Florida International University Top Questions

Do not procrastinate!

Visit the campus for a whole day or even a week. Ask students about their experience so far, on campus & off-campus, and if they would choose it as their first choice again. View surrounding areas to find out about the neighborhood: safety, cleanliness, aesthetic appeal, weather, social destinations, entertainment, conveniences, and so on. Plan out the budget for attending the college and determine the cost for attending until the degree is completed.

Research the school about the leading ethnicities, food and campus

The advice I would give is to look for schools that you would find interesting and whose acedemic interests coicide with your own.

I would advice students to visit their campus see if they like it, maybe attend a class one day to see if they feel at home. Make sure it's accredited and join a club or group if they don't know anyone so they can feel comfortable for the rest of the year. Also, that they offer the program desired and any plans the school has on budget cutting or program cancelling in the next few years.

Don't go by college reputation. I was accepted into UM which is considerably more prestigious than FIU but could not attend due to financial reasons. I feel so at home in FIU that I would never regret my desicion. Go on campus, speak to students, speak to faculty, sit in on classes. It sounds involved but choosing a college should be! You are spending the next four years of your life at this place, you want to pick what is best for YOU emotionally. The academics, the opportunities at success and everything else will follow once you find that place that completes you, totally accepts you; once you find your second home.

I believe that parents and students should participate in the college application process together, especially if that student has parents that have been to college and know what it is like to go through the stresses and joys of being a college student. By asking parents to join a student in the college selection process, a student gains invaluable experience and knowledge about the value of college and getting an education. The student, specifically, should have a good idea about his or her goals before they go to college; personally, not having a clear-cut goal cost me time and money that could have gone into pursuing psychology, which is a major that I have a lot of enthusiasm for. By having a good idea about your likes, dislikes, and aspirations, it makes the college experience much more enjoyable, with much of the stresses of finding classes and fulfilling requirements off of your shoulders.

Research and visit the university because there are things to discover that aren't shown in the brochure.

I would recommend every student visits every school before they make a decision. You should spend a few days testing the waters at each school. Investigate on campus organizations as well as interview current students to get a feel for the environment. It is beneficial if you are going to stay on campus to take tours of on campus housing. It is also importnat to visit at least three different schools. While in school, set time out of each day for yourself. It is very easy to become too involved and stress yourself out. On that subject, GET INVOLVED? In 20 years you will wish you had joined an organization so that you would have gotten a true college experience. And finally meet a lot of people and always attend office hours.

I believe that in order to find the right college one must have certain things clear. First, the student must look for a college that is specialized in the career that the student is seeking. This is important because this means that counseling, facilities, and all sort of resources will be available for the student to focus on his career. Also, the student needs to know if they want to be far or close to home. It is also important to look into the school's statistics to find answers to questions such as, how many students are accepted and how many actually graduate? If the student has any special/needs or interest to research if the school provides special care for such. Don't forget, visit the campus and speak with current enrolled students for feedback.