Temple University Top Questions

Finding the right college is important, but it's not as important as the experience that you have at whatever college or university that you choose. When looking for the right college you want to take into consideration your preferences such as whether you would rather go to a large university or a smaller college. You have to take into account whether you prefer to be in a city or a more rural or suburban area. Regardless of what college you choose the most crucial thing to do when you arrive to your respective place of post secondary education, study hard, get involved, and have fun. Remember that college IS exciting and new and take advantage of the social opportunities that it offers. Remember to stay focused though. Your education is of utmost importance and you want to get the most of what you're paying thousands of dollars for. Remember that the academic lessons are just as important as the life lessons that you learn in college, so don't take anything for granted. Open your heart and your mind and you will have to best experience of your life. Good luck and enjoy every moment of the ride.

Look into campus life, the location of the school, and academics

Make sure you find out all of the deatils about a school, so you don't make the wrong decision.

prepare yourself in order not to fall into misguidance

College decisions can be challenging to make especially if parents and students are not financially prepared. As a number one advice I can give to them would be to explore and look for options such as school location, college tuition per semester and programs of interest. This first step would give them a very good idea of what they really want and what to expect from any of the campuses in search. It is very important if they start finding a school early even before high school graduation and that way gain some time to submit the application for the new school. College tuition is very significant and is one of the most important factors at the time of choosing a school since it means money that many of us and many parents do not have . Even though this is a very stressing situation, there are many other options that can help. For example grants, scholarships, etc. Programs of interest are also a main point to look for since some schools do not offer every program they may be interested in. By taking these main points into consideration , they can have a really nice and enjoyable experience while in college.

The advise that I would give parents and students about finding the right college is that while searching, there is no "right college". Do not judge a book by it's cover postively or negatively as I did. I was not happy with my decision to attend Temple University at first because I felt as though I was settling and deserved to attend an Ivy League University. I underestimated Temple University and I was wrong. I have been attending Temple University since August 2005 and I would not trade the eductaion, experiences, friends, or even the bad times for anything in this world. The right college, is where the student makes it the right college. Meaning go to college to learn and may a future for yourself despite if the college was you first choice or your safety. Be social, get involved, make a name for yourself, but remeber why you are attending college. Make the best of it because for many of us, these are the best years of our lives. Do not get hung up on the little things because by the time you realize that it is the right college, it might be too late.

Students: visit, visit, visit!!! It is crucial to visit your potential colleges. Remember, you are going to be spending the majority of your time at this place so you want to make sure you can picture yourself being completely comfortable doing so. Also, don't be too nervous! Be friendly, get out there, introduce yourself, and have fun! As nerve racking as it may be for you to enter a whole new environment, remember that there are so many others feeling the exact same way. You're all in the same boat so don?t be afraid to rock it! Parents: this is one of the most exciting but also one of the scariest times in your child's life. Be supportive and help in every way possible but remember, it is he or she who will be attending the school, not you! Guide them with your ever-reliable parental advice but keep in mind that this is their choice and be confident that no matter what they will make you proud.

If you know what career you want to pursue after college, the most important part of your selection is the quality of the program that will prepare you the most for that furture career. Yes, it is important to have fun and be in an atmosphere where you can enjoy your social life, but college is different than high school. You are paying to learn something valuable, something you enjoy. Dont look at college as a menial "do-as-little-as-possible-to-get-your-degree-and-get-out" stepping stone to a money making career, because you'll miss the whole exprience. My major is jazz vocal performance. I will graduate with a Bachelors degree in music. I picked Temple because it had a fantastic jazz program, which yielded the best education to help me become the best musician I could. I have no stability in my future. My degree will not get me a job anywhere. However, the education and performance exprience I get with Temple is more valuable to me than any degree. I enjoy going to class and doing something I love. Only with this mindset can you get the most out of your college experience.

To find the right college you need to try something different. If you are in a big city go to a college in a small rural area and vice versa. College should be about exploring oppurtunities and experiencing culture, learning as much as you can. You will be more adaptable and flexible in career choices if you have many different outlooks and can diversify a portfolio. If you live in a small town your entire live and your job transfers you into a city, you won't survive. If you test yourself while you are young with alternate experiences you can truly become and do anything you want. The college experience goes beyond the books and the student involvement in organizations, but also the culture you live, so try something different.

The advice I would give to parents/students would first be making sure that you know what you want to do and what kind of school you want to attend. Make sure that the school you choose fits you. Think about the activities that they have there, their programs, the campus, and the social life at the school. It is very important that you also find a school that fits your financial needs because you don't want to be in debt the rest of your life paying back loans for your education. Take time to really get to know people that you go to school with. There is so much you can learn from the students, staff, and the teachers and I feel it is very important to do that. You can really learn a lot by paying attention in class and applying it to your life. There are so many activities and things to learn in college, make the best of it by being involved and coming out of your shell. Do things you have never done before, make friends, learn, and enjoy it!!!