Montclair State University Top Questions

Have an "idea" of what you realy want to pursue in life befoe you start apllying.

The advice I would give students is to listen to their parents and advisors when choosing a college. I was completely set on only going out of state, and I ended up transferring after only one year. The school was nice, but the area was just not what I was looking for. Visiting a school before you attend is also a great idea. It can be difficult to set up visiting times when the school is further away; however, it is truly imperative to know what kind of school you are getting yourself into. For parents, I would say that even though some of them know more about college than their children do, they should try to let the student make their own decisions while only giving minimal imput until asked. At that age students like to try to make their own choices, especially one this big, so if their parents gets involved too soon or too much, the students may feel they are pressured to make certain choices they may not want.

Pick one not based on what your parents or others want you to do, or on how much money a school is giving you, but pick the school that you feel with be the best fit and make you happy for the next 4+ years of your life.

go where you feel you belong

Pick a school that is affordable and ask every question that comes to mind. Also ask students with similar situations about how they feel about the school.

Get involved. Join a fraternity or sorority, do something. Dont just go to class and go home, or back to your room, because youll have a terrible time at college. Get out and do something, this is the last time in your life where you can have fun and not worry about working at jobs.

Look for a school that is good for your major, has great on campus living experiences and is close to a city because sometimes you want a change of scenery and because NYC is just a train ride away Montclair offers that. The students and staff should be culturally diverse too and accpeting of others. Try not to go a suitcase school unless you plan on going home every weekend.

When looking for the right school, students and parents tend to drown in the sheer number of possibilities; especially when a student is not sure what they want to do when they graduate. To these parents and students, I would say that it's best to find a school with as many options as possible, with a good general education program. When a student has chosen a major, these gen-eds can seem tedious; but for those who do not yet know what they want, it can be the time and experience they need to really decide what's best for them. Personally, it gave me time to know myself and my school, so I could make an informed decision. For those students who have a positive and unchanging understanding of what they want to do, they should obviously find schools that are known for the major that will give them their desired result. Furthermore, a good career-development program should be a factor for consideration at any school. Never take for granted a schools extra resources; the more the better.

Go to open houses for schools that you are interested in. If there are students walking around, stop them and ask them what they like and dislike about the school. They will most likely be happy to answer any questions and it is important to hear from current students. Once you are in college, try to get involved in different activities. It makes it much easier to meet and make new friends. Get your schoolwork done. It's only four years out of your life, and it's very important to do well. Lastly, look out for yourself. Know what you have to do and do it. No one will hold your hand once you get into college. If you have to meet with someone or find out something do it, don't rely on anyone else. And have fun!

What you think you want is not always what you end up wanting\, but the general principal will remain the same.