University at Buffalo Top Questions

My advice to parents and/or students about finding the right college would be to 1st to listen to your child, who is about to venture into a new step in thier lives, on what they want in a college and what they feel is best for them. And if they want to study far, listen to them and give them a chance to follow their dream. i would also say visit as many campuses that interest both the parent and the student. looking at the campuses and even sitting in one or 2 classes, if u can, will help narrow down your choice. walk around the campus look at everything , explore. ask as many questions as possable and make sure they have the major they want. Also look at the surroundings, because the scenery is as important as the actual campus. All this would help make your student happy and achieve better grades.

Go with your heart

If you have no clue what you want to do when you grow up, lay low and stick to a community college until you figure out what feels right. Starting big isn't neccessaraly a bad decision but the money tends to become more of an issue when your paying for something your not even sure you like. College is great but their is a point when financialy you have to ask yourself "Is this what I want to do for the rest of my life". Student loans have to be paid for somehow and you dont want to be stuck with a job that gives you no personal satifaction.

Keep your options open, arrange visits to the schools you find interesting, research school websites, veiw the classes they offer teacher student ratios, view their average costs (some schools give you an estimation for the costs of tuition, books and living). CHECK OUT UB!

When looking at colleges, do not just look at the farthest school from home and decided that is where you want to go. Consider you or your family's economic standing. Decide what you can afford, if you want to take out loans and if you will apply for financial aid. Visit campuses to see how you like them. Read up about each of the schools you are interested in. Weigh benefits of living at home v. living at school. Living at home may not be as bad as you think, and it saves money. Look into which school is better for the area of study you are entering. Once in college, do not be afraid to try new clubs and activities or meet new people. Work hard but do not forget to make time to have fun and make friends. Try to figure out what classes you enjoy early on so you do not have to rush to fit everything in in four years. Also try to have a plan/goal for graduation. Enjoy yourself.

Pick a school that is the best in the students intended field which you can afford. Don't let location or campus be too much of a factor, because they really don't matter very much.

Pick the school atmosphere that most appeals to you. Go somewhere you'll feel comfortable, welcomed, and open to trying new things. Don't be afraid to move outside your comfort zone, but remember that if you're unhappy in any way, or if you decide to change to a major that your school doesn't offer, you can always transfer to another school. Choosing a school is a huge decision that you should think about carefully. Listen to the advice of your parents and of current college students-after all theyv'e been there and they know what they're talking about. Ultimately the decision rests with you, but don't think of it as a decision that you can never change. It's fluid and you should be too, because college is all about discovering yourself-what makes you happy, what do you believe in, what do you value? Choose a school where you think you'll be able to discover all those things. And once you're there, be open to new things and people and enjoy the fact that you can move yourself in any direction you want.

I would tell parents and/or to go into the college searching process very open-mindedly;don't just pick a school that your friends are going to, or that is close to home. It could possibly be the most important decision of your life and should not be taken lightly. Of course cost and reputation of the school are very important factors, as well as the success rate graduates have to find jobs and passing board exams upon graduation are all important things to consider. Freshman year of college gives you a clean slate, you can be whoever you want to be. It doesn't matter if you were in the "nerdy" crowd, or the "cool" crowd in high school. Everyone is in it together and it is something to dive into, with no regrets. Do not hold back. College will be the best experience of your life!

Look for the place with the most options and opportunities for students. Your undergrad years are your years to explore and grow, before you really focus as a graduate. Focus on extracurriculars, events, and on-campus research and job opportunities- things that will look good on your resume. If you decide not to go to graduate school, make sure that your can still build your resume through your undergraduate college, which in my experience is best done through additional programs and certificates, that also show breadth in a field, not just depth. When in college, try everything. Every out-of-class lecture, volunteer opportunity or club you join will help you grow as a person. When you get out of college, how well you do in the real world will be a reflection of how well you've prepared yourself during your college years. Don't waste them at an institution that doesn't want to work for you.

