Syracuse University Top Questions

Money shouldn't be the only the criteria to send off a student to a college they do not want to go to. Just because one school is offering more financial aid than the other doesn't mean it's the best choice for the student to attend. What the student wants to study is the most important because that choice will stay with them for the remainder of their lives. Majoring a subject that the student doesn't want at a school they don't wish to attend will start the blaming game later on when he/she is either jobless or unhappy. Both the student and parents should carefully analyze what the student want and which school would match with the student's interests. Even if the school is expensive, the student can pay them off when they graduate with a degree they wanted and as a result, get a job they enjoy.

The best advice I can give is to not believe everything you hear on the campus tour. What really goes on at a university happens in places that the tours definitely do not tell you about. When you visit a campus, you have to try to dig deeper. Find a random person on campus and ask them about what they do in their free time. If you feel comfortable enough with them ask them if your son/daughter can hang out with them for the night. Seriously, this might sounds crazy but that is the only way you can be sure that you are going to the right place. It is incredibly important to know things like how big Greek life is on campus, because this can seriously impact your entire college experience. It is also just important to know if you click with the people here. Although there are always a lot of differernt types of people on college campuses, you can try to get a feel for the people by interacting with as many students as possible.

After graduating and looking back on the amazing experience that I had at college my best advice is to find the college that feels the most like home to you and everything else will just fall into place. I feel that it is important to look at many colleges and consider all the positives/ negatives, prices, etc. but to in the end find the college that you feel at home at. I searched for colleges based on programs and cost and extra-curricular activities and ultimately the school that was best for me had all of the things I was looking for and the community and culture that I was looking for. So that is my best advice- don't just settle for a school because it has ONE thing you want, find the school that has EVERYTHING you want and you will never regret it!!!

If the person that I am today could meet the person that I used to be in high school, I would tell her not to be so afraid. College is a place where you can figure out what you like as well as what you don't like, but you will never find which is which is you don't give it a try. I would tell me to apply to that school I didn't think I could get in; that internship I though I wasn't qualified for; I would join that club that thought I wouldn't't fit in; i would have spoken to the students that I thought wouldn't like me because, in the end, you really only regret the opportunities you let pass you by.

The advice I would give to parents and students are to ask lots of questions about how your financial aid will (not 'may' because it WILL) change over the course of your matriculation at the college/university of your choice. I would also encourage parents and students to explore what the debates or contentions at their prospective school are based on the student publications at that institution. School tours, as I'm sure everyone understands when they take them, are PR pretty, so if you want the whole picture, either ask the students, or collect those items that disclose our deepest sentiments about our soon-to-be alma mater. That may help the most in terms of making an educated decision about whether a school is really meant for YOU. SATs are wonderful (or horrible), but they don't predict student satisfaction once they're getting the degree.

As I said in my sentence description of SU, it is the perfect medium-sized school for a student who wants to enjoy endless activities, experience challenging and thought-provoking academics and a traditional college campus. When I applied to SU, it was in my top five, but I wasn't sure if going all the way to New York from California was the best idea - not to mention as the only child. My spring visit to SU was what sold me. Everyone was and still is really nice and helpful. The faculty were understanding of my mother's and my fear of being so far from home. I really felt like I wasn't just a number, like students sometimes are at larger schools. SU really went the extra mile to make me feel at home and it was easy to make friends and get involved on campus. I've grown a lot as a person here and I'm going to miss it all. To this day, I have never regretted my decision. GO ORANGE!

Parents: Let your kids make their own mistakes, the lessons they learn are more meaningful that way Students: Make friends, don't be afraid to be different and study more than you drink.

In choosing a college I would take into account a number of variables. First of all it is important to have a school that fits your academic interests. If you are unsure what your academic goals are choose a school with a variety of opportunities so that you can develop goals while you are attending college. The second variable to consider is location and enviornment. Enviornment is extremely important especially if the student is going to college away from home. A student should be comftorable where they go to school so take into account if you want to be in a big city, or have a school in a rural area where campus life is mainly revolved around the campus or maybe something in between. Lastly remember that college is what you make of it. Public school or private school wonderful opportunities are available while getting an education and no matter where you decide to go you will only gain from the experience as much as you put into it! Getting a college level education is one of the most exciting and important experiences in life so work hard and enjoy the process, instead of just working towards graduation.

Experience the school for yourself. Try to erase all misconceptions and stereotypes before visiting a school so that you can go in with an open mind. Try to see why people love the school and why people hate the school. Make sure it?s the best school for you not your parents or your best friends or whatever because when it comes down to it you?re in this for yourself. Don?t settle but be realistic. College is expensive and time consuming and by looking at only the rankings or stigmas that surround the school you could be making a big mistake. Make sure that the school is a good fit for you and that you are a good fit for the school. Don?t be afraid to ask questions! Make sure college is what you want to do because it is a big commitment, and finally have fun this is truly the best time of your life- if you want it to be. Good Luck!

