Southern Arkansas University Main Campus Top Questions

The first thing you need to do is make sure you are ready to take on the challenge of being responsible, independent and hard working. Make sure that you're diligence and perserverance are at full throttle and only accessible to progression. Parents, you have waited long and hard for this, so don't put any more stress on your child than they already feel. This is a big step and you should be as supportive as possible. Encourage them and show them as much love as you would like to be shown. Don't smother or spoil them because that will defeat the purpose of allowing them to grow up. Potential student, just remember that you can still have fun and make good grades. Keep a healthy balance between playtime and your studies. Remember, your professors are there to help you, not intimidate you, so feel free to go to them. Make many friends and few enemies, if any at all, and always keep your mind opened to new challenges and further knowledge. Good luck on your college adventure!

Find one that will make you happy.

Realy in finding the right college you have to look at more than just the acidemics of a school. The acidemics i just one of the appendeges of the the school body. Instead of looking just to the appendeges you need to look to the "heart" of the school. The heart of the school is it's people. The people in a school can make or break the college experience. I went to several different interviews with colleges and an not ashamed to admit that i walked out on a few for the way i was treated. Parents look for the small things in what people say and the way they act. Students go with your heart, listen to your parents, but this decision is yours to make. Also remember that this is your future. This decision is one of the things that will shape that future.

Students and parents who are looking for a good college institution need to explore all aspects of the school. The student should have approximately 3 potential areas in mind that he would like to major in. Some universities offer the option of prospective students being able to sit in a classroom during a class and observing what the class is like. I highly recommend the student taking advantage of this. Depending upon the number of classes the university will allow you to attend, I would attend a class within the major I was most likely to pursue (preferably a sophomore or junior class because the majority of senior level classes require pre-requisites that the student will not have had and therefore will not be able to enjoy the class sitting) because the student will gain a better understanding of the work he will be doing to obtain his degree. The student also needs to talk to professors within the potential areas he wishes to major in as well. Finally prospective students can ask other students on campus about social life and things to do in order to learn about what events the campus has to offer.

The first thing every student will look at is of course the social life on campus. Though this is a big part of the college experience it is not what you need to focus on. Affordablity is a big aspect of selecting schools, but the number one thing to keep in mind is the school that offers the best academics for the degree the student is pursuing. Once a student receives there degree they will from then on out be tested everyday on the academics behind the degree not the piece of paper they received. Therefore every student should focus on the school that has the best programs for a students degree.

It's always best to start off at a small school and work your way to a larger one.

My advice to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to first, visit the school. Get a feel of the overall atmosphere. To do this, take an unexpected trip to the school and talk to some of the students, not just the students that are there to assist you on the tour. Sit in on some of the classes that you or your child knows that he/she is interested in to see how the professor handles the classroom. Second, talk to coordinator/director of student activities. See what type of extra-curriculars and organizations are being offered at the school. Last, call the housing office to see if you can get the name and number of your roommate. Getting to know each other early and creating that relationship will ease your anxiety about leaving home. Make sure that it is someone that you can get along with for the next year or if things go well, the next four years.

I would tell parents and students to start by doing well in high school. Your grades really do matter. Students should take a class to prepare for the ACT or SAT. This test along with your GPA will decide your financial aid and therefore decide which school you choose. Students need to apply EARLY and to several different schools. Don't limit yourself or have your heart set on just one school. Visit the schools you're interested in before deciding to go there. Once you're actually a student , get involved. Fraternaties and sororities are great, but they are not the only way to enjoy the college life. Joining clubs that are centered around your interests, volunteering at the animal shelter, and tutoring elementary students are just a few of the ways to be involved and a great way to meet others with your interests. Friends made in college are usually life long friends. In college, you not only learn job related skills, but more importantly, you learn life related skills. ENJOY.

ask Alumni or go do an extensive visit to it.