Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University Top Questions

The best advice I would give to parents and students about finding the right collge and making the most of the college experience, would be to never take "no" for an answer. Many people disagree thought of student loans, but I believe that a student loan is the best loan to get. It saddens me to hear when someone has skipped out on the college of their choice because they could not afford it. Education is not cheap, it is an investment. You invest your money and time into a degree that is worth it in the end. I am an out-of-state student, I do not qualify for financial aid, and I am up to my neck in student loans. It was always my dream to move out of Kansas and attend FAMU, and when FAFSA said "no" I did not qualify for any financial aid, I didn't let that stop me. When i applied for numerous scholarships and they said "no" I didn't get it, I did not let that stop me. Money was not going to keep me from following my dreams and parents and students should not let it stop them either.

I feel that parents/students have to really seek what they are looking for in a university whether it's distance from home or academic levels. They should also see what the school has to offer on campus and most importantly, research financial obligations. With finances, they should see what scholarships or grants are offered.

Just to make sure that your child is getting the best of both worlds. If not they may either say college is not for me or just simply not do good in life.

Let the student pick the school they want to go to. Be persistant b/c most of us are scared of leaving at first, but once you get there your fear goes away. Make the most out of your college experience because there will never be another one like it!

Be yourself and dont secong guess yourself. Go with your gut instinct on everything.

To all parents i believe that it's your childs decision of what school they want to go to. They know whats best for them you should never push them to do what they DON'T want to do. And to the students enjoy your college experience its a once in a life time opportunity.

College is real short so all things that you are capable of getting into try atleast one of them a semester just so you can meet new people.

Picking a school can be done easily through a rating system. In order to find the right college the parent and the student must identify the factors that are most important to choosing a school. This includes the variety of the degree programs, the number of students per class, and the quality of the research facilities, just to name a few. Once these factors are identified, weights should be assigned to the different categories and each school should then be rated according to the scale . Once the top three schools are identified, the student should have the final decision. To make the most of the college experience, the student should maintain an open mind. Be open to experiencing new things and meeting new people. The best thing about college is meeting friends that you will have for life.

THE ADVICE THAT I WOULD GIVE IS MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE DONE THE PROPER RESEARCH ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND MAKE SURE THAT THE SCHOOL FITS THE STUDENT, AS FAR AS WHAT DO YOU WANT TO ACHIEVE ACADEMICALLY AND WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN EXTRA CURRICULARS AND A SOCIAL LIFE. ALSO AFFORDABILITY IS IMPORTANT TOO, MAKE SURE YOU CAN AFFORD THE SCHOOL BEFORE CONSIDERING ATTENDANCE!

I would give advice to the prospective college student to invest in time to explore the campus when its in fall semester; because that gives you a chance to really see how students interact to others and professors. For example, go visit the department you want to study and ask to sit in the classroom to get a feel for this program. Moreover, i say check into the school financial aid office to see how well organize they are distributing your money on time. All in all, no one wants to be left behind with paper work to be filled out or money they owe at the end of the term. If possible look into student activities and clubs/organizations. You want to make your college experience the best and what better way to find out through meeting people with diverse backgrounds. Lastly, i say make sure you dont fit in but stand out on your campus. Find or define what makes you, you. You want to feel free and comfortable just being yourself on campus; a unique individual coming to gain knowledge and potentially earning a degree and using these tools to further your career path.

First of all, I would advise both parents and students to pick a school that meets the needs and expectations that one is looking for and to visit the campus before making the decision. I would also advise to stay on campus the first year! I know it may be dreadful but it is a BIG advantage, socially. Another advice I would give is to take advantage of whatever services the school offers, whether it is tutoring, academic advising, pyshological advising, finacial assistance, or campus jobs. I also advise to have a great social life but also make sure books and classes come first! Do not get behind in classes and alway, always, always talk to professors even if you are not struggling in a class. It is always good to network and have connections in higher places. My last advise would be to ENJOY it will you can and make the best of this wonderful milestone of life!

Save as much money as possible.

Find a college which is affordable for your family. College is not cheap so make sure that it can be close enough that the student can travel to a family member if need be. Your student will get out of his/her experience in college whatever they put in. It is a time to make life long friends, mentors, and contacts for job opportunities later in life. Make sure that you research each school and ask the current students about their experiences. Have your student try to join a school group or club because it could it could enhance their time there.

When deciding on a college, find one that best suites you socially and academically. You should find a college which will allow you to utilize your skills and promote growth and advancement of you as an individual. When it comes to the college experience no matter what college you go to there will be some positive and negative aspects. However, it is these situations whether good or bad to get you through life. As for parents, helping your child pick a college can sometimes be difficult, but your main goal is to support your child through it all. It is the first decision that your child will be making as an adult and they need that strong support from their family to get them through decisions in college and in life. Sometimes we must sacrifice so that the next generation can be better, so help your child attain the unattainable and believe that anything is possible. Even when picking a college or a career, do what best suites you.

I believe picking a college is the most important aspect. Students need to realize that they need to pick their university by what academics and majors that they provide rather than the name of the college. Think about where you would like to be located or what environment you like to be in whether it is an HBCU, a military academy, or a religious based school. The most important factor is picking somewhere you would find yourself comfortable being. Many students do not realize that going to college is for you, not what other people may think of it. Parents need to realize that this is the time for their children to grow. It is the four years where we students learn from our experiences and mistakes. Parents need to let them go and let them grow. College is a big responsibility and requires a lot of self-discipline. It is very common to flunk out of college because students lack the responsibility to divide their schoolwork and social life. Just remember: you are coming to college only to leave with a degree.

When trying to decide on where you want to attend college, research it, make suure they offer your major, visit the campus, speak with some upperclassman and ask them about their experience there so far. Avoid asking freshman because they are still new to the school and have a lot to experience. Most of all, do not let your parents, family or friends influence your decision. Choose your school because it is you who will be spending 4 years of your life there- make the most of it.

Start the college process EARLY. Research, research, and more research. Look at the city outside of campus (what off-campus is like). Save and look for money like yesterday (some people have been awarded money during their sophomore year in high school). College visits are a plus, if feasible. If not, find a student who has been to your prospective school and ask questions. Get involved and start the networking process early. College definitely helps you build on professional networking and socializing skills. At least TRY to start off on the right foot. The same as high school, it is much easier to maintain a good GPA as opposed to increasing your GPA. It's okay to party, trust me, but remember what YOU came for.

It's common to apply to schools that are most heard of or that sound more prestigious, but what people don't keep in mind is that the college you attend shapes the rest of your life. This is the reason why its so important to choose a school that best suits you. Don't limit your options. Parents, don't be afraid to allow your children to attend schools away from home because it gives them the opportunity to live on their own and gives them a taste of the real world. They will get to experience what it is like to be on their own. When it comes to the college experience, be sure to get involved in all different types of organizations and community activities. Meet and network with people of all different backgrounds. Most of all, be sure to balance your social life with academics. Learn how to manage your time wisely and develop relationships with your professors. With all this in mind, you will be well on your way to a successful college experience!

Visit the college not just the campus, ask a random student can you shadow them while they are in their class. Ask questions, experience the campus.

I would advice anyone thinking about ot attending to talk to school represenative including financial aid to get an overall feel about the school