University of California-Davis Top Questions

In two words : reach out. When you get to your college or university, you're going to realize that there are a ton of people. Just remember that every one of them is a potential friend. In your first year, you'll likely live in the dorms. Don't coop yourself in! Reach out to your roommates, your floor, the floors above and below and especially the people outside your floor! You'll learn that by joining clubs, fraternities and even going to your library, not only will you feel more connected to the school, but you'll also meet tons of new people. And don't be shy! No one knows who you are! So stick your anxiety in your high school lockers and walk into the world of college ready to meet new people, make lasting friends and reach out to everyone around you!

Self control is everything.

It is really important to find a school that will help you achieve your life goals--if you know what you want to do with your life, you have to consider how good the department for your major is and how well-known it is to others. It is helpful when your future boss can look at your resume and see that you have graduated from a prestigious learning facility. The environment is also very important for one's personal enjoyment and learning experience. For instance, it is nice that my school is quiet and thus helps me study more efficiently, but the area around my school is barren and boring and tends to make me very bored. However, a friend goes to a school right by beach found herself very distracted her freshman year by the malls and clubs that were around, and she went from having a 3.9 GPA in high school to having a 3.2 GPA in college. Every college will have a scene for everyone. All you have to do is be yourself and try to put yourself out there. Be prepared and enthusiastic for new experiences because that's what college is about!

VISIT the campus! You can discover so much about a campus by seeing it!

The best and easiest way to find the right college seems to be talking to the students themselves! But students are often single minded about their college experience. If a student generalizes one or two bad experiences they've had, they might ruin your whole impression of a school you might have otherwise loved. So instead of asking general questions about "class size" or "extracurriculars" you can get a more accurate description of a student's college experience by about a typical day or even week in their life at school. This allows you to hear first hand about the pros and cons of a school IN the CONTEXTof a students daily or weekly life. Current students are "experiencing" their college expereince right now, and the more students you talk to about each campus, the more well-rounded a description you can get each school. For instance, most prospective students would probably react badly if told that parking on campus can be terrible. However, in context, the student might hear a description like, "...I walk or ride my bike to campus most mornings..." and get a completely different (and more accurate) discription of life at the school entirely.

Campus is key. If you do not like the area, you will not enjoy being where you are at.

The hardest part about choosing the best fit college is knowing what you want in the first place. So decide on major necessities, like a gym, big library, or research facilities... Included in this is environment. Focus on population density, urban vs. suburban, and faculty/student ratios. They will deeply impact your ability to feel comfortable and enjoy what the school has to offer. One should consider how they might be inspired by the surrounding culture. Look for the most extracurriculars that relate to your passions. Thanks to Davis I fell in love with bikes and became an ambassador of sustaianable practices. So ensure that there are locally popular music venues, or art galleries, or strong community aspects of any sort. College towns are very supportive and motivating environments. Social interaction is key, don't hesitate to make connections with professors and other faculty. Similarly, it's important to have good public transportation. Saving money can be crucial for those trying to afford college. I've never needed a car, or considered it. Basically, take advantage of the local oppurtunities and get involved. You'll be happiest and most willing to engage if your passions guide your college search.

I?m all in, for a good College Finding the right college to attend is a long and agonizing process having to read and fill in information on piles of paper. For students, finding the right college that suits one?s taste, environment, and atmosphere is a priority and a must such as in the dorms or town that they might find themselves living upon. The living space that a person lives in effects how one study and live. That?s why it is crucial that students research extensively for good college and what they have to offer. It is important that students should know what kind of services that the school offers such as free tutoring or academic advising. Such services are important to students because it helps students progress along their career and keep their grades up. To make the most of college experiences, students need to make sure to stay active and make friends. There may be many programs and volunteer work that college may offer to help keep students active such as giving out free meals. When making a friend, never be shy because college friends will help you through college and share laughs.

The more you know about your interests and what you want to do with your life (the more you know about yourself, really), the easier it will be for you to pick the right school for you the first time around. Don't choose a school based on prestige; make sure that it's a good school, but don't try and go for the "best" school if it doesn't focus on what you're really interested. If you don't know what you're interested in right away, take as many and as varied classes as you can and try to find what you are passionate about. Especially in large schools, you definitely need to find your niche; you'll be lost and overwhelmed otherwise. Whether it's through a job, a sorority/fraternity, or clubs, you need to find a home away from home that you can be yourself in. Above all, don't compromise yourself - stay true to your values. You'll end up making true friends and future colleagues that will last you the rest of your life.

One of the biggest pieces of advice that I wish I had been given was that of finding something I enjoyed doing and trying to do as much of it as I could. For me, this involved learning more about the biological sciences. I found my way into a research lab in my third year and have not turned back. Students should find a college is targeted and known for its work in a particular field. The students should be encouraged to find something not only on campus that interests them, but also something in the community. Be it a local bike church or a farmer's market, there are boundless opportunities at every college campus available to students that leaves it up to the student to take advantage of them. I would encourage parents to tell their students what they did during their college careers and tell the students what they wish they would have done more of. Often times, students get caught up in their social life that they forget there is another world they can be involved in. Parents can impress upon their children the importance of their future and how necessary proper education is.