University of California-Riverside Top Questions

What should every freshman at University of California-Riverside know before they start?

Yozmine

I would say visit the school you intend on attending. Some schools appear good on paper but you will never know until you visit it. Riverside didn't seem like anything special at all, not until i payed it a visit. It wasn't until then I realised that this school was for me.

Kristina

Do your research. Many people do not know what to look for in a college. Location is a big deciding factor for many, but also consider the caliber of the instruction of prospective schools. Ask yourself whether you would prefer a research or an instruction university. Take the time to seek out professors or students at the schools in which you are interested. Once you choose a school, hit the ground running. Meet your advisor so that you can maintain a constant conversation about your degree. Meet and talk with your professors -- you may learn more in their office hours than in their classrooms. Take every opportunity that you can to participate in campus or community activities. The more involved you are with your education, the more likely you will be to apply the knowledge that you learn in the classroom outside of the classroom. One thing to keep in mind: college is a like a crucible -- you are presented with varying knowlege, opinions, and experiences, and they all meld together to form your adult perspective. It is your education and it is up to you to make the most of it.

Elizabeth

cost

Jemmarie

Do not base your decision solely on reputation or word-of-mouth, but research various colleges holistically and do not let other peoples prejudices alter your decision; for your going to be the one attending that school.

Samantha

To find the college that is right for you, I would suggest taking alot of campus tours of the colleges you are intersted in attending and also taking tours of on campus housing just in case you decide to live on campus rather than commute. For parents I suggest speaking with financial aid counselors so that you know how much the schooling is going to cost and if you need any help the advisors can assist you in getting the help you need to get your child through school. And to make the most out of your college experience I would suggest setting limitations for yourself so that you do not let yourself get off track or become distracted. In college it is very easy to get distracted so make sure that you take care of your school work first and after that go out and have fun, experience college, it's the best years of your life.

Jacqueline

Find a college that has a strong program for what you plan to study and make sure it is right for you.

Marissa

To both the student and the parent I would encourage them to discover a college that best fits the needs and likes of the student. Since the student is the one attending college they should be able to take more of the responsibility that follow with being a college student, so to the parents I know it maybe hard to let your student go but it is essential in order for the student to fully grow, although you can still play an active role in your students life without being there 24/7. Also to the student, remember to choose a major that you have an interest and liking in, choose a major that will make you happy and proud of. This is the student's time to discover new and interesting qualities about themselves and the world that surrounds them, it maybe scary to step out in the big world of college but like all things in life it takes time, courage, and patience. Above all the most important advice I can give to the student is that going to every class is necessary and worth the time, its the basis of college so try not to skip class.

Mathew

Go to a college with a well known department for what you want to do, then get to know the faculty. Some of the best scholars I know are friends with their professors. It helps create a sort of intellectual trust which makes people strive harder, like we're all on the same team. Also, eat up every research opportunity you get, it's like growing wings.

mai

The school you attend will help determine the jobs that will be available to you, who your friends will be, even where you?ll live and work after college. To begin your quest for the right college, request for brochures and dates of information sessions of schools you may want to attend. The only way to rule a school out is to get information on it. You should factor in location, faculty credentials, major/course offerings, and most importantly your own aspirations. Allow yourself to be selfish while making a decision that will affect you during and beyond the next four years. Part of your college experience includes being engaged in the learning process, but also being able to break out of your comfort zone by getting involved with fellow students, faculty and staff beyond the classroom walls. Make the most of your college experience by surrounding yourself with a support system of good friends. Being involved in co-curricular activities outside the classroom will enrich your college experience by allowing you to engage with fellow students to talk about academics, career goals, common life, experiences, challenges, differences, and commonalities. Sign up for clubs and activities that seem potentially interesting.

Yiqiao

Attending college is not just to abtain a diploma. It is more about learning, discover, and self grown. Having that in mind, it is easier to decided what kind of enviroment do you want to be in order to achieve your goal. Write a list of what kind of life you are looking for in the future, is it in a bussiness man in a crowdy city who have many social event in his/her daily life? or is it a enviromentalist who live in suburb and occasionally travel from place to place? Those are the difference that may contrubute to your decision in choosing a college. When choosing a college, also look in to its learning style. Some schools have big class and require a lot of independent study , others have small class with close attendtion from your professors. different study enviroment will suit for different study habit. To make the best out of college experience, one should feel free to explore all resources provided by the school, such as the clubs, and the learning assistants. one thing that should always keep in mind is your study is the most crucial and should always be the priority .