The University of Tampa Top Questions

Let your kids decide!

Choosing a college is one of the biggest choices you will ever make in your life, so I would advise parents to take a step back and let their son or daughter make the decision on their own, regardless of who is paying for the education. I would advise students to think about the cost first and foremost, and avoid letting their loans exceed $10k for their undergraduate education. Depending on the school's financial aid estimates is rarely an accurate measure of the real cost of college. Keep your mind open to all of your options and research, compare, and explore each, thinking of the next four years- as long as you "do your homework", you'll know which school is going to be your best bet. Keep in mind that if you attend and find yourself regretting your decision, you can always transfer in your sophomore year. Additionally, the best way to get a feel for the student body, campus and surrounding area, and basic lifestyle is to spend a few days in the area exploring the campus and city.

if you have any doubts about liking where you are, TRANSFER. you can only do college once, so do it right

Find the school that offers the program that fits your future career goals, current financial situation and preferable location.

I would definitely suggest going on as many college tours as possible. Definitely check out all of your options. Try to stay over night if at all possible. You need to get a sense of how big or small the school really is. Talk to as many students as you can and try out a meal on campus during your visit.

Live on campus for at least your first year. And get involved at much as you can.

I think any student can love any college as long as they commit to makeing the most of it. If you go in with a positive attitude, and take advantage of what your school has to offer you really can't go wrong- no matter what school you choose!

Consider your future, the quality of the degree and the cost of the University. Plan carefully and consider the possible challenges but, overall, don't be afraid to follow your gut.

I would tell parents to allow their student to pick where they would enjoy the atmosphere. If their son or daughter is shy you wouldnt want them to go to a large school. However, if their child is very outgoing and popular then they may want to go to a larger school. Also see where school can help with interships cause thats the biggest thing employers want to see is experience, well other than good grades

Do your research and most importantly ask a lot of questions ahead of time. Look into the kinds of programs, or the degrees that are available to you. Also look at the class sizes, do you like big classes or small ones, make sure that you especially pay attention to the upper-level courses, see if they are hard to get into or not offered very often; I found out the hard way that this is a very important question to ask and have answered proir to making your college choice. Also look into the campus life and the activites going on around campus; attend a club fair and see all the different clubs on campus, look at the dining facilities and see what kind of food options you have. You can also see what kind of job opportunities are available on or near the campus. And probably most important right now, look at the cost of the school you want to go to because you don't want to be hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt right out of college. Apply for as many scholarships as possible, and see if your school offers departmental scholarships for certain majors.

Go in and ignore all of the financial aid hassles and the money and the stress. enjoy yourself and take your time. Decide for you what you want to do and dont rush into something. College should be cherished not dreaded.

I would advise students to allow themself plenty of time to visit as many colleges as they so desire. The more colleges they visit, the better the chance they will have on deciding which one is best for them. Parents: do not force your child to attend a particular college due to family alumni and/or your desires for them-it will only make the child miserable and parents will end up spending more money and wasting their college student's time. Instead, let your child decide. Also, students should not be afraid to get involved their first year of college, especially if they intend on living off-campus. Do not become a loner- studying all day will only drive a person insane. Getting involved on campus will produce more friendships, more socialization, more study groups, and potentially better grades. When grades get you down, seek help. You pay for your professor's time, so take advantage and do not wait until the last minute. Do not fret and do not give up; college life is hard but it is entirely worth it in the end. So, stick with it and you will feel a great sense of achievement.

Visiting the college is a big help. Reading college articles or doing research online to get to know about the majors that the college offers, what sports and activities they have, the types of students who attend, and the credentials that they have are important. Students should try to pick a college that offers good programs related to their desired majors. Different colleges specialize in different areas. Checking out the on-campus life, or access to off-campus housing is another important aspect. Lastly, pick a college in a city which you will enjoy living in. If you like big cities, go to a college in a big city, if you like the country side, pick a college in the country side, if you like small communities, attend a college with only a few thousand students.

Shop around. Picture yourself being a part of that community, and see whether or not you fit in. Stay overnight, and experience what its really like to live there- not just the packaged tour the admissions office gives you. When you get there, participate in the activities- that is where you will meet your friends. Make the most of it- stay up late, party hearty, and enjoy- because it goes by so fast. You will learn to balance fun and work, to make the most out of your experience.

I would tell parents and students to choose the college that they really like because they are going to be there for four or five years and it is really important that you like where your going to be spending so much of your life.

I would tell the students to become involved with activities so they are not lonely. Check and see if the school they are looking at has the major or type of classes the student is interested in. I would say to not declare a major right away, as most students tend to change majors halfway through their college experience. Freshman year is most important for getting yourself situated and not letting the freedom get the best of you. Parties are a part of campus life and if the students don't want associate themselves around that kind of atmosphere, then try to join an extra curricular activity or inter-mural sports team. It is important that the students establish their own identity and to not get caught up in the partying lifestyle, because that can severely impair their judgement, both academically and personally. College is a lot different than high school, especially if you are traveling far away from home, so it is important to keep a social network of people that you can fall back on, in case you are lonely or get depressed and don't know who to turn to. Your parents are always there for you.

Look at what the graduate program has to offer. Visit the school and observe the behavior of the students. Sit in lectures.

Make sure you know exactly what you would like and what you would not like to find in a school. Some of the most important factors for me were location, intimacy with professors, academics that supported my interests for my major, and finances. Visit your top 5 schools to see how you would fit in with students at the school. Also, if you are looking into athletics, make sure that you like the coach! Ask lots of questions to see where you will stand on the team and whether or not you agree to those terms. College athletics is a big commitment--make sure that is what you want.

Make sure to take everything in consideration. Ask yourself: Do they have study programs? Do they have a diverse student population? Do I like the surrounding neighborhood? Do the students there enjoy the school? Is it worth the money? What can I gain? Does the school have a good name? Make sure that if you are a social person, that the school can offer a lot of programs or student organizations.

One mistake that a lot of people make is basing a college choice on how much it costs. College is a once in a lifetime experience. I could have went to a school in my state and not be in debt afterward, but I probably wouldn't have matured and become as independent as I have. Always research the schools you are interested in (definitely visit the campus) and make sure that you don't minimize your choices based on the cost. Loans can always be paid off, but college can never be relived. As far making the most of your college experience, don't be afraid to join clubs and organizations. I didn't do that as much as I should have and I regret it. Also, DEFINITELY do an internship and gain work experience. Your degree is not enough these days. You absolutely need to build your resume while you are in school. Utilize your career services office as much as possible. That is what they are there for. And finally, don't let stress get the best of you. Get your assignments done but have fun whenever possible.