University of Delaware Top Questions

Believe Believe Believe. Parents and students most certaintly need to know that there is a college or University for everyone that seeks one. Throughout my college search I had a short period of disbelief in my future, but with a little help from my parents and family I finally stepped onto a campus that was everything I had dreamed college life would be. If it was not for the support of parents who never stopped believing in me, I would have given up on college with no intention of returning. So my deepest and most moving advice I can give anyone reaching toward college is to let nothing stop you on your journey of creating yourself and your life. You never know how powerful your choices and life can be in molding another human being. Believe in yourself, life is what you make it and it always will be; Make it your path, make it your choice, and enjoy it when it comes.

Most universities have a welcoming or tour guide program which can help you learn about the school and enjoy your visit. The University of Delaware for example has the Blue Hen Ambassadors, a team of 150+ representative tour guides. They are trained to know the facts, but they are real students too. I would suggest the parents/student team to meet with a group such as this at any universities in which they are interested. You will gain immense knowledge about the university and ease some fears about the college process for both the parent and student.

Get invloved. The first semester of my freshman year I made a lot of mistakes. I didn't socialize very much, I never went out to parties, I didn't join any clubs or students organizations, and as a result, I had only a few freinds, I was very homesick, and I missed all of the activities I used to do in high school. After my first semester I auditioned and was accepted into a co-ed a cappella group which combined two things that I absolutely love: friends and music. I got a part in one of the student run theater productions and made a lot of friends that way. I started to go out more and put myself out there. I am very happy here and it is because I had the opportunity to get involved in so many extracurriculars and meet so many people with the same interests. Pick a school that offers the activities that you love... you'll be miserable with out them. And if there is nothing you are currently interested in, pick a school like the University of Delaware that has TONS of different activities and organizations to get involved in.

I would suggest taking as much time as possible in making a decision about school. Meet professors, meet students and if possible spend a day just living and experiencing the campus and campus life. Make sure that the education ideals of the school fit your own and that you are willing to live up to the standards of the university you decide to go to. In other words don't pick an academically challenging and intense school if you are only going to college to get a degree and a job, go to that school if you are looking to learn as much as possible and challenge yourself. The most important thing to me though is the cost of education. Go somewhere that you believe the money will be worth it. In my experience I have discovered that most schools are very academically close and it is not worth it to choose a famous school name over a cheaper and just as good education.

Finding the right college is probably the biggest decision of your teenage years. If a person doesn't find the right college they will end up doing bad and regretting their descision for the next four years. My advice to all parents and students is tour the college you are planning to go to. Attend one of the classes required for your major. Before signing up for a class look at the professor and research about him/her before attending his/her classes. Also, look into all the dorms at the university, sometimes they might show one of thier best dorms and give you one of the worst there. To make the best out of college is to make sure you don't get too caught up in school or partying. It's important to have a great balance in both of them. Most importantly, don't forget your old friends from back home, sometimes all you need is people who have been with you since you were babies. But it is also very important to meet new, different people who you have never seen or met before. College is just the beginning of your life, so make it right!

Choosing the school that fits you is vital to making the most of your college experience. The setting is important because a student's comfort level can be greatly affected by the surrounding environment. The student body is significant to consider because diversity can be scarce and that may be a positive thing to some and negative to others. Also, one should consider the reputation of the programs which they will be taking. Some schools have a widely recognized program for a specific major or concentration and that can do wonders for a student's career choices outside of college. Access to extracurricular activities and employment should be considered as well because that can make or break one's experience. Overall, a student should be open minded when visiting a school and they should ask what the school can do for them and what they can do for the school in the four years they will spend there.

I would advise parents and students to start thinking early. It is imperative that they go visit these schools and spend time there and get maybe a student persepctive on what is available. Really no one else will be able to give you better information and honest answers to your questions. I would also tell students to be open. College is such a different type of environment in comparison to high school, it is important to branch out and try new things. College organizations often do not have the funds to greatly advertise events so be active in trying to find out what is available. Also do not be afraid to join an organization, it will only lead to more opportunities and familarity with what is available on campus. It also is the best way to find that niche you are looking for when it comes to developing a sense of home. I would also say keep the grades up from the beginning! Practice different study habits and find what works for you. Having a good gpa from the beginning will open door opportunities for you in the near in far future! Especially for scholarships, work , graduate school and internships.

When you look for a college, visiting at least 3 of them is a must. I would not consider you accepting entrance to a college that you have not visited. The most important part of college is to find a place you will fit in. The university of delaware for instance, has a large student body and encourages diversity. There are student groups involving all different types of lifestyle choices. You should look for a school that will cater to you, as well as provide alternative thoughts and ideas. Another important aspect to a college is the level of education it provide. You may not necessarily have to go to the most prestigious school, but look for a good balance between academics, extra cirrucular activities, education services (tutoring, professor availability...), and career placement. It will be dificult to choose a school, but many prospectives can make a decision after a few months and a visit of the school. I encourage taking a tour and talking to current students about their experiences.

Fututre students should definitely do their research when deciding on the school they want to attend. It all comes down to the person. For me, I wanted a school with diverse students from different backrounds, so that not only would i be learning in the classroom, I would be learning in the outside of the classroom as well. I can only give advise concerning myself, and I decided on UD because it was too big, and it wasn't too small. I didn't want to seem like just a number among the crowd. Academics are very important, and you should a school that has high expections for the student. I wanted to have somewhat of challenge, while still having fun. Another thing that was important was the amount of on campus organizations to be involved in. It makes school so much more exciting when you're actually involved. In the end, It's a personal decision.

You have to visit the schools you are deciding between and make sure you take into consideration things like: size of school, academic life, social life, number of commuters, ect.