Jarryd
Prospective college ungraduates need to consider and weigh all options prior to making a commitment to a university. Things to consider are the academic setting, the social aspect of the university, and even collegiate sporting events .All 3 of these things can help a person determine what is truely important to the individual. Also visit as many colleges as you can prior to graduation of high school or community colleges, this will let you get a taste of the university life. Possibly shadowing some current students at universities to see the inner-workings of the whole college life.
Katherine
I would advise students and parents to thoroughly research the college or university and the programs/degrees offered at each one being considered. I would also advise them to look into the other aspects of the school such as campus life, activities, teams, etc. I would strongly urge them to visit the campus to see if it is a good fit for what they have in mind for their future education plans and goals.
Sara
Make sure you do a lot of research and visti the campus of the schools you want to apply to. If possible talk the some students and faculty.
Katilyn
Finding the right college for you is just like finding that special someone with whom you will spend the rest of your life. It is incredibly important to find the perfect school in order to make the most of college and succeed academically. You have to find the place that, just like a partner, is welcoming, a place that you desire to be at and enjoy staying at. You ahve to find yourself challenged to move outside of the box, and you have to find a place that you can contribute to, not a place that will contribute to you. Otherwise you will not grow, and growth leads to change, and change should always be positive progress.
Michael
Firstly, I believe visiting and spending sufficient time at the university is imperative for gaguing your compatability with that school; students who end up being unhappy are those who were unfamiliar with the school unpon enrollment. Moreover, traveling to a diverse group of campuses will provide better comparisons.
Registar for classes in which you are ginuinely interested in; a student who truely enjoys the material is one who stands out above the rest. Speak to advisors and professors for guidence, but stay faithful to your intellectual curiosity. Do not be scared to take on challenging courses early in your academic career. Personally, it was when I was outside of my comfort zone that I learned the most.
Involve yourself with the campus community! Extracaricular activities, student organizations, honor socities, etc. open up doors of oportunity. If you walk through those doors, it is easy to create social networks that may end up being great connections after graduation.
Brian
Visit the career center during orientation to find out if this is the best college for your major.
Rebecca
Make sure that you learn about the environment of the campus; know the city. If you don't feel like you could live the next four years of your life in that city then that college is not the right one for you.
Matthew
Go to a junior college first if you do not know exactly what you want to do. Experiment there, because it will be far less expensive. Once you know what you would like to do, talk with an admissions representative and program director from each school. Start taking classes that will transfer over to the university you would like to attend and have been accepted to. You do not have to wait until you receive your Associates Degree, only long enough to know what you want to do. Remain focused. To make the most out of your college experience, do not be shy. If you do not want to be seen then you won?t be. Don?t be afraid to step out and speak up. Get involved! I recommend living on campus with roommates for the first year so you can meet people. This will also help remove insecurities, and improve people skills. There is nothing like living with people you have never met. The most important piece of advice is be wise. There is a reason why we have parents, don?t be afraid or ashamed to ask for their advice.
Danielle
Make sure to visit the college before making a decision.
Samantha
Knowing which college is right for you is a feeling. You will know soon as you step onto the campus grounds. The smell, the sight, the people; you can feel the energy and you think to yourself "this is where I want to spend the next four years of my life". The experience is no other. You meet so many unforgetable people that you are going to know for the rest of your life and that will influence you for the rest of your life. You develop a relationship with your teachers that is unlike past experences. They sometimes turn into your new parents in a way. They are there to give you advice when your real parents just won't understand. I have made so many new friends at Florida State University, and I am glad I made that choice.