University of Delaware Top Questions

Believe Believe Believe. Parents and students most certaintly need to know that there is a college or University for everyone that seeks one. Throughout my college search I had a short period of disbelief in my future, but with a little help from my parents and family I finally stepped onto a campus that was everything I had dreamed college life would be. If it was not for the support of parents who never stopped believing in me, I would have given up on college with no intention of returning. So my deepest and most moving advice I can give anyone reaching toward college is to let nothing stop you on your journey of creating yourself and your life. You never know how powerful your choices and life can be in molding another human being. Believe in yourself, life is what you make it and it always will be; Make it your path, make it your choice, and enjoy it when it comes.

Most universities have a welcoming or tour guide program which can help you learn about the school and enjoy your visit. The University of Delaware for example has the Blue Hen Ambassadors, a team of 150+ representative tour guides. They are trained to know the facts, but they are real students too. I would suggest the parents/student team to meet with a group such as this at any universities in which they are interested. You will gain immense knowledge about the university and ease some fears about the college process for both the parent and student.

Get invloved. The first semester of my freshman year I made a lot of mistakes. I didn't socialize very much, I never went out to parties, I didn't join any clubs or students organizations, and as a result, I had only a few freinds, I was very homesick, and I missed all of the activities I used to do in high school. After my first semester I auditioned and was accepted into a co-ed a cappella group which combined two things that I absolutely love: friends and music. I got a part in one of the student run theater productions and made a lot of friends that way. I started to go out more and put myself out there. I am very happy here and it is because I had the opportunity to get involved in so many extracurriculars and meet so many people with the same interests. Pick a school that offers the activities that you love... you'll be miserable with out them. And if there is nothing you are currently interested in, pick a school like the University of Delaware that has TONS of different activities and organizations to get involved in.

I would suggest taking as much time as possible in making a decision about school. Meet professors, meet students and if possible spend a day just living and experiencing the campus and campus life. Make sure that the education ideals of the school fit your own and that you are willing to live up to the standards of the university you decide to go to. In other words don't pick an academically challenging and intense school if you are only going to college to get a degree and a job, go to that school if you are looking to learn as much as possible and challenge yourself. The most important thing to me though is the cost of education. Go somewhere that you believe the money will be worth it. In my experience I have discovered that most schools are very academically close and it is not worth it to choose a famous school name over a cheaper and just as good education.

Finding the right college is probably the biggest decision of your teenage years. If a person doesn't find the right college they will end up doing bad and regretting their descision for the next four years. My advice to all parents and students is tour the college you are planning to go to. Attend one of the classes required for your major. Before signing up for a class look at the professor and research about him/her before attending his/her classes. Also, look into all the dorms at the university, sometimes they might show one of thier best dorms and give you one of the worst there. To make the best out of college is to make sure you don't get too caught up in school or partying. It's important to have a great balance in both of them. Most importantly, don't forget your old friends from back home, sometimes all you need is people who have been with you since you were babies. But it is also very important to meet new, different people who you have never seen or met before. College is just the beginning of your life, so make it right!

Choosing the school that fits you is vital to making the most of your college experience. The setting is important because a student's comfort level can be greatly affected by the surrounding environment. The student body is significant to consider because diversity can be scarce and that may be a positive thing to some and negative to others. Also, one should consider the reputation of the programs which they will be taking. Some schools have a widely recognized program for a specific major or concentration and that can do wonders for a student's career choices outside of college. Access to extracurricular activities and employment should be considered as well because that can make or break one's experience. Overall, a student should be open minded when visiting a school and they should ask what the school can do for them and what they can do for the school in the four years they will spend there.

I would advise parents and students to start thinking early. It is imperative that they go visit these schools and spend time there and get maybe a student persepctive on what is available. Really no one else will be able to give you better information and honest answers to your questions. I would also tell students to be open. College is such a different type of environment in comparison to high school, it is important to branch out and try new things. College organizations often do not have the funds to greatly advertise events so be active in trying to find out what is available. Also do not be afraid to join an organization, it will only lead to more opportunities and familarity with what is available on campus. It also is the best way to find that niche you are looking for when it comes to developing a sense of home. I would also say keep the grades up from the beginning! Practice different study habits and find what works for you. Having a good gpa from the beginning will open door opportunities for you in the near in far future! Especially for scholarships, work , graduate school and internships.

When you look for a college, visiting at least 3 of them is a must. I would not consider you accepting entrance to a college that you have not visited. The most important part of college is to find a place you will fit in. The university of delaware for instance, has a large student body and encourages diversity. There are student groups involving all different types of lifestyle choices. You should look for a school that will cater to you, as well as provide alternative thoughts and ideas. Another important aspect to a college is the level of education it provide. You may not necessarily have to go to the most prestigious school, but look for a good balance between academics, extra cirrucular activities, education services (tutoring, professor availability...), and career placement. It will be dificult to choose a school, but many prospectives can make a decision after a few months and a visit of the school. I encourage taking a tour and talking to current students about their experiences.

Fututre students should definitely do their research when deciding on the school they want to attend. It all comes down to the person. For me, I wanted a school with diverse students from different backrounds, so that not only would i be learning in the classroom, I would be learning in the outside of the classroom as well. I can only give advise concerning myself, and I decided on UD because it was too big, and it wasn't too small. I didn't want to seem like just a number among the crowd. Academics are very important, and you should a school that has high expections for the student. I wanted to have somewhat of challenge, while still having fun. Another thing that was important was the amount of on campus organizations to be involved in. It makes school so much more exciting when you're actually involved. In the end, It's a personal decision.

