The University of Alabama Top Questions

Parents: let your child go to the school that fits them. If they love the Community College a block over, or the prestigious State University 200 miles away, support them in where they want to go and what they want to study in there. Always be supportive! Of course some constructive criticism every now and then is always needed. Students: go where you want to go! Don't feel tied down for any reason. It's said that when you find the right campus, you can feel it. Wait until you find THE school for you. Schools are willing to help you achieve your goals and get you where you want to go. Be true to yourself and let people see that by what you study and get involved in while on campus. In the end, be sure that you 1) go to the school you like and that can support what you want to study and 2) that you stay connected with your parents and that they stay supportive of you!

I would tell parents and students, first of all, to work together. It is vital for the parents to be somewhat involved with the choice of school, because they know more about these universities than the students do, as long as they keep their child's best interests and happiness in mind. For most students, the academic program is the most important part of a university. A good academic program will ensure the student a good job, no matter what the university's football program is like. For fine arts majors and good athletes, the fine arts program or athletic program is the most important part of the college.The size of the school is surprisingly not that important. I attend a large college, and went to a small high school, and I have not only adjusted well but have loved every minute of it. In conclusion, when picking a college to attend, the most important component is the happiness of the student. If the student isn't happy with the school, he or she will not reach his or her potential at this school. For the students, go where you want to go, be what you want to be.

To look at all of your options before making a final choice and to look at what each school has to offer to help you make that decision.

A child should choose their own college of choice, because if they are not happy about where they will be attending, then their grades will reflect the decision, but also the child should be logical and thinking long term when deciding on which college/ university to attend. You should also think about your financial situation. Yes, there are loan to recieve, but you MUST think ahead of who is going to be paying them off, depending on which loans you get. Think about the varieties of loans, such as ones where you pay some of it back every month and ones where you don't have to pay a dime until you graduate. If a loan is not your first option, think about the millions of scholarships out there; apply for as many that you are applicable for even if it takes up your weekend with friends. A parent AND their child should visit the campuses when narrowing it down to the one that the child will attend. Many tours are given for many colleges/ universities, so plan weekend trips to visit them.

I think that both students and parents should spend time together researching different colleges and universities. They should find a college that will help the student get as far as possible into their selected field of study and also allow them exposure to interships and other learning modules. To make the most of the college experience really depends on what the students makes of it. Getting out and meeting new and different types of people can really help, just as getting involved in campus activites and clubs.

Find a school that fits your needs including academics and dont make money the deciding factor

Research, research, research! I can not stress the importance of research enough when it comes to choosing a college to attend. It really helps to ask people that have attended the college of your choice about their personal experiences while attending the college. Another important factor when it comes to choosing a college is financial situations; dont just choose a college because they offered you a scholarship. If you didnt recieve a scholarship upon being admitted to the college, then you can always apply for scholarships throughout your college experience.

The advice that I would give parents and students about selecting the right college would have to be go where you feel at home and where you feel like you relate to the students. I grew up thinking mainly about one school. I visited it, and I really didn't feel like it was the place for me. At the University of Alabama, though, I felt at home and I felt that I related to the students better here than the other school I thought I loved. After making your college choice, students have to know about maximizing their college experience. The best way to make the most of the college experience has to be get involved. Getting involved with the many activities that go on on campus can help you meet friends, network for your career, and even help with grades by getting to know professors. At the University of Alabama, I joined a fraternity, and I have not looked back. I have met friends for life; I have met possible future work colleagues; and I have been able to get involved with the rich tradition on campus.

Studnets need to choose where they want to go, not where their parents or friends want them to go. You will be spending four years of your life at college and you need to pick a place where you think you will be happiest and succeed. Get involved on campus, you never know who you will meet and what opportunities could be opened up to you. Remember that you are at school to get an education above everything else, so go to class, do your homework and study because once you fall behind it is very difficult to catch back up. College is an excellant way to learn about the responsibility of being and adult and independent. You will make mistakes but if you learn from them then they served a purpose. But the most important thing to remember is that college can be some of the best years of your life so live it up, drink it down, and live without regrets.

College is a great time in your life and you want to be sure that you make the right decision about where to go. My advise for making that decision is visiting the campuses of the colleges that you are considering to find out how comfortable you feel on each one. I visited four campuses and was able to tell, based on how I felt on each campus, which college was right for me. Being comfortable on the campus is essential for making your decision as well as making the most out of your time there. If you feel comfortable on campus you will be more likely to be more involved, make new friends, and be happy. All of these things will ensure that your years at your college or university will be everything you hoped for and more.

