Oakland University Top Questions

The advice I would give parents is try and have open-mindedness of their child's decision to attend their choice of college. Not every college is right for them. The college their child chooses might not be the most renowned or the biggest, but it might be the ideal environment for their academic success. The advice I would give to a future collge student is to pick a college that fits their needs the best. Also, the student should realize their intentions of going to college. It may be another excuse to meet new people, socialize and party. Or an actual stepping stone to help them better prepare for their future careers. Another tip is to consider the size of classes whether the student prefers big lecture halls or more of the one-on-one experience with a teacher. I have noly completed one year at Oakland University, and by taking necessary precautions of choosing the right college for me, I very much enjoyed my first-year experience.

Deciding the right college is one of the most crucial decisions of a person's life. There are many things to consider when choosing a school, such as the size of campus, number of students in classes, programs available, the environment around campus, and Greek life. When a student is going to campus everyday, nothing less than perfect is acceptable, so make sure that it meets all your requirements. When debating between two or more schools going to the campus or talking to professors or advisors give prospective students more information and therefore help narrow their choices. Once the decision-making process is over and incoming students are thrust into college life, there are several things freshmen can do to become acquainted; walk around campus with friends, talk to advisors and professors, and join organizations. Becoming friends with people at school is also very critical so that during your study-free time you can take the chance to relax with other students. There is a higher chance of making friends when freshmen get involved with campus activities and programs. New students will quickly become acquainted with the professors and the campus, the key is making the most of their opportunities.

Take advantage of community colleges especially right after high school. They offer a lot of help to people wanting to discover what they want to do with their lives. After community college and once you have your solid foundation just apply everywhere that you want to go. If you have your heart set on a college then put everything you have into getting into that college. Also have a good backup plan and make sure you save your money at every point.

Look at as many colleges as possible. Go to the campus and talk to the studens walking around. Faculty will tell you what you want to hear in order to get you into the school. The students will be honest and tell you exactly what they think of the school.

The best advice I can give to anyone who plans to attend a college or university is to move out. Staying on campus, or near campus, is the best way to stay involved in the community that is your school. Having a strong sense of school spirit and pride is the best way to ensure a commitment to acedemic excellence and a willingness to achieve the highest goals set for them. Remain involved in after school activities, go to sporting events, join clubs, go to shows, enjoy being a part of a large family of people that are all in the same boat and share the same interests. Academia is important, but to lose sight of the community you are in and the people that surround you will only hinder one's ability to form connections and networks with individuals that will have the biggest impact in the future of every college student.

You need to visit the college! Every college looks great in a brochure but you will never know what the college is really like unless you do some leg work. If you know people at the college you have an advantage becasue they are more likely to be honest with you, whereas the students who show you the campus are trained to spin their answers to please you. Find out what the professors are like, the likelyhood of getting into the classes you need, and the typical class sizes. When you're in college find something to get involved in, it is the best way to get to know your school and the more connections you make the better your chance are of getting great letters of reccomendation when the time comes for them. Stay on track with your advisor becuase there is nothing worse then finding out you just broke our back for a class that you don't actually need. Most of all keep your focus, but remember to make the most of your time in college, it can be one of the most influential times of your life so make sure it is worth it!

If I have advice to give to the parents or students about finding the right college it would be to go away to school if possible. I think that going away to school gives the student the full college experience and the student learns valuable life experience that can not be learned in a classroom.

Find out what the professors are like before taking classes. They make or break the class no matter the subject. Make sure the schools social life is what you expect and want.

Do your best to get the most for your money. College is expensive and needing to work simultaneously can make school work more of a challenge while limiting your social life. Be sure that the school you choose will allow you to balance these efficiently. Also, be sure to allow yourself to have fun on the occasion. Four years is a long time and without the occasional outlet you may find yourself burnt out. The very last thing you would want to tell people when they ask of your college experience is that you are a college drop out. Simply take it one day at a time and you will be surprised at how quickly summer comes.

Find the best environement for the student since that would determind how well the student will do in school.