Syracuse University Top Questions

It's best to start looking for a college as early as possible, probubly in your junior year of high school. Visit as many colleges as you can until you find the one that is right for you! Once you get to college all you have to do is be friendly and you will find people that enjoy doing the same things as you.

I think its not about school but its about students. If a student has good social skill and hard worker she or he will like their school no matter where they go. There are pros and cons for every school and its about how student can adapt the environment. As a student, student should not think about negative things before coming to school but always have positive mind. Personaly, I love my school and i love people around me. There are some negative things but if i am sure that even if i went to different school, i could still find negative things about that school. It is about how you think and how you act.

Parents should get involved in the college search process, they know their children best and know in what kind of school they will fit in, so their opinion is important. Take interest in your child's picks and plan to visit the campus if possible. Student's should talk to current students and ask their opinion about the facilities, faculty and the overall campus because they will give you the most honest answers. Parents and students should take tours of the campus and get a feel for it, when you visit schools you can have a better idea of what to expect if you choose that particular college. Also, campus size is a big comfort and social factor, so be aware of it. Collect broshures and all sorts of information packages and compare all the colleges you might be interested in, going online and checking out their website is really helpful as well. Most importanly start your college research early, schools are very competitive and they get many applicats every year, take initiative, they like that.

Take a deep breath. Parents, remember that this is the students decision, though you can assist in reminding your young adult about sometimes overlooked issues like campus safety, class size, diversity, library and health facilities, financial aid, and the like, but it needs to be the student's choice, as he or she will be the one to live it out. Students, do your research. Think about what is important to you: majors, future career paths, alumni success rates, extracurricular activities, social atmosphere, gym facilities, and whatever you want in a place you could call home. Rank possible schools, or list out pros and cons. Seeing it on paper in front of you can actually make a difference. Visit as many schools as you can. Go as a family, go with friends, and even connecting with current students for a visit can help you get an accurate feel of campus life. Finally, remember, it is nice to get it right the first time, but after giving something a decent shot, you can always try something else out instead. There is no shame in saying, "I tried it out. It wasn't for me." Something else will be.

I would give the advice to keep an open mind throughout the process. Finding a school is extremely stressful and attending one has its highs and lows, but many times one's first impression of the school doesn't even come close to measuring up to what the school actually has to offer. On the other end, sometimes it's easy to fall in love with a school after just one visit, when really it isn't the right place for you. Even if you go to a school that isn't your first choice, it can be the most amazing place and wind up being the perfect fit. And if it is, make sure to make the most of your four years there by trying as many things as you can. Participate in clubs and organizations that interest you, study hard, and have fun. Making the most of your college experience is so easy if you just stay open about everything and just be yourself.

My advice is to make sure you thoroughly research any school you're considering, and to visit any school you're applying to. Don't write off a school because it doesn't fit your "perfect school" ideal 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. The school I ended up going to (and loving) was a school that I applied to last-minute (and visited after I applied to it). After visiting this school, I realized that some of my criteria weren't as important as I had thought...

When looking for a college, visiting is a big part of the process. You need to be there so you know what kind of people go there, what the buildings look like, and see if you can actually see yourself at the campus mixing in with others. Another big thing: Don't force yourself into college. If you are just going because you feel like it is on the track of your life, allow yourself to explore other options. Sometimes college isn't for everybody when they are 18. In my opinion, attend a university specific to what you want to do. There is no reason to waste money on an expensive 4-year-university if you don't know what you want to do and you are going to explore taking gen-eds and drinking with your fraternity. I would suggest maybe even moving to a college campus and taking classes at a community college to save money.

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When I was a confused 18 year old deciding where to apply, people always offered advice such as: "You will know when you find the right school." But in my opinion, this advice couldn't be further from the truth. Sometimes a "gut feeling" when touring a school could be completely wrong. What if it's a rainy day or you aren't feeling well? Your perception and attitude are altered as well. I never asked myself, "Is Syracuse the perfect school for me?" There is no such thing as absolutely perfect; not in life, not in people, and not in a university either. Instead, I wondered, "Could I be happy here?" Because at the end of the day, I knew that academic advising and fraternity mixers didn't need to blow other schools out of the water on the Princeton Reviews. I just needed the satisfaction of knowing that my day to day experience would ultimately lead up to the only important thing - happiness (okay, okay, maybe a decent job as well). To new students, go to your newly chosen school with confidence and enthusiasm. You made a decision that will shape your next four years - believe in it.

Pick a few criteria that you know you want the school to have (i.e. region, size, sports teams...) and start with that. Visit as many schools as you can. Sometimes it helps to visit a school that's the opposite of what you think you want, just in case.