University of Connecticut Top Questions

As far as the preliminary choosing a college goes, I would tell parents and students to visit everywhere that you think is a possibility. It's important to visit multiple times during different seasons to see what the weather is like throughout the school year, so start looking during your sophomore/junior year. Also, look through the different academic programs that are offered because you'll end up changing your major at least once and you don't want to have to transfer schools if your school doesn't offer another major that you'd enjoy. Lastly, don't let money deter you from your first choice; financial aid is always available. Once you get there, keep an open mind. Take classes in all different academic areas in order to help you make the best decision you can about your major. It's important to get involved, whether it be in clubs, sports teams, or just simply going to athletic events. Another good idea is to get close to a few of your professors so that you'll have people to write letters of recommendation for you. Also, use all of the resources the school has to offer.

Don't follow your friends but don't try to allienate yourself either. Whatever school you end up at you will make new friends have enjoy new experiences but you have to be willing. It's ok to take some chances in college, like joining a club or going on a road trip, just stay focused on what you're doing and don't let bumpy roads get you down. No one is alone in college, no matter where you go there will always be someone to lend a hand.

In searching for the the "right" college, there are many factors that contribute to one's decision. First of all, there are two sides of the argument to look at: the responsible, parental outlook vs. the college-kid, party mentality. The first and most important aspect when looking for a college deals with finding a place that you, the student, can be happy on a daily basis. This place must also be able to support a healthy working environment where one can get work done when needed. On top of facilitating a working environment and being able to foster healthy habits, the school should have an abundance of social activities. Socializing, making friends, and having a healthy lifestyle, such as going to the gym or playing flag football, all contributes to a positive college experience. The ideal time at college focuses on maturing, getting work done towards a professional goal, yet still having fun in the process by learning to balance work and social life.

College is what you make it. It doesn't matter where you go, if you can get involved in something you love, you will make friends and have fun. You will be surprised that not going to the college you dreamed of can still be a rewarding experience, and you may even have more fun. It is also important to step out of your boundaries and try new things, you never know what or who you will find. In making the most of your eduation, have a good rapport with your professors. They can teach you more than you will know, not just educationally, but with life. Strive for the professors that push you. You may complain about the workload, or their teaching method, but you learn a lot about yourself and you will learn way more than from the professors don't even know who you are. College is your one and only chance to start becoming an adult, don't spend it on the couch at home, live in the freshman dorms and take advantage of all the new friends you will make for life.

do lots of research, visit schools, make sure they have everything needed to live away from home and get a good career

Before applying to any colleges, first think about what kind of person you are. Do you think you'll focus when in a 400+ student lecture? Or would you prefer a 15 student classroom with lots of individual focus? After thinking about the size of the school and all that goes along with it (academics, social life, extracurricular, sports, etc.), I feel that the location is a very important factor for what schools to even apply to.. Will you be happy with going to the school that is a 10 minute drive away, or would you prefer a school that takes a 6 hour drive, or a 3 hour flight? There are so many things to take into account, and your happiness, not your parents, teachers, siblings or family's feelings; your happiness is what makes the college experience seem worthwhile, as opposed to four years of wasted time.

Talk to students who attended or are attending the school about academics, housing, safety and social life to get a good feel of the school before attenting.

In my personal experience with the college search, I noticed that the school I chose was the only one I could really imagine myself at -I just got this connection or good feeling about walking around the campus, and I knew it was right. When searching for the right college, make sure, of course, the school will offer what you think you will need to get the career you want. Also, make sure you think about things like location (how far from home), things to do outside of the classroom, and activities available that interest you. Get involved, and take advantage of everything your school has to offer whether it be resources, connections, or opportunities.

Visit the schools you are interested in before enrolling in any of them.

Don't make a decision too quickly. Be realistic - pick a college you can afford. Don't be afraid to meet new people. Don't spend all your time in the dorm room. Join campus clubs and activities and get out on the weekends. Work really hard and play hard (sometimes). Take advantage of the opportunities that are given to you, such as studying abroad. Go for it!

