San Diego State University Top Questions

Apply to every college you wouldn't mind going to, check out the campuses, join student organizations, be very involved on campus because it will help you want to stay in school! Don't hesitate to ask for help from professors, peers or tutors, they want you to succeed. Choose a college where you think you would benefit the most from, not the one your parents would want you to go to. Take classes to see what subjects you like, people change majors frequently. College is where you make lots of friends (if you choose to, be open to them), experiencing new things and learning for your future job.

I would say that in finding the right college you really have to focus on what you want, not what anyone else wants for you. Don't stay near home just because people are tell you too, if you want to move away and stay in a dorm, do it. It is one of the best experiences, and you will meet so many different kinds of people and learn so much about yourself. To make the most of your college experience you should make the most of the activities and resources available to you. Utilize your financial aid office and apply for scholarships. On campus jobs are great and there is more of a variety than you would think. Try to join a club and be an active participant. Even if you are shy or nervous, go to your professors office hours. It helps them get to know you, and it is a great networking tool. Use things on campus like the library and gym, and go to some of the sports events such football or basketball games with friends. It's ok to make mistakes, this is the best experience you will ever have.

The most important advice I would give to future students and parents is to have an open mind. When visiting schools and finding what fits best for both the student and parent, they need to take everything in. Visit the campus and see if you like it. Research what the school can offer academically. Also do not let a schools reputation scare you. Not EVERYONE is doing what people might say they are, and if the student has good morals and a good head on their shoulders they will succeed. Parents have hopefully taught their children leadership skills and they will not follow what EVERYONE else is doing. College is a time for young adults to take the lessons they have learned from birth to now and use them in their everyday life. College is a time for these young adults to become their own person with their own ideas and start their own future. It is a time where their life becomes their own and they start living a new chapter. The best advice to give a parent is to give your child room and allow them to grow.

Explore as many college campuses as possible. Choose a school not only based on academic history but also for the feel. If you don't feel comfortable on a campus, it doesn't matter how esteemed the school is, you will never be fully comfortable.

When I was in high school, counselors made it their top priority to prepare students for the UC system. However, in such a competitive group, people often end up somewhere they had not thought they would. What I have experienced in college is that the title is not the important part of your college experience. I have met so many people who are much like me, and we all enjoy the challenges and experiences here. Basically, in chooing a college, one should think about what will really make him or her happy. Do not choose a school based on reputation alone, but try to have an idea of what you are interested in beforehand. However, the system is a little flawed, and no high school graduate knows exactly what he or she wants from life as a college freshman, and college truly is the place to find those answers. While in college, explore different areas of interest, and never ignore the ones that do not seem entirely practical. There are always more classes and areas of study than you realize, so take advantage of them while you can!

Have a good variety of colleges to be able to go to. Don't just go for the large UC schools because chances are low and competitve . Also have choices towards what you want for your carrer you are looking for as well, to make your college experience worth while.

The advice I would give parents or students when in search for the right college for them would be to check out a wide variety of college if possible. After seeing all of the college picked out before hand then selected the college you found was most suitable. It could also help to take campus tours, talk to avaliable students and staff. Getting a feel of the college before actually attending could help narrow down the hard decision of where you might be spending the next chapter of your life at.

I would advise parents and students explore a variety of colleges pertaining to the students study, career, social, and locale interests. Visiting each campus gives both the student and parents a better feel for the university. After visiting each campus, discussing the opinions of both parent and student is very important. Allowing the student to have a say in their college choice is crucial to the student making the most of their college experience. To the student, venturing out of your comfort zone is key in making the most of the college experience. I highly recommend living on-campus the first year of college. It allows for meeting new people, networking, getting involved on campus, and making friends for life. Put yourself out there! Make mistakes and learn from them! College is THE best learning and growing experience. I will truly miss college when the time comes.

I one hundred percent believe in both the parents and potential students to actually go and visit the college campuses that they are incredibly interested in. Actually being on the campus and witnessing student life with your own eyes is irreplaceable. Pictures on the internet or just reading up on what the school is about is not enough. I had been set on going to one college that I thought was perfect for me, but then I went to visit the college and right away, I knew it wasn't for me. It was strange that the school I had been so set on turned out to not be what I wanted, but after that disappointing visit I looked around to see what else was out there. When I finally narrowed down my choices and made my visits, I knew within minutes of stepping onto my college campus that this was the place for me. I felt excited, optimistic, and right at home. When you finally get to where you are going try new things, join new groups, and see your counselors. Most of all stay true to yourself and always remember where you came from.

Most people say that San Diego State University is a party school and it is not a place parents want their children to be. However, college is what you make it. I have never thought of my university as a party school because I knew I was not there to party, I was there to learn. If you know what your goals are in life and do not let yourself get distracted from them, you will be fine. Do what you know is right and what will make your parents proud. College is not about drinking and partying every weekend, it is about your future and making something of yourself.