University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

Based on my personal experience, you have to trust your instinct and remember that there's nothing wrong with changing your mind. Going to college is a huge step and an honorable one in itself, so worring if you're going to make a wrong decision shouldn't stop you from pursuing your goals. Also, never let the cost of college dissuade you from following your dream! There are so many opportunities for financial aid and many people willing to help! Just take time to fill out applications, and start early! There's money out there for YOU. And remember, college should be fun as well as academic. Find a school that will fulfill your needs scholastically, socially, culturally, even aesthetically. For me, Berkeley's fun surrounding area and beautiful campus won it for me! And of course, don't stress too much about your major just yet. It's normal to change your mind or feel lost. Just remember to keep your head up and have an open mind, your major will find you! So good luck finding that perfect fit and get ready for the time of your life!

Research the social culture of the campus that you or your child will be applying for, and make sure that the culture is synonymous to the students character.

Visit a school before you decide that you love it. While academics and reputation are important factors when choosing a school, another important aspect to a school is its spirit. While the feeling of one school might be great for one person, that same school might not be the right environment for you. In order to make the most of your college experience, you have to be at a school where you feel safe, challenged, and inspired. For me, UC Berkeley has inspired me to grow as an active member of my generation. I am motivated by the knowledge that we all have gifts that we can use to affect change, and as a student, I am already taking part in a movement of our generation to make changes politically, socially, and culturally. While college is about getting an education, do not forget that besides an academic education, college is where you get educated in the ways of the world, as we will be thrown into it when we graduate. Everyone learns in a different way and in different environments, so in order to achieve a worldly education, one must be in the right educational climate.

Ideally, the best college for anyone to attend is the one that feels right: whether it?s the people, campus or surrounding area, the college you choose should be the one you are most comfortable with, hands down ? after all, you?ll probably spend four years studying for your degree there. The best way to consider the ?feel? of a campus is to visit ??you?ll be surprised to see how a campus visit can change how you feel about a school (for reference, I used to hate UC Berkeley; after visiting, I fell in love with the campus and am currently a undergrad). On more practical terms, it?s extremely important to consider financial viability, proximity from home, travel expenses, academic and work-related opportunities, housing on- or off-campus, familiarity with people at or around school, grading statistics, and the university?s academic prestige. Most importantly, consider whether or not you see yourself enjoying your experience at a certain college, and whether you?ll be able to focus intently on your schoolwork at the same time ? if you can ?work hard, play hard? at a particular university, then it?s probably the best choice in the long run.

Go visit the college. If you have a gut feeling of being comfortable when you are there, that is the right fit for you. Don't be afraid to try new things- college is different than high school in that you will do different things from your friends, which is great.

Spend a few days at that college. Check out on campus life and off-campus life. Check out the public transit, nearby stores, distance from home, and if the school provides desired studies and extracurricular activities.

Listen to your gut. In the end, the student makes what he or she wants out of the school, the school does not create the student. Every college is unique and students should remember that they will find positive aspects at everyone of them. When finding the right college, make sure to look at key elements such as location, campus life, school spirit, and programs that the college offers. There is no one perfect college for everyone so students should be willing to apply to several in order to make a final decision. I know from personal experience that Berkeley was the right place for me because of the free, easy-going spirit on campus and the location was phenomenal in the California Bay Area. The moment I stepped onto campus, I knew this was the place for me. Everyone will get their 'aw ah' moment from their own college...I would say be patient and the right school will come looking for you. Don't get discouraged because college will be a great experience no matter where you are accepted in the end. Once at college, get involved in student groups and take unique and interesting classes!

I think the biggest piece of advice I could give students is to be positive, stay open minded, and keep your options open. Admissions are ridiculously competitive these days (and they're only going to get more competitive and demanding over the years), so though one may not get accepted to his/her first, second, or third choice, he/she will realize that a college experience is really what you make of it. If a prospective student attends a large university (as I did), it's important to get involved socially and within the academic and surrounding communities to establish networks and make the school seem smaller. I believe if you work hard, you can play hard, but prioritizing is key. I would advise parents to simply love and support their children. College is a critical developmental period in an individual's life, and though the child/student is relishing in their independence, he/she will also need parental guidance along the way.

Dear parents and prospective college students, it is wonderful to look at rankings and the overall prestige of different schools to find the best college for you, but you really should weigh other factors to see if this school is a perfect fit. Do you blossom in more personal settings, urban cities, really diverse peers, and a wealth of social opportunities? Do you prefer to be in a large population, in a small town, with people who look and think like you? These are all very important questions that you must ask yourself before you choose a college. Your college needs to be a perfect fit for you, because your experience can either be one that can only come once a lifetime or something akin to pure hell. College is like the transitioning of your life from child to adult and you need a great springboard into the working pool. So pick one that will make you happy.

