University of Kansas Top Questions

I think the most important thing to remember is comfort; look hard at the college to which you're considering applying and ask yourself, "Does this sound like the right place for me? Am I going to be comfortable here?" That isn't speaking strictly to academics. When I was applying, there were several schools that offered competitive degree programs, but after visiting the campus, I walked away feeling like the atmosphere just wasn't suited to my style. And I think that's totally natural; not every place is for everyone, and sometimes it takes a good eye and some determination to find the kind of university where you step foot on the campus and think, "This is it. This is me." And while academics may come first, a lot of what college life truly offers is a chance to explore things you haven't been exposed to before. Make sure the university you choose is going to let you do the kinds of things you want--both inside the classroom and out.

I would tell parents to not focus so much on the quaity of the school but on the dedication of thier child and willingness to succeed. Also they must undertand the personality of their child. If their child is timid, shy and tends to be homesick, it woud be wise to pick a smaller local school. Big universities are more for students who are indipendent and outgoing. I beieve that if your child is dedicated enough to succede that they will do well whereever they go. However, I also believe that larger universities tend to challenge the students more because of the diverse sets of people that the student will have to learn to deal with on a daily basis. All in all, you are going to want to find a school that will both fix your childs needs but also challenges them to go outside of their comfort zone.

With regards to finding the right school for you, I think it is very important to have a good idea of what you are wanting to do after school. For example, the University of Kansas is geared more towards pre-health degrees whereas Kansas State University has a great school of engineering and agriculture program. Knowing what you want to do after school can help make the decision very easy. Also, make sure that you are comfortable at the school. If you are not comfortable, the learning experience and social experience will only make everything more difficult and less fun. As far as the experience, you also need to make sure you are comfortable with the school. Furthermore, make sure to get involved with things you know you love as well as new things so you can learn more about what you love and experience new things.

Get information about the colllege from various other students and check out the campus for yourself for a week.

My best advice is to visit the campus. That way you can get a feel for the campus and actually see yourself there. The campus tours are really helpful and go into it with an open mind.

Follow the student's instincts as to what is right for the student. Prior to making a choice visit various campus situations such as an athletic event and a college town. Additionally, discuss what the student wants to study and how long the course of study will take.

Finding the right college is just like finding a girlfriend/boyfriend. You need to know what you want in a school. And not everyone has the same taste. There is the size, cost, and location of the school. However, there are other things such as research opportunities, greek life, and career possibilites to consider. You cannot pick a school just by reading the brochure! A college visit is a must! It is even ok to visit schools you may not be as interested in. Not only will you learn what you do like, you will learn what you don't like in schools. This may make it easier to pick a school later on. I was a "big fish" in high school and I took a pretty big blow to my self esteem in college when I struggled with coursework for the first time in my life. Consider talking to current students (not just admissions, which is trying to convince you to choose their school) of schools you are intersted in. They are more likely to give you the honest truth about campus going-ons than an admissions counselor. Good luck!

When you trying to find the perfect place to go to school just walk around the campus and see if it feels right. When i walk around my campus I feel at home. Even though i have problems with the administration sometimes and can feel lost in the crowd, It keeps me going to feel like the campus is my home. The acedemics are important too, but they are no substitute for sitting on the campus green and feeling like you belong. Ultimitly you will be happy with any university as long as you feel like you belong there.

Finding the right college is tought. Do your research! Visit potential school that you would like to attend. There is no better way to learn about a school than to actually visit the campus. You don't want to attend a school when you feel no connection with the people or the campus. Attending a campus tour helps a lot, you just might find the school of your dreams that way. Making the most of the college experience is what is most important. Join student organizations and just be active in anything you possibly can! You make SO many new friends and learn a lot as a person. It will also help with all this character building that our parents have been instilling in our brains when we were young. Being active is the way to go!

I think the best piece of advice I have heard since coming to college that I wish I had heard before I came to college is that it doesn't really matter what the initial costs of your education are, provided that you don't plan on being a failure. I think if I had heard that before going to college I would have allowed myself to open up to the possibilities of traveling around and finding the best school to fit with me and my major. Provided you don't plan on failure, it doesn't matter how much you take out in student loans so that you are able to completely focus on whatever it is you need to do to accomplish your goals and complete your major. The most important thing you are going to school for is the experience, the knowledge, and the community. If you constantly have to focus on working, you won't be able to put all your effort into what it is you want to do for the rest of your life. Not in a competative way, anyway. You will always be better off picking a school whereyou really want to be.