Try to find a college that is affordable. I struggle to pay for college and I have to take out student loans. It is important to find a college that is well-known, but also one that will work well with financial needs. The college experience will be better if there are no financial worries.

The first step in finding the right college is to ask yourself what exactly it is you want in a college (i.e. atmosphere, demographics, rankings, extracurricular activities, location, etc.). The next step is to make a list of the potential colleges you are interested in and then research each of them to see if they meet your academic, financial, and social expectations. It is very important to research the financial aid availability because some schools have early deadlines for their finacial aid and scholarship applications. Deadlines are important to keep notice of when applying to college as well. Every year, a student should do their best to stay actively involved on campus by joining clubs, attending sporting events, volunteering, and even joining a social group (such as a greek fraternity/sorority). These activities not only are fun but are also good for networking amongst student peers and alumni. Networking is of major importance when looking for a job after college. Making the most of a college experience is easy as long as you stay involved in activities that are healthy and keep you happy and academically focused. College is the most memorable experience so make it a happy one.

Don't go to college unless you are ready to take it seriously. You are on your own and have to do alot of growing up real fast but collge equips you with life long tools like maturity, responsiblity, and time management. That is the way to be successful, if you can figure out how to manage your time wisely than you will be fine. You also have to become alot more responsible because your mom and dad aren't here anymore to look over your shoulder and make sure you are doing your work, or to make sure that you go to class. If you go to class and manage your time wisely you will succeed.

To parents I would say: the moment that the child is born open a college savings account. My parents never did that and so I went through college just based on financial aid and money from family members. I would suggest finding the right school with the right programs that your child is interested in. Also, its important that parents realize that their "children" are adults now and that they need to make mistakes in order to learn from them in the future. Therefore, don't always come to your child's beck and call whenever they need something, but at the same time dont abandon them. Tell them to get a job when they're in highschool, that way they can have their own money and know how to balance their finances while they're in college. I was never allowed to get a job in highschool, but once I got to college I'd wished I'd had. Also, students need to come with an open mind to college because 9 times out of 10 they're going to be around people that they've probably never encountered before in life. Its best to have an open mind.

The most imprtant thing to do when you are trying to find the right college is to visit the college itself. I didn't know for sure that I wanted to go to the the University of Alabama until I stepped on campus. After visiting the campus I got a feel of the people and the staff and I got a great first impression.

To parents I would say, be active in your child's life, and in their choices of college. Not only is the right choice important to you financially and parentally, it is important that they know they have your respect and your support. To students I would say, do not make decisions based upon what everyone else is doing, or because you want to "get away." These thoughts are fleeting, but the college you choose will stay with you for at least the next four years of your life--and probably longer. To both I would say, start early and enjoy the process. This is a time when both parents and students can enjoy the fruits of their labor for the past 18 or so years. Appreciate what you have done, be realistic in your choices, and look forward to what is to come. College is not all parties, nor is college all studying--college is what you make of it. Remember to balance yourself and your goals, to ensure that neither your social life or your academic desires get the best of you. Dream, but dream wisely.

If possible take a car to college.

HAVE FUN! But be able to learn the balance between the academic life and the social life. Don't become frustrated when you don't know the answer to something. Figure stuff out for yourself. Don't accept an idea just because somebody told it to you. Have some type of method to help keep yourself balanced. Whether it be working or having a spiritual life. No matter what know that the choices that you make everyday will have some type of effect in the future.

In terms of finding the right college for a future student, I would highly advise parents and students to visit the colleges and experience firsthand what that college has to offer in terms of education, social scene, and overall presence of home the college has on the student. Sit on on classes, talk to as many college students as you can, and discuss with professors what their classes have to offer the student. If you have friends at the college of your choice, ask if you can shadow them for a day and see what it is like to be a student at that University. The most important thing about the college decision is how you feel about the atmosphere of the college. Does it feel homely, do you feel like you will be able to fulfull your studies successfully, and know what is like to accept the responsibility of being on your own for one of the first times in your life. College is about determining your career, so make sure that you put in the time and effort to choose the college you feel is best for you and how to make the most of your college education.

Visit the college and shadow students and talk to alumni