University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

I would advice all parents/students to visit the college if they can. Looking at something on the internet or in a brochure just isn't the same. I tried to visit almost every university I applied to and when I stepped on campus at Maryland I just knew right away that it was the perfect school for me. To help the process along, know what you want out of your four year experience. Big, small, housing, off-campus, meal plan or not, knowing what you want can eliminate a unnecessary headache. Making the right decision and finding the best fit for you is important because it will directly affect your grades and how successful you are at the college. Yale is not for everyone and neither is University of Miami, making the right choice about college is something you certainly will never regret.

College is one of the greatest transitions in life. Therefore, it?s important to plan ahead and make the most of the experience. Students should consider majors that interest them. They should focus on those that they can enjoy rather than those that are typically associated with careers that lead to wealth. One can become successful in any major they choose. Hence, it's wiser to choose a field that one can appreciate for life. It?s okay if a student does not have a specific career goal. Many students actually change their majors at least once during their undergraduate studies. Thus, students should be patient- their dream job will surely come. Moreover, students and parents should talk about college together to ease the stress that accompanies planning for it. This way, everyone can be happy in the end. Prioritizing preferences like financial aid, school location, and school size, will help parents and students choose the best college. Students and parents should weigh their options wisely and compromise. In college, students should not be afraid to take risks. College, itself, is a test on balancing life. Hence, students should learn from their failures and achievements by trying new things.

As a married mother of three and 32 years old, I believe I can share alot of wisdom .I attended a university at 18 years old .I chose a school based on my friends .That is not the best option no matter how much you may think it is at the time.Academics must be your focus.Later, after having my children I decided to start again at community college.I was happy but , yearned for more in my education . I could not afford it financially nor did I have the time. I finally had to make sacrifices to attend the school of my dreams but we struggle as a family.Students need to make the college decision carefully and be ready to work .I am financially devastated as a mother trying to get a degree( pre med)and missing my babies so much .I love my school but I miss alot with my family . I will miss alot more as i go through medical school.Please consider all parts of your future and what may be involed in making the wrong decision.It may be something you are unaware of at the present time that will suffer the effects.

To be sure that you are selecting the right college I would advise that you visit the campus because making sure that you are physically comfortable in the environment of the college is very important, especially regarding dorms and public study areas. Furthermore, it is imoprtant to research whether or not the college you select offers a good department for the major you are interested in. In order to make the most of your college experience I would suggest that you apply yourself not only in the classroom but outside of it as well by researching career opportunities and getting involved in volunteer work and helping in school activities.

From my own personal experience with choosing a school but having to transfer due to my financial situation, the best advice I can give is to be open minded and to look at a wide variety of school until you find the ones that fits both your financial situation and your personal criteria. No one wants to go to a school just because it?s cheap but they hate everything else about it, but how many people are willing to put themselves in hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt to go to the perfect school. The best thing any student and parent can do is to compromise with what they want and what they can afford. One of the criteria?s that should be a part of the decision is how involved will the student be able to get at that the school. Everyone knows that academics are important when choosing a school, but some people overlook how important extracurricular activities are. This is where the student will met the friends that they will have for a life time. Lastly, the best advice I can give is to pick a school that will create lasting memorize.

A lot of people just pick the best college they get into. When I went to go visit the best college I got into I found that people were dissatified with their lives and that it would have been a miserable four years if I had gone there. When I went to visit Maryland people were happy, I met professors who were proud of their research and said they wouldn't want to be anywhere else. Even though it wasn't the most prestigious school I got into Maryland was the best fit for me, and I haven't ever regretted it. Once here it's easy to be active and be involved and thats what's most important.

My advice for the parents is simple. Applying to college can be daunting so have an honest, but constructive conversation with your child about thier future. Let them know upfront about how much you are able to contribute towards your child's education. Encourage them to fill out the FAFSA and apply for grants/scholarships. Together, create a list of schools that your child has thier heart set upon as well as ones you think are also worth considering. Community colleges, for instance are a great way to save money. Be realistic. Consider how well your child has done in school and on the SATs when applying to schools. If you feel that your child is special and has unique talents suggest that your child look into bigger schools that can offer them more opportunities. If you feel that your child is rather shy or lacks motivation suggest they look into smaller schools that can offer them a more individualized education. Ultimately, your child will know if the school is right for them within the first semester or two of attendance. If the school doesn't seem to fit, they always have the option to transfer to another school.

Start saving for your/child's college education a lot sooner than just senior year.

When choosing a college, students and parents should do research about the possible universities the student is looking to attend. They should look into the quality of the program, the cost of attending the university and the opportunities provided by the location. I believe the quality of the program and the cost of attending should both be weighed equally, and the final decision should be based on the individual's needs and family situation. After the individual has chosen which instituion to attend, they should try to become involved with the campus through various organizations and programs. These will acquaint the student with the campus and community and provide valuable leadership experience.

Look at all aspects of the school. On campus, off, classes, the party seen and what your child plans to do throughout their college career.