University of California-Irvine Top Questions

To find the right college, keep your child's interest in mind because that is the one of the decisions that will impact his/her life the most. Even if you did not get accepted to the college of your choice, keep following your dream. If you love art, don't go majoring in Biology; that'll only make you regret and change majors later, thus a waste of time and money. Enjoy college for what it's worth: Study hard, play hard, and never let anyone put you down. It's what you make of it!

To look long and hard before deciding where to go. Choose one with a football team.

I think that parents should let their child choose, and be supportive. When looking at schools, try to think about positive aspects about each school. I know a lot of people didn't get into the school they wanted to get into and went to a school they didn't like. If parents and the child find good things about each school that he or she applies to, then it wouldn't be so bad to go to the alternative school if rejected from the one that the child wants to go to. It's best that child go to a school with a positive attitude rather than a negative, it changes the way he or she experiences college.

I believe the most important thing to choosing the right college is how comfortable you are at the campus. Before choosing, I suggest you take a trip to look at the campus so you know what it truly has to offer, the surrounding neighborhood and the people in the community. Looking at all of these aspects, if you're comfortable at that college, you will not regret your decision. I also believe that in order to make the most of your college experience, you should be yourself and find people who share the same interests and values as you. Many different people will attend your college, giving you the opportunity to make true friends. I'd also suggest joining a club or getting involved. This can help you extend your social network and you'll have a lot of fun in the process!

I would make sure to take tours of every college that you are considering applying to. A huge part of college is social interactions, and I regret not spending more time at my college before deciding to apply because I never knew whether or not I would fit in before I actually got accepted. Also, make sure that there are enough things to do around campus to keep you occupied so that you can be independent in case you feel that you do not fit in with the people around you. If you enjoy a lot of the physical aspects of the school, chances are that you will enjoy what the school itself represents and has to offer. Parents, be supportive of your child's involvement with the school because it will help them to become excited and spirited for the importance of their education.

All colleges are different, so make sure that you look at all of its aspects. Academic or otherwise are both equally as important. There is a difference between strong programs and strong schools, learn to differentiate a school from its history.

Making the most out of your college experience begins with choosing a college that you or your duaghter and/ or son will fit well into. When I went around to colleges , UCI stood out as most comfortable. It has a great program for my major and has a very impressive research department which was even more appealing. Also, it had the beach nearby and great shopping! To make the most of your experience get involved on campus and live in the dorms. Living in the dorms helped me meet many different types of people that i otherwise would have never even thought to talk to on campus. Also, joining a fraternity or sorority is a wonderful way to get involved. Join a sorority or fraternity gives you many opportunities to meet new people , do community service, teach leadership and social skills as well as improve academics (since the fraternity/sorority average GPA is higher than the average university student GPA.). In other words, find things that sound interesting to you and check them out, this is the time to try new things. Trying new things makes the most out of the college experience.

The right college might not always be your first choice so don't focus too much on wanting to attend one specific college. Keep an open mind. A major factor in choosing and making the most out of the college experience that may be overlooked is the area of the college. Some students attend a college for their rankings in education but overlook the fact that you need to live in an environment that is comfortable and allows for efficiency to succeed as well.

Financial issues aside, I would recommend students to chose a college by the type of atmosphere they can relate to the most or to simply take a risk. College is suppose to be a fun intellectual experience where some one is able to really see who she is and what her goals in life are going to be. The atmosphere of the college is vey important because college experience is more enjoyable if you enjoy being around the people who go there and the enjoy the place itself. Having fun should not be the reason why you go to a certain college because in the end students go to college for one reason and that is to broaden their intellectual self. Academics should always be one of the top priorities in the life of a college student.

I would tell parents to be a great source of support especially because their kids have to adapt to a new environment. I would encourage them to not pressure the students into a specific major,but rather encourage them to explore various possibilities. Also to tour the campus before deciding on a college if possible. The student should feel comfortable. Also students should find out about all the resources available to them such as tutoring,acadamic counseling ,and health services. Also to get involved in clubs that they feel that they can contribute to. Do not procrastinate because cramming does not work in college. Be friends with people who want you to succeed. Get enough sleep and actually go to class. Have fun. College is great and you are in for the time of your life.

My advice to parents and/or students is to thoroughly research each potential college. Don't just look at the academic aspect of it. A certain college can look good to you but to others will think differently. Look for colleges that can give you the things that you are looking for. Parents should not worry about the financial aspect of college. College do provide some sort of financial assistance that can help greatly in paying for college.

