Daniel
help everyone you can on campus with their studys. it only helps you in the long run and you make a lot of friends.
Rachel
No matter where you'll go, there will always be problems. Stating off at a new school always feels the same, so don't panic; wait. Start applying for money as soon as possible since your parents can't afford college on their own. Don't wait until the last minute/week to do anything. You cannot catch up. Keep playing music as much as possible. You actually NEED it in order to stay focused on anything, including schoolwork. Even though you are beginning to feel like you're being replaced in everything you have spent so much time doing, you aren't. You have left enough of an impact to be remembered because you weren't focused on leaving an impact, just enjoying yourself. Your high school friends will always be there for you while you are away, including 2AM phone calls. You college friends will do the same if you let them into your heart.
Emmanuel
I would definitely tell myself to apply for more scholarships possible. I had a chance of getting outstanding scholarships back in highschool. However, because of procrastination, I passed the deadline and couldn't apply. Back then I didn't know how much scholarship was worth. Now I realize how though it is to pay for college. Missing those scholarships was one of the biggest regrets I have.
Kevin
Finding the right college is like finding a home. You are going to be there for many years and need to feel comfortable there. Look at location, majors, courses outside of your desired lesson, and school population. This information will tell you a lot about the personalty types you will most likely find on the campus. Also, talk to current students they can give you a lot of useful information on what the school is really like. You can't get a good feel for the school by reading about it on the internet or from a book. However, find the major aspects you want in a school first and narrow the search down to a select few. That way you will be looking at schools that give you what you want. Otherwise you may find a campus that you really like but doesn't offer your major and other important things, and you may focus on the qualities of the school that doesn't work for you, causing you to miss the right school. Don't think that you are going to get everything you want, chances are you won't. Don't let that get you down.
Joshua
The most important bit of advice i can give students and/or parents is to do your research. Be sure to look at the programs for many different schools and research the student life of each school to make sure that it fits with your personality. This also involves research into your desired field of study to be sure that it is really the program you are inteseted in. You must be sure that you feel good about all aspects of the major before you begin your program. I made the mistake of choosing a major before i knew all about and now I'm about to begin my senior of college and every once in a while i have the feeling that i may have chosen incorrectly. Also one area that is very good to research is job placement. One big reason i chose my current school is its 97{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} placement rate into a job in ones area of study or into a graduate program, this is especially important in todays economy. Research, i believe is the number one piece of advice i would give students planning on attending college.
Kevin
The first thing is try to find the best school for whatever major is it that you are looking into. Once you have found several colleges or universities that are good for your major, do a lot of research; find out all you can about each college. Going to college is not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} about academics, although the majority of it should be. College is also about having fun, meeting new people, trying new things. Try and find a place where you are going to happy, not just with your major, but also your social life as well. Obviously, this goes along with making the most of your college experience. If you find that "perfect" college, you are going to try and make the most of the experience. Join clubs, go to study sessions, think about going Greek, and maybe do a sport. To make the most of your experience, you cannot stay in your dorm room and do homework and study; however, I am not saying to completely push it aside either.
Jessica
Finding the right college for you or your child is a difficult and ongoing process. There are many resources that both high schools and the internet can provide in order to determinepotentially interesting subjects as well as which colleges might offer a degree pertaining to those interests. However, once a college has been chosen, the process does not end. It is quite common to find out that a potential degree is not what was expected, or that another is more appealing or more practical. This is not something to be ashamed or concerned over. The most important thing when entering into a new college is to find where you as an individual might fit in. This might even mean finding a new college. Finding a niche, with new friends, is the greatest new experience for college students, and is one of the best ways to enjoy college. On-campus housing is something to consider, where opportunities are provided for building lasting friendships, as well as learning a bit about how to live on your own. The greatest experience of college is learning who you are and where you want to be when you finally get out into the real world.
John
You may not make the right choice the first time - campus or major. This is an expensive proposition, don't be afraid of change. Don't like your advisor - find another one. Don't like the college, or your major - try a summer class somewhere else, or take a class unrelated to your curent major. A degree in a field you hate when you graduate is not worth the paper it is printed on. You find yourself to be a very different person at 21 than you were at 17 when you first started making decisions.
Amber
Visit the campus and stay with current students before committing to a college. The social life marks the biggest difference between colleges. If you don't feel comfortable being yourself at a college, then you won't be happy there. During your freshman year, get involved in one or two activities to help get connected to your college, but don't go overboard with the clubs. If you try and do everything in that first year, you'll get burned out. You can always add to your activites later.
Stephanie
The most important thing to do is visit the college to see if the atmosphere is right for the student. Also, talk to other students on the campus to see if you think you would fit in.
Nick
People don't change between high school and college. Make friends with friendly people. Don't limit your experiences unless you're uncomfortable, but don't be afraid to try new things. Don't ignore your schoolwork, since thats what you're at college for after all. Most importantly, if you aren't having fun, you're doing it wrong!
