University of Georgia Top Questions

Dont choose a school based on what others want or where your parents want you to go; Pick the place that feels like home to you. At the and of the day, YOU are the one who is walking away with the experience. Visit multiple schools before making a choice; finding your "fit" is a really important thing. Don't pick a school based on where all your high school friends are going. I promise you, you will make new friends. The people I know who went to school with a high school best friend never took the time to branch out and make new friends. College is about new opportunities and new experiences- embrace it. Don't be afraid to open your wings and be vulnerable to new situations. It will be the best 4 years of your life. Once its over its over, so do everything with no regrets.

It doesnt actually matter where you attend college as so many professions put emphasis on a graduate degree rather than an undergrad degree. So just make sure you go somewhere fun that you will enjoy the town for 4 years.

Talk to as many students you can at every university you are interested in. Don't follow an individual you know or have a relationship with, but use it as a chance to develop yourself as an individual. The strength of the academic program is an important consideration when selecting your college destination.

Make sure you look for a school that provides your ideal comfort zone; big or small, for lectures and campus size, if campus housing and meal plans are available (a great resource for freshmen and settling in), and whether the location offers enough jobs and places to socialize. Parents like to enforce the ideal that you go to college to study and make good grades, but it makes a difference to have that little coffee shop to hide away in or a bar to go hang out with friends on a Friday night. If you like to shop, you might want a mall to be near by or, if you like sports, that the school offers plenty of activities for you. A lot of people look for a school that offers a good degree program for what you're interested in, which is important, but you intended major tends to change at least once or twice during your undergraduate, so don't let that a lone dictate where you want to go. A healthy attitude about the school helps make attending there easier. College is a time to discover what you like.

Find a college that fits your personality and offers a diverse network of experiences, classes, and student groups, etc. Find a school that has a great career placement program and great alumni participation. When you get to college, make sure you stay on top of your studies. It is totally different than high school. The classes require much more of your time and effort. Once, you fall behind, it is very difficult to catch up. Don't be afraid to try new things , and meet new people. Also, try to network with as many students, faculty, and alumni as possible. It can come in handy when looking for a job or internship.

I advise students to not just become one in the crowd, but rather jump in to a campus organization from the very start in order to meet new people and have something outside of school work to be involved in. It is important to establish what you want to accomplish while in school and go for it from the very beginning. It is easy to be shy and inactive especially during your first year, but so important to push past that no matter how uncomfortable you may be, and become actively involved on your campus as well as in the classroom. Start your academic career off to a good start and develop good habits from the beginning so that if you do get one of those extremely hard classes that you don't do very well in, your other grades will act as a cushion. I advise parents to help out their children as much as they can financially, emotionally, etc. so they can make the best of their college experience without adding unnecessary stress. Encourage them to find their place on campus and to do the extra things outside of just academics.

Never settle for a school because of cost or convenience. It is important to really research the university before attending. Be sure to schedule a campus visit as well and get the inside scoop. Good luck!

Know what area the student will want to go into and be most interested in. It is not important to know the exact major, but subject. This will let the student know what college will give them the most opportunities for their future career. Also, it is best to go into the major that the student is most interested in, not necessarily the one they are the best at. It is also very helpful if the financial situation provides no stress on the studies for the students.

In my opinion, I think most students who graduate from high school should stay home for at least one year. I do not feel like most students are ready to go out and live on their own and balance school. It has been my experience that students that leave home and go away for college right after graduating high school come back to a local college within a year or two. I also think that staying home and getting a feel for how college works increases your odds of getting into a better college. I would have never been able to get into the University of Georgia right out of high school, but since I stayed home and focused on my school work I was able to bring up my GPA and be accepted to UGA.

Find a place that makes you feel like you are at home. It is so important to feel like you belong. Do not get distracted by your surroundings when it's time to study, but do enjoy the new environment you are in. Take time to make your new college town you home. Get involved with things on campus.