University of Florida Top Questions

Be sure to check out the campus and make sure that they are accredited to award various degrees. Also, make sure that the school you choose has your major and has plenty of opportunties for internships and scholarships to help you succeed in college.

First of all, while searching for the best college, the student needs to consider his/her educational and career goals and seek a college that provides top-notch programs in the areas in which he/she houses especial interest. The student and parents also need to consider their financial standing and research the amount of financial aid a school is ready to provide. In addition, the student should evaluate the pros and cons of the school?s location. Finally, the student would want to ensure that the college offers ample opportunities to get involved in the community, while providing a variety of leadership, research, and extracurricular opportunities. From my experience, one should make the most of their time in college by making every effort to utilize all of the learning resources offered - attending classes, completing readings and assignments, and performing as best they can on exams. The student should also strive to participate in organizations/activities that will help them delve into their interests, to network, and to make them a more competitive applicant for a future job or graduate program. At the same time, they should take advantage of extracurricular activities so they can relax and have some fun.

The best advice I can give to both parents and students is, "Go for it". This is not the time to hold back. It is a time to try something new, see an exciting place in the world, join a new club/sport, and best of all, its a great time to meet new people. College life is a time to grow for students and college is a time for parents to let go. They will call, don't worry. As my mother told me, part of being a good parent is knowing when to let go. I thank her for that. College is the foundation for the rest of your life, so in these four years, take the time to make it strong. These four years can lead to a LIFETIME of success if you play your cards right, but don't forget, its also your only time to enjoy saturday football games, too!

Looking back, graduating from high school was a proud moment for me, as it is for most. However, the thought of the next chapter in my life, the uncertainty of what would come next, doesn?t summon such pleasant memories. But having gone through the college selection process, I have gained precious incite on what to keep in the forefront of any college priority list: It is always great to make your parents proud, but when it comes to choosing a school, you are the one who will be attending. Choose a school that you want to go to. Your parent?s nostalgia is not as important as your fit into the campus. Choose a school that has your areas of interest. If you are undecided, as I was, be sure to attend a college with as many possibilities as possible. Don?t close doors before you have a chance to get started. Money is always a problem, but don?t let it be a deciding factor. There will always be scholarships, grants, loans, and work-studies out there for those who need them. The bottom line: Your happiness must be the priority. The next 4 years are worth it!

When determining the "right college", there are a few factors you need to consider. Firstly, the cost versus benefits should be evaluated. College can be an extremely expensive four years depending on the city, housing, and public/private institution you choose. Secondly, the distance away from your parents' home should also play a role. Finally, the size of the educational facilities should be tailored to the applicant. Different students thrive in different situations. A 200+ student lecture could be a negative aspect for a student that needs one-on-one attention. Coming from high school "senioritis", it is extremely important to emerge from your social hibernation and enjoy the vast amount that college has to offer. You should become involved in the campus and community from day one while taken advantage of the city's entertainment facilities. But one should be careful not to overload and neglect academics. Finally, college is not all about academics but rather about physical and mental maturation into the person you will become.

I believe that where a student attends college is not as important as what a student does with his or her degree after college. However, there are a few key factors to take into consideration before choosing a college. First, try to narrow down what field of study you would like to go into. It is ok if you do not know yet, but if you do know choose a school that has a strong department in the field of study you would like to enter. Get very involved in that department when you start college. Next, determine if you want to attend a large university or a small college. Keep in mind that larger universities usually have more team spirit when it comes to sporting events. This can play a large role in the overall college experience. Finally, analyze your financial situation. Choose a school that is affordable. If you want to attend a college or university that you can not afford then start applying to scholarships right now.

Research all the information you can about all the college choices, including tuition/housing/textbook/meal plan/other assortive fees; compare that price to scholarship awards and determine how much you'll need to pay out-of-pocket. Finances tend to play a large role in the selection process, especially if deciding between public/private or in-state/out-of-state. If possible, take a campus tour of the top choices; otherwise, scouring the university's website usually produces a wealth of information. Some colleges allow a prospective new-student to "shadow" someone already attending the university; doing this will help the high school student experience firsthand what a "day in the life of" is like on that particular campus. Other things to consider are the university's reputation (party school? high academic focus?), the number of students attending (big vs. small school), number of options (majors, minors, clubs, dorms), city area around campus (safe? are there things to do off-campus?), and the amount of diversity. Cater to the student's individual personality. As for making the most of the college experience, it is up to the student to get involved in various activities and balance those with coursework.

It helps to know what you want to do in life. Once you figure out at least what you want to study, look for the best school that teaches that subject. Decide if you want to stay home or move away for college. You also have to consider scholarship opportunities, as well as tuition cost. There's no point in going into debt so young if you don't have to. I imagine the education is much the same anywhere you go, so go to a cheap college. I got the {4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}100 tuition scholarship from the state of Florida called Bright Futures, so I took full advantage. I stayed home for college and I'm studying something I love.

First off, I think it should be up to the students; completly and totally. It needs to be where they feel comfortable or want to live and learn because they're the ones attending the school. By following this, parents should be the most at ease as their child will be happy and thus healthy. When touring a campus, ask anything and everything that comes to mind. Look over housing, meal plans, sports, you name it in addition to courses and majors offered; these are important parts of the experience. To make the most of the actual experience though, students needs to be open and flexible as so many things can happen; good or bad. Finally and most importantly, be yourself; even if those around you are not excepting, there are plenty others that will be and you have plenty of time to find them. Thank you, Mindi Friedman

I am a first generation college graduate of my family. I can say that education was the greatest focus when it came time to applying to college. My parents and I both had the understanding that the basic purpose for attending college was to receive a degree and then find work. Now having graduated with my bachelor?s degree, I have the benefit of hindsight. I can look back and see that yes, I did receive an excellent education from the college of my choice but I also gained so much more than that. College is about life experience. It is a time for a student to become independent and to really explore and find their passions in life. I would tell any parent or student who is seeking the right college to not only consider the academic standards of the school but also to consider the variety of student life offered on and off campus. Consider volunteer opportunities found in the community, study abroad, research, interest groups and clubs, recreation, etc. The "right" college offers well-rounded experiences and opportunities rather than simply a narrow focus. In the end, any experience is what you make of it. Take advantage!