University of Alaska Fairbanks Top Questions

Finding the right college is similar to trying on clothes. You need to not only base your decision on what the university looks like but also how well it fits you. It's about matching you style, appeal, function and goals. Looking at a pictures and brochures of a university is a great way to see how it ?looks on you? however in order to make a more educated decision I recommend going out and visiting the campuses. Remember to talk with students and professors in the area of study which you intend to study; they are truly your best resource for finding a good "fit". Have clear goals set for what you intend to accomplish, academically, socially and civically before you start looking. This will no doubt help guide your search. Most of all it comes down to your perception of college and your expectations, both for parents and for students. College is a rewarding experience if you go in with the right attitude.

When looking at colleges, it's smart to look outside the box. Don't just look at large well-known schools, with major athletics and so forth. I came to Alaska and it's been a life changing experience.

I believe the most important thing is not to rush. The biggest mistake I made was going straight to college without being sure what I wanted to major in. I've paid for it in time and money by taking classes I didn't need. If you can't decide on a major, wait. Take some individual classes in things you're interested in to see if it really suits your fancy, maybe. Once you know what you want to major in, take the time to really find out where the best place to go for that major is. Search for it on the web, and see which college names pop up most often. Making sure you're on the right path to start with will save you a lot of grief later, and take a great deal of stress off your shoulders during college. That will free you up to focus on your studies and the college experience.

It is important for the student to know, or at least have some idea, of what they want to accomplish while in college. If the student is focused on a particular area of study that is a good place to start when choosing the right college/university. If the student is unsure about what to study I would recommend a community college to start. Many times students will find a passion to pursue while in college; spending tens of thousand of dollars to "figure out" what the student aims to achieve doesn't make any sense when getting an equal education (though not necessarily an equal experience) at a community college would suffice. Also important is the surrounding area of the college/university. Is the campus large and widespread but the school is in the middle of nowhere? Is the campus small and compact situated in the middle of the city? Being comfortable in the environment of a college/university is vital to the education and will certainly benefit the student throughout their college career. There are many different types of colleges and universities so choose the top few that fit the sutdent's criteria and apply to them ALL.

If I could give anyone advice. I'd say know what you want to do before you get to college, it would save you a lot of time, money, and energy. You might change your mind here and there, but changing your mind constantly in college is expensive. I'd say, get involved on campus, get involved in groups that interest you and it will make you feel like your rooted in the community. Get involved in projects you care about and love. Do the best you can because you will live to remember these experiences.

I would encourage students to save more money in their jobs in high school. I would encourage students to move away from home. It is an enlightening experience, but I also think they should visit home again.

Before deciding on which school to attend, I would tell parents and students to make sure that the schools to which they apply are well rounded. The average undergraduate changes their major approximately 5 to 7 times during their college career. Choose a school that has a lot of different fields of study to offer. It is also very important to visit the school and talk to students that are currently in attendance. This way, both students and parents will have a better grasp of how the school operates and how current students feel about the staff, faculty, and administration. I also suggest visiting at a time that the school is "unprepared" for visitors. This will give prospective students a chance to see the school as it really is, and taste the food as it will be served all year round: not just when there are visitors. The most important thing to remember when choosing a university for a prospective student is that students must choose their own perfect fit. The school colors, the mascot, even the comfort of the dorms don't matter in the end. One attends school to learn. That's all that matters.

First and foremost you need to find out what your student is interested in. Is there a school in the state that has good programs in this field? I would cosider costs, especially during these horrendous economic times. Research all forms of financial aid and get a tour the year before. Talk to the advising office, talk to the admissions office. Try to get an appointment with the department you are interested in joining. Get information about the area and what it offers for activities that your student can and will be able to participate in. Talk to your student, find out what they want and what they are interested in and listen to everything your gut tells you as a parent. Armed will all this information you should be able to make a good decision on what college your student will attend.

Dont go in to debt to go to collage, stay in state for the undergrad, then move out if you must for grad school! Apartments are great learning experiences, but spend a semester or two in the dorms anyway, thay are great places to meet frinds and to acclimate during fresman year. Many schools get labeled as being party schools, but the truth is that a party can be found or avoided on any campus, it matters more the student have a desire to find or avoid certain activities.

