Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Altoona Top Questions

Do a lot of research and visit a lot of schools. Make sure that it is the right fit.

Parents: Try to take your child to as many campuses that you can. It helps them find out what they do and do not like about a campus. If there is some way for them to say at the campus for a weekend, allow them that experience. Don't try to force your child to go to a school or sway them on a school that they're not crazy about. They're the one that will be going there the next 4 years. Trust your kids! Students: Apply to more than 1 school. Apply to schools that strike your interest. Don't apply to schools because that's where your friends go to school there or are applying there. Don't apply to a school just because a boyfriend or girlfriend goes there, unless you genuinely like the school. When you get to college get as involved as you can. Take classes seriously from the very beginning, and take classes that aren't in your major to find what you like. Join groups and go out with people you normally wouldn't, because those could end up being your best friends. Most importantly, have fun!

We all need to think about our personal needs when it comes to what setting you need around you, the kinda of people and professors you need within your enviroment, what special needs mentally, physically, and spiritually you need to keep you balanced. It doesnt matter about the name of the school and the weight that holds but what is right for you and what helps you achieve what your there to achieve. We shouldnt choose a school because of the number of parties that occur or the ratio of males to females. We shouldnt choose a school because of where our families want us to go or choose a major because of what others want us to be. We come to college and spend many hard earned dollars for ourselves and what will benifit us the most in the future. We choose a school because of what we want and need personally, because of what end result will make up happy and because of what journey will help us grow. Only you know the right college for you and dont let anyone tell you otherwise.

I think the student needs to decide what they want from school. Then the search should start for a school that will meet their requirements. The most important thing to do in college is work and enjoy! The work and the social experiences will go with you forever.

I would tell students looking for a school to find one that fits their personality. Some advice I would give would be to study hard and make friends with your classmates and professors. It is a lot easier to study with people in your classes than it is to study on your own. Don't hesitate to get help with things you struggle with because there are many people avaliable that would be willing to help you. The more people you get to know the larger your network is. Also, be nice to everyone. You never know what the future holds and where people might show up again in your life later on down the road. Study hard and get involved. The more you get involved with your school the better your college experience will be (not to mention it looks good on a resume, but that is just a bonus).

One i would say make sure that you balance out all the expenses and make sure you are able to pay for your college education. I would also say when you come to college as a freshmen be very aware of your surrounding and do not be scared to talk to other students, faculty, and staff who are there to help you !!!

Take your time. You don't have to go to school right after high school. Sometimes it's better to just wait and see how the real world works first.

Find a college that fits you. Makes you feel comfortable from the moment you step onto the campus. Finding the right college just like finding anything else takes a lot of time and thought. I know for me personally, when I was living in Georgia, I knew I had to move to Pennsylvania to attend Penn State. It was something about it that just sparked my interests but near impossible to describe with my own words. Like I said, finding the right college takes time. Upon moving to Pennsylvania I was not in the best financial situation so I had to attend a Junior College to build myself back up and gain residency to lower the costs and expenses. Within the time it took me to get to the school where I am at today, I learned that the experiences you have in college no matter where you are or which college you attend is based on how you make them. Whether living on campus, off campus or commuting a college experience is not about what the college has to offer, but what you have to offer to the college.