You have to visit the schools you are deciding between and make sure you take into consideration things like: size of school, academic life, social life, number of commuters, ect.

In finding the right school that fits one must take into account the distance of the school from one's home. Many students would rather stay close to home and this can have an affect on the students college life, and academics. Financial status should be taken into consideration. No one wants to be in debt to their knees after they graduate. Therefore, findings a school that fits into one's financial budget is good. Make sure the college has the major one is interested in pursuing. It is also nice to have a school that has one's major and is accredited. That means getting the degree from an accredited program is better than just having a degree from a ordinary program. Making the most of college life is in the students hands. Get active at one's school. Meeting new and different people can go a long while later in life. Joining clubs and participating in extra-curricular activites enhances one's college experience. It will definitely one to remember, because most only get one chance.

The advice that i would give students about finding the right college is to read as much about the school you think you like then go see the school while it's in session. See if the school has you major that you plan to study. Visiting a college is the most vital part of picking a school. This will allow you to know almost everything from the kind of place the college is. From how the students act, the class interactions, and just the city or town itself. This will give you the best idea to see if you really want to go to that college. During the research first on the college will partly insure that you are not wasting money on a visit due to travel.

Visit as many schools as possible and try not to be influenced by what other people tell you you should look for. Size has a huge impact on a school so make sure you have the feel for big and small schools so you know what is right for you. City versus suburban can also have a great affect on your experience so make sure you figure out which is best suited to you. The most important thing is to make the decision on your own and don't be influenced by what other people are doing or saying because this is where you will be for the next four years and you need to know it is right for you. Ultimately you will get back what you put in, so where ever you end up get involved in as many things as possible and meet as many people as you can.

Finding the right college is not always the easiest thing. Make sure that before you begin searching, you know what types of envrionments you thrive in, how much money you're willing to pay, location and transportation concerns. Setting these types of ideas beforehand well pay off. As far as making the most of your experience when you've made it, make sure you are challenging yourself daily. Make sure you have a positive outlook on life and that your personal goals have to do with empowering yourself and the people around you. Get involved and help your community!

I would advise students to research the schools that they really are interested in visiting. Don't just go off what the acceptance packet or the website or people say actually look into it. The tours and orientation are good options as well, however asking the actually student body is probably the best thing for you. They can tell you the true climate of the campus and what's really going on because if you do decide to come to the campus they are going to be you. Also, don't settle if the campus doesn't feel right or things just seem off to you don't go because you think that you'll end up liking it late. I've had friends that returned to schools that are closer to home because they went to they thought they'd grow into but they didn't. So feel out the school that you're interested in and don't settle you'll be spenidng four years of your life here and you're going to want to be comfortable.

The greatest piece of advice anyone could give to potential students (and the parents who want the best for them) is this: you get out what you put in. Yes it is a bit cliched, possibly trite, but it is one-hundred percent true and is especially well-suited to the college experience; regardless of which institution of higher learning in which one chooses to pursue a degree, the experience will only be as positive and as fulfilling as it is allowed to be. So even if you didn't get accepted to, or can't afford, your first choice, chances are an amazing and educationally-sound experience is waiting for you at one of your safeties so long as you are willing to give it your best. Try not to be too concerned with where your high school friends are going, and don't allow the specter of homesickness to keep you from venturing farther than you may be comfortable with right now, you will rise to the challenge and be better for it. When you do get to college try not to allow high school hang-ups to keep you from experiencing everything you can, do it all.

look for schools size, and environment... sign up for lots of activities to meet new people and friends

In order to find the right college, I would tell students to go on as many college visits as possible, and when they go, they need to think about how they would fit in at that particular college and talk to students that already go there. They also need to think about their passions, and what opportunities that college can offer them during and after their undergraduate experience. Don't ever choose a college because everyone you know is going there. College leaves different impressions on different people and it is important to decide on the college that you feel fits you best. Making the most of your college experience can be described in two words: get involved. Whether it is undergraduate research, volunteering, clubs, sports, or Greek life, getting involved on campus can make or break your college experience. Student groups can introduce you to new experiences, people, opportunities, and outlooks on life. The people that you meet can potentially be life-long friends, or just leave a lasting impression on you. Find your passion and pursue it; once you are in the real world you can never get back those opportunities missed in college.

When searching for the right college, visit a school at least once if not two or three times before you make your decisions. Attend a class, stay overnight, get to know the campus to make sure that this is truly the school for you. I visited my college 4 times before I made my final decision, and I'm so glad I did. Also, take the tour and ask questions!! The tour guides are there to help you and make sure you know everything there is to know about the school. Another tip: Don't count a school off your list because it rained or was bad weather the day you visited. Not all days are like that. Yes, the weather can make the trip less enjoyable and more uncofortable but try to make the best of the situation. Alot of times, you'll just know that a school is perfect for you from the second you step onto the campus. Listen to your heart. Make sure you love the school, and be open to all the new opportunities that lie ahead! And you'll be fine!

My advice to students searching for their right school would be to follow your passions. Students today are being pressured to choose a school based on its academic merit as opposed to what they really offer to the individual. As a result, those who choose a school for its prestige and not for what it can offer on a personal level, will eventually either receive poor grades or graduate with a degree in a field in which they are not satisfied with. What a school can offer you is a very important factor to consider because after your academic career, you will be the one responsible for paying off the debts that have accumulated. Because of this, I believe that if you are going to end up paying off debts for a while after you graduate, you should be able to pay off your debts with the thought in mind that you got your money's worth.