Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

Dont worry about if they offer the major you want because you will probably change your major. Look for the school with the most choices of majors instead.

Speaking as an upcoming sophomore and easily remembering the days filled with college applications, dorm-life worries, and packing lists, I can relate to any students looking at colleges. Remember to visit the colleges- don't just look at one aspect, but consider the location, the size, the academic possibilities, the dorms, and the opportunities. If you're going into mechanical engineering but are considering physical therapy, make sure to go to a school that has both options. Parents, let the student choose- demanding their attendance to a certain school will not help them if they don't desire it. Students, take consideration of your parents', counselors, and college students' advice. Once you get there, don't just think about the party scene or academics, but find a balance. Remember the goal for the end of your time there, enjoy the short time you have by finding friends in and out of your major, and find time to both relax and study.

College isn't about where you go or how you do, it is about the experiences you learn. If you are going to look for a priority system in finding the college that fits you best, it should be based on what experiences the alumni were able to recieve and where it has taken them. A big college may not give you a personal experience and a small college may not give you valuable experience, but find the balance between them and you may have a school that you will be able to have pride in for all of your life.

It is important to visit many different colleges and universities because the feel on each campus is so different. If you know what you might want to major in, make that your first priority in choosing a college- afterall, that is why you're going! To make the most of your college experience, get involved in some kind of social group right off the bat- whether it is religious, academic or social. It is important to get involved in a smaller community within your school and is an easy way to make lifelong friends! Also, to make the most of your college experience, STAY IN TOWN on the weekends! You may be tempted to go home the you st few weekends, but that is how you will get to know people and truly integrate yourself into the campus community.

Visit colleges and universities, and make sure that your son/daughter is comfortable with the university culture and feel and the location of the school. Also, chooose a place where your son/daughter can adjust well and make friends easily.

Find a place that your child loves. He/ she is going to be spending the next 4 or 5 years there. To the students; live life to the fullest there, make as many close friends as you can, study hard, but reward yourself. For many of you this is probably the first time you will be on your own. That means your going to have a lot more responisbilty than you have ever had before. One last note, make sure you learn how to do laundry before you go. Best of luck.

My parents dragged me through the process kick and screaming. Just know that in the end, everything will work out. You will find a school that you feel you belong to and if you don't like a school five minutes into the tour....just leave.

Look at choosing a college as one of the most important decisions of your life. Be well-informed about all of the schools you apply to. Visit the school, sit in on classes, tour the dorms and apartments, and talk to students and faculty. Too many students make their decisions based on other's people opinions, but in the end, your opinion is what counts. And if you can't decide, even make a pro's and con's list for each school if you need to. After you've done all of this, let your heart and your mind decide on your school. Once you have found the right school, strive to make your four years as fulfilling as possible. Be flexible, well-rounded and spontaneous. Don't spend all of your time partying, because you will regret it. But also don't spend all of your time worrying about school, because you'll regret that too. Manage your time well, be involved, and don't take yourself too seriously. I like to live by the motto "work hard, play hard." In the end, the college experience is what you make it. I say, chose to make it unforgettable!

The best way to test whether a college is right for you is to spend a day or, even better, two there. See how the atmosphere feels. Go to the student union, walk through the library, sneak into the back of a large lecture class, and talk to a few students walking across campus. Speaking with students who attend--especially those other than tour guides--will help you get an honest image of the school. And most students will be more than happy to share their experiences at the university, whether good or bad. Getting involved right away is the best way to take away the most from college. What you study is important, but learning is more than just books. Getting involved not only introduces you to new people, but often it gives you opportunities you would never have without being in a club or organization. Being involved also helps you to leave your mark at college, and there's nothing better than knowing you've helped to leave a legacy. Study--and study hard--but make the time away from the library count by finding an organization where you feel like you belong.

Finding the right college is a balancing act. Students and their parents should decide what qualities are most important before choosing a school. For example, things to consider include distance from home, tuition costs, the programs that the school offers as well as the size of the student body and the ratio of professors to students. Students should also visit the colleges so they get a feel for the different campuses. As for making the most of the college experience: Have fun but not so much fun that you forget why you're at college in the first place. Get involved. Join clubs or intramural sports teams. Join a sorority or fraternity if that interests you. Wherever you decide to go, make sure that it is either your ideal school or a place where you can adjust easily to the next chapter in your life and enjoy the ride.

