Old Dominion University Top Questions

I would recomend going somewhere that has an environment that you enjoy. Make sure there are plenty of things for you to do if you're an active person. Focus on your education though, what kinds of classes do you want to take. You're paying for your education so make sure you get exactly what you want out of it. Do you want small or big classes? Do you want to play on a great sports team? ect. If you're not happy don't ever feel like you're stuck there are plenty of places for you to go.

To do your research but try and step out of the box. Go to school that fits you but also has a lot of opportunity. Try diversity and make new friends and be productive and not too lazy all the time. Definitely try and stay focused with your school work because if you fall behind, its hard to catch up. Keep your grades up, have fun, and don't get into any trouble. Enjoy all of your experiences because its only going to help you later in life and college is the best place to start.

I would advise that all students visit the campus before choosing a school. To make the most of the school experience I would reccomend showing up for class. If you give the teachers the "time of day" you will learn so much without having to read boring textbooks. Also, get involved in school activities; there is bound to be something you are interested in and that will allow you to better network with other students!

Come excited, stay focused on whats important, and good things come to those who work fo them

Have a plan first. If students want to take a year or more off from school directly after high school: LET THEM. Community college is a viable option for the first two years. Anybody considering college should think about their goals--long term and individual short term goals first. Think about finances before, during, and after college.

Just find the right program for you!

Don't go to any school for the supposed social life. Unless your goal is to make friends and money. I'd say to know thyself first, then try to assertain the nature of whatever school you might want to go to. ODU has cooler professors than students, I don't want to seem too negative, but the student body is lame, and that isn't something that is very easy to tell, because they all look beautiful and happy. Don't be fooled though, they have nothing to say and somehow even less to offer the world. They don't pay attention, or they scoff at ideas they disagree with, they are there for a piece of paper. I'd suggest this: Don't go to school for a piece of paper. Go to school because you have passion for something, and if you don't have that yet, figure that out first, don't feel your way through it, you'll wind up living a misinformed life, you are the only one that can inform yourself. Don't be a shill, don't need a weatherman to know which way the win blows.

The schools that you are first attracted to are not necessarily the best ones. In my case, I ended up going to a school that did not have a stellar reputation, and was known better for its partying than academic achievement. However, I am receiving an excellent education, not only through my classes but also through the other students I meet every day. It seems that the schools that are more culturally and ethnically diverse are the ones that are most accepting of different types of people. Parents are prospective students should keep in mind that academics alone do not determine how good or bad a school is. Another important thing to look at is the quality of the learning facilities on campus. When schools put more money into academic programs than athletics, it is reflected in student achievement. One important thing all students should consider is whether they want to attend a large university or a small private school. Both can offer excellent learning experiences, but in very different environments. Finally, to make the most of your college experience, you should make as many friends as you can and when given the opportunity to try something new...take it.

I think that the decision posed in this question has to be a mutual one between parents and children. Too many times parents allow their sons or daughters to go wherever they want and they end up right back at the local college. It's my opinion that kids at that age are influenced by too many external factors to make an intelligent decision. I was no different, but my parents ended up not being able to afford to send me anywhere. I'm humble enough to look back and see it was probably the best thing for me. When kids get into college, they really should have it driven home what their purpose for being there is. I can't count how many times I've heard about smart people, smarter than me, getting kicked out of their college because of grades. The important thing for children and their parents to find when looking for a college, and to get the most out of it, is a place where their son/daughter is comfortable, not where their friends are going, or where their parents went, somewhere they feel comfortable and can be themselves.

They should visit the colleges and talk to actual students who attend the university and see how they like it.

Consider what you want most out of your school - size, distance from home, lots of campus activities, fraternities/sororities, and dont forget majors offered. I personally knew I wouldnt do well living in a small cramped dorm with another person, so I chose a school that was within commuting distance from home until I got old enough to move into an off campus apartment. Its most important to think about what will make YOU most comfortable. Dont get caught up in what schools your highschool friends are going to or what their plans are.

I would advise parents/students to go visit the campuses during the middle of a semester to see what it's really like. I didn't visit the Old Dominion campus, but I got lucky because Old Dominion is a great school.

Choosing a college is a huge decision. It not only decides where your degree will come from, it shapes where you will live for 4 years and the people you will be surrounded by. Make sure you get the opinions of current students and really take a look around the entire campus. A one-day tour may be offered, but take the initiative to really get a good look at the school of your choice. Weight the pros and cons, but at the end of the day, remember that you will have to live with your decision so make it a good one.

To start I think the student and their parents need to explore what field will be best for the student because once the classes begin the student will be working to that certain field. If the student changes his/her mind later the classes they took in the beginning might not count and all that money will be lost. They also want to explore how the campus is set up; the more open the school is I think it is more vulnerable to strangers on campus and crime. The next topic the parents and students need to keep in mind is if the college has the field you are interested in it and if they are well known for that field. To get the most out of the college experience would be to live on campus and join activities provided on campus. I hear most people talking about greek life; this might be a good way to keep the students in check with their school work because tey have to do good in school or they will be kicked out of their groups.

The most important thing i would suggest for parents to do when choosing a college is to know your child. Do not pick a school based on where you want them to go or what you think looks good. Pick a school that will challenge their weaknesses and build on their strengths. There are so many success stories in the world from people that attended unknown colleges or no college at all. Dont get caught up in the "Name Game". Send your child to a place where they can grow, succeed, and eventually perform in the workplace. Prestige may get your student in the door of a company, but experience and self awareness will keep them there. Students should be honest with themselves at all times. If you know that you are going to have problems getting up in the morning to go to class, do not schedule morning classes. If you love the beach, a school near the beach is probably not a good opption because it will be even more enticing at 3 oclock in the afternoon when you have to choose between that or English 101. Lastly, Apply for scholarships and dont be scared to ask questions!

Find a place that you will have fun at and enjoy the area, and the people at it.

Make sure the student likes the campus alot, that theres grocery stores, etc. availble around the campus, and that the dorms are likeable. Living on campus is better first year and then consider living off campus.

I believe the student should visit alot of different colleges. Also i think it is important to visit colleges that may not be as big or as well known so that you can meet new people and have a better experience. Out of all the kids that went to college in my high school about 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of them went to the college about 15 minutes away, a small liberal arts college. When i came back from my school that was 5 hours away i realized how much i had grown and matured. The people that stayed around our town were the exact same and hadn't made any new friends.

When it comes to choosing the right college, the first big thing is the location. You need to decide whether you want to live close to or far away from home, and you need to figure out how living out of state will affect your tuition costs. How the college treats your major can also be helpful in finding the right one. Do they respect your chosen field of study or do they treat your major as less important than others on campus? Also, in choosing the right college, focus on the cost of the overall tuition and your access to financial aid and scholarships. The cost of going to college is steadily increasing and it is necessary to find one that fits your budget while satisfying all the other categories that are important to you. Organization will help you make the most out of your college experience because it keeps you from missing deadlines or social events and allows you to plan ahead. Having small goals that cumulate into larger ones will also help. Finally, remember that you are in college for an education. If you value learning, then you will make the most out of your college experience.

Make sure that the college is affordable. Also make sure that there are extracurricular activities YOU are interested in trying. If you are an adventurous person, try to stay near a place that has new, and familiar, adventures that are easy to get to. If you decide to work while in college, make sure that there are places similar to what you may think you wish to study and that there are different place to fall back on in case that area just isn't you.