University of Central Arkansas Top Questions

Visit the school and really talk to the students to get a true feel for the atmostphere there.

Let students pick themselves! It's wear they feel truly comfortable that will assist them in their success. I would emphasize how fun college is! It's the only time in our lives where we get to learn and accumlate knowledge about the areas in life in which we like or relate with! Learning about the world is fun! It makes us more well rounded adults and in turn builds our body of knowledge! I love college! I get to study what I want and learn as much as I want! no one can take your education away from you and it is the only way to truly succeed in life!

The best advice I have to offer is just to go with whatever school feels right for you. Everyone's needs are different. Be sure to research the location surrounding the school of your choice and find out about what opportunities it has to offer that you may be interested in taking part in. College is supposed to be the time in a young person's life when they discover and learn new things about themselves -- so be sure to be open to other people's ideas and opinions. If you close yourself off, then you will be making your experience in school just a little more difficult. That doesn't mean allow everything in, but be mindful of others and show respect for your peers. I have learned the importance of being myself and loving those around me and, in return, I feel as if I have had a rich and rewarding college experience.

You really should find one particular skill set or passion that you thoroughly enjoy and be sure that the school you choose posseses a program that will completely engage that zeal. It is there, in that program, that you will meet the greatest companions of your life, outside your family.

I believe the most important thing is finding a college that fits the student and the parent. It should fit the parent in the sense that it is affordable considering the fact that parents may be the ones paying for the education. The college should fit the student regarding their activities of interest and social needs. I believe it is good to find a college that has plenty of social and academic organizations that would help the student excel in most aspects of life. The right college should also have a good record in academics such as very knowledgeable faculty/staff. The colleges educational help programs such as tutoring should also be considered in the event that the student may need a little more help.

Go visit it first, make sure you like the campus, don't freak out about wanting to change your major its natural, work hard but don't totally sacrifice your social life.

I would tell students/parents to look at a variety of schools. Looking at as many colleges as possible will insure the student has a better chance of choosing the right school for them. If the student knows or has a good idea of what field of study they wish to follow, the school should obviously have that degree oppurtunity available. Campus size should also be a factor. Many times a smaller campus will provide a more individualized experience with more one on one help from professors; this is often a very positive aspect of smaller campuses. However, if the student would like a more social environment, they might considered a larger university. As far as making the most of the college experience, I would suggest, first of all, to stay on the academic path, afterall that's why they're there, but to get involved in as many clubs/campus activities as possible. Being involved on campus is a great way to find new friends, many of which will be lifelong, as well as a great way to network. The more people you meet, the greater the possible you'll meet someone who can help you in the future.

Do not pick a college based on your friends or boyfriend. Chances are you'll break up with him in college, and you'll find better friends than you ever imagined possible. And, if college is tough, talk to your professors. When choosing a college, look at the class size. If you don't learn well with 100s of students in your class, go to a smaller school. If you would like to do undergraduate research, pick a college that does not have a graduate program in your area of interest, because then you get to do all of the research instead of graduate students.

Talk to your children and find out what they expect from their university and what their career and future plans are. Then, work with them to find a school that meets your needs and, most importantly, their needs. Also, be supportive of your children's decisions and understand that it is a difficult and sometimes scary time for them. Allow them to express their opinions and concerns about starting college and possibly moving away from home.

Visit the campus, and not on a 'campus' day. I mean, don't go when the univeristy has set aside a day just for prospective students. Find a day when you can go visit campus on a regular school day, and find a professor who teaches in your field of interest to talk to, just on a one-on-one basis, completely outside of the pull that universities tend to have on those 'campus' days. Everything will, of course, seem shinier and better if they're trying to get your attention (and attendance), so just...show up on a regular school day. See what campus is like. Pay attention to the students as they're walking to class, see what kind of moods they're in. Eat lunch in the cafeteria and read the mood there. If you can, go sit in on a class to see what the experience is like--I can't speak for other schools, but mine's pretty good about that. Once you're in college, I can't emphasize making friends enough. If you have friends, you'll enjoy class more, and you'll feel better about getting up each day. Socialise. Make friends.

Before committing to any college decision, apply to every school you think you might want to attend. Visit the school before you choose. Getting a feel for the atmosphere is extremely important. In order to keep from worrying about money during your four year experience, get the highest ACT score possible. This will really help when you are applying for scholarships. During your visit, talk to as many students and faculty as you can. The people who live, learn, and work at the university have the best understanding of what really goes on. Tour all the dorms on campus so you know which one you will prefer to live in. Go ahead and talk to an advisor from the college to find out where the college's strengths lie. Ask questions about services and quality of the department in which you are most interested. Attend any student fairs that the college offers. This is a great way to inform yourself about the clubs, jobs, and opportunities available in the area. Finally, tune in to your instincts as you tour the campus. If it just feels right, you know you might be on to something. Good luck with your campus research.!

When looking for colleges, one should consider what kind of social life they desire, do they want a school that is greek and sport based? The size of the school, including class size and the size of the student body should be considered. Other factors include how educated the faculty is, PHDs ect. Personally i would recommend making sure that the food service is of good quality, and that town or city has the kind of social environment you would want.

Keep your end goal in focus. The decisions you make now greatly impact your future.

In order to know whether you will make the right selection for your college education, I believe it is vital to get first hand knowledge of what that experience will be like. By visiting the campus, researching your planned department of study, and talking with current students, one will get a better understanding of whether they could make their mark at that particular university.

My advice for parents is to let your children grow up. One of the worst things I seen throughout my college career are college students who are completely dependent on their parents for money. I feel that parents should most definately help their children if they have the resources. However, college is a time to build character and prepare for the "real world" of work. If students do not have to face challenges, learn how to make and stick to a budget, and take pride in earning and spending their own money, they are not truly getting the tools for success that they need after college. To students my advice is to work hard at the beginning. Each semester, try to get a little ahead in each class, and that way, when you really want to skip a night of homework to go to a game, a party, or hang out with friends, you can do so. Remember that it is your money, and you deserve to get the skills and knowledge you will need for the future. I would suggest taking advantage of study abroad programs. Lastly, keeping up with degree requirements and finding a good advisor is priceless.

Make sure that they go to visit the college and check the size of it and meet with advisors or professors.

Choose a college that you think is the right size for you. If you don't like crowds, don't chose a big school with large class numbers. Get involved as much as you can. You won't have this time over again. Take every opportunity you can to do well in class, and go to class everday. When your teacher tells you to read, read. It's easier to stay ahead in class than to try and catch up. Every semester counts, so if you do badly your first semester because you didn't try it can severely lower your GPA and make it hard to raise before you graduate.

Make sure you visit the college first. Don't sell yourself short either. Go somewhere that you will be challenged: academically, socially, and artistically.

The advice that I would give to anyone looking to find the right school for them would be to go with your instinct. When I visited the University of Central Arkansas, I walked around the campus and knew it was the school for me within thirty minutes. If you enjoy a larger campus, a small community college will not make your college experience an enjoyable memory to look back on. A student should choose what is right for them no matter what. Don't choose a school based on family tradition or where your friends are. Almost every person in my family who is a college graduate went to the University of Arkansas, which is a wonderful school, but it was not the place for me. I chose UCA and I'm glad I chose where I wanted to go as opposed to where everyone else went. So again my advice is, go with your gut. No one knows what is right for you better than you do. Respect that and go somewhere where you will be comfortable and happy.

I would let the parents and students know that it is of utmost importance to not only check the college out first hand, but the town, commuity and over-all morale as well. I would also encourage students to apply for financial aid quickly and determine their major as soon as possible. This will save multitudes of headaches later on.