University of California-Los Angeles Top Questions

The student really should think about what conditions will make them thrive. Irregardless of what a parent wants, the most important factor is always going to be you, the student. Of course, if your parent's requests are reasonable, like staying close to home or financial contraints, you should probably heed such demands. However, if there is a school that you HAVE to attend, you can probably find some way to finance your education. Don't be fooled by the name of a school. Just because it is well known does not mean it is right for you. I suggest making a list of all the things you look for in a school (small classes, $, faculties, social life, good counseling, etc.) and make a check list for each school and what they have. Once you attend the school, make sure you take advantage of all the elements on the list. After all, you are paying for it.

If you have an idea what your career goals are you should search for the school that is best suited to assist you in attaining those goals. If you are planning to go to graduate school this applies to the prospect of admission into grad school. Research and visiting several schools is the best advice I can give to any prospective student or parent.

To parents and students who are searching for the right college, I would tell them to really check out the schools you are considering as much as possible. Don't just do the campus tour and ask questions to the people that are hired to give tours-- they will likely only tell you the best things about the school because they want you to come there! Try to have your student sit in on some classes and talk to current students. If they know someone who currently attends, have them spend a weekend that person to get a feel for the social life. To students already in college: try out as many new things as you can! Don't live in your books. Check out clubs and other organizations. Find a few activities that you really like and stick with them and get deeply involved. Also, definitely take a few summers to hold internships, preferably in careers that interest you. Lastly, if you can afford it or get a scholarship, STUDY ABROAD! This was one of the best things I did in college. Go for at least a quarter/semester. I did a summer program---it wasn't long enough.

All I can say is visit the campus you are interested in first-hand to see if it is where you want to live the 4 or 2 best years of your life! Talk with current students, faculty, the administration office, and locals that live around the area. Do not skip out on this process or you may regret you decision!

I would tell students to visit college campuses as best as they can, which means maybe staying over for a few nights. Try to get a feel for what the campus is like, and if you see yourself fitting in. I would also advise students to find out what is important to them - sports, clubs, volunteering, etc, and see what the campus has to offer. If the school has what they are looking for, then it will be a good match. Also, location is very important because it sets some of the atmosphere of what college is like. It will determine how social life is going to be, and it may even reflect study habits. When choosing a college, it is most important to feel as if you would be comfortable being at that school for the next four years. This means feeling comfortable with the crowds, atmosphere, location, and even the buildings. If you feel that it is a good fit, then it is probably the right school for you.

In the most general sense, choosing the right college goes along with the pursuit of happiness. Do not base your selection on reputation and prestige. Base your selection on what fits you and your ambitions best. The surrounding environment and social life around campus are important as well. Education is not limited to books and lecture halls. A healthy social life and new experiences are just as important in self-cultivation. I definitely recommend campus visitations and active research on campus life.

I would advise parents to let their child make their own decision of where they want to spend the next 4 years of their life, whether it be away from home, or close to home. They shouldn't be driven by the prestige of the school. I would also advise the student to try out different things, especially during their freshman and sophomore years, because when you try new things, you gather knowledge and discover new things about yourself that you wouldn't have figured out otherwise. Goodluck, everyone! This will be the time of your life!

The advice I would give parents and/or students about finding the right college is to gather all the necessary information and to analyze that information with an empty cup - meaning that to look at colleges without the bias of popularity, ratings, etc. The choice of choosing a college should be based on what is best academically and what will most prepare the student for his/her field. The decision of choosing an undergraduate institution should be consulted between parent and child but the parent must not put pressure on the student. The ultimate choice is vested on the student because he/she will have to write the personal statement and a personal statement has more meaning when there is passion iterated through the writing - it conveys sincerity. The student will enjoy the experience of attending a university if the student makes the choice based on all gathered information and has thoroughly examined the facts and pays a visit to the institution to understand the atmosphere. When visiting an institution, there are three things to look out for, the food, campus postings, and the bookstore. The aforementioned will give you a thorough idea of what that university is like.

Visit all of the colleges upon admission to ensure that you give all of the colleges a fair consideration.

It's important to know what kind of college experience the student is looking for. If they are very dependent on having specialized attention they should go to a small college, however if they are competitive and strong willed, a large public university could be a great fit. At larger schools, there are team sports, and tons of clubs that make the large campus feel smaller. It is also important to visit the campus and see if they feel at home. Most students have a gut feeling about whether or not a school will work for them. It is also important to remember finances and choose wisely based on what works for the family as well. Big schools are harder to adjust to at first but I think in the long run can be a better overall experience and challenge the student to grow and learn how to make friends, keep in touch, and excel in a competitive group. Small schools are an easier transition but after a few years can become somewhat boring and repetitive.