SUNY at Albany Top Questions

I would also tell myself the answers to all the questions I ever got wrong on tests :) I don't have a lot of regrets about my college experience because I always put school first and take it very seriously. I wouldn't really change anything.. except maybe I would have told myself that my parents aren't going to be able to help me pay for college so I should worked longer hours durring summer and winter breaks to save up. Working and soing to school full time can get pretty difficult.

Finish school, so that you can get somewhere faster in life.

This is a great question because I've have made poor decisions outside of high school because of lack of motivation and role models. With that said, I am now here full time at 24. I wish I could stress to myself to keep focused even though you don't know what you want to do quite yet. Life isn't just one big party and having a good sense of tranquility is something some people do not learn until it is too late. Get in school and reach out to people to whom you may not think you have an interest in knowing. You will be surprised on how much you and that person really have in common. When you get stressed or anxious, take a couple of minutes to call someone who really cares about you. It could be your parents, siblings, or even someone you?ve just always talked to. If you get angry, try to think of all the things you are grateful for. It is impossible to be grateful and angry at the same time. Keep your head up and remember your long term goals while having some of your best memories of your life.

I would tell myself that freshman year GPA matters A LOT. I realized unlike highschool, GPA in college is very hard to raise. even a 0.1 is hard to raise. I would tell myself even though it is hard to focus on school work during freshman year, I should focus because it affects your future. Also, I would tell myself to make a lot of friends that are beneficial, knowing a lot of alumni's can help too.

Get involved faster and dont be afraid to ask questions. Take advantage of all opportunities

I would tell my self to push myself harder and that socialzing isnt everything. There is more to life than having a good time. Being successful and trying your hardest at whatever you like is one of the most important lessons one can ever learn.

If I could talk to myself, I would tell me to start working earlier at my classes. In my first semester, I didnt study as much as I should have and it cost me because my grades werent that good. I picked it up second semester and my grades dramatically improved. If I had started working harder at my classes earlier, I would have much better grades and would be in better standing in my classes. I would also be happier knowing that I did as well as I could. I would also tell myself to get involved earlier. I did thing on campus, but later in the year and missed out on some great friends.

be open minded :)

Going through the application processes and seeing my fellow classmates do the same made me realize many things I will always keep in mind for my children. The expenses of the college and its distance from home should be the least of one's worries while selecting the right college! Being away from hom eonly helps the students experience the real world without having their parents besides them to help them out. Parents who are attached to their children or even concerned about their safety tend to not allow them to attend colleges too far from home. But college is the best experience of a student's life and and parents should refrain restricting their options. As far as the cost goes, there are many scholarships, grants, loans, and funds out there that are appropriate for every individual. These aids will allow students to have the best experience and their desired colleges by helping them out with the financial situations and making their education affordable. Speaking from experience, I suggest you keep these two factors as the last resort in selecting between colleges.

Always be sure that you ike the city, town, area that your college is in. Make sure youre also comfortable with the campus, what it has to offer, and the price! Money is always a problem for college students.

Make sure your child has a good feeling about the school initially. Take into consideration where it's located and how accessible transportation is for getting home. Find out about campus life and what life is like off campus. Find out what interships the school offers. Talk to kids on campus. Find out if they provide extraciricular activities you would be interested in.

Some of these things, I learned later than I should have, when I started applying for college in my senior year of High School. I'd suggest looking into what college one wants to attend as early as Sophomore Year, what career they want to pursue, whether they'd stick to being in their hometown or if they'd be going away, applying for financial aid early, etc. For parents, I'd suggest they start getting their sons/daughters to look into all this stuff that early, or at least during Junior Year, so that they're prepared, they know where they want to go, what they want to do for a career, and all that before they get to apply for college during their Senior Year. Had I looked into scholarships and other aid before my Senior Year, I would've probably avoided having to take out loans, and it's something I sort of regret now. That's why I suggest these things; to hopefully make sure people learn from my mistakes, just like I did.

definitely don't settle for the first college you see! you need to look at your different options, and ones that you might not even think of at first. you might just choose a college that you least expected. most importantly, before you make a decision, go visit your top choices and research them as much as possible, so you know what you're getting yourself into.