To the students and their parents: While finding the right college out of thousands and thousands may seem an overwhelming feat, it might be easier than you think. First of all, do NOT choose a school simply because of scholarships and discounts; these are only perks and do not result in ultimate happiness at a particular school. Choose a school based on your interests such as what classes you might like to take, what activities you might like to be involved in, what sorts of other activities and resources might be available (restaurants, theaters, parks, malls, etc.), even what kind of weather you might enjoy studying in. The best way to discover what is right is not going to be just through pictures, though. Talk to as many people affiliated with a school you may be interested in (phone, email, in person) and make sure to visit the school. Most importantly, pay attention to what YOU want and what you know you will need. Everything else should fall into place just splendidly. Also, if the school doesn't end up being the one, transferring is not impossible! Enjoy your search, and good luck!

Make sure to visit A LOT of different schools. Even if you don't intend on going to them, you should have something to compare with. Never follow your friends. The friends you have in high school probably won't be the ones you have in college. Get involved from the start! The faster you meet new friends, the easier the transition and the more fun you will have. Finally, Make sure you get the overall college experience. Grades are very important but so is socializing. Focus on school but a social life is just as important.

College is all about your personal tastes. When attending a large university, one needs to find smaller groups to be able to settle in. When attending a smallere university, students need to find things off campus to get involved with. College is also about growing up as a person. Experience new things and go on some adventures. Have fun but be safe. Try traveling a little and get out of your comfort zone. Now is the time to make some new discoveries, before you have any true responsibilities like a family.

It has to have to curriculum that you are looking! You got to go and visit the university! You have to love the campus where you will spent every day for the next 4 or 5 years of your life. You have to love the people attitudes around you, those will be your friends for the rest of your life, you have to love the student spirit. You will need someone to motivate you to keep going on! And if you love every single aspect of this you will get the right school. Not always is about getting into Harvard or MIT is about getting the right place for you and your needs.

I would tell students to go on as many campus tours as possible to get a feel for the different campuses. It's extremely helpful to ask current students of the college questions about the different aspects of the school. Once the school has been selected the student can make the most of the college experience by joining different clubs and talking to fellow classmates. Finding a balance between academics and social events will make for the perfect college experience.

Find somewhere that offers a balance between great academics and social experiences. You can only do it once.

When professors and administrators tell you to attend class, listen to them and follow through.

As a current college student, my advice would be to search around for various colleges surrounding your interests. Go to the campuses and explore your options. When you have options, you have choices to build on your future. Try to find that magical fit. It will make your college experience much easier. College is supposed to be rewarding; it is your bridge into adulthood. Try to make the most of this learning process by engaging in new activities. If you have not tried a certain sport, invite friends and play. Attend social events to meet various types of people and learn different cultures. College is different from high school. It is not surrounded by cliques or SATs any longer. It is about making decisions and experiencing the freedom to live your life.

When applying to colleges, I had no idea what to deem as my first choice. Before completing any other applications, I had recieved my "Congratulations" from Penn State for being accepted. This being said, I did not put a whole lot of effort into choosing the right college, since it seems that Penn State really chose me. What advice I can give is about making the most of a college experience. Although the main reason a student attends a college or university is to attain high grades and eventually find a great job, there are other important experiences one should undergo in order to fully appreciate college. After three years of college completed, I'm starting to realize that sometimes studying for that test an extra few hours is not worth missing your friend's birthday party or a football game tailgate. In ten years you will most likely remember the tailgate and not how you could have scored a few points higher on a relatively unimportant test. Finding the right balance between school and fun is important, but as my dad always says, "You have to work hard to play hard!"

If you know what you would like to major in, try to pick a college that is known for that particuluar subject area. If you do not know, then pick a college that has a large selection of majors so when you do decide what you would like to do, you can easily choose it. Another factor in determining the right college is how far you want to be from home, and the size/population of the school. If you are hesitant to attend a large college, but must go there due to your major of choice, there are many ways to overcome the fear or anxiousness of large classes. The best way is to sit up front in all of your classes because you get to know the teachers, and you will forget about the hundreds of people sitting behind you. You can always make a large campus small, but you can't make a small campus large.