University of California-Davis Top Questions

The best advice that I would give students in finding the right college is research. Research all that the school has to offer as far as majors, diversity on campus, social life as well as where the college is located (small town, city etc.), internship opportunities, student programs on campus, relations with alumni and job placement after graduation. These are very important as your school will become your home away from home, and such factors and opprtunities are a great way to experiment with on the path to discovering your self. This piece of advice plays well into both finding the right college and making the most of it. But as far as making the most of your college experience I would asvise that you take advantage of the organizations and opportunities offered for students to get involved in. For example, get involved with student government, or help a professor with their research. Or take advantage of study abroad opportunities, which for me and many students at my college, has been a life changing/awakening experience. But overall enjoy being a college student as that is a task in itself. This truly is the most important time of your life.

find a place where you can feel comfortable finding yourself

To Parents: Let your children go! If you are worried about them finding their way, then you have failed as parents. Do not push them to do what you have done just because it may have worked out for you. Support their academic decisions and let them have fun, they will be making the friends that they will spend the rest of their lives with. Help them out as much as possible, whether it be through financial help, love and support, or simply some wisdom about growing up. Students: A college education is the most beautiful gift society will give you and should not be thought of as a chore. Do not think about how much money you will make afterwards or you will lose sight of the treasures in front of you. Focus on making your college experience just that, YOUR experience, and don't let others get you down over silly trivialities. Always keep the big picture in mind and realize the truly incredible opportunites in front of you. Don't party too hard or you will burn out. No fun at all makes for an unnecessarily boring ride. Priority #1: Love yourself and love others equally passionately

Absolutely visit the campus or campuses you are consisering! This could be where you spend the next 4 years of year life, so don't be afraid to test it out a little. Talk with students! Tour classrooms! Go on the official tour, then do some snooping of your own! Go read a book in the library. Are you athletic? Hop on an eliptical in the campus fitness center. Is the campus a healthy choice for you? You might want to ask about IM sports on campus. Meet with a real academic advisor, before you sign the dotted line. Are they competent and helpful? Remember, you're in college for an education! Make sure the campus you choose is conducive to your academic goals. Whether you like it or not, your college experience will forever shape you. Think about the future. After attending your chosen college, do you envision yourself having a shape you admire and respect?

You need to visit the campus at least once. UC Davis wasn't my very first choice either but I just fell in love with it after I met the students and professors. The surroundings have an immense influence in education. This school is a very friendly school with great people that makes one feel at home.

Dont go by school name. you should take your time and try to visit all your prospective colleges at least once. Although the opinoins of alumni might be biased, if you get the chance you should ask any alumni about the attractions of a particular university. study hard in high school so you have a lot of choices. Your back up school shouldn't really be a back up, it should be more like option A and option B rather than having a back up school. If you don't want to go to the school you got into, there is no problem saving money and going to a CC for two years, studying hard, and applying to a school you want to go to. Good luck with all your college choices!

I have learned two things that I think are essential for every prospective student making decisions about college, and looking for a worthwhile and satisfying college experience. For me, choosing a college was very difficult because I didn't have a specific school in mind a and my major was undeclared. The truth is that I knew almost immediately that UC Davis was my school when I first stepped onto campus. I was able to picture myself biking from class to class and breathing everything in. And here I am, almost 3 years later, quite content with the scenery and environment that I have absorbed and loved as my own. It is extremely important to feel a connection to your campus and its surrounding environment because it will probably be your home for a couple of years. My second advice is to learn to balance academics with passion. Mastering balance can mean takiing 4 difficult academic classes a quarer while still finding time to squeeze jazz dance into your schedule. The most successful students keep their academic and passion priorities close together, eventually finding ways to incorporate these priorities into a satisying future and a satisfying career.

I would tell parents and/or students who are choosing a college to tour the college while school is in session. Many schools can appear dead on weekends and during holidays, but once students are in classes, you can see what the school is really lke. I would also say the same of taking a walk or drive around town in order to get a feel of what the surrounding community is like. I would also tsuggest that in order to get the most out of the college experience, to join some sort of club, sport or fraternity/sorority in order to make friends. Sometimes living in the dorms does not create enough of that much-needed social interaction, so taking other steps in order to feel wanted and happy in the community is important. Figuring out how to handle the financial situation that the student/family will be facing is also important to choosing a school. Finances are not only very important when choosig a school but are important for the student to be able to get the most out of college by not having to worry so much about money but more about school.

Look at different aspects of the college experience before you pick a school. You have to live and be happy in the place you choose to study, just looking at available academic programs doesn't give you enough of a picture of your new home for the next four or more years.

College life is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The best advice I have to offer is to visit the colleges that are on your top 10 or 5 list and spend a day there. It is preferable that you visit days in which school is in session, this gives you a feel as to the atmosphere of the campus on a regular basis. Then all you have to do is imagine. Do you imagine yourself here? Will you be happy? I found that choosing a campus is difficult because you will usually be far from your family and it may be a hard time to detach that is why finding the campus that fits you, is key. It is like buying a pair of shoes, you have to try them on first to see if it fits. That is the same way with the campus you will choose you have to go experience, absorb, and contemplate on whether the environment you see is right for you, your fit.