I have no advice or opinion on the subject, except to tell students to go for what they want so long as they can afford it.

Parents should encourage their children to explore colleges outside of what they think they want and visit as many schools as possible. Students should be open to explore the many different possibilities and try no to get set ne one school or one type of school. I always wanted to attend a small school and ended up at a very large one. I'm very happy with my decsion and would probably have regretted it had I not explored other options.

It is overwhelming to find the college or university that is right for you, however, University at Buffalo is thriiving. I grew up in a close knit community out of state, and thought I would be overwhelmed with a large university, although UB is a large institution it doesn't feel overwhemling because it is broken down into three campuses. All of the campuses offere opportunities that can make anyone feel at home. I have lived off and on campus and both experiences have made my experience here better.

My parents have always adviced me to make mistakes, but only make them if I'm going to learn from them. They have always told me to make the best of every situation, even if the situation is not ideal. They've always also told me to use every situation as a learning experience. If I go through a single day and learn nothing that day, they aren't happy about it because I'm not using every situation to the best of my ability. They tell me that finding the right college and place to fit in is up to me, because I know what feels comfortable for myself and I am the only one that can make the decisions that really effect me.

I believe that the first priority for any student should be academic satisfaction, or choosing a school that challenges their academic ability yet still reflects personal achievement accurately. I feel that a solid educational experience leads to both intellectual and emotional growth, and that the school should be compatible with their academic areas of interest. If the student will live at the school, he should become involved in a club or organization that suits his personal interests, as a student often find their niche in such activities. Staying true to one's abilities and values allows the student to participate in activities with students of similar values, which is essential to a good experience. I recommend that the student also be comfortable with their academic advisor, as they can be an invaluable resource for course satisfaction and opportunities for job and study abroad experiences. Above all, the student must constantly evaluate the degree to which they are enjoying the experience. If they feel that combined academic, financial, and social factors are in any way dissatisfactory, the best solution would be to continue researching schools. The only true way to find the right school is to go there for four years!

Visit the school, talk to current students who share similar interests.

I would make sure to visit any school that you are thinking about going to. Sometimes there can be a big surprise when you don't actually go there in person. Also, make sure you focus on your studies, but don't forget to spend time with your friends. Also, join some clubs!

If you are a parent, give your kid/s some advice as to what career field they want to get into. If you are a college bound student, start looking into what you want to do and start there. Don't just go to a school because its has a nice reputation, or because it's a "party school". No school is a party school because school gets hard after all the partying. If you are failing and can't graduate within 5 years, there is no turning back. When you are in college, you are your own responsibility. Of course you can change majors, but certain classes are only offered during fall or spring semester and some majors do not have the same requirements. A.K.A. staying extra semesters. I meet so many people in college but only a handful became my family away from family. You dont have to be friends with everyone but being nice makes a difference.

Take a lot of time in trying to find the right college, visit as many places as possible and talk to people there.

Be prepared when you are searching for the right school. Think of qualities that you like in a school and rank them by priority. It is important to visit the school and go on the tour because pictures in the brochures can be deceiving. Ask questions and observe your surroundings. It is not only important for the school to have your program of intent, but also for you as the student to see if you are can adjust to this new environment. Remember, adjustment to college is critical in succeeding. The qualities you like should be exhibited in your visit to the school; if not, ask questions!

Always be open to new ideas because you never know what your future holds ahead of you. If you are a shy person, a small college may not be your best choice because you will not get the opportunity to break out of your shell. Choose a college that has many different majors so that way if you happen to change your mind you won't have to transfer. Experiment with your comfort zone; if you have always been a person who needs to be within a short distance from your family try going to school a little farther away from home and you could discover a new side of you that you never knew existed. When you choose the college that seems to suit you best, take advantage of everything that school has to offer. College is expensive, so do as much as you can, while still keeping your priorites straight. Finally, make as many friends as possible. It's always good to know a lot of people because in times of need you will be there for each other and as a result you will be able to grow and learn from one another.