The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

I think the best advice I could give to students is to decide first what size school they think they want to attend-- small, medium or large. To further narrow the choices, decide which area/region of the country you'd like to be in. Consider what kind of climate do you want to live in, and would your preference be a city, rural, or urban environment. With those choices made, your potential colleges should be reduced to a more managable list. Next, research the degress offered, their reputation in a particular field of study you may be interested in, and the estimated tuition/ room & board expense over four years. Visit the campuses of a few that are on your short list and talk to admissions counselors to learn what you can do to improve your chances to get accepted. I think it's a good idea to visit the campus with your parents the first time, but to go again on your own and stay with a current student. That is the best way to get an accurate feel for the campus, social life, etc.

For both parents and students, when searching for the best college, start early! You can never look at too many colleges. Talk to your guidance cousenlor at school, schedule times to visit a variety of universities and colleges, and talk to others who have gone to the colleges that you are interested in, or who are currently going through the application process. Also, be sure to apply to as many colleges and universities as you can. If you don't get into to your top choice, you should have a number of back-ups that will still provide you with the learning environment that you are seeking. In trying to make the most of your college experience, focus hard on your studies, but also take the time to try new things and get to know your university and the people in it. Take a class that you might be interested in that doesn't necessarily have to do with your major. Participate in extra-curricular activies and clubs that you have an interest in and that will help you build experience for the future. Internships are always a good way to explore the possibilites in your particular field of study.

The school should be well researched and the campus should be visited before the final decision is made. College is the chance to find yourself. You have the freedom to choose what classes that you would like to take and what you would like to get involved in. It is important to get involved in the university and jump right into the community. My advice would be to make the most of the time you have here because it goes by so fast. Join the clubs, be a volunteer, and have fun here, but always in moderation. Time management is an important skill that must be mastered if you are to succeed because it is not easy. No one is going to hand you the diploma and a job if you are not willing to work for it. College is not the place to forget priorities.

Junior year of high school is a great time to be exploring your options for colleges and universities. You should not set your sights on one particular school, as it will only cloud your judgment when visiting other schools. Finding the "right" college is a long, arduous process, but taking the time to visit their campuses (if possible) or even going to their websites and reading their mission statements and facilities available to current students will help you in that decision. If you do not get accepted to your first choice school, don't be deterred; if you really want to make the most of the college experience, you will try to stop any thoughts about "I wish I had gone to this school" and reach out to your fellow students in your current college or university. You may be surprised at what you discover -- I certainly did.

First of all, I will highly recommend students and parents of potential college students to not only visit college websites, but also visit the campus. I for one was set upon the idea of living in a dorm during my freshmen year. However, when I signed up for pre-orientation I realized that living in these dormitories had me feeling suffocated. Additionally, students need to realize that it is never to early to join various organizations. The earlier the better. Upon receiving your admissions letter, students should search college websites to find out about what is out there. For instance, Global Medical Training is a pre-med, pre-dent, and pre-pharm organization that is not widely known. This is because not many students take the time to search the College of Natural Sciences homepage at the University of Texas at Austin. This organization is one of the fewest organization that provides trips outside of the country and allows students to gain hands on medical experience. This allows students to narrow and reconsider their future goals. Additionally, organizations allows students to create multiple contacts, friends, gain experiences, and build upon their leadership skills.

Follow your heart, not your wallet.

The advice that I can give the parents and students in finding the right college is to pick atleast four schools in which the student is interesting in applying for. I advice the student to visit all four schools and then from their the student can elliminate the schools in which he dislike the environment. Also when visitng the school the student should visit the department in which he os she desires to major in. From there the student can elliminate those in which he dislike the programs for his major and mostlikly he or she will come to conclude on the right college for them and their major.

You've probably heard it a thousand times: "pick a degree you love." In some ways this is true, others not. Choosing your degree is the first step to finding the right college because choosing the college with the best job placement, tuition, and national accreditation will help you get the best, most enjoyable job and comfortable work environment. I recommend choosing your degree based on three factors: personal knowledge, subject enjoyment, and post-graduation job possibilities--in that order. To get the most out of your college experience, I believe it is important to make your college decision based on what you already know and can learn to understand--in other words, don't choose engineering just because there are jobs in that field, choose it because you understand the mechanics of math and science. The second piece of this is: will you enjoy that degree? If you understand math, but it frustrates you, try business instead of engineering. Beware of using enjoyment as your only measure as college classes are very different than the basic subjects you might love. Lastly, know the economy: college will only get you so far, a job is what keeps you fed.

I would advise parents and students to go on campus tours to see what a day in college would be like, to get familiar with the campus, get a feel for the students that attend the school, and just see if it is a place that they could see themselves being a part of for four years. If they are touring a school in a different city, they should go out and explore it, as well. There is more to the city than the campus, such as different cultures, city functions, and places people should see and experience. Once a student gets into their dream college, they should go out and see what the university has to offer in terms of student organizations, get to know people. Most likely there will be at least one organization they will be interested in. They will have to put themselves out there in order to meet new people and to not feel like just a number instead of an individual.