Be more open-minded about what colleges is right for you. For students, do not take anything for granted and don't rush into things that might incur problems. When looking for the right college, you should definitely prepare a list of what you want so the process is easier. Also do not take chances in procrastinating so as not to get caught up with deadlines. Once you have all the process of applying downpacked and the time for moving to school comes around, you will be very anxious as you don't really know what to expect. However once in college, you should definitely set your priorities straight. Academics should be the top on the list however socialize and make yourself noticed but know the limits. Join clubs, sports or activities; it's one of the best ways to enjoy living in college and you meet new people often as well. For parents, support your child in everything and guide them through it all because there's nothing like having a home with caring and loving people that one can approach for advice or anything in times of being lost.

When looking for the right college you can not just take one thing into account, you need to make sure that you will not only be able to succeed and earn a good education but you must be comfortable with your surroundings andbe happy. The college experience is one of the most awkward, scary, exciting, and fun thing you experience in your life so make sure you pick the right place. Remember you are going to be spending most of your time there whether you are living there or just commuting so make sure the classes, campus, and the people work with who you are and who you want to be.

Preparation is the most important factor in choosing a college that is right for you. Indecisiveness can play a major role during this process. By answering simple questions like " Do you want to attend a small or large school?" or "How far from home would you like to be?" or " How expensive of a tuition can you afford?" will really help narrow your college choices. Dont focus on your major, if you already know what you want out of life thats great but at eighteen most people cannot predict what they will be doing in the next ten years. Also attending the college before your enrollment is really helpful. Once you get accepted you should plan a trip to visit the college to make sure you like the vibe of it. Unlike highschool you are able to pick the type of people you go to school with. Applying to colleges is an important decision, prepare yourself for it. Do the research and ask your parents for help, its alot easier to stay at one college than switch halfway through because you didnt do the intial research. And parents dont put too much stress on your kid, guide them dont push.

Pick a school that feels like the right fit.

I would advise students to decide what they want to do with their life and what they want to get out of their college experience when deciding where to attend school. Choose a school that is in a location you want, and offers all the opportunities you need. Be optimistic, open-minded and friendly, and you will make the most out of your college experience. Sometimes it can be difficult to balance school and a social life. College is a different and new experience. Find a balance by figuring out how to manage your school work and your new found freedom away from home and you will come out of college with a good experience, new friends, and a great education.

I had no idea what college I wanted to attend. I actually ended up picking five random state schools in the area, applied to them, visited two out of the four I was accepted to, and ended up choosing UAlbany because it was the furthest away. It is hard -- if not impossible -- to be sure one has the perfect school in mind. I think a lot of it is luck -- you just have to follow your gut and hope for the best. Luckily, UA turned out to be the perfect school for me. However, you can't leave finding the right college just up to the school; a lot of making the most of your college experience is putting yourself out there and getting involved on campus. If you put yourself out there, you will most definitely get something back.

Coming into your first year of college to me is really about the process of discovering yourself and figuring out what kind of career and goals you wish to acheive. So much about yourself is learned during the first year of school, so I believe that you should choose a college that emcompasses many areas in which you could or are interested in, one that will provide you with many opportunities for extracurricular activities, and one that you can truely picture yourself attending. The college experience is truely so much more than just academic. Learning to intereact socially with an diverse group of people, balancing your workload along with fun, and becoming an individual who can support yourself and feel comfortable in your own skin are just a few of the many things that come with your college choice. I honestly believe that anywhere you choose to go, if you have the right intentions and want to do well, you will. Taking advantage of everything an institution has to offer and having the right goals laid out in front of you will only lead you in the right direction. How you utilize your abilities defines your future.