University of California-Davis Top Questions

The most crucial advice I could give to a student entering college is that learning how to study in college is necessary for success. Efficient study habits are specific to the individual. For example, one person may learn best by doing visual exercises while another learns audibly or by doing kinesthetic exercises. Finding out which learning tactic works best for an individual requires self-knowledge and may require sessions of trial and error. The importance of discovering this about one's self is that learning material for quizzes or exams can be done quicker and with more ease. As a college student, there will be many times where one does not have a large amount of time to study due to their busy schedule. By knowing which study tactic works best for them, they can study efficiently for the little time they do have. One will soon discover that it is not only the amount of time spent studying that counts, but how studying is done.

Students should be able to go to college with the understanding that its going to be exhilerating, but also hard work. Also, If the student does not know what he/she wants to pursue, then its important for the child to go to a school that offers many classes and provides lots of opportunity to explore different environments and fields. Students should attend the school and go to an area that they find most appealing and ask students who already attend that school how they enjoy it. Also, it might be a good idea to shadow a couple of students. Its important to realize also that just because one student might have one way of viewing the school another might feel completely opposite; therefore, it is good to get a variety of different opinions from many different people. Overall, a student wishing to go to a specific school needs to do the research, and read between the lines. Its dire that the parent be as supportive as possible, since this process can be a bit overwhelming; nonetheless, it is just as important that the parent allow the child to independently search for the best college that suits the students' needs.

The advice that I would give parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experience would be to go and visit their top colleges of choice on several different occasions and once admitted, get involved. Choosing the right college is very important when it comes to academic performance. The student is more likely to perform well at a college where he or she feels comfortable. Therefore, visiting more than one college of preferred choice on several different occasions increases the chance that the student will feel adapted to a certain college over the others, upon which he or she will base their decision. Once on campus, get involved. There are many different activities on campus to get involved in whether it be a club, fraternity/sorority, volunteering, community service, etc. Once involved the student will feel a greater sense of belonging on that campus which will help make their college experince more memorable and exciting. Remember, you reap the benefits of your college experience only what you sew into it. Choosing a college will be one of the biggest decisions of your life, make it the right one.

I suggest parents and students think about the student's interests while he or she is still in high school. Look for a school that will provide a solid foundation in that field of interest. Although I wouldn't choose to go back and attend another university, I learned that the fields of study a school has to offer is important to accomodating and assisting the growth of a student's interests and talents. By being conscientious of his or her interests, the student can apply to the appropriate schools and focus on selecting the best major appropriate sooner than later. It can be a difficult transition for some students to attend college. Attending a school that will be able to stimulate a student's interests is critical to the efficiency of a student's time in college. Once you get into the right school, make the most of the experience by staying in the dorms for your first year (you'll make friends for a lifetime), get to know your professors during office hours, and don't be afraid to try new things to figure out what it is you like to do for fun!

Please please please make sure it is in a bareable environment that one can get used to.

After nearly four years of college, I found that finding the right environment most suitable to you is what really matters, above all else. Things to consider when deciding on a college are (1) the type of people there - there's nothing worse than finding out you don't fit in with the group of people you'll be spending three to four years of your life with, (2) the type of academic environment, including selection of majors, class size, faculty members, and one or more comfortable places for studying, (3) location - how convenient it is to suit your daily needs, and of course (4) cost. Ultimately, you want to choose a place that you'll be happy in, and that will arouse your passion for learning. Forget about prestige, or where your friend or boyfriend is going. If you want to make the most of your college education, pick a place you'll like. Then, to get the most of it, I highly recommend joining a club, because clubs are a good gateway to meeting people and familiarizing yourself with the surrounding area. You'll be magically immersed in the environment, and will truly enjoy college.

When visiting the school, try to picture yourself as a student there. If you can't do it, or if it feels too unnatural, then most likely it's not the school for you. Ask others for their opinions too, but really look inside yourself and see the qualities you like most. If you can't find them in the people there, it will be hard to make friends that share similar ideals or interests. However, don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Most of the time, if you're still keeping your morals, you won't regret the risks you take.

make sure you visit the campus and talk to professors and students before you accept!

To parents, I have to say that they need to let their kids decide. Trying to control your child's future will only make them unhappy in the end, especially when it comes to college. Of course it's okay to give your imput, but be careful what you say, and always encourage them to pursue their passion-- even if it's something you think is a little ridiculous. You never know, they may end up with a really unique career that fills their every passion. To students, do NOT go to community college. Many teachers say that it's cheaper and a great place for you to figure out what you want to do, but statistics indicate that most kids that in community college drop out, or spend up to six years pursuing higher education. When you attend a four year, you have four years to figure out what you want to do, when most students spend at least two years of it deciding and changing majors. At a community college, the pressure is on to get everything together in two years, which rarely works out. If you don't know what you want, pick four years, not two.

The best advice I can give about picking the college that is right for you is to go to a visitor's weekend and stay over in the dorms. Even if academically the school looks great on paper, you will be miserable there if you don't like the other students. Once you are in college, try a couple things every quarter that you wouldn't normally do and use the experience to make friends with people who you wouldn't normally come into contact with. Generally, college will expose you to a more diverse group of people than you have ever been used to and learning about people who are unlike you can only help you socially and academically.