San Diego State University Top Questions

pick the right college for YOU!

The advice I would give is find a school where you feel comfortable. Students should go and visit the school before hand. Students should look for a school that is a challenge, but at the same time students need to know their limits as to what is challenging. Lastly, in order to find the right college I believe it is imperative to get involved on campus. Especially if students will be attending a large university.

Finding the right college is a very unique and personal experience. While there is no blanket statement on the best method of finding the best school out there, simple research can be performed on potential schools such as demographics, scholarly awards, production of research etc. Not to mention each school has an online reputation and student body that can be examined remotely from the web. Making the most out of a college experience is truly based on the student. Involvement and wise decision making from friends, to finances control what college has in store for you. Listen to your elders who participated in the educational process and learn from their mistakes and accomplishments to ensure your experience is the best it possibly can be!

Make sure you choose a school that not only has practical programs and majors available, but also allows you to take interesting, new courses. So many people are forced into the path of business or accounting because they never knew the scope of majors available. Do not settle for decent; expand your mind and your abilities. Challenge yourself with new classes. You can only have a good time if you let yourself.

I definately would try and spend a few days at the schools you are considering. For me, I almost ended up choosing a school just because it was more well known but when I ended up spending a week there, I hated it. I couldn't see myself spending my next 4 years at that school . In order to make the most of the college experience I would say to get involved!! Especially here at SDSU, it is really hard to make or mantain friends through classes cause there is just too many people. If you are in an organization though, it is a smaller group of people that you get to see constantly. I joined a sorority my sophomore year and it made the campus feel so much smaller! I also reccomned living in the dorms for at least a year! you really get to know people well and it's nice to know that there will always be someone there for you.

Go with your gut feeling. I know when I came to the campus I went to, I just knew it was for me. Look at location and ask yourself is this somewhere you wouldnt mind living for the next four years. Ask students on campus when you get a tour what they think of the school they are attending. The biggest thing is to ask questions!

Make sure you visit the campus a few times. Also, explore the city surrounding the school. Once you've picked a college and are a student, make sure you become active in at least one on-campus group or activity. Being apart of a club, team, or organization will allow you to make friends without even trying. Everyone in the club will share at least one common thing with you. Also, try to build your resume early. Volunteer and intern to help gain experience. Also, make a connection with a few professors early on. They will be your mentors and can help you out when you really need it. They can also supply letters of recommendation later on in your college career.

Finding the right college is not the easiest task, but when you find it you will know. It may be the nice weather, the friendly people, or the academic programs the school has to offer that attract you just remember to look more into the surrounding city as well. It is important to know about transportation if the student does not have his/her own car, it is important to know about the availability of jobs if the student plans on working, and it is also important to feel comfortable there. I would also advise students and parents to be open minded about the colleges they look at and the people. I feel the more open minded an individual is then the better college experiance they will have.

My advice when it comes to choosing the right college for you would be to go and actually visit the schools you are considering. I feel that until you see these campuses first hand, you won't be able to make the most informed decision. Definitely go take a campus tour, sit in on a class, ask about social extracurriculars. These are the questions you need to ask to get a feel for what your going to have to live with for the next four years of your life. It's important to consider want you want in your future college career, you might want a school based on school spirit, location, future job opportunities, social aspects, school size, financial aid, or academics. Personally, the school I chose was definitely not my first choice, but due to financial reasons I had no choice but to go there. Now after everything is all said and done, I am very happy I have spent the last two years at my university and even though it wasn't my first choice, I don't think I would do a thing to change what has happened to me in the last two years. I

Chosing the right college for yourself is one of the most imortant decisions that you will make. The first thing you need to decide is how far away from your family, friends, and hometown you can bare to be. This is a large factor in someones happiness and adjusment period once starting college. From there you should start visiting campuses' and decide where you feel most comfortable. The tone of the school is very important and you need to figure out if you fit into the scene offered. You should pick a campus that has an environment that you know you can learn in, but can also have fun in. Making the most of your college experiance is easy if you remember what you are there for. You go to college to get an education. You have to learn how to prioritize and keep your studies and school work at the top of your list. But another essential part of your college experiance is growing as a person. You can do this by putting yourself out there by getting involved, meeting new people, and utilizing all of the opportunities that your campus has to offer.