University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

There are so many things to consider when making your decision, but what did it for me was picking a college that would fit my personality. One great indicator of which college is best for you is simply looking at the people attending--how they dress, what they do for fun. These things give much indication to what kind of people they are. At other UCs I visited, I noticed that many people dressed the same and they just partied. I knew I couldn't fit in with that kind of lifestyle, with people who cared a little too much about what others thought of them. I needed somewhere I could be free of those restrictions, so I chose a more liberal type of college. Also, finding somewhere with some semblance to home is a big help because it helps you adjust that much quicker. It could be anything, like the weather, the kinds of food there, buildings, etc. There's so much more to deciding which college you decide on, but just remember that wherever you may choose, make the best of your situation and live it up because it should be the best four years of your life!

Parents: Be ready to pay for a good education, it's worth it. Also, don't feel sad about letting your son or daughter go to a far away school, it might be beneficial after all. Trust is key. Students: Please visit different colleges and Universities before accepting admission. Brochures are not the best ways to know a campus. Do college tours and talking to faculty and students. I would even suggest to spend a night at the campus during the school year so you know how school life looks like.

Don't listen to anyone else but yourself because you're the only one that knows yourself well enough to make this big decision. Your decision will take you on a journey of a lifetime.

For some people, college is a time to break away from home, to try out different lifestyles, and to learn about new viewpoints. For others, college is a social experience meant to be fun and crazy. Depending on what the student wants- and this is really important, that the student be honest with him/herself, different colleges can accomodate those wishes. College can be really fantastic and a great time to grow personally as well as academically, so it's incredibly important to find a school most appropriate for the individual. Prestige and location, tuition, etc., of course have to be taken into serious consideration as well. If a student has made the effort to be able to be accepted to their choice of universities, they should then be given the opportunity to find the right fit for themselves. Once college starts, life changes in all sorts of ways. If the student is confident and driven and passionate about their education, it is easy to make the most of it. Once in college, a student has to consider school like a job: setting out time for study, setting deadlines, reading schedules, etc., and sticking to them. The fun will follow.

You hear it so often: college is one of the greatest times of your life. And the fact of the matter is that it really can be, if you make decisions with your best interests in mind. Don't be afraid to go to a prestigious school because you think it will be too tough. Shoot for the stars and go outside of your comfort zone, and you will end up learning so much about your capabilities and values. Vice versa as well, don't be embarassed to choose a lesser known college because it may provide the best learning and social environment for you. Try and gauge what school is to your liking, and follow through with that decision. Live for the future, and don't dwell on the past. Also I would like to stress how important it is to relax! Make sure that on top of studying you have time to explore the city, go out with friends, and take part in extracurricular activities; being overly focused, stressed out, and lonely is no way to enjoy life. College is only as good as you make it out to be, so make the most of it!

For those finding a new path towards their first year in college, I would advise the undergraduates to be as involved as they can in any extra-curricular activities, whether it be something to do with sports or a cooking club. As for finding the right college, once he or she steps onto the campus, she/he should get that homely feel to it. Also, crashing the classes that interest the undergrad might be a great idea, so that way he/she will get a feel to how a college course or class is like. That will also be helpful in deciding whether or not the campus is the right one for the student. But the most important thing that I would have to bring up is that the student should be encouraged to meet other students especially in the dorms and find that one activity that he or she will enjoy doing- kinda like finding one's one niche : )

What parents need to know is that THEY aren't the ones who will be going to school and possibly living near that college for about four years, so please let their children choose the right place to go. The students should understand that the right college for them is one where they feel like they fit in, with the neighborhood and the other students as well. Additionally, what I was searching for in a college was the potential to try and experience new things in order to really find out what I like. College is an experience that one will never be able to have again in their lives, but in truth, how good the experience is will depend on how much a person will try to make it lively. So realistically, any college could potentially be the right college for a person, depending on how much effort they put out to try to make it fun.

Visit the college first and make sure you fit into the environment. Don't just choose a college because it has better academic standards than other schools because 4 years is a long time to live in misery and depression. Also, make sure your kid has some strong values because there are lots of tempting vices at school like drugs, meaningless sex, alcohol, and excessive gaming.

There is no way a website or brochure can give you an accurate depiction of a college you are considering. The best way to decide whether a school is right for you is to forge personal connections- be it online and off the PR recordbooks, or in person and on campus with students and faculty. Once you make a decision however, don't pine over the school you didn't pick. Embrace your choice and realize that your undergraduate years are to be enjoyed as a path you take to your destination, not your final fate. Learn to strike a balance between giving and taking, absorbing and creating, working and playing, and these will truly be some of the best years of your life.

I would advise students to research their majors and to visit colleges before applying. They should proofread their application essays and take any offered interviews seriously. Parents should support students in their choices but also inject a good dose of reality. To make the most of the college experience one must keep an open mind and an easygoing attitude. Since learning is a good chunk of the purpose of going to college, it should be taken seriously. To be able to learn and study effectively will allow more time for the "college experience". Making friends is also a bonus since these are the people who will be with you for awhile - from late-night study groups to late-night frat parties. To get the most out of your money, take advantage of your professors. Colleges usually splurge to lure renown experts; their experience and knowledge are yours for the partaking. Last of all, if you must binge drink, choose unadulterated coffee.

