Larry

When picking a college, you want the student to feel safe. Picking a safe environment surrounding the campus is always a top priority. Next visit the campus, before attending, to see how big the classrooms are. I believe being in a classroom with about 20 to 30 students is better than being in a class of 100 at one time. Being in a small class helps the students with getting help with their homework if they need it. This is because the professors know the students by name, so the student feels more comfortable asking for help in a smaller environment compared to a large one.

Cathleen

Visit the colleges and ask lots fo questions

Amber

Find a college that has a great success rate for those who have graduated previously in the field of study in which you are interested in. Be familiar with the schools surroundings, and what all that school has to offer. Ask questions. A good school has people willing to help and answer any questions you may have reguarding your education and the credentials that school has to offer. A friendly staff is what makes your life on campus enjoyable. A friendly staff will also be able to help you strive to reach your educational goals. So check out the campus or campuses of the college you would like to attend. Take in its surroundings, and ask any and all questions you may have.

christie

I would advise to take the core curriculum first. this will give you some exposure to college life and a look at some of your options. utilize the career development center and remember people don't plan to fail they fail to plan