Oregon State University Top Questions

First you need to make certain that you are ready for college. A good High School experience and GPA are not always an indication that you will do well in college. It's much, much harder that high school. A thorough research of available support services prior to making a college or university choice is crutial. Parents, make sure that you stay in contact with your student and ask the hard questions about grades and performance. Don't take the casual answer of "everything is fine" without verification. It's too easy to slip behind and extremely hard to recover once you are down. The overused phrase that it takes a village to raise a child, doesn't just apply to small children. It should also apply to young adults trying to make it on their own for the first time. We are still in need of a guiding hand. College experience can be very rewarding. Some day, looking back at my time at Oregon State, I feel certain that it will have been an overall positive experience.

I would reccomend visiting the campus or taking a tour of the campus, as well as talking about the school with not only teachers and other academic personel on campus, but also with students who attend the school. Get a feel for the school before actually applying for it. Also, get a good idea of what you want to study, if you know, and apply for colleges that offer good programs in what you want to study. Apply to several colleges, to keep your options open. Remember to keep in touch with your family and old friends when you get to college and leaving your dorm room door open when you're in your room in the first few weeks will help you make more friends. Be active and involved with the programs happening not ony in your dormitory, but also around campus. Make friends in your classes and talk to your professors. They really aren't as intimidating as it seems. On a last note, just remember to have fun and there will be time for a social life, as long as you budget your time.

The most important thing about finding the right college, and therefore having the best college experience is to make sure the college you are interested in fits your needs. Yes, you may be applying yourself to a certain college, but a certain college needs to apply itself to you. Ask youself questions such as: "Does this college have what I need to academically succeed?" "Does this college have clubs are organizations that I find interesting?" "Are there going to be people there that I can make lifetime friendships with?" And after you have chosen the right college for you, make a promise to push yourself, because this is a time in your life where no one but you has control. But more importantly, as hard as you push yourself academically, push yourself to have fun!

Any student and parent should experience the school for themselves. The individuals would be suggested to take a tour of the campus and visit as much as possible to get a feel for your surrounding. Students also must be willing to live in the Dorm or off campus on their first year to obtain such an experience. Personally ,this was the best choice I have made to this day!! Living at home would have been cost effective but I won't have met anyone. Going to a college close to home and being around people is also very helpful to have!! Money should not be an issue in any decision! Most of all their must be dedication to being in an active roll at your college!! If you are always out of the loop your college years won't be the best of your life. Good luck and be aware of the Freshman 15!! (It happens to everyone) Thanks for this opportunity! I enjoy teaching people about my college and getting things of my crest about my experience thus far!!

Pick a school based on all different factors and make the most of your time to enjoy your college experience..

As I complete my senior year of college, I feel qualified in offering advice to those families seeking the most appopriate college. College selection must be a commitment that encompasses every aspect of the students life, not academics alone. The student and college of choice must be a good fit for the student and their family. Success in completion of the program revolves around not only the accomplishments of study, but also true happiness from somewhere within.

I would advise parents and their children to start "shopping" for a college or university early on; during their sophmore year in high school would be adequate. It is very important to not only find a colllege in which your major is offered but to also find a campus that you are comfortable with and a city that you can live in comfortably. That means researching the climate, night life, crime rate, population, housing market and job oppurtunities. Once decided on a university, I would highly suggest visiting for a few days to get a feel for the campus and the residents of the school. Upon begining college I would advise students to take classes outside of their comfort zone. Meet new people, explore the surrounding area, go to pep ralleys, football games, and bonfires. See the fall concert put on by the school band and view the play put on by the drama department. Much of who I am today is because of my experiences in college, and I wish that I would have looked beyond studies, frat parties and a part-time job to experience those other things you will never experience in the same way again.

Start looking and applying early. Procrastination is the worst. Parents be open to students ideas/needs/wants and studends have fun with it but know when to take it seriously!

College, believe it or not, isn't soley about academics. Its about finding yourself and your passion that drives you. It is about trying new things, broadening your horizons, and finding your individual motivation. The best advice I could give to any parent(s) or student(s), is that when you prepare to enter college have in place a plan of "attack"...know where your interests lie and where they don't. Thats not to say that you can't always change the path you take, but college is expensive, and it best to have a general idea to avoid from accruing extra expenses.

From experience the best advice I can give freshman about finding the right college and making the most of the experience is don't sweat the small stuff. Don't be afraid to take out a loan. I tried to work too much and ended up working myself to death between school and work; I ended up missing out on all the things I was excited for most about college. Stressing out to much ruined my first year. Things happen, just learn to roll with the punches and don't take the little things for granted.