Pursue something you like, not what your parents or what other people want you to do.

Be flexible and willing to give new and unexpected things a try. It can feel like the end of the world when you receive a rejection letter from your top-choice school but I promise, life does go on. The right school for you may not necessarily be the same one as the one on the flag that has been hanging over your bed since birth. If possible, definitely visit every school you are accepted to; being on campus offers an entirely different perspective from websites and books. While visiting talk to students at the school about what they think of it. Yes, it may seem intimidating asking a complete stranger for advice but the majority of college students love to talk about their school and share any advice they can. Also, be sure to check out the area around the college. Depending upon the school you could be spending alot of time in the nearby town or the city across the bay. Once you have made your choice and are at your school don't be afraid to try something you've never considered; learn italian, go skydiving, play a sport, study in Brazil, now is the time.

Choosing a college shouldn't be based solely on academics. Since the surrounding city or town is essentially where you will be living, it's important to take that into consideration, especially if it's a dramatically different environment from what you are used to at home. Additionally, college is a time to really gain experience and find yourself in terms of who you are and what makes you tick. Extracurricular activities are a great way to help figure this out as well as making the most of new experiences. New adventures could be as simple as exploring the surrounding area further or something as dramatic as going skydiving with your new roommate. That said, students should make safe choices while they're entering the independent life and parents need to be able to let their children make decisions on their own and perhaps some mistakes along the way since the whole point of going to college is growing more as an individual.

Really take the time to visit campuses and talk to students. You will be able to get a better feel for what the school is really like, the things you can't find on their website or in college books. Good starting points are alumni from your high school who attend that college. Get involved early in a variety of student groups that interest you. That way, you have a chance to narrow it down to groups you truly enjoy and have time to move up to a leadership position within the organization. It's also a great way to meet people other than classmates and people who live in your dorm.

An important part of the college experience is choosing the right campus. Make sure parents and students visit the campuses to see what life is really like, how the weather is, how students behave outside of the lecture halls, how professors teach in large and small classes. Money should not be the sole reason for attending a college because there are countless financial aids to help with tuition.

Students- Just know that it's very hard to meet people in Berkeley, and it's very hard to make friends unless you are living in the dorms. A lot of people want to make friends... I think... but it's very hard to, since everyone is so driven and focused on school.

Students should explore their options and find a college that suits them socially as well as academically. I would definitely recommend visiting the campus and the surrounding area of the colleges. Find an area that you fall in love with, as I did at Berkeley. To make the most of your life at college, keep an open mind. You'll be meeting many different kinds of people that you may not have interacted with before. Try to make friends outside of your normal social circles, with the many varieties of students that you meet. That will make your college experience extremely rewarding.

The only way to properly judge if a school is right for you is to experience life there for yourself. Reading brochures, watching videos, reading statistics, and hearsay will never create a complete picture of the place you are going to spend the next four to six years of your life in. Campus visits and tours are a good start, but most colleges or off-campus organizations have programs where you can live in the dorms, or off-campus housing, or live with a host for a few days. I would recommend doing this during from Thursday to Saturday during the academic year, to get a full academic, extracurricular, and social view of the campus. Once you are accepted, the key thing is to experience everything, while not spreading yourself too thin. Try a new sport, dance, or club; something you never would have thought to try. While you don't have to become a wild partier, let go of your inhibitions a little bit, it's very important to keep socially sane. Try alternative living situations to dorms, at least after your first year. Take classes in things you're interested in, not just for your major.

Understand that a large part of your college experience is discovering new things about yourself. Arrive on your campus with an open mind. If you "know" exactly what you want to study, reassess yourself, ask the hard questions, and never close yourself off to new possibilities. Do you have any interests that you've always wanted to get involved in? Now is your chance. Put yourself out there because you may never have the same opportunities offered to you again. When you search for a college, ask yourself these questions: What kinds of extracurricular opportunities does this college have to offer for me? Will this college challenge me? Will this college help me grow and mature as a person? Why does this college interest me? Is it prestige? atmosphere? weather? location? And then ask yourself just how important each of these factors are to you. Remember you will be establishing a new life for yourself in this place, and if you can't see yourself living happily in that environment than you probably won't want to commit yourself to that place for the next four years.

I would definitely recommend visiting each university before applying - take a campus tour or come when the university has its day such as Cal day for UC Berkeley. Research its strenghts and weakness - is it prominent in the field that the student is interested in? Does it offer the major of interest? Are the facilities satisgyin? etc. Definitely make sure that it fits. Most of the students know what college feels the best by walking around the campus, taking a look at the lecture rooms, etc. To make the most of the college experience....try and do things you are interested in. Join clubs of your choice, meet new people, take classes with friends. Become involved in the community and on the campus. In order to make the most of the time in college is to do what one enjoys. Grades are important, especially when one considers applying for grad school; however, it is not everything. Its not all about transcripts but also about how one spends its free time. Four years go by so fast. You really need enjoy it.