Ohio University-Main Campus Top Questions

Know yourself. Visit schools. Get excited. Its a fun and adventurous ride...

When I began to look into colleges, I was, as can be expected, overwhelmed. Through visiting schools beyond the standard college tour, however, I was able to find the perfect school for me. I think that this is a very important part of narrowing down one's choices. An afternoon being led through a campus is never going to be enough to determine if a school is the "right one". Research the university and the area around it. Parents and especially prospective students should never hesitate to ask a current student questions to help get a better feel. Once a student does find themselves at their college of choice come fall, the only advice worth giving is get involved. It sounds so cliche, but it rings true. Join a club or inter-mural sports team, become a member of a club that interests you. Rush a fraternity or sorority, or if Greek life doesn't interest you, join a service fratnerity. Go to sporting events. Get to know the people in your dorm and in your classes. It doesn't have to be anything big or even that time intensive, but it's a great start to college life.

I always knew I wanted to go to college so I started looking early. It is really important to visit the colleges that you are interested in and more than once. Know what you love to do and keep your eyes peeled. Don't ever be affraid to ask questions because your college experience will be with you forever. Those applications aren't cheap, so take your time looking around. There are thousands of resources out there but the most beneficial is actual student feedback. You may feel silly walking up to a student on campus but it is well worth it. Talking with students is the best way to find out what the school is really like. Just remember, if the university doesn't fit you, you can always transfer and find a better fit. Don't lose sight of your goals!

Parents and students, Finding the right college for yourself and your children is not something to be taken lightly. Take the time to visit each college you are considering. Bring any questions about the campus along with you, while taking notes while on your campus tour. Making a pros and cons list to each college may be helpful. Consider your major, acedemics, financial obligations, distance from home and all of the outside social aspects of each college. The college you choose will make you the person you will be in the future. While in college, join all of the groups and clubs you can handle with your course load. Take advantage of what each college has to offer, weither it be by getting a tutor in courses you are having difficulty in, or just working out and participating in group activities. Learn from those around you, and your natural surroundings. Explore and always strive to learn more. Never setting for a B when you can earn an A. Work hard and success will follow.

The right college for a student, I feel, is the one when you walk on campus you instantly feel a connection. You feel at home and the places are somehow already familiar. It's also very important to make sure you're getting into an institution that is good for you academically and fianicially. But remember...it's important to make that decision with your heart too. You'll be a member of the community for several years. You'll make lots of friends there. You'll discover more about yourself here and have more fun than you can possibly imagine. In some ways, you don't choose the college. The right college chooses you. And that's okay. You won't have a perfect college experience. No one does. Just make sure that you step outside of your confort zone once in a while. Make sure you get your work done, but take some risks too. Have fun...because no one will make you do it. You have to do it yourself. And believe it, it's one of the best thing's you'll ever do for yourself.

In finding the right college and making the most out of the experience there, I can't advise enough to trust one's gut instincts. There are thousands of colleges to choose from, many of them looking eerily similar on paper. Choosing the right insitution can seem overwhelming. How to narrow down that long list of choices? Visit, and trust your heart. One spends four or more years at college, and the most important thing is to have a happy experience there. One school may seem perfect on paper, but if it has an unfriendly atmosphere, why bother? Trusting one's instincts is also paramount to having a pleasant experience on campus. There is no sense in picking a major or extra-curricular activity because it seems "practical." By picking what is relevant to one's true interests, one can excel. Trusting one's gut takes a certain amount of quiet contemplation, but the results are entirely worth it. Trusting one's gut results in happiness, both at school and in life.

Give the choice of going to college specific thought. Students searching for colleges should dig deep into the colleges they are interested in and tour those campuses in order to see if its a right fit. The first semester of college for incoming- Freshmen is usually the most difficult, because of homesickness, lack of friends/people you know, etc. My advice is for students to go out and get involved with groups on campus or in the community as soon as they can. Not only will new students meet other students, but it helps them get better acquainted with their new surroundings on campus or in the campus-intergrated town. Being a first-year student away from the comforts of home is scary and can lead few to leave school altogether. By getting involved early, new stduents are integrated into the campus setting quicker and become part of the community faster and feel more apart of it than when they originally arrived on campus.

When considering schools to go to, i beleive it is important that it is a place that you can live comfotably. A learning environment is much more productive, i have found when a person is comortable. I chose OU because the campus was beautiful and i loved everything about it. Athens is a great community. Ratings and statistics are often looked at too close, and in my opinion, guidlines for choosing.