My advice to future students in finding the right college would be to examine each college and determine not only if they have the right academic qualities for you, but also surroundings or social atmosphere that you would like and feel comfortable in. One of they keys to doing well in college is finding a balance in academic study and social life. Although academics is the main focus in college life, good surroundings and social life will keep you motivated to keep going. It will make you happy to be where you are and successfully finish what you started.

I would tell students to begin looking at colleges early on in their high school careers and to make sure that they maintain a focus on grades through the end of highschool and especially during their freshmen year. The first year of college can be a very exciting and also very distracting one, with so many new things to experience. To parents I would simply say to make sure their children are motivated and to let them make the decisions and support them in whatever that may be, even if they dont agree with it completely. College is an experience for the individual and should be self serving. Therefore students should feel that they can make their own decision as to their wishes and which direction they want to go without the fear that they will disappoint their parents or, more importantly, that their parents think they will not succeed in their chosen path.

The advice that I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college is to do research. If you research schools you will find out tuns of information that will help you make a more accurate decision. Once you get closer to finding your school, make sure you visit the campus. Physically seeing and being in the environment that you most likely will be attending for 4 or more years is very important. You want to make sure that you feel safe, excited, and just plain happy at your school. It's the place where you are ending your last hand full of years of school in your life-time. Make sure you can find activities that interest you because this will help improve your overall experience at your university. You'll make so many friends and develope very good communication skills. Be involved and get yourself out there and be what you want to be in life. Accomplish what you want. If you are a person who doesn't like to get involved, just make sure you feel happy with your school and the people you are with.

The best advice I can give is to examine the environment of the school carefully. A school can be the very best in it's given field, but if it is in a poor location, it can ruin the whole experience. What I mean by "careful examination" is to visit the campus in person and spend some time in the local coffe shops and the surrounding area. There isn't a brochure or admissions pitch out there that can beat the feeling obtainable by a personal visit.

When trying to find the right college to attend, I believe it is important to consider the student life on campus. Are there available opportunities to promote the growth of the student so that they are prepared for life beyond college? Are there programs available that meet the student's interest? Is there a social environment that promotes academics while also promoting participation in extra-curricular activities? Student life is not the only concern of course. Another thing to be sure of is that the academic programs offered are many and are diverse enough to give the student an opportunity to choose what they would be most interested in. I find that students that don't have choice are often demotivated because they feel locked in to something they may not be interested in.

Questions can be your greatest tool. Questions about the school to staff, questions about activities to students, questions from relatives who might have been to the college before. Learn before you learn. Find out if the college has the programs and classes you need to make the most out of the goals in your life. If you have never lived on your own before, ask your parents about how to budget for expenses, like food and tolietries. Ask for dishes and cookware, as they can be your greatest friend if the food on campus does not appeal to your taste buds. Parents! Ask your student and the staff at their intended college your own questions. Reassure yourself of a safe learning environment. Reassure yourself that your new college student is making their way out into the wide world prepared for what is to come. I can never over-emphasize the importance of questioning everything.

It is important to look for a school that offers the degrees that you are intersted in. Pick a school that is right for your degree then by cost of the tutition. You need to be able to afford the school of course, however, go with what you want and if that requires a loan and financial aid then do it. It's better to like the campus and enjoy school then pick the cheapest one that isn't high on your list of interesting schools. If you don't like your school it's hard to be motivated academically and socially.

My advice to Parents and or students. Would be to think of things you like to do and then find a school that fits all or some of those requirements don't settle for the first school that excepts you. That could probably only meet in disaster instead follow your heart and do what both you and ypur child want or vice versa.

Colleges come in a variety of flavors. And with so many choices the task of choosing one for higher education goals becomes very overwhelming. Indeed, choosing a school should bring a certain level of stress since the soon-to-be college student is choosing where, how, and to what degree they will experience whole new and different ideas, adventures, and people. Yet, it's so vital to remember that colleges do not define how students enter the world upon graduating. It's what we as students make of our time in college (learning life skills, networking and making life-long friends, striving for a foothold in the field of study of our choice) that defines the person at the graduation ceremony. So choose a school that'll prove to be enjoyable, for college is such an amazing step in life.

Figure out first the size of school and town the student would be most comfortable with , that, to me, is the most important part of chosing a college to attend. To big of a school could overwhelm a student and to small could leave a person lonley and even more home sick.

Unfortunately, money in today's world means everything, so get as many scholarships/grants as possible and plan, plan, plan.