James Madison University Top Questions

What should every freshman at James Madison University know before they start?

Jennifer

While going through the aplication process make sure to take your time and find out the most information you can about your college and what it has to offer. Make sure to visit the schools you are interested in because when you see the schools you will know which one fits your personality and academic goals the best. Parents should be very supportive of their children. This is a large step for an eighteen year old, young adult, so be supportive with guidance and positive attitudes.

Majora

The advice that I would give to prospective college students and their parents is to make sure that they visit the universities that their child wants to attend. When looking for a university you have to remember that this university will be your new home for the next 4 years, you have to make sure that you feel at home at the univeristy. Make sure that you will fit in with the people at the university by just being yourself and not having to conform to the others around you. To make the best of your college experience, set goals for yourself and aim for the stars, get involved in residential life, and make life long friends. But I will warn you don't let college change you, if anything you should make a change to the college with your attendance at the university, make the difference don't allow the university to change who you are. Stick to your morals and beliefs and follow your heart and do what is right, get involved and stay focused and you will have the best college experience possible.

Scott

Visit the campus and talk to as many students as you can. Decide if you feel comfortable on the campus. Ask a lot of questions about what students think of their school and the activities offered. Arrange to meet with the department head of your intended major. Ask them a lot about the requirements of the major and get the paperwork involved from them. Ask about job placement and internships. Finally, go with your first instincts - the impression you had when you first arrived. For example, if the campus is too large then you probably won't feel comfortable at any large school.

DANIELLA

in regards to finding the right college, you should definitely go on campus tours and expand your options. You may think a small school is what you want, but a bigger school may be in a better fit for you classes wise and socially. Don't limit your options. To make the most of your college experience you should try and make friends with different groups of people so you can always be doing something different and learning something new.

Krysten

The college experience is certainly unpredictable however; there are a few tips I have learned that will guarantee success through those four magnificent years after high school. The first step is choosing the right college for you. Ask yourself the following questions; Can I see myself here? How far is it from home? Would I be happy here? Do I like the campus size, sex ratio, architecture, and on-campus housing? Consider all the aspects of the college you choose because this will determine more than the next four years, it will determine your entire future. The second piece of advice is the most important. As a college student, I face an everyday struggle of low financial funds. With the cost of books, tuition, room and board, furniture, and many everyday expenses, I find myself worrying everyday about how I am going to pay for everything. This brings an extreme problem to my life considering I am already stressed about academic issues. I would strongly recommend parents and students think ahead of time by starting out a college fund for the child immediately. This way everything could be paid for, placing less stress on the student.

Gina

I would tell students and their parents to start their research early. While the student is in tenth grade at the latest. They need to try to decide what the student will go to school for, and whether they will go in or out of state to a big or small school. That way the student will pick the college where they will be most comfortable. They should also visit different campuses to see how the student feels at each place. In order to make the most of the college experience, the student should get involved in the school as much as possible. Making friends and doing well in their classes will make the experience wonderful. It is only four years long! So each student should make the most of the four years by trying different sports and clubs, maybe even a sorority or a fraternity. College is supposed to be the best time of a person's life. As long as the student is open to change and trying new things, and doing well in school, they should do great.

Heather

In order to find the right college, you need to weigh the following factor's pros and cons: cost, financial aid received, distance from home, what majors they are most known for, and extra curriculars offered. To make the most of your college experience, take your freshman year to take general classes in several topics so that by sophomore year, you have a good idea of which type of career you would like to pursue. Also, while it is important to have a social life and make new friends, it is also important to set aside time to get reading and work done because it is easy to fall behind. It is also easy to fall into the party scene so it is vital that you discover what is really best for you and academic career and be confident in your skin; think- "Is what I'm doing now really going to help me in the future or matter at all then?"

Sarah

I would consider myself an expert on college. I have attended three different schools and changed my major at least five times. I am 22 years old. My college experience has been a long and very often frustrating road. I was never the child that knew I wanted to be a teacher, or a pilot, or an engineer from 10 years old. I never felt as if I'd found my niche. I'm sure many other teens feel the same way. At 18 we are expected to have figured out the rest of our natural lives. For me, that prospect was overwhelming. And so, five years later and $50,000 in debt, the best advice I can offer is patience. Understand that learning is a process, and there are no wrong decisions, just lessons learned. Be patient with yourself, and accept each experience as an opportunity to grow. Learn to take responsibility and know that you alone determine your success. It will seem difficult at times, but if you remember to always learn from your experiences, always grow in wisdom, and most importantly, always trust yourself you will undoubtedly have a rewarding college experience.

Monica

Just hope for the best. you really can't tell what you are getting into and youll always have doubts after the fact.

Megan

Be sure you visit the univeristy or college and take a tour that is provided by the university. Choose a school that has a profile which you believe best fits you and your lifestyle. When you go to visit, sit in on classes, talk to current students, meet with financial aid, check out the buildings, speak/meet professors, etc...find out as much information you can from hands on encounters as opposed to just reading information. Be sure to check out the town and surrounding area to the school to make sure that it is somethink you could see yourself enjoying. Visit career planning and check out the majors and programs that are provided as well. Overall, make sure it is somewhere you could see yourself being comfortable and consider factors like distance from home, demographics, etc.