Mansfield University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

I think finding the right college is very difficult when you're only 18 years old and you have to choose what you want to do at a young age. Picking the right college involves if you like the atmosphere, if you know how good the program your going into is, and if the professors are good. You have to make sure there's a good chance you will be hired because of the degree you recieve from your college. Make sure that more that 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the students that graduate from your program get hired. If you do not like the people you meet at an orientation, dont go there; you wont get along with anyone. But, if you make sure you like all the people you meet and the campus really suits you, then go for it. It's going to be a hard decision no matter what.

Find the school that has their major, and that gives them the oppourtunities to go and look at the school before you make your decision. Also, make sure that you are pleased with how campus looks because if your not, and you go to the school you are looking at it every day for a few years.

The best thing a prospective student can do is shadow a student in their inteded degree program for a day. It gives the student a chance to see the teachers in action, as well as meet some current students in a friendly way. Also, how hard you have to work to get your voice heard and your requests granted by the admissions department says a lot about a school. A good school will go out of their way to make sure you feel welcome, and that you are getting the treatmet you want. You shouldn't have to ask 5 times to shadow, or sit in on some classes, the school should be begging you to do it. Lastly, be open minded. Don't be afraid do have your pre-conceptins and ideas about a school change after you visit. Choosing the right college doesn't have to be difficult, just open your mind to new possibilites.

Make sure that you not only look up information in the computer, but visit the colleges that you are looking at. Many times, when you get to campus, you'll know right away if it is for you are not. If you just make a decision by how it looks on the computer or by what other people tell you, you could be making a big mistake. To make the most of your college experiece it is best to balance school work and social life equally. Make sure you study, but it is just as good to join clubs, sports, or activities provided to help from not getting burned out. Go to your professors and ask for help if you need it; they appreciate you taking the time to care, and for the most part, want you to succeed. Also, make sure you like your advisor. If you do not then switch. They are a valuable resource and the campus should be accommodating you.

The number one piece of advice I would give to parents and students would be to follow your heart and choose the school that is right for you. Don't choose a school to please someone or becasue it highly ranked. If it doesn't feel like home to you, you never will be happy there. College turns in to your second home, and your friends there are your second family. Also look at a bunch of schools, keep an open mind, then choose the one that's right. When you visist the right college you'll just know. To make the most of your college experience you need to be open and talk to people. remember that everyone is new to the whole college thing and looking for friends. Don't be afraid to get out there and join clubs or other activities, just don't try to do too much. Also don't get discouraged if your not making tons of friends. Try to make a couple real close friends because having close friends is better than having tons of semi-friends. Then the more friends will come.

What helped me most during my college search mostly, were websites that gave information on colleges. You took some sort of test on what you wanted most out of a school. You typed in the size of the school you want, whether you want a public or private school, how much you want to spend, specific extracurricular activities you were interested in and when you were finished, it came up with specific colleges that, based on your answers, you would like. However, you can never know exactly what you're looking for until you visit some schools and get the real experience while you're there. Staying with someone who goes there and going to some classes with them is the best thing in my opinion.

Go there and sit in on classes. Talk with graduating seniors and ask them about their overall experiences at the college. It's such an insightful expeirence. Getting to talk with someone in the department that you wish to be involved with may even help more. I worked as a campus guide for a year and I would tell anyone to go to MU.

The advice that I would give parents and students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is not to be afraid to take risks. You want to be comfortable but at the same time, this is the time of your life where you can get out and explore different things that the world has to offer. I'm saying this because I feel as though I am cutting myself short by attending a University which i grew up around my whole life. I know that i can transfer but at this time in my schooling I'm not sure where I want to go, and I'm almost scared to make a move. So just get out there and don't be afraid to take a risk.

My advice to the parents who are worried about their kid going to college would be, do not worry one bit about them. From experience, most sudents do not go out every night and drink. So if thats what a parent would be worried about, thats usually not a problem. Also, there are tons of resouces at the school for every kid no matter what their problem maybe. The advice I would give to the students attending college is, get your work done before you go out and have fun. There is tons of free time in any one givin day after classes are over. The more work you get done, the more free time you will have and the more you will understand whats going on in classes. The main reason for going to college is getting to the next level of your career. Not to go and party all the time. If that was the case, why not just skip college and drink instead of wasting thousands of dollars. College is not all about fun. First thing is first, and thats getting your school work done. Then your fun can begain.

Make sure you love where you are. Set an outline for the type of school you want, but don't follow them strictly. You never know what oppertunites you miss if you close off your options. Make the most of your college experience by getting involved. School work is important, and it should come first, but being involved is where memories are made. Join clubs and activites, be involved with greek life, attend campus functions. When you invest yourself in the college experience you take the most away from it.