Georgia State University Top Questions

Research schols based on the normal criteria: can I get in?, location, costs, degree programs, etc. Once you have that list, visit the school for yourself; don't trust the website alone! Most importantly, talk to current students! They will tell you the truth because no one is paying them to say only good things.

Spend time on campus and get a feel for the environment. Talk to people and find out their opinions. Don't just rely on what you read in a book or a school's website .

Take your time

Allow the student to pick the school because this will have to be a decesion that they will have to live with. Support the student in the decesions that they make because choosing to go to school is a big step and it is not made for everyone. Just be really supportive you will be surpirised at the reactions of the children.

Please go online and see how the college rates in the area in which you or your child want study. Also look to see how the school ranks in other areas such as social life, diveristy, scholarships, and many other social programs. Also you would want to find a school that is not only has a good educational ranking but campus, location and can you child or your child not only get a good education but also a great college expirence.

Gaining self awareness by being persistent in finding what gives you energy, a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment, is essential in getting the most out of the years which will revolve around evolution and exploration of self. When you begin to self reflect, much will be revealed to you. Are you really what you protray to others, or are there parts of you that you hide from peers and family? When I was in highschool, I gave the appearance of a very reserved-shy-smart-has it together person who believed everything was in black and white. However, the "gray" , spontaneous-adrenaline seeking-prankster-tell it like it is part of me did not come out until college. I had to take a critical look at myself and decide whether I wanted highschool, my friends, and even my family, to forever define who I am. Do not, I repeat do not, let others expectations and recommendations about your college choice and later your life, take priority over you inner voice. Hear people out such as you parents (who yes, are actually smart), but also listen to your gut. Find an instituition which will challenge your mind and your identity.

The most I can say is don't wait until your final semester of senior year in high school. START EARLY. When your a sophomore look at your grades and see where you need to improve and work on it. also start taking a look at colleges and universities, maybe even try to visit some. STAY INFORMED. Talk to your teachers and look for info on schools. INVOLVE your parents in the process of picking a school and when senior year comes along it will be much easier to pick a school. In college the biggest thing I can tell you to do is KEEP AN OPEN MIND. You will meet all kinds of people and hear all kinds of opinions, so be willing to listen and learn and you will do great. Also try to be diverse dont be a fraid to set out and make new types of friends and aquiantances. Most important is STAY FOCUSED. Once you loss your footing it will be hard to get it back so dont be afraid to cancel "hanging out" in order to study . Dont be afraid to move forward and grow. Because you will.

A student loan is worth a great college experience -- within reason. Picking a school schould first focus on the academic aspect, but afterward, consider the quality of life and the people at the school. The most prestigious school is not worth four unhappy years. Also, if the student is considering graduate school, the graduate school is more important than the undergraduate. It is okay for a student to attend a two-year school; four-year degrees are not for everyone. An associate's is better than a high school diploma, and it can be upgraded whenever to a bachelor's. Considering the student's needs and aspirations before money is most important.

The best colleges out there are the ones that are best for you. College is one of the biggest longterm investments you and your family will ever make, so make sure you take full advantage of the opportunity. Choosing a college starts with thinking about your personality type and needs as student, what you want to study, and what type of college experience you wish to have. Although your major will not determine what your career, choose a major that complements your career interests. For many, college life means more freedom and idependance, but it comes with a lot of responsibility. As a young adult, you have be accoutable for yourself; you will be responsible for attending class on time, navigating around campus, and finding help when/where you need it. Adjusting to college life can be difficult, but getting involved in campus activities, organizations, and other services will create a strong network with students and faculty and help make the transition easier for you. Take the academic portion of college seriously, but do not let it stress you out. Just remember to have fun because your college experience is a lifetime experience.

RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!!! Don't just pick a school based off of where your friends are going because it won't necessarily be the best for you. Make sure the school you're choosing offers the major that you want to pursue (sounds like common sense, but it happens). Look at size, housing, whether it's an open campus or closed, things you can do on campus, what to do off campus. Try to plan a trip to the campus, talk to some of the students. Go to sites like ratemyprofessor.com and see what the professors are like. When start the semester, don't try to do everything that everybody else is doing. Make sure you allot yourself enough time in between socializing to study. Remember college isn't about partying, you have to make the grades too. The people that party all the time end up being in college for six or seven years before they get serious. Have fun, make memories, but make sure you study and pass your classes. Remember that everybody isn't in college for the same thing and people will try to get you to not focus on school.