Visit the college before hand to really see if its the right fit.

go somewhere with funding

As the college application season looms closer, students may find themselves forgetting that applying is more than simply letting Admissions pick a resume from a mountain of papers ? it?s about discovering if a school is right for you. I encourage students and parents to not only visit target schools, but also find out what students are like by visiting the school in session. Sit on a bench, take in the atmosphere, and observe the people that walk past, as well as their interactions with each other. Ask yourself, would the environment provide the best opportunity for academic success? Take a tour around the campus and peek inside classes to get a taste of how it would feel being a student there. If possible, ask the guide questions, like what they enjoy the least about this school and what they enjoy the most. Finally, relax and enjoy the college experience. Once you?ve settled down in a school, take advantage of all that college has to offer. Take interesting courses, join clubs, attend campus events, and make new friends, but don?t forget to manage your time efficiently. After all, college is all about learning to balance your life.

Know your style. Are you someone who gets bored with material quickly? If so pick a school that operates on a quarter system not a semester system. Do you require a lot of individual attention? Pick a small school with access to professors, not a large institution. Take chances and make the most of your time, it goes really fast. Get involved, the worst that can happen is that the activity you choose is not for you, but if you don't try a thing you'll never know. Talk to people, don't wait for them to talk to you, your networks will become extremely valuable once you are gone. Seek diversity in the people that you talk to, you wil learn the most from those who aren't like you. Talk to your professors- go to office hours, they do want to see you.

To make the most of the college experience, it is essential that students find the perfect balance between a life of work (academic or not) and a life of enjoyment (socializing with friends, volunteering, etc.).

The college must have great academics, but it must also have a fraternity/sorority system, otherwise college social likfe will be boring.

I would encourage youth and adults to research the college, especially the programs. The program is the first priority because it must match up well with the student's personal goals and intrests. As I think there are too many people that attend schools for the prestige and because of parental pressure, I strongly encourage students to examine their heart to focus in on what excites them, what they're passionate about--even since childhood. I would then encourage them to seek the program that best connects with their heart and apply for that. There may be two or three colleges that have similar programs; in that case, there may be a first, second, or third choice, the order being determined by convenient housing, financial package, and academic and social support programs present at and near the school. In regards to making the best out of the school experience, I strongly encourage a student building a strong support system for themselves. This is done by way of being proactive with meeting/interacting with professors, staff, and students--not waiting for people to aproach, but doing the approaching, anywhere and at anytime. Talking to strangers potentially yields friends, access, and success.

Be very clear in what you want out of the experience and what that college will do to fulfill that. You're not checking boxes, its a more organic process. You probably won't know that you chose the right college until you are already there, or you may never know, you might question it even as you hold your diploma. You might find that you really like the location, parts of the academics, but the social life doesn't live up to your expectations, but you can work around those and it shouldn't ruin your college experience if EVERYTHING doesn't check out. A lot of students seem to get bogged in the details, fretting about the potential major classes or why its so hard to meet friends outside of class--well there has to be some way members of graduating class are all celebrating out together--they made friends, they finished their course work. Talk to other students, even if it might seem awkward, even if you don't know if anything will come out of it, but you have to figure out the mechanics. And use any sort of campus advisor you can find.

Talk to students and alumni of the school and find out their thoughts. Visit the campus and surrounding areas and soak up as much information as you can. Make sure you like the climate of the location. Audit a class. Find student groups that you are interested in.

You'll have to really think about your personal preferences and not exactly which school is, persay, the most prestigious. Where do you think you'll really enjoy yourself? Where do you think you'll really develop and find what you like? Where do you think you'll have a worthwhile experience and acquire the skills for success?

After three years at college, I've felt appreciative, frustrated, exasperated, and proud of my school. I've often considered what it would have been like if I had chosen a different school. At one point I thought I'd made the wrong choice after seeing how much my friend was enjoying herself at another school. I had also been accepted into that very same school and was very close to choosing that one. However, I realized that she and I are different people, and so it would have been impossible for us to have identical experiences, even if we attended the same school. I think that it is the individual that makes the difference in what kind of college experience you have. It's my impression that college is where you meet people from all different walks of life, and as a result, there are many possibilities to learn and grow. If I've ever felt dissatisfied with my college experience, I have ultimately discovered that it's not the situation that is limiting, but myself. In the end, the opportunities are always out there, but it's up to you to do what you will with them.