Tarleton State University Top Questions

The advice I would give to future college students is to find out what you enjoy doing, do like big classes or small classes, and what field of study interests you and find a school that matches. I believe it is important to like the surrounding environment as well because there is a major difference between a college in a big city like Austin and a college in a small town like Stephenville. I believe a key factor in making the most of your college experience is to be out going and not be afraid of being yourself because if you are just trying to fit in you will never be happy. Also, I believe it is very important to stand up for what you believe in because not everyone is going to belive the same things but you will have gained a respect from everyone for standing up for what you believe.

Attend class! Make the most of your experiences.

Make sure to visit all schools you are considering

Stay active in your college activities. Do not stay in your room all the time or go home every weekend to see old friends. You are in college to meet new ones. Make sure to find something you truly enjoy to do. You are being trained for a career that you should like forever. Have fun and never regret the past.

Finding the right college can be an easy task. I suggest visiting several school and see where you feel at home, it will be your new home. Be sure to take into consideration the size of the school in relation to your high school what size classes and campuses will you be comfortable with. If you went to a smaller high school many suggest a smaller college since the atmosphere is a like. Also how far is it away from home and how often do you plan on going home to see your parents is important. If you think you will want to go home multiple times a month then dont chose a school that is several hours away it will be too hard on you. Then once you decide your school make sure to go to the freshman orientations and camps they can be boring at times but they are helpful and you meet a lot of your friends here.

I would tell students that they should visit each campus in person before making a decision. You should feel comfortable on the campus because it will be your home for the next four or more years. If you do not enjoy being at your college your grades will probably suffer because you will not be happy. I also think it is important to visit a professor or dean in your areas of interest. They want you to succeed and will help you find valuable information that will help you to make the right decision. I would encourage students to get involved on campus in some way whether it be intermural sports, greek life, religious organizations, or major specific organizations being involved with help you meet new people and network. Being involved also makes college more fun and gives you chances to take a break from studies. The last thing I would suggest it to make sure that you manage your time so that you do not wait until the night before a test to study. Tests in college are much different than high school tests and require much more studying.

To find the college best suitable for you, find one that has a wide variety of opportunities in your field of study. You also want to be able to get involved with schools that are known for their helpfullness and friendliness toward the students and their parents. Attending a college that allows you to get really involved in groups of the same or similar major, also allows you to "network" by making friends, and allowing new opportunities to arise to your benifit. Being involved is the best way to make the most of your college experience, by getting involved in study groups, or volunteering in your college community are just a few examples.

Really do your research into what school you want, its okay as well to change school if you don't like the one you choose

I would tell them to talk to the staff about what they think about the students because they get to see them at their best and worst. From what I have learned, the students are what make the school successful. It is very important to find the right college that fits that of the individual student. For me, Tarleton State is perfect, but for other students, it may be different. To make the best of my college experiance I got plugged into a College church group, got a job, and stayed busy and out of trouble. Alot of kids that come to college get hung up in the bar and drinking scene, so I would advise that they try to stay as focused as possible. It is hard for students to get out of the rut once they get in. To make the most out of college, a student should learn to prioritize and have a drive effort in school. That is the main key points that I can think of!!

Find a place close to home. And make sure you like the environment. So be sure to visit and tour the collages before attending them. Don't bother with Junior collages if you want a four year degree. For tech. degrees their great.