Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

You have to remeber that this choice will affect the rest of your life so it is a very big decision. Also, you'll have to live there for 4+ years so you might as well make it at a place where you'll enjoy yourself.

I would AND do tell parents and other students to start early looking at prospective schools. Visit the campus MORE then once if you can and talk to the students you see on the campus, workers, administration, security. Randomly talk to people. Once you narrow down your choices, do the same again. Be very sure you the college your are choosing will fulfill your needs and requirements. Do not have so many expectations that the school fails to meet most of them. Always keep in mind that you are choosing a college to advance your education and NOT your personal or social life. Although those are a very important part of the calculation, you must realize that you are no longer in Kansas, meaning you are past the high school level and on your way to being an adult and dependent upon yourself more then ever before. You will be 1 or thousands instead of 1 in hundreds. Surround yourself with people that have the same expectations and similar goals and stay focused on your purpose...YOUR EDUCATION.

Save money! The biggest mistake that I am dealing with is not being financially stable and able to pay for my education. Start early and find out a plan to pay for college, especially now that it is starting to cost more. Education is more important than it was decades ago and not being able to have the knowledge because of finance is not good.

start to search as soon as their children have an idea of what they want!

Don't make that big of a deal out of finding the right place. Chances are you will come to love wherever go as long as you let yourself enjoy it and have an open mind.

The best advice I could give is that every college bound student needs to discover their passion. What makes you happy is conducive to having fun and being successful. Utilizing resources such as parents, friends, family and current students in college when deciding what school you want to apply to and/or attend is extremely helpful. In addition, traveling to these institutions that you are interested in attending is vital because it gives you a feel of what campus is like and what the students are like. You do not have to choose a career before entering college but choosing the college or university that best accommodates your interests will inevitably point you in the right direction of choosing that desired career.

My advice to parents and students trying to find the right college is to research any and all schools that you are interested in. They should definetly make plans to visit their colleges of interest and should not be afraid to ask questions about anything that has to do with the school. In order to make the most of the college experience, I recommend being open to trying new things and don't be afraid to introduce yourself to the person sitting next to you in class. I also recommend keeping yourself very organized. Being organized proves to be quite helpful when the end of the semester is close.

When it comes to choosing a college I believe that students should go to where they believe they will have the most fulfilling experience. While I realize that details such as ranking and prestige are important I believe that someone should choose the school that they think suits them best based on the whole package that the school offers and what they are looking for as a student. A variety of personal issues may arise such as financial difficulties but I think that aside from this a student should go to the school that they see fit, and while I acknowledge that parents should have a say in the school their child attends I believe that as young adults we students should be allowed to go our own way because that is what college is all about; growing up and forging our own paths. While this may all sound a tad bit clich? I think it is entirely true, if it means moving across the country or even out of the country to have the best experience one should go for it. I personally flew across the Atlantic Ocean to go to school and I think it was worth it.

don't do a campus tour. just set up a meeting with someone from the students interested major department. then spend time in the town. see what people do, what the town has to offer, etc.

What ever college gives you that weird vibe, that's where you should hink about going.

When searching for colleges, look into the courses offered there, and make sure there is something you would like to do. Potential classes and courses of study should be something you want to do, with a faculty that can support it. Many universities have great job placement opportunities and contacts, as well as career fairs. The location is also important, as well as what kinds of things you like to do, whether it may be activities, sports, social functions, music, etc. Overall, it comes down to where you would feel the most comfortable, and where you can learn and do what you want to do.

Make sure you know what you are getting into before you go i.e. living arrangements/cost of living, amount of classes and students, focusing on courses not the novelty of going to college. Just make sure you are ready financially and academically ready to go to college.

I would find a college that you truly feel comfortable with and that is really worth your money. Penn State costs a lot and might not be worth it.

If possible, both student and parent ought to visit a prospective university or college for the weekend. A great deal of character, dedication to academia, and lifestyle variety can be gathered through the 'free time' students are alloted on the weekends. In addition, research the number of volunteering, social service, and philanthropic events run by student groups.

Be sure to have enough cash to allow the student to focus on their study, instead of focus on financials.

My advice to parents would be to let your child pick the school they want to go to. Don't tell them what they should major in . They are adults now and should be treated as such. My advice to students would be to go as far as you can in school and apply for as many scholarships as you possibly can because education is only getting more expensive. Take out loans if you have to because it will be worth it when you get your degree. Also, make sure you choose a major that you will enjoy, not just something that will get you a job that makes a lot of money.

Spend time at the college your child is looking at, more than just an afternoon. It's important to immerse yourself in the campus environment to get a good feel for the needs and interests that will be met by what the school is offering.

I would recommend you to do research on several things; the campus it self, libraries, class sizes, available majors, and research. I would recommend you to visit the campus multiple times in different seasons; for example in summer, fall, and winter. The campus looks very different when it is green in summer and gray in winter. It is nice to have both images before you decide the college. Library is where you would always study and get resources for classes. It is important to have much space for study with good furnitures and computers. It is sometimes hard to study in a huge class during your freshman year when everything is new for you. For this reason, I decided to go to a branch campus first, and I transferred to the main campus in my junior year where classes are huge with three hundred or more students. I would recommend you to go to a big college if you would like to involved in a reserach project. It is great to have many options when you decided to chenge your major. These are four things I recommend you to check to find a right college.

THink about what you want in a school and don't let other people dictate where you or your child goes to school. Think about waht you want to learn, and who can offer the most of it. Money shouldn't be an issue, but it can be. Just remember that education is an investment- so make it worth the money it is going to cost you or your family.

Don't let anyone other than yourself decide. Ignore your parents friends teachers etc. Make the right decision for your self.