Michigan State University Top Questions

Don't be fooled - you don't have to be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure of what you want to do with the rest of your life when you decide on the college you want to go to. Because the average student changes their minds 3 or 4 times on their major before they graduate, it's more important to make sure you'll be comfortable , and feel safe and secure that you'll have options if you do end up changing your mind. I transferred schools my second semester sophomore year, and don't regret my time at either school - it's impossible to know what the future entails, but follow your gut. More often than not it's right. And while it's important to make new friends when you leave for college, don't forget those you left behind. They're your best support system, especially during your freshman year. Finally, it's okay to be afraid and homesick and feel like you don't belong: college is new and scary. It takes time to get adjusted! Don't rush the process, the college experience can't be defined the same way for everyone.

I would recommend that students find the college that they could see as being home, because that is what it becomes once you get on camupus. If high school students are unsure, it is important to visit not only the college campus, but the surrounding area to get a feel for the environment. The college must be what the students want rather than what the parents want for them, since they are the ones that will be spending their time there.

Choose a school because you want to go there, not because someone you want to be with will be there or because your family wants you to be there. No matter where you end up, if it's your school of choice or not, go there with an open mind and be optimistic about it. Choose a school that you think you will be happiest and most comfortable at. Choose a school that is the right size and distance from home for you. Choose a school that is good for your intended major. Don't be afraid. Get involved. Make the most of your college experience. Go out, have fun, meet new people, be adventurous, but always make good decisions. Make sure you can balance school life and a social life. College is what you make of it, so make the best of it.

Choose a school that best fits your personality. If you are social, outgoing, and love sports, pick a college that fits those characteristics. If you don't like big classrooms and loud Saturday afternoon football games, chances are you won't like a school such as Michigan State University or University of Michigan. To make the most out of your college experience, you have to love your school! If you love your school and are involved in the activities the school provides to its students, you will make the most out of your college experience!

Don't go to a school that your parents, friends, neighbors, or significant other like. Go to the school YOU like. Its your life, they're going to be your classes, your teachers, your friends and your family so it should be your decision. And when you get there, be ready to meet new people and learn new things because you'll learn more in your first year of college than you did throughout your whole life before that

You have to go into college with an open mind, but at the same time don't give up the values that make you, you. College is a time of self discovery, but it is important to remeber that discovery isn't starting from scratch. The foundation of who you are has already been layed. Don't throw away your parents beliefs the first chance you get, look back at them and see where they were coming from. Do the same with all the new ideas/viewpoints that are presented to you and you will have a successful college experience. Most importantly don't be afraid to be you.

I would advice parents to support the student regardless of where they choose to attend college. By experience, I can advice the student to focus in their education and be very open minded because being in college is a complete learning experience where we learn a lot, not only academically but personally. It is very important to keep your goals set and to have the courage to accomplish them because we experience many situations where dropping out seems as an option. There is a saying in spanish which I heard in a song by Vicente Fernandez, a very well known "ranchera" music singer and a Mexican icon, that says "no hay que llegar primero, si no hay que saber llegar", in english means that it is not important to get there first, but what is important is to know how to get there. In my own words, we need to be patient if we are struggling and we should not give up or even consider it as an option because perseverance will get us there no matter when; it will if we really want to.

Picking the right college will be one of the most important decisions that you can make in your life. The college that you attend will determine your lifetime friends, your potential career and all of your networking connections. Deciding on what college to attend has to do with the type of person that you are and how big of a school you want. Once you are at school the best advice is to go out and make yourself make friends. It will be harder to make new friends, but it is necesary to maintain happiness and de-stress. Also, reach out to your professors and get to know them so that if need be they can write you a letter of recommendation.

Almost every college student and/or graduate will tell you "make use of the four years at college because you'll never live it again". Many parents may be worried of their kids going to college afraid of taking advantage of it and not focusing on their career. College is a place for students to live AND learn. It's important to realize for parents that their kid(s) need to fulfill their life with all the experience and hands-on they can get. Before you know it, they are off to a career after college. Finding the "right" college for a student is difficult. However, as long as one is successful at empowering their knowledge to its fullest and creating life-long memories and friends, there really is no denying in what college is "right". The parent and student should make their decision based on what the student feels comfortable with, in terms of campus and learning environment as well. All in all, whatever will make a student over and beyond satisfied with experience and life at a college will benefit for them in their future without a doubt.

Make sure to explore all of your options. Look at the colleges in which your child feels most comfortable at, but also look at what you could financially afford.

Parents and students should be looking at what they can afford for going to college. Financial aid is available at many schools, but starting off after college with over $10,000 can make your financial situation difficult for years. Along with financial aid pay attention to what you think best suits you. If you do not like big cities or big crouds, you may want to find a smaller school even though it is not one of the popular universities in your state. Look around and see which campus you feel most comfortable at. Just because all of your friends are choosing a certain university does not make it the right one for you.