I knew my school was right for me the minute I stepped foot on campus. I feel that each student should go and see the school before that decide. I almost went to the wrong school for me. It took actually seeing campus to realize that I was not at home. My college career consisted of a healthy balance of fun activities and school work. You'll save yourself a lot of stress if you find your balance early.

One of the best pieces of advice that I ever recieved is that life has already begun. Too many people think that they are going through all of this to start their lives after college but really life is already here and we must make the most of it. It's really important to start off on the right foot and not just mess around, it is your money and time that you are investing so you need to take advantage of what your university has to offer. There is always so much going on, good and bad, you need to filter the things you want and don't want to do so that you can expand your horizons and really find who you are and what you are doing in life.

Be careful about your work load. Start off the school year taking between 12 and 13 credits during fall term; that gives you time to get into the swing of college life. Increase your course load winter term if need be. Just don't overburden yourself.

Motivation is the keystone to success. Students cannot rely on a college to pave a career path for them. Students must take accountability for their future; when they do, any college will act as an instrument toward fulfilling their career path. Success is not based upon which college an individual attends, it is based on what the student does while they are in attendance. If admittance to a certain private university is viewed as the determining factor for a student?s future, then that particular student is sure to falter. However, if a humble student starts their freshman year with the desire to grow intellectually, with an eye for the future, they will be appreciated by their professors, and they won?t spend their senior year trying to raise their grade point average in a frantic push for a graduate program. A motivated student turns in every assignment, goes to their professors with sincere questions, and utilizes the resources that each university provides. An unmotivated student, waits for counselors and professors to come to them with solutions, has a sense of entitlement for turning in late assignments, and blames their professor, school, and various associates for their failure.

To students and parents getting ready for college I would advise them to find a college that fits you. Find someplace you feel comfortable going to school, living and working. Find somewhere that you might want to get married and raise your family. If you end up settling for a college simply because of the location, or the price; in the end you may not be happy. College is the time in your life to take risks, make big changes and take big chances. Making the most of your college experience is more than just studying hard and earning good grades. It is finding a field of study that you are deeply passionate about, finding friends that you are also deeply passionate about, and trying new things. If something interests you- do it. Go for it; because you will never know unless you try. Do study hard and do earn good grades. But, make sure that when you graduate college you have graduated knowing that you did everything you could, and that you tried everything you had an opportunity to try.

All I can say about choosing the right college is to find a place that you could call home for 4 years. I toured a couple of reputable colleges and could not stand them. I personally discovered after touring the Universities of Washington and Oregon that I did not want to go to school in the city; I now go to Oregon State which is very much away from the city, which I love. Others find exactly the opposite I love OSU and have a lot of fun, but I think the most important thing is to remember why you are there. While my college is a place where there are parties EVERY night, it is important to balance the fun with the work. It is said that "you can retake a test but you can't relive a party", and I would say that this is poor advice. Stay on top of your school work to keep the stress down, and you will have a lot more fun in the long run. You CAN go out every night, but that does not mean you should.

one peice of advice i wish i had recieved as an incoming freshman is to use ALL the resources given to you. students pay tuition for a reason, that enables you to use various centers for math, reading, writing, science and many more. these are great tools that are ment to help you suceed in your college career. i would also encourage trying new things whenever the occasion arises. you meet so many people who will impact your life just by going to a organic growers club, or the rainbow continum (gay strait aliance).

The right college depends on what you are most interested in. Students need to find the niche and feel comfortable in their surroundings. There shouldn't be any pressure to choose a college based on the fact parents and grandparents have gone to that school. The right school is all about the experience you want to have. Go on a campus visit and follow your instinct.

The most important part of choosing the right college is expecting change. Over the first two years of college, you may find yourself to be a completely different person from when you finished high school. Taking this into consideration when choosing a college to attend is crucial. Don't just look for a college to attend because of your lifestyle in high school. Take a close look at your interests, and find a university that is diverse and offers everything that you love, and many things that you don't know much about, because in a couple years, you will find yourself doing things you never imagined you would be able to do. The most important part of maximizing your college experience is making new friends. One great way to do this is to live on campus. Although the dorms often have stricter rules than living on your own, you will meet amazing friends living there. I lived on campus for one year, and the people I live with two years later and my best friends are the people I met living on campus. Be outgoing, be friendly, be social, and love life.

My biggest tip would be to really just get into and involved with the school. Go to all of the awesome events, join a few clubs, take randomly cool classes, support school sports... you know? Go crazy for your school! Show some spirit. I know people say it over and over again, but it seriously is a great way to meet people and have a ton of fun. Work hard, play hard.