Students who exhibit a fair amount of responsibility in high school succeed in most college environments. On the flip side, students who earned poor grades or had displinary infractions in high school should be encouraged to go to campuses with small class sizes to encourage focus.

When selecting a school, think about the type of atmosphere you want to be in as far as in the city, in a small town, in the country, etc. Someone should also select a school based on how diverse they want their school to be. All school websites will offer a breakdown of the different ethnic backgrounds of their students. Another thing people should consider when they are deciding on where to apply is what type of extracurricular activites they want to participate in because not all schools offere everything. A good way to get the most out of your college experience is to talk to new people, join a club, sorority/fraternity or sports organization at your school. It is also a good idea to try and find people who have the same major as you because then you can talk to them about classes, professors, and future plans after college. It is easiest to connect with people who have the same major as you do because then you will already have something in common with them.

To the parents, i would suggest that you allow your child to really experience college life. Keep in mind that they are no longer childern. Do not be afraid to let them make their own mistakes. Basically i would advise parents to give their children room to grow, and to become adults. To the students, i would advise you stay focused. College life can be demanding and distracting. You are experiencing a major change and it is important that you recognize that, and you need to be able to make the necessary adjustments. With this being said, i believe that in choosing a college parents and their children should find somewhere with an ideal location. A place that is not too far away from home, but far enough for the student to gain a real college experience. I also advise a school that fits the needs of the student, and not the parent. It is important that the student's needs are met, becasue college is the first step to your future.

I know people say it all the time, but it is true, you are going to change a lot from the time you are looking at universities to the day you graduate from college. You should pick a school with a diverse student body and a wide variety of classes and degree options, college is a time to open yourself up to new people and possibilities and the best way to do this is to be exposed to it all. It is so tempting to choose a school based on where your friends are going, do not do this. Your first day on campus you can be anyone you want and it is difficult to do this if you are part of the same group you were in prior. I know how scary that sounds, but remember, everyone feels the same way. You are going to be nervous but press on, join activities, clubs, go Greek; anything goes. College, whether you go across the country or down the street, provides you so many opportunities, take advantage of them; you never know?

Visit lots of schools. Visits are the most important thing to do, a school could look great on paper and end up nothing like you wanted. By visiting several schools you will get a better feel for what you want and what suits you best.

Make sure it has the best program for your major.

Students should manage their time and plan ahead of time to avoid stress. Also, studetns should participate in different activities

The greatest important factor one should consider is which major one want to go into. For example, I initally wanted to go to Georgia Tech due to the fact that most of my friends and my brother went their. Unfortunatley I did not accepted at Tech, but instead went to Georgia State. The irony of this is that Georgia State was afterall more suited for me. Their Biology program is excellent and even though I had the change to transfer to Tech I decided to stick with State due to its program. Another good thing to look at is the financial aspect. It is way cheaper to go in-state and if you are lucky your state might offer financial aid programs. For Georgia it being the HOPE scholarship. Another aspect is how you going to live at or near college. On-campus is nice but also expensive, see if the college has a public transportation system like MARTA. Also keep up your GPA and always ask for help. See an adviser if you any other questions.

The advice I would give to prospective students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experience is to first, make sure that the college/university offers the most benefits and career opportunities specifically to what they want to achieve in the future. I say this because students should not feel as if they have wasted their time and money at an instiution that does little or nothing for them. It is important for prospective students to choose an institution based on academic and prestigous qualitites, instead of solely for social life, because the main purpose of school is not simply for socializing, but for gaining knowledge and experience in the field they want to pursue. Once they are accepted to their college/univeristy, making the most of their college experience is what will ultimately determine how successful they are in the future. It is critical to their college life to network with a variety of students and professors, despite their race, gender, and sexual orientation, because the more bonds they connect with others, the more likely they are able to receive adequate support and recommendations from and to others.

Scheduel campus visits to the schools your interested in. When you find a school make sure to attend new student orientation (for it is the best way to make friends). Make sure you accept all your finacial awards and exhaust all other finances you have saved before you decide to take any loans. Be sure to pick the classes you need to graduate, make appoinments with your advisors if you have any questions. Take advantage of all the resources on campus and get involved in extra-curricular activities, sports, or volunteer projects. Most important books first , make the best decisions, choose the best friends, and enjoy the experience.