San Diego State University Top Questions

Visit different schools and talk with current students and faculty if possible to gain a better understanding of the school. Also, research different programs and make sure your area of academic interest is offered at the school.

College is about comfort, dedication, and opportunity. If students are not comfortable on campus, they will not be dedicated. If they are not dedicated, they will not succeed, academically or socially. By choosing a campus where a student is comfortable in his surroundings, he has given himself the opportunity to advance as a human being through his education and exposure to diverse cultures. Fear is a word that should not be synoymous with the choosing process, but it is just as valid that ignorance should not be, either. In other words, do not back down from picking any college because of self-concious reasons; do what feels right. However, it is a fallacy to blindly jump into any environment. Many actions taken in college are spontaneous, and the decisions made on adrenaline to do these actions often turn out to be the most memorable of entire lifetimes. The value of making an informed decision when choosing an institution, however, can be found in the students who refer to school as "home." Above all else, by selecting a setting where they feel comfortable and can be dedicated to school, these students have given themselves the greatest opportunity to succeed in life.

Choose an area you like, not just the college. You are moving to a new city, you should like it there.

Visit the campus on a typical day, sit in on a class, find and ask students about what they think about the school, especially what they feel are the worst things about the school. Weigh the pros and cons, and the costs.

First search to find out with schools the student has a legitimate shot at attending. Visit the schools listed and talk to real students about their experiences at the university. Only go to the school that you like the most. Do not sell yourself short and go to a lesser school when you could attend a prestigious one.

Do alot of line research for schools and scholarships. I think parents should have financial workshops throughout their child's school time. Thanking about it as senior in high school is too late.

Make sure to visit a variety of campuses before making a selection. Because you will likely change majors several times, attending a community college for your general education is not a bad idea. When you have completed the general ed classes, you may have a better idea where you need to go to focus on your areas of interest. Find clubs where like-minded people go. Spending time on recreation you enjoy is a great stress reducer. Try online classes as an option when you have a challenging work shedule. They are great for people with self discipline, and offer great flexibility. You can always go back to college! As a person in the over 50 category, I am excited I have recently been accepted to an excellent grad school that is truely meaningful after spending so much time in my chosen field. I feel I can really gain from the experience--more now that I would have in my 20s or 30s.

Find the college that lives up to the preferances you have for your major. In doing so, everything else will fall into place. For example, you will meet people on the same academic level as you. Furthermore, you can easily relate to these individuals because they probably have the same major as you do. Obviously, you will have things in common with these people because you picked the same school.

Have a good idea in about about what you are looking for, whether it'd be based on values, academic issues, social life, etc. Be sure to be flexible and open with all opportunities and offers put forth.

Pick a school with lots to offer on and off-campus. To get the best experience you should explore as many things as possible.