As an 18 year old kid, you never really know what decisions to make about the rest of your life. It's impossible to tell exactly where to go with your future when you are just starting to consider options. So, in order to pick a college you really have to ask yourself "do I want something different from what I know now, or do I want something similar to my current lifestyle?" If social life and or cultural downtown events are what you live off of, then by no means go to a small college! If you are of a very relaxed character, or the artsy, or philosophical type then maybe a quiet town is what you need for a peaceful, low-stress living situation. Honestly "to thyne own self be true" is underrated these days. If you (the student) are honest with yourself about what you want or even about saying that you DONT know what you want, then that is your first step to success. Being in college is very different for each person. It could be the most fun experience imaginable or it could be like you already live in the cold and unforgiving "real" world.

When picking a school, visit the colleges you're serisouly considering attending. The vibe a prospective student gets from the campus can have a huge impact on their decision. If you can, try to stay the night in the dorms with a current student to really get a feel for the social life and the kind of people that go to that school. You may discover your dream school is incredibly snobby or that you can't surivie the New England cold for a weekend, much less a whole semester. To make the most of your college experience, don't be afraid to try new things; push your comfort zone a little. Go to the party where you only know one or two people, or sign up for the study abroad semester in Spain. It's often the things that weren't part of your normal routine that are the most memorable.

Shop around--sometimes you can find an unknown school/university that will give you the same great education and will be more affordable. If a university tells you that they will give you financial aid to come there, find out EXACTLY what they mean. Don't be afraid to tell them you need money. Does that aid include loans that you will have to pay back or not? Realize that most financial aid packages come with loans. Visit many colleges before you decide--you never know how going to a college campus may change your mind. Work the hardest that you can--have a social life, but not to the detriment of getting good grades. This is your opportunity to learn what you can. Participate in many things besides academics. Do well in high school, so you can get into the college of your choice. Get as much education as you can when you're young--often, if you drop out or don't continue past your bachelor's, you never go back. Love every minute of life and know that you can make a difference in whatever you do--if you work hard enough.

My advice for students finding the right college is to start looking for different options your Junior year of high school so that by the time your Senior year rolls around you know where you want to apply. My parents made me pick out at least five different colleges that I was interested in my Junior year so that throughout the year we could visit each college and get a tour. I highly recommend visiting the college! Visiting the college gives you a feel of what that school is really like other than what you see on the internet. When I visited some colleges that I thought I would love, I realized that the college just wasn't for me, but I would have never known that if I hadn't visited it. Senior year, I would apply as early as possible. Waiting til the last minute could be very stressful. To make the most of your college experience, I would definitely get involved on campus whether it's with a sorority/fraternity or just a club. However, you must be able to balance your school work on top of it.

I would tell students to get a degree in something they like, even if they don't want to work in that field, because it's better just to enjoy college and many people work in fields unrelated to their degrees.

Try to be as involved as possible. Meet your professors and go to all available study sessions and office hours. You will learn more, meet people, and get to know your professors. If possible, try to stay on campus during the full day regardless of your course schedule. This will allow you to be more connected to the school and will also force some study time. Join clubs during your first year so you can develop a strong connection to a smaller group.

Make sure you visit the college and talk to students who attend the college before choosing to attend. Don't worry about financial aid or tuition when choosing to attend college. You should pick the best fit for you. It won't be hard to take out student loans and repay them after graduation if you're working at a job you love. Live on campus your freshman year. It's the best way to meet people and get involved and develop good study habits. If you're struggling in a class, get help early! Don't wait until the third round of midterms to finally ask the professor how you can do better. Also, don't be intimidated by the professor. Go to office hours at introduce yourself and get to know them. They wil be a great resource and will have good advice about how to suceed. Don't cram for exams! Stay on top of the material and reading from the start and it won't be that bad. Also, don't forget to have fun!

Follow your heart and gut instinct.

The most important thing is first figuring out how many students go to the college and if that is alright with the student/s attending. Big colleges can have the same sense of community and one on one interaction as small ones, it just depends on the professor and the TA's. Also parents shouldn't nag their kids. College is stressful enough as it is and adding on the twists and turns of everyday life can make adjusting difficult at any point. Finally make sure the college you choose has a lot of resources to help with your classes, figuring out yor major, and finding a job. People spend so much time figuring out what they want to do without help and that tends to keep them from graduating in 4 years.

Talk to everyone you can about that particular college: counselors, current and former students, neighbors, etc. Read books on the school, but most importantly, visit that particular campus when school is in session. Having students there really helps you get a better feel for what the campus' vibe is like versus going in the summer or during another break when nobody is there. On that same note, when you're visiting, pay attention to how you feel when you're there: what kind of a vibe or intuition you get, and most importantly, ask yourself if you could see yourself being a student there for 4 or more years and being happy. That's really what it comes down to above all the other impressive stats and the school's reputation.

I would tell students to have an idea of what they want to major in and go to the college that they would feel most comfortable at, not the one that mommy and daddy says they have to go to. If you are not truly happy where you're at, it makes it a lot harder to do well. I would also tell the students and parents to save every penny they can. Sure you can get loans and apply for scholarships, but nothing is promised to them. Have a back up plan for any financial situations. Last, but not least, I would encourage campus visits. Get a feel for the places you're interested in before you make an actual decision.