Georgia State University Top Questions

Take your time

For parents, the best advice I could offer is to help make it easy for your children. DO NOT hover, or overpower their wishes. Encourage them and support them. For students, I would advise to dig deep and find your true desire for your future. Remember you can change majors until you find one you can click, and try to make firends in every class, and enjoy the time you have. Do your work and just have fun with college life.

The advice that I would give a parent/student about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to make sure that you are comfortable in the school that you choose. Students as well as parents should feel comfortable and safe in their environment that they choose. When students visit a school, it should be love at first sight since they will be spending atleast four years in that school. The college they choose should be like their second home. Parents should also feel comfortbale because they want to ensure that their child is safe and enjoying themselves, while getting a great education. Therefore, Parents/Students Should be happy with their choice and love every minute of the school of their choice.

Advice I would give to parents and students is to do it for the student. They need to be comfortable with their surroundings or they will not get any work done, no matter how hard they try. Visit the places you think you might like. Only you can decide what you like. Don't be forced into a school where you don't want to go. If you don't want to move too far look at your choices. Just remember, you need to take the time and look through the colleges and make sure they have what you want/need. And it doesn't hurt to ask questions when you visit. That's the school's job: to answer YOUR questions. Put yourself first and make sure they have your major, that is very important. Remember you will be going here for the years not your parents, so think for you. You have to enjoy it, college is supposed to be the best years of your life (not just parties) friends, campus experiences, professors everything. So choose carefully.

Get involved with the school. Join organizations and clubs and be an active member.

Research, research, reasearch! Parents, talk to your children about their plans for their future and if they plan to continue their education by attending college/university. Although they are older, they may still need that push from you. Share your experiences and knowledge with them and let them know that you are there for them if they need you and are ready to help; remember to also let your children become more independent at the same time, and to remember that their future lies ultimately in their own hands. Students, please research your options regarding applying and choosing colleges to attend, financial aid, and more. Apply for scholarships!! Seek help from a guidance counselor or knowledgeable teacher and apply for as many scholarships as you can. When you arrive to college, stay focused! You can have fun, but remember why you came to college- to get an education to help promise a fulfilling career. Get involved (Clubs/Organizations)!! Socialize! Study! Be open to broadening your horizons and learning more about your environment! Volunteer! Network! Ask your teachers for help when needed! And remember to embrace who you are and to continue to become the person you want to be!

Look for something in you financial range. Look for your major and see if the program is ranked. Make sure you visit to see if the campus fits your personality.

I would have to say that first, there is always a school to meet your needs. Research! I have known people that have had a horrible college experience because they THOUGHT that the school they went to was the right one. As a student, especially a college freshman, you may have no idea what you want to major in. The best thing to do is to look for a school that offers a wide variety of majors. I think that is the first thing a student should look for. You should find a school that offers many clubs and organizations such as student associations or fraternities or sororities. Take advantage of what your college has to offer!! Make friends, connections! Network with people because its all about who you know now-a-days. College is a place where you find yourself and what you want to do with yourlife. Try things that you have never tried before. Go to a drama club meeting or a philosophy club. Study abroad if your school offers these programs. College is the window to an infinite amount of opportunities and adventures!

It is very important that when looking for a college to attend, the attendee visits the campus multiple times. Being comfortable on campus and knowledgable about locations is imperative in feeling comfortable with your college choice. It is also important to apply to more than one college should your first choice not accept your application. Also, joining clubs and organizations is a great way to meet new friends, and learn new things about your college choices. Overall, picking a college that fits your needs and expectations is most important.

I would advise prospective students and or parents to evaluate the whole school in appraising its potential for a successful educational outcome. A great school is more than just brick and mortar . Professionalism and dedication of its staff from the janitor up to its president is instrumental in the overall experience at any university. Avoid the so called party schools as they offer little academic potential for most . Seek out the school which offers long term staying power with the ability to tackle the problems of tomorrow as well as investigate the trials of today.

To all the students and parents of students planning to attend college make sure that when chosing a school you take your time. Go see different campuses and take tours. The only way that you will truly know if the school is right for you is to be on the campus and see what campus life is like first hand. Secondly, do your research on the school. Each school caries different majors so make sure the school you are looking at caries the major you are interested in. In order to make the best out of you college experience get involved! Most schools have a lot of different on campus activities, so even if you do not live on campus find an activity that fits your interests and dive into it! Go to sporting events and get to know different people. By doing these things you will surely have a great, memorable college experience.

Pick the college that is similar to your style of living. If you have lived in a metropolitan city all your life, then pick a college with that similar charateristics.

To parents I would say sit down with your student and help that the best way you can by giving support and advice where you can. It is not easy to pick the perfect school, not many people can but as long as you are there to support and do what you can to help your student theire experience at whatever school they go to will be increased. To students I would say do your research and make sure you know what you are looking for in a University or college. Just because a school has a big name does not necessarily mean that it will be the best school for you. It depends on your interests and your personal study habits. Take college visits and talk to everyone you can about what their college experience was like, what they liked about it and what they disliked. Finding that perfect fit takes work but in the end it will be worth it.

Go to a school that offers a huge variety of majors and programs. That way if you change your mind about your intended major, you have a lot to choose from later on. Transferring is a bit complicated, but sometimes worth it. If you know you do not want to be affiliated with the greek organizations on campus, do not attend a school whose primary social involvement stems from greek life. You will find yourself disappointed if you do :o)

Start your planning process early and possibly even visit the schools that you plan on attending. Parents be involved in the process but understand that it is the students decision at the end, the most important thing a parent can do is be supportive in their childs decision and let them know that they will back them up in whatever they chose to do. Also check with the degrees that the schools offer because a school may not have exactly what you are looking for as a major. Take your SAT early and even take the ACT because its cheaper and its easier. Also know what the schools GPA requirements are plus if there are any special tests you have to take. Make the most out the college experience is not about partying all the time but more about networking and doing interns to help you find out if what you chose as your major is really what you want to do. Get involved in organizations that can help time go by plus get you support from others if you need. And long as you stay focused and do your best you will do great and enjoy you college experience.

Go where you want to go. Don't worry about following in your parents footsteps if you don't want to. Hang out with your roommates and really get to know them. Do not join a sorority or fraternity in your first semester. It is way too much to handle, and a lot of times, they don't really keep your best interest at heart, so you have to attend everything...parties and such that can really pull down your GPA in just one semester.

find a college that has a great financial aid program as well as housing

In my opinion, I would go to the toughest college that I could possibily get into. One that is known to be very academically challenging. I think that it is also important to consider a school that has a high level of school spirit and loyality among its students, staff, and alumni. A school with a high level of loyalty among its community typically has all of the infrastructure in place to offer a memorable college experience. Mix that with quality academics and you will not regret your decision.

Start by looking for scholarships-- you might be able to attend more colleges than you think! But be sure to find somewhere you are comfortable going.

Finding the right colege is a very personal experience. You have to find the right fit. Some colleges may be prestigious and well known, but they might not offer what you need as a student. Look through the glossy covers of brochures, but know that they do not tell the whole story of the campus. For that you must visit. Take the tours and talk with students, but also walk around and get the feel of the campus. Your gut feeling is a very important part of this decision. If you feel uncomfortable in school, how can you expect to thrive there for the next four years of your life?