When looking for a college, it is important to thouroughly research the options. I definitely would not attend a college I didn't visit first either. To make the most out of the college experience, I suggest participating in extracurrucular activities, attending university and community events, getting to know other people, and getting familiar with the campus immediately.

Finding the right college is an important decision a lot of families must face. The very first thing that students should look at in a college is whether or not it offers their major, and how good that program is. Dont be scared to ask questions. This is your education, so dont be intimidated. The biggest difference between college and high school is that you are now treated as an adult. Things wont be just given to you, you have to work for them. Time management is also very, very important. Mom and dad wont be there to tell you what to do or when to home at night, so making wise choices is key to your success. College is about getting your degree, but thats not all its about. Enjoy your experience because it goes by quickly!

One of the most important things about choosing the right college is to learn as much as you can about the financial aid offered at your school. In my case, I did not know until it was too late that if I had gotten one more point on the ACT, I would have had my tuition paid for. If I had known that, I would have retaken the test as many times as it took to get that extra point. However, the school never provided me that information, and it was not until I started my freshman year at OU that I found out. So, students should make sure that they look into each and every detail of the financial help that they could possibly receive before it's too late.

For students, getting involved on campus is the best way to make the college experience absolutely incredible. From my sorority, I've not only made lasting friends but I've been able to participate in so many philanthropic and volunteer events, build my school spirit, take on leadership roles within the chapter and the Greek community, and network with alum who will be such a valuable asset to my future. I am convinced that you can find a place that feels like home on any campus with the right organization or groups supporting you. Greek life was where I found my home away from home, but any passion can manifest itself into a safe-haven, a support system and a life asset. Parents will feel so much better about their child's choice in a college once they see how beneficial getting involved can be. My parents are living proof: they are so much happier about my future because of the initiative I've take so far to make sure that these four years are the best they possibly could be and every opportunity presented to me is taken advantage of.

I would advise students to look at schools that offer a wide array of majors, in case you decide to change your major. Schools with many majors are helpful because it decreases the chance of having to transfer schools if your school and career goals change. I also think that picking the college you will attend is mostly based on a gut feeling. After visiting 6 schools, I choose the school I had a gut feeling that I would fit in at. As of this year I am a Senior, and I do not regret the choice I made. You will know when you step foot on a campus if it is right for you or not! Finally, do not pick a school that all your friends are going to! The point of college is to branch out and meet new people. You will be surprised at the friends you make, and they may become more of a family to you than friends from high school.

It is important when making a college choice that the student feels at home on the campus of choice. That is why it is always important to vist the schools with parents and then again the student by themselves as a way to get a feel for the campus. A one day visit is not enough. It is important to stay for at least a weekend. Also visting during the school day is importaant so that the student is given the chance to interact with students instead of just a tour guide who is trained to respond to questions a certain way. Also it is very important to meet deadlines. Missing a deadline could be the difference betwee not getting a scholarship or being trapped in a dorm with a crazy roommate.It is key for the parent to be involved with getting fincial aid information completed especially if they will be footing the bill. Also if the student is undecided about certain schools, wait on the award letter and see which school offers the better package. Once in school is is important to learn how to balance time, and also not forgot the reason for being at the university.

Make sure you go and visit each of the campuses for the school on which you wish to attend, you may find examples of everything your looking for in a college or examples of things you wish to avoid while in college.

Look into all aspects of the college or what you will be mainly involved in. Don't base it on just academics, athletics, social life, or any other aspect. Each school has strong points in every one of those fields.

Research the main faculty in your own area of study and try to get meetings with these faculty members to discuss your area of study. Look around at off campus housing for when you do decide to live off campus as most students do.

VISIT. Don't go for the school with the best name, reputation, or campus life. Go for whichever school FEELS right to you.

Sweat the small stuff. Although this may go against your grain, now is the time to get really picky. You are the business customer and without you, all the administrators of the colleges of the world would have to padlock their heavy doors and move away. There are so many universities to consider, and sometimes name-brand shopping for colleges may not yield the best results. When there is something small you dislike about the campus nagging you (such as its location in a bad neighborhood or its location in the middle of nowhere) do not let it go. If it already is bothering you, there is a good chance it could grow into a problem in the future. Ask students attending the school if they experience the same problem in the school, and what students do to combat the problem. I cannot tell you how many friends transferred schools because such problems kept the schools from being a good fit. Keep an open mind the name of the school when searching and a checklist of all the details you expect from your college. You may be surprised which colleges match you or your students needs and desires the most.

Make sure that you like the campus, and see friendly faces. Feeling comfertable and at home on your campus allows you to adjust easier. Getting involved in an activity is another great way to meet new people and share experiences with them right away.