Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

The general factors in choosing a college include academics and college atmosphere. Do research about student activities available and find those relevant to you. In terms of academics, if you have a general idea of what kind of careers you are pursuing, pick a few majors that you may take and check online where the college of that major stands amongst other schools. Visiting the campuses you're considering is extremely important. When visiting, take into account the social atmosphere as well as environment in general. Make sure you can see yourself as a student at the campus before choosing to attend it.

Come to Penn State.

Have your children look at as many schools as possible. Talk to students who go there, who remind you of your child. Everyone has different personalities, and some personalities do not fit in certain environments.

Follow your heart, not money or friends.

Look for a school that fits your personality, one school that you will feel comforted and safe in. But also pick a school that challenges your thought and personal opinions.

If they like home, find somthing close to home or with friends from home. If they don't like home, let them explore colleges far from home.

Find the best overall place and make your decision based on distance, money, interests, and campus location and quality of living there. Above all, do what you love doing, and make the best of wherever you go to school.

Make sure that you know what type of environment you want to be in, whether it be rural or urban. This is very important to how much you will enjoy college. Also make sure you know what types of transportation are available to you when you have to go home for breaks. Think about types of clubs you want to join, and also think about the diversity of the campus you want to attend, and how much this means to you.

If you are socially backward make sure you attend a school where its required to live in the dorms your first year and have social activites you would enjoy. Also research the majors you are potentially looking into and see your colleges rankings on those majors because transfering is hard, not all credits are transferrable and many times its very difficult to find a new social circle. Try to get into the introductory courses for your potentional majors your first year so you can make sure it is something you are truly interested in. Join organizations related to your major if possible, most of these only week a few times a month and score huge points with employers. Don't take classes that are difficult your first semester, its better to wait till your second semester. By waiting you can hear stories about teaching styles of professors and how they grade and allows to you time to adjust to college. Don't take on too much work if you take 18 credits your first semester and do poorly it can take many semesters to bring your GPA back up, its better to take 12 credits and get an excellent GPA.

To parents I would offer the following advice: Let you children decide where they want to attend. Don't push them into a situation that could potentially end with them unhappy. It's their life, they will find the right fit for themselves. Encourage them to do their best but never push too hard for academic success at the expense of happiness. Be there when the fail and when they succeed. Love them and let them know it. Show them support. To students: Never turn down a possibility. Explore your options and visit all of the schools on your lists. Apply everywhere you want to attend. The worst they can do is tell you no. As for making the most of the experience; never give up on yourselves. You're doing this for you not your parents or anyone else. Follow your dreams and do what is right for you. Never turn down an opportunity to learn new things and expand your knowledge. You never know it might just be the one course that you never thought you'd take turns out to be your true calling.