If I were to look back at the process of selecting a school for undergraduate study, I would emphasize the word PREPARATION. I think a dual-effort between parents and prospective students is needed to fully understand each campus' attributes, characteristics, and highlights / lowlights. In my search, I fell in love with one university from the start, and thankfully it worked out in my favor. I have seen many students fall in love with a campus, and not logistically be able to make it work. Do not put yourself in personal, financial, or academic turmoil just because you think a campus is "pretty" or "perfect for me". Do your research. If you want to be a scientist, find the best fit for your academics and financial capabilities. The college EXPERIENCE will arise with any institution you choose. You will meet friends for life REGARDLESS of whether you are paying 40,000 or 4,000 per semester. Good luck, stay positive, and invest time and energy into your search for the right college....it will pay dividends in many ways.

Make sure that you have a game-plan going into college. Not necessarily about what you will study, but more so about where your priorities will lie within the kind of decisions that you make in college. I believe too many students go into college without a game-plan, and that's where poor and sometimes life-threatening decisions can be made. If you set your life-choices on a higher bar and with a game-plan on how you will do that - transition into college will not only be more safe, it will also be more enjoyable. As far as finding the right college, get a good feel for the college's atmosphere. Do the professors care for the students? Do the students as a whole care for each other, not just their own benefit? What is the school's purpose/function in the community that is resides in? Is there a sense of community on campus? These are questions that after being in college for over 2 years, I realize are crucial in asking before one considers going to college there.

There were a lot of factors that led to me choosing Syracuse University for my undergraduate experience: the location, the program, the school atmosphere and more. But there's more to choosing a college than a pro and con list. I loved the journalism program at Syracuse and I loved that it was a comfy 5 hours from my parents. I also loved the city but not a city location and the beautiful campus. But what won me over was the vibe I got. A good friend of mine said he chose Syracuse because he visited the campus on probably the nastiest day in winter (and trust me, it can get nasty) and he chose Syracuse because, despite that, everyone he saw walking on the campus still looked happy. That's a great way of describing what I felt when I walked onto campus for the first time: it felt right, it felt like I belonged. Syracuse is a university that despite 4 abysmal football seasons, people still show up and everyone still wears their orange around campus. I would never choose a college based on numbers or facts. Some decisions just need to be made based on a feeling.

The most important part about finding the right college is finding one you feel most comfortable in that can provide the best education for you. It's your experience and no one else's, so take the time to find the one you feel best suits you and everything else will fall in place.

To the student: Do not follow what your friends or parents think is right for you. Choose a school that you like. Choose a place where it feels like home, where you know you will fit in and have friends, where there are activities for you to participate in, and choose a school that has everything you are looking for. Everybody has a school for them, find that one. Don't choose a school you only partially like, choose something that you can love with your whole heart. Pick a school that can change and make you better, not one you want to change.

The quality of the school is very important but during the decision process pay more attention to tuition cost and other charges. It can be easy to get into debt. Its hard to transfer out, not because of the process but because you get attached to the school and your friends there and so you don't want to leave even if you can not really afford to go there.

Talk to people that actually go there instead of simply listening to what the tour guides are giving you.

You just need to find that fit that is right for you. A lot of people search for 'big name' schools, instead search for the right environment and programs that will help to make you happy and get the most out of your college education. Through being happy with your choice, it will be much easier to succeed in life.

My advice to anyone looking to find the right school for them would be to visit every campus and see where you feel most at home. You will spend four years of your life at the school and it needs to be somewhere that you feel comfortable. That comfort will be what allows you to suceed. A major part of feeling at home somewhere is the necessity to find something to be involved in on campus. Having something other than just classes allows you time to separate yourself from your work and lets you take a break. Whether its politics, volunteering, sports, or greek life anything that makes you take time away from your studies makes your college life that more enjoyable.

It's important to feel "at home" on the campus before attending as a student. Know what the school's programs have to offer and make sure that those programs cater to your individual needs. Once attending, get involved and try out some different groups or organizations on campus as a way of meeting a variety of people outside the classroom and dorm setting. This will also give you the opportunity to expand your interests and try something new. Part of going to college is discovering yourself, which often happens through the people we meet and the opportunities that we are presented. Remember that college is your experience and it is your responsibility to make the most of what is offered to you.

To parents, Your children will choose what they really want, they usually are the best people to know what is good for them. The advice I would give to you is to support them in whatever decision they make and to try and help guide them without trying to run their lives. Even if it is a bad decision, experience has always been my greatest teacher. When it comes down to finding a good college, try to help financially as much as you can. Especially the first year because it is one of the biggest ajustments in life and it is harder to adjust when you're stressed about money. To students, Do not get caught up with freedom, it is the biggest downfall. It is great to have a social life and to have friends, but do not neglect your studies because of it. Find a balance between school work, friends, and sleep. Choose the college that is right for you, don't let anyone change your mind. And try to join clubs or do extra-curricular if you can; I regret not being able to do any myself because of lack of time.