Sarah
First and foremost, I would suggest that the student know what they want out of a school. If the student most values their education or social life or career, this will greatly effect the type of school that the student should choose to attend. For example, if a student is most looking for a wild social life, a technical or engineering school would generally not satisfy the student. Also, if a student is most concerned about their career, a school in a big city is generally a good idea since there are many internship opportunities nearby that the student could pursue while still in classes.
Once the right school is chosen, it's very important to try new things when you're there. College campuses are nothing if not a huge variety of people and activities waiting to be experienced. Learn about other cultures, befriend people that aren't like you, serve in the surrounding community and find out what life is like away from home! If you play your cards right, college will expand your view of the world and form you into a more well-rounded and confident individual.
Naguib
The most imporant thing is to know the field you want to be in before aplying to schools and look for schools that are known for supplying the work force with the best graduates in the market. it is important to look through the faculty's real world experience, their private practice if they have any, where they got their degrees from. if the student is interested in art and architecture related majors it is very important to see the schools' student exhibitions and make sure that he/she knows what they are getting themself into. visiting the campus before admission is also important to have an idea of what 4 years of your life could be like. focusing on getting the work load done and then look for having fun. and finally for parents, a good school is worth taking an educational loan instead of going for the cheapest school, it is a worthwhile investment and the outcome will exceed your expectations
Thomas
College is not about going to the most prestigious university willing to accept you. The days of thinking that your GPA separates you from the rest of your peers are over. College is about becoming an adult, and investing in your future. You do not have to leave your past friends behind, but you do have to be open to making new ones, and having new experiences. Apply to a college that you know you will be comfortable at and will be able to get involved on campus in whatever your passion is outside of academics. This does not mean that you should not challenge yourself, and it does not mean that academics do not come first. Any leader of an organization on any campus will agree. Also, realize that the amount of money it costs to attend an institution does not reflect on its benefit to you. There are thousands of colleges in the United States, and more and more people are attending them each year. In the end you will receive the same piece of paper, and that will set you on the track to becoming what you want to be in your life.
Tim
To find the right college, one must consider many important factors. Every college is different and unique, so one must find the college that fits what they are looking for. Some important factors to consider are size, location, tuition, degrees, financial aid, professor rating, student life, etc. These are some of the major factors, but there are many more for one to consider. The best way to figure out if a school is right for you is to visit it multiple times and even spend a night or two on campus to see how the dorm life is and how students interact. Another way to get information is to ask questions, either from admission counselors or from current students.
The best way to make the most of the college experience to try many things. It can be as simple as joining many clubs and then weeding out the ones that aren't interesting or making many friends. You don't have to be best friends, but make connections, get involved and it will reward your sense of belonging to the university which will improve your experience in college and for the rest of your life. Also, enjoy and be yourself!
Avni
Try to visit the campus and talk to a few students who are not the tour guides, they will let you know what the school is really like.
Melene
For the parents I would suggest reading and understanding the college process before their child even applies to the college. They should be prepared for the financial portion as well as getting familiar with the process of taking out loans. Parents should also understand that the first year of college is going to be a life changing experiance for their child and should support their decisions. As for the students, they have a lot to look into before choosing the right college. They need to research a lot of information about the school to see if it would be a possible option for them. They should also visit the campus and try to meet some current students just to get a feel of what they would be experiancing. Once they feel comfortable in the area that they are in, they should start thinking about the next couple of years. This means they should think about what carrer they would like to go into and start thinking about the future; this is probably the hardest thing a college student has to do. Finding who you are and making the right choices in your life is what college is truely about.
Eddie
I know that college is expensive, but the decision should be up to soley up to the students. It is the students who are going to spend 4-5-6 years there. I don't believe that parents should force their children into going to a particular college just because that is where they went or is the cheapest. College is what helps the maturation and growth of an 18 year. They develop mental and physically into young adults, newbies in profession, with a vast amount of knowledge. The choice should be theirs, because if they do pick the right college and they go there to learn, the most important reason to go, then the college loans will be paid off within a couple of years out of college when they get a high paying job.
Matthew
The University ranking does not matter. It is up to you to make something of yourself. Care less about getting that A and more about experimenting with new ideas and applying what you have learned. Do not repeat the similiar tasks in the same way, but always try something new. Every week or so try to meet someone that is not of your country's origin. It helps you become more aware of the world around you. Finally, when you attend college you must accept the fact that "ignorance is bliss."
Joseph
College is more than just a place to learn. It will be home to you and your friends for at least 4 years. When you pick out a college make sure you pick one that has a positive learning enviroment. I would advise not chooseind a party school but pick a school where the students genuinly enjoy what they are studying. This attidude rubs off and if you surrond yourself with people who love learning then it will be easier for you to enjoy school. Im not saying never party, Because college is your home as well as school. Make friends, study with them, talk to your professors. Hopefully you can do these things easily at the college that is right for you.