Finding the right college is an extremely important decision that can often feel overwhelming. To begin, you should determine what size school would best suit you, and what geographical location you wish to live. From there, you can visit the schools in the area, and get a feel for what life at those particular colleges and universities is like. After you apply to the schools that you can "see" yourself in, financial aid packages and scholarships will be awarded, and can assist you in making your final decision. My advice would be to select a college that will not bind you in to a specific major, because most college students change theirs at least once. You should also make sure that the college you choose has opportunities for you to do activities you enjoy, like athletics, community service, etc.

Get involved.

Relax. College hunting can be stressful. take a thoughtful holistic look at each college that interest you. there's no perfect college, but there is a college that will best fit you. The keys to keep in mind are academics (that's why you are going, to learn!) and the social scene. parents like to think that the social scene doesnt matter, but good friends will help you through tough times in classes and outside of the classroom. with that in mind go to a school that will challenge you academically also, if you just go to party you will fail miserably. College is a great time to learn and grow! No matter what it will all work out in the end. good luck!

Go with the college that you want to go to regardless of whatever others think. Don't sell yourself short, even if you don't into the college you want or have to go to the regional campus...make the most of it. Enjoy yourself. Don't stress too much about your grades, but work hard. Don't get to engulfed in the social scene either, because your grades might suffer. Learn the art of a happy medium.

I would just tell everyone to visit the college you would like to attend. My school has a program called "Husky for a day" in which you can shadow a student at UConn for the day. It is an incredible program. Once you have actually been admitted in a school... GET INVOLVED! College is the place to make life long friends. Take advantage! :)

There are a few things that are key when considering which college to attend and the experience that your child will have there. First and foremost I would say financial aid is a huge consideration. With the economy today, unless the student absolutely hates the school, then take the best deal financially! An experience is what you make of it, but money doesn't appear just because you want it to. Second, I would suggest that the student do a lot of research on the academic program they will go into or are considering and, most importantly the opportunities offered by the career and internship department at the school to get into the field while the student is still in school. Look to see if the opportunities are local or not (if not, can you/the student afford it?). This will literally guide your future. Courses and opportunities are everything. And of course finally social life is important. Look for a school with fun groups that they will join (but don't get too involved) and look for a fun atmosphere the student will enjoy. Those three things are key to a great experience!

make the college experience one that will work for you and don't think that there is only one way to expereicne college.

When it comes to choosing the college that is right for you, I think that a person needs to visit all kinds of schools. These schools should include small, medium, and large, city, urban, and anywhere in bewteen. After deciding the location and size of the school they desire, the person should then consider a major. If they are undecided they should consider what they think they may possibly want to study. After all this is considered you should go and visit each school again and see what you like and what you don't like about the school, from everything like the people, food, to the grass. They should also consider if they like a school that has strong school spirit and likes to attend sporting events. Finally they should consider the distance from home. Speaking from experience, it is possible to be too far from home.

While factors such as majors, location and size seem to matter most to students when they are choosing a college, I have learned that the most important element is not based on the college at all - it is based on you, the student. The student is the only one who can bring enthusiasm to learn and determination to succeed to the college campus. The student is the one who decides what is most important to them and how they are going to allocate their time to get the most out of their college experience. So while choosing a college can seem like an overwhelming task, just remember that no matter where you end up, your experience will depend heavily on what you make of your college years. Choose a campus where you can see yourself exploring the different facets of life and take the opportunities to when you are there. Challenge yourself mentally and get involved around campus, but always set aside some time for yourself. After all, you are the most important factor in making the most out of college.

When looking into college, take into consideration the college campus (urban, suburban, or rural), the class size, the cost, and the academic education you will receive in the years you will attend a specific college. All people are different and all colleges are different. There is not one college for every student and there is not one student for any college. It is a personal preference.