University of California-Riverside Top Questions

You don't have to know what you want to do in life right out of high school. The best thing to do is find a school that you will feel comfortable in. If Harvard might seem too stressful, don't go there! I know people who have been accepted to UCLA and Berkeley but decided to go to UCR because the people down here were nicer and a lot more laid back, whereas others at the prestigious schools are more tense and value good grades a little too much. People always seem to forget that it doesnt matter what grades you get in college. If you're socially awkward, you will live a very depressing life. Be comfortable, and try to enjoy what you study.

learn the background of the school before deciding your college.

The advice I would give students would be to research their schools of choice a little bit more. An important part of finding the right college is to have a goal in mind of what you want to accomplish in the next four years. If the student knows exactly what he/she wants to accomplish then a university/college would be the best choice. However, if the student is indecisive about his/her future goals, then a community college would be best. It is important for parents and students to know that the reputation of a school should not determine where the student ends up. It is important that the student step out of the box and put the extra effort into finding the right college. For the student, it is crucial that he/she become familiar with the academic programs the school has to offer, the type of financial aid that is available to students, student life, housing, and any other resources that may improve the student's academic and career goals. Once the prospective student has decided on his/her school of choice, making the most out of the college experience will come naturally.

One of the major reasons that I decided to come to this school was because of its seclusion from everything. I wanted to be far away from my parents but close enought where I could drive back home in case I missed them. I wanted to stay away from the party scene and be somewhere were there was limited entertainment. Having this type of atmostphere where I could be on my own, I could really focus on myself, my thoughts and this would also help me concentrate and focus more on my studies without having any family or social distractions. I really chose the best place to go to school. The diversity, faculty, teachers assistants, community is what has helped me get though this challenge of obtaining my education and in trying to earn my degree. Distance could be a good thing for the parents and for the child because it allows a person to grow as an indivdual. This is why I chose the University of California Riverside.

Parents and students need to consider that the student's needs and desires will change. Choosing a school that is flexible will make the college experience an enjoyable one. Make sure that the school has a wide range of majors, so that the student has choices if he or she becomes dissatisfied with his or her major. Investigate the opportunities on campus, as well as the accessibility of the opportunities. For example, do study abroad programs have stringent requirements, or are they open to most enrolled students? During campus visits, speak to current students and professors to discover if the students are happy and to gauge the helpfulness of professors. Are students giving back to the community or self absorbed? Choose the school where you feel you will fit in with your peers. As for professors, it is vital to the college experience to have supportive, caring professors who are not afraid to change and admit it when they are wrong. An understanding professor can make the world of difference during a tough semester or quarter.

Make sure the college is close enough to make visiting simple, but far away enough to give the student space to mature. Make sure the college you choos is appropriate to your desired career and major.

Before picking the right college to attend it is critical to first decide what is important to the student. Things like being close to family, whether or not you will be playing a sport, and knowing what you want to study or what you may want to study, are all important in the decision making process of choosing what college to attend. By answering these questions you should be able to narrow your potential choices to a smaller number, in which case you can then decide based on other factors such as the quality of education you will be receiving. Another factor that has the most impact on deciding which school is best for your child is whether his or her desired college is affordable, especially if you will not be receiving any financial assistance. Choosing the right college comes down to a practical and sensible series of questions that anyone is capable of answering in order to obtain the best education and have the college experience you imagined. In order to have a great college experience, it is important to get involved in various student organizations and programs and to make lifelong friends.

If money is not an issue, then actuoally take the time to travel around and tour around schools around the nation. If money is an issue, even though a school may seem more appealing, but is more expensive, sometimes a school that may seem less appealing but is cheaper, will actually be a better choice. After spending a few days or weeks at the cheaper school that may seem less appealing, will grow on the student and the student may actually feel that they made the right choice.

The best advice I could give would be to visit the campus while school is in session, on your own and in a guided tour. When visiting the campus when school is in session you can really see what campus is like. By getting a guided tour you can learn what the school has to offer, but you should also do some exploration on your own because the tour guides are of course going to talk up their campus. When exploring the campus you should ask a variety of students what is their honest opinion of the school. Ask the students what is important to you. For example if you like sports ask students on campus what the game atmosphere is like, and what would they rate the school spirit. Talking with random students on campus will give a more honest feel of what the campus is actually like. You can learn all about the academia of a school online, but you can only get a real feel for what the school is like from current students.

Don't assume anything! Stay organized! Start a folder or file system to collect information on colleges you are interested in. Make sure that your parents and you as a future student understand exactly what is wanted in a school. Take time to try and visit some schools prior to making a choice. Sometimes, speaking with alumni will give you a good idea of what the school is like as well. The college selection process can be very emotional, so everyone involved needs to have their chance to speak their views on what they feel is the "right" school. Also, do not wait until a school is selected to start looking for financial aid. Be proactive, and be prepared to devote time and effort to this, it will pay off greatly! Even during the summer after Senior Year in High School, you will want to "kick back", but you could miss opportunities to get additional money for college. The Internet is a great source of information, but keep your parents involved in everything you find or may want to investigate online. Finally, have fun; you are making an exiting choice that will prepare you for success and independence in life.