University of California-Santa Cruz Top Questions

choose the university which has a nice study environment

Visiting the college gives you the best indication of what the campus is like. Even if the campus is on break, the tour guides give a decent indication of what type of student goes to the school. A school should primarily be chosen based upon what makes the prospective student happiest, though prestige and so on should also be considered. Also, choosing a school with the best program for the student helps! Even if you are college bound, you are still in high school and should use what resources are there! Most high schools have some type of document with recent graduates and where they go to school. Asking recent high school graduates about their current college is another indication of what the school is like from a typical reliable source.

Its best to have the least amount of expectations as possible, and to have an open mind about people and situations that seem "odd" or "different" at first. The best college experiene is one that opens the hearts and minds of students, and choosing a college on its academic reputation alone is a waste of time and money; the best way to make the most out of the college experience is to choose a college that has an appealing academic side as well as an appealing social one, and that these two are balanced.

Most importantly I'd say make sure you visit any schools your seriously considering attending. Second, make sure to talk to students who aren't part of any orientation or welcoming program, particularly ones in the field you hope to study. Take time to investigate all the major facilities, not just the ones they show on the tour and ask people about them. Last but not least, let yourself go for a walk around the campus by yourself and just see how it speaks to you.

have kids use freee community college classes in highschool, and go to college at a distance from where you lived or homelife could interfere with your college expirience

I reccommend visiting the schools you are interested in going to. Tour the campus and spend some time in the surrounding area to get an idea of what life is like for the students, and whether or not it is a good fit for you. If you live in the dorms, keep your door open the first week or so, this is when everyone is getting to know each other and you don't want to miss out. Also get involved in activities around campus, its a great way to meet people and get the most out of your college experience.

remeber how you learn best. UC's are about lectures more, CSU's are about hands on, and private universities are competitive as all heck. So really examine the way you learn, and not just the prestige you'll obtain from the school.

We all know ourselves best more than anyone else. Before arriving at college, take a few minutes of your time to think about yourself. Think about what motivates you, your desires, your way of learning, your needs, your habits, and your ability to manage your time. Truly look at the different colleges you'll consider attending. Look at the class size, majors, programs, financial aid, and distance from home. If you know you need focused attention from teachers, then maybe a public university with an average class size of 150 isn't for you. If you know you'll be home sick, then maybe you want to be closer to your family. See where i'm going with this? Also, don't get discouraged if you don't receive the financial aid that you need to attend college, sometimes due to colleges competing for students, they may reconsider their financial awards packet. Be social, study hard, and have fun! Last piece of advice: it is best to release steam at the end of the quarter after you're done with your classes, then you can rest assure that the hangover won't affect your performance in class. Good luck!

Visit and talk to people who go there.

As some parents probably have already experienced, college is a place to focus on your career goals and also focus on the person you are becoming. This being said, picking the right college for their child is extremely important. Their child will be spending four years out of their lieves here, so making sure the campus is a safe and healthy environment is priority number one. Without safety, the education they would be recieving could not even be possible. Following that, would be the emphasis and amount of time they put into teaching their students on campus. The college needs to be knowledgable on the major their child is intending on pursuing, preparing them for the future to come. And lastly, the college they choose must be friendly and welcoming to all types of people. This is important because not only does their child need to be comfortable being themselves while there, they need to be able to have contact with a variety of people, just like they would in the real world.