Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

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Finding the right college is not about getting into the most expensive school with the strictest admission requirements, nor is it about finding the cheapest one. As far as education goes, a good college is one where you can maximize your potetial and cater your education to your needs. Is the field that you plan to study very specific? In that case, a larger school might have a bigger program. Are you interested in pursuing research or study abroad opportunites? Furthering your education outside the classroom is just as important as your education inside the classroom. The college search is not all about academics, though. A college environment that you can see yourself living in is also important. No matter how good the educational program, if you can't fit in with the student and social environments of a college, then you won't be happy with your choice. Ask about the most popular activities on campus. Are the students highly school-spirited? What do students do for fun? Is Greek life popular on campus? The perfect college is one that is affordable, a place where you can grow intellectually, and most importantly, a home away from home.

Parents and students should always look at the quality of education and facilities of the department of your field rather than the school as a whole. For example, at OSU, Mechanical Engineering has extremely new facilities, building and good equipment while Aerospace Engineering has older building and equipment. On the other hand, Aerospace has better computing facilities. Use online resources provided by state government. These resources include detailed information about colleges and offer comparison tools ? all free of cost. Access to these resources can be gained from high school administration. Once in college, think wisely of what you choose as extra-curricular activities. ?Getting involved? and ?having fun? are not the only criteria. There are things one can do that are not only fun but can help in career by building skills and making contacts. Such activities related to your field also look good on your resume. An example: rocketry club. Also work with other classmates outside of class. This helps in finishing your homework faster without being bored or getting stuck. Some extra free hours per week can be gained in this way. Finally, talk to upperclassmen. They will be your guide at least till you become experienced.

Good school.

Make college vists and stay the night if possible. Make sure that there are plenty of extracurricular activities and get involved in atleast one or more. Don't think that you will be too busy with school work and end up not joining. Once you join you can always quit if it ends up being too much to handle. Never sit in your dorm room with the door shut, always leave it open as this is the only way to meet new people and seem open to anything. Talk to strangers. This may be the cardinal rule of little kids and not talking to strangers but at college it's the only way to make friends and seem like a really great and open person.

One of the most intergral parts of choosing a college, in my opinion, is the college visit. There is nothing you can read online or in a brochure that could compare to the feeling you get when you're on the campus or interacting with faculty and students. When searching for the right school for me, I had a list of criteria that my future school had to meet. However, it wasn't until the campus tour- when I felt excited, secure, and optimistic all at once- that I knew that this school was the one for me. Starting a new school, especially one as large as the Ohio State University, can be overwhelming. A new student might feel lost and out of place, like they will never find their niche. My advice to new students is to try new things, and a lot of them. Explore clubs and organizations that address your current interests and challenge yourself to participate in activities you never thought about participating in before. At the very least you will have tried something new and discovered something about yourself. Or, on the other hand, you may find the "niche" you've been searching for.

The advice that I will give parents and incoming freshman is to research every school of their choice and also to visit the school to make sure that the school is the right atomosphere for them. At some schools you can even sit in a classroom to see if large or small classes are right for you. Finding the right college is very important and a big choice to make and I believe that you should find the college thats is right for you and not what your parents or friends think.

Before you go searching for that right college make sure that you know exactly what your major is going to be otherwise your going to go there and waste time and money trying to figure out what to do. Make sure that you have a plan of action, know what classes your going to take so that you can be in and out quickly. Don't feel that making friends is a top priority because it is will happen without you evening trying. Try to enjoy your campus.

Join student groups/organizations. Get involved. Chose a major that fits your personality and interests. Take classes that appeal to you. Study hard. It will pay off.

research

As a senior looking back, I would tell prospective students and their families to keep in mind that every college they visit is not going to be the perfect fit for the student. During campus visits, actively seek out tour guides, students and academic advisors who can help you obtain an accurate and fair view of campus and student life. I would recommend that students take their time and put every effort into the college search and subsequent application processes. It might be the most important form/essay they ever have to complete. I would also encourage the student to go with their gut feelings when applying to colleges. They should not apply to any school for the sake of a parent or loved one, but should want to come to the college that best fits their needs. Once they arrive on campus as a freshman, I would encourage students to meet people and get involved with their Resident Advisor and other students in the dorms. Get involved and actively participate in organizations that are committed to making a difference in the community and university life. Make sure to have a social life, but save time to study too!

Spend a lot of time checking all your options including student loans, housing options, finacial aid, classes, opportunites in careers in your major, what kind of credits transfer if you change colleges, and also you college may be accredited but your program may not be making you have more requirements after graduation to get a job

Go to Ohio State! And don't rule out places you've never seen or visited - KEEP AN OPEN MIND!

Finding the right college is about more than finances and reputation. Finding the right college is about finding a place that you can call home. It is a place that will help you develop into a young adult and provide the tools for you to become a strong, independent individual. College is where you can experience the diversity that life offers to help you find yourself. Visiting campuses and going on tours is only one way to find out what a campus has to offer. Talking to a wide range of students, and not just the tour guides, about what their campus is like will give you a better idea of whether or not it is the right place for you. Keep your options open and don't rule out any schools just because they are too expensive, or too far away, or too small or too big (etc.). That school might just be the place that you can call home.

Go where your heart takes you. I f you pick a college that you don't want to go to you're most likely not going to be happy. College is an amazing experience and you need to be happy where you're at.

Just let your kids decide where they want to go. I know that some parents out there like to try and guide the path of their children so they don't make the same mistake as themselves. Students, just look for the school that has the best education it can offer for your carrer path. Or if you really can't decide on a college, just go for your favorite NCAA football team.

Vist the colleges

Do what is right for you. Do not worry about what your friends and classmates are doing. It is your career and your future so you have to do what is best, and if you don't, you will have to live with it for the rest of your life---or accept that you just wasted your time and money and go do something else.

Make sure to make the effort to visit the campuses of the colleges you think you might want to attend. You might think that a brochure will give you a lot of information, but it is not possible to form a full feeling for the college unless you experience it yourself firsthand. I would reccomend this even if you only feel strongly about one school, and are set on the fact that it's the right one for you. Even if you do end up loving it just as much as you thought you would, at least you now know that you won't be stuck on a campus that you don't like for at least a year. It will also create a great feeling of excitement when you go back later next year to move in!

I feel that in order to pick the right college it is nececssary to visit the college first. The college will feel right to the student; they will already feel like they belong there. Also it is important to always have a back up plan in case for some reason a student does not get into the school they want right away. They can always transfer. College is about feeling part of a community. College is meant to be fun, but the reason one goes to college is to get an education. School should always come first. It is possible to have a social life and good grades. A person has to make time for both, but too much of either will ruin the best years of your life. People learn a lot about themselves through independence at college. Although many people still have the financial crutch of their parents, students learn to take care of themselves and handle situations on their own. It's a very liberating experience to feel so independent in a safe environment. I felt during my freshman year I grew so much as a person and realized who I wanted to continue to grow into.