University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

Do not limit yourself. Remember that anything in life that is worth anything is a great deal of work. Coming to a large college seemed intimidating for me having a graduating class of 365 at my high school. However it is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Do not be afraid to go elsewhere than your friends. You will be glad you did. My friends from high school and I have still remained incredibly close. However it is incredible how close I have become to my college friends. Lastly do not be afraid to talk to your professors they are there to teach you. In particular I find a lot of my peers tend to hold their questions when the greater extent of the lecture hall is thinking the same thing.

To really pick the right college you need to understand yourself. The college that you choose should not only have an excellent education program that can spark your interest but also have a social outlet the helps you relax. Everone should visit as many schools as possible because each one has its own set of nuances that make it unique. No matter the program you choose, you will need an outlet to take your mind off work. These activities also help develop you as an individual but also broaden your horizons. Visit your schools and stay true to yourself.

Finding the college that is right fit is one of the most difficult things a student will ever do. It is important to remember to keep an open mind at all times; leave all preconceived notions and bias aside. It's easy to be swayed by friends and family. However, in order to learn what's best for you, visit as many colleges as possible. Explore colleges of different sizes, in different locations, and with different specialties. Keep in mind that college is one of the few times in your