Selecting the college that is right for you is a challenging process. With so many great schools available all around the country, it's hard as a teenager to choose the institution where you will earn the education that will help shape your future. It's important to research different schools, go online and look at the websites of all schools you may be interested in. Start with a broad search and then pick out certain characteristics that you like the most (size, location, programs offered, sports). From here make a list of the schools that have the qualities that you want. Once you've narrowed it down plan trips to visit your top schools. It is important to take a trip to a school before you enroll, because you are going to be spending lots of time and money there and you should make sure it's what you want. Parents should be involved in this process, it's necessary to take both what the student and parent want and find a school that offers both. The college years are fun and exciting but in order for them to go smoothly it is important to research and plan ahead.

Choosing the right college is like choosing a second home. The student must feel welcome, and comfortable on campus, or it will be nearly impossible to study, interact with professors, and make friends; all of which are vital to make this stage of life a success. Most importantly, encourage the student to follow their dreams. Then decide what the student is interested in. If a desired major has not been chosen there are ?quizzes? online that formulate possible areas of interest from answers to questions about likes and dislikes. Once the student has examined possible careers research colleges that have accredited programs in those areas. Next, decide what size school the student will be comfortable attending. The final step is to visit the campuses that meet the criteria. If possible attend a class or two, people-watch and talk to professors and advisors. After a few days the student will know if that campus is someplace they can call home. Upon arrival to a new campus it is essential to experience new activites and people, but never abandon any morals. They say, your college days are the best of your life, but remember, life is only what you make it.

I think what is most important is that students go to the universities to visit before even applying. My freshman year of college I would have never dreamed of coming to MSU but after visiting the school I fell in love with it. You never know until you try, and I ended up transferring to MSU. The other thing is to really think about what you want. Anything is possible, but it needs to be something you love. If you don't like running into people you know all the time, a small school isn't for you, etc.

Many factors are necessary to consider when choosing the right university. For some families, the main limitation is cost of tuition. Many out-of-state and private schools are simply too expensive. For those students who do not have an issue with financing their education, they should consider campus and class size, extra-curricular activities, and student services (tutoring, counseling, writing centers etc.) Comparing different schools for national ranking is also important. Visiting as many campuses as possible and getting a general feel for the varying atmospheres is essential. Many schools are obviously more conservative or liberal than others. It is good to find a campus where you share common interests with the other students. An academically-geared student would have a difficult time living on a campus that is a well known 'party school'. The years spent at college can be the most important and memorable for many students. It is important to make the most of them: join clubs, attend conferences led by special speakers and learn as much about the university community as possible.

Make sure it is somewhere that you are comfortable with almost every aspect of it, the size and set up of the campus, the size of the school and the classes, the type of people that attend, etc. Make sure it is somewhere that offers majors and classes that you are interestred in and that are at a level that is right for you. Make sure the location of the school is good for you. Don't be afraid to step out of your shell, try new things, meet new people. You only get one chance to be in college, so make the most of it. Don't go home every weekend but don't forget about home either. Don't let your social life get in the way of your performance in school. There's a time for fun and there's a time to do work and study so make sure you find the right balance. College is a place to make mistakes, learn, and grow.

I would tell parents/students not to have tunnel vision when looking for the right college for them. Make sure that the college is right for the student and you are not just making them go because the parent went there, it is a good location, or because of costs. You may not have the same experience your parents had or the college may be a completely different campus now. If you want to move away or stay close, that is your choice don't let anyone talk you out of it or in to it. There are so many ways you can get assistance to pay for college that it doesn't matter what tuition costs, this is your education and experience you need to succeed. College is the most amazing growing experience of your life. When you look back on your life nobody wants to have regrets. If you want to study abroad, do it. If you want to join a sorority, do it. Most of all when you are picking out a college don't let anyone influence you. Look at the big picture and make the choice that is in your heart.

Make a list of what is important to you and rank them, then go from there. Know what kind of classroom setting and study environment works for you and go with a school like that, after all you are in school to learn. Get involved with activities that you enjoy as much as you can without having it affect your classwork. Don't be afraid to try new things and open your mind up to new ideas since college is all about new experiences. Talk to strangers sitting next to you in class and make friends whereever you go because it is all about who you know and it may get you somewhere later in life. Most importantly, don't be afraid to be yourself and express yourself. There are so many people that are trying to find themselves in college and everyone has their own style. There are students out there just like you and who will accept you the way you are so never compromise that just to 'fit' in at the party scene.

My advice would be to not feel pressured or rushed when picking a college. Take your time and pick the colleges that have the qualities that best fit what you want and make sure to visit them because sometimes they can sound better than they are. Sometimes this process can seem overwhelming but just have fun with it and you'll find the perfect college for you. College is the best time of your life so make sure you find the perfect one and make sure you enjoy it when you're there. Join clubs that best fit your personality and get out and party whenever possible. But always leave time to study and do school work or else your college career will be short, plus this is your future we're talking about! So take your time and find the best college for you, work hard and have fun!

In order to find the right college, you have to look both at the college environment and the academic programs a college offers--and feel like you would be able to fit right in with both of them--because both are essential to making the most of the college experience. Your academic program should have a lot of opportunities available for growth of knowledge and experience within your chosen field, and the college environment should supplment your academics with a lot of opportunity for growth as a human being. After that, what you choose to participate in shapes how your college experience will be.