George Mason University Top Questions

Parents and Students, As you could imagine, finding the right college is never an easy task. However, when making your decision be sure to look for the following attributes from your college choices: 1: Find the graduation succession rate and compare it to other the colleges on your list. 2: Check tuition rates and be sure they are within your budget. 3: Seek out an overall feel of the colleges willingness to help its students. 4: Look for diversity within the college so you can recieve the most out of other cultures and backgrounds. 5: Most importantly, make sure the college of your choice offers the degree your interested in and make sure the institution has a sound curriculum plan in place that is designed to gaurantee your success. I am confident you will find an outstanding college and you will make the most out of your college experience if you look for the latter characteristics in a university. Your time will be well spent and your education well secured for all future endeavors.

I believe that the students and parents should work together to find a school that is right for their family. School can be very expensive, but with the right scholarships students should be able to go where ever they want to go. Its good to live on campus and get that "college experience." Students should keep in contact with their parents and let them know what they are up to as it can be very hard on both students and parents when a child leaves the home for the first time.

You should schedule your time well. Don't ever miss your classes, and take full notes from your classes. Spend your time wisely and study hard. Asking for help from professors or upperstudents if you have problems with your class. Put important dates like exam dates on your calender. You will do well if you follow these advises.

Finding the right college for you can be tough. But, it's possible! There is a great school out there for everyone. The best tool to find the college right for you is YOU! Research schools and see how they match up with your preferences of location, academic options, social and athletic opportunities. High school career centers and school websites are great resources to help with college selections. And once you've narrowed down those choices, visit the schools! You'll get a good feel for what you would be experiencing on a daily basis. Once you've selected your school, get involved! Join a club, sports team, social group, participate as a volunteer, or work. Do something to start networking with your college peers to balance out your time spent studying and going to class. And there is no limit to the amount of organizations you can try! Keep trying until you find one (or more) that's right for you. You can find some great friends at college who will be there to help you succeed and make the most out of your experience. Be optimistic - college is a great time, filled with learning, growing, and fun!

Dear Prospective College Students, Visit a lot of colleges. I mean a lot of colleges. Do not go somewhere just because all of your friends are going to that school. Don't be afraid to strike out on your own. When you go to visit a college find out as much as you can, and don't be shy to ask questions. Don't just talk to the faculty or the tour guide. Spend some time exploring the campus on your own. Talk to students that you see on campus, and ask them what the school is really like. You will get a feel for how friendly people on campus are. Look around too see what students are doing. Are most of them studying or just hanging out? Are people by themselves or in large groups? If you can, try to spend a night on or near campus to see what the night life is like. Choosing the right college or university is important, but life is what you make of it, and college is no different. If you make an effort to enjoy your college years, no matter where you end up you'll make the most of it.

First, I would recommend the applying student to think about his/her own personality before beginning any application. Perhaps make a list of what the student would like to change later. Also, it is very helpful to set out a list of short-term and long-term life goals for onself. This will help narrow down what type of schools the applicant would be most interested in. A college choice is a huge commitment - financially and mentally. My advice for parents is to give the student as much freedom and responsibility as possible with his/her decision. It will help them later in their academic career when they don't always have mom or dad to lean on. Let him/her fill out FAFSA on his/her own until he/she needs your tax information. These little steps of letting go on the parents' part will pay off for the student even if it goes unnoticed at first. Finally, to make the most out of the actual experience, it is recommended that a student should live on-campus - in the midst of the action so that they can watch the institution come alive. Hopefully this has made an impact.

Become involved as soon as possible. Chances are, you and your friends are at different colleges. It's easy to blend in the background, although you can become lonely very quickly. Many colleges offer many different organizations and activities, ranging from sports to specific ethinic organizations to political organizations to volunteer organizations. If you keep yourself busy and involved, you'll make lots of friends and your time at college will definitely be fulfilling.

It's amazing how much your life can change, when you look and see the direction it's heading. For parents, you see your child find their identity in such a hectic world. As for a student, the identity is what drives you everyday, to search it and define it with every oppurtunity given. Resonsibilty and irresponsibilty, oddley enough, go commonly in one relationship, family. Trust is one of the most influencental emotions that can be shared within this unity . Have faith in the struggles and doubts, understand the pressures and know that together, you will always be there, eternaly. When I recieved my acceptance letter to George Mason, crossing the stage at my high school graduation, and even today, balancing a scholarship essay and a Religion 211 paper at the same time, my parents are there, and they trust in my descions and in my furture. I havnt crossed the finish line just yet, but this is what I have gained from my college experience already, and I can say I have grown so much, to better myself and to keep my family in balance of a life I endebt to them for making all my dreams, come true.

To the student: Although it may seem like the most essential choice you will ever make, choosing a college probably only accounts for about 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your college experience. Locations and course offerings may vary, but many colleges are the same. There will be all-nighters, there will be distractions, there will be great times, and there will be hard times, but most of all, it will be your time. Your time is where you choose to go forward, step-up, and do what you do best, whatever that may be, and any college will show you that. To the parents: Thank you for caring and being involved, your child will greatly appreciate it for this is a stressful and emotional time. Whether you are choosing to help your child out financially, or you are choosing to let them leap out independently, your advice is very valuable itself. But please remember the difference between advice and living through your child's choice. For it is in the end your child's choice, and there life. Good luck!

Go wherever the atmosphere is right and where you feel comfortable. I got into "better" schools than Mason, but I just clicked with the University more than any other. Don't listen to what anybody else has to say about the school; if it feels right for you, go there!