First of all, start early!!!! Start when they start high school. Look into colleges and financial packages right away. Lots of scholarships on line can be applied for when your child is as young as 13 yrs old. Hire a private guidance counselor, who will help your child all through high school to select classes and activities that will look good on a resume. Resume, you ask? Absolutely. Especially if your child is interested in a private college, a resume of activities, volunteerism and classes will put your child a step above. GPA is not enough anymore. Schools are interested in what your child can bring, as well as what the college offers to help make a good fit. Activities do not all have to be school oriented. They can be church related or community related. Community related activities are especially attractive to colleges. Start a college fund as early as possible. Have your child work in the summer to contribute to this fund, making him a part of his own future, and teaching responsibility (also looks good on a resume!). I must stress that it is never too early to begin to prepare for college. Just do it.

As a college student, I find it is absolutely necessary for prospective students to consider all their options before choosing the right school. When I received my acceptance letters, I was unsure of what I wanted but after visiting the schools, I knew exactly what I wanted. College is what you make of it. There are no "party schools" or other classifications, it is only how you make your experience. Every school has different features but overall, they are all very similar. I suggest being open to anything and participating in different activities to see what your true interests are. No one can automatically say they know what they want or what will happen in college because the experience is different for everyone. Thus, I sugest visiting different campuses and seeing what you enjoy the most and remember, while college is for learning, one must also consider that they will be spending the next four years at that school.

I would make sure that your child feels comfortable at the campus and can see themselves walking around not only the school but to stores and shops off-campus. It is important that your child feels safe in possibly the first environment they will be in without supervision from a parent. It is also wise to consider that this campus may as well be located in the city your child will stay in after they graduate. As for the students, you should look for a college that you believe will challenge you to your highest potential and aid you in your journey from childhood to adulthood. This is where you will create lasting relationships with students and faculty alike. Make sure the school speaks to you on whatever level you hold most dear to yourself, weather it is religion, sports, academics or personality!

Go with your gut instinct!

The best college to attend is one that you think will not only put you on the best path for your career, but will also provide a positive life changing environment . Stay on top of your work but don't forget to plug yourself in to all the programs, groups and oppourtunities your school will provide. Don't be afraid to try out new things and experience cultures outside of your own; the more actively involved you are the more you will benefit from your school. Professors, as demanding as they may appear, are often more flexible than you would think; but make sure you try to get to know your professor on a personal level, not only do they appreciate the consideration but it might also open doors that were not available to you before. I can't stress enough how import it is to create a calender or schedule for yourself, you will be inundated with so many fun and stimulating experiences it can become easy to lose track of your workload. You only get to go to college once, so enjoy yourself and have fun.

College is an absolutely vital time in one's life and the decision of which to attend should not be taken lightly. One's choice of a college should not be focused primarily on academics, social life, location, finances, friends, or any other single area. The decision should be based upon a strong mix of all of these things. With a primary focus on what will help the future student to develop as an individual. College's primary goal should not be to educate one self but rather to prepare the individual for life as a self-supporting individual. This cannot be accomplished by having another four years of high school; one must press beyond high school and leave it behind. One must embrace independence and all of the costs associated with it if one truly hopes to reap the full benefits of college.

The best advice I can give parents is to be there for your children in a way that allows them to reach for you if they need you. Basically, kids who go to college need to spread their wings a bit, but they also need to know that they have someone to back them up while they make decisions that could impact the rest of their professional career. Ask them about their classes and let them know that you are available to discuss their academic choices. For students, the best advice I can give is to follow your heart. Study what you love and try to get an internship in college. You have the opportunity to do amazing things at school and you should take advantage of it. Take interesting classes, explore your campus, and learn as much as you can about the things that inspire you. Carpe Diem.

Students, have an open mind and think what you really want out of college. It is not always about ranking. Many other factors play into choosing a college. It really depends on what kind of personality you have and what you want. Think about everything, including academics, social life, clubs/organizations, know about the campus and the stuff surround it. Don't be obssessed over it though, it will just give you a hard time, especially during senior year. And no matter what, every college has its plus. Obviously it is smart to research college and see what you will really want, but generally, college is what you make of it. When going into college, have an open mind. Try new things. Even if you were active in high school. KEEP BEING ACTIVE! if you feel burned out maybe just wait out a quarter or two but being active opens up so many opportunities. You gain friends and networks and you tend to love your college much more. A lot of it is really mental. I gave my college a chance after first year, and this second year has been much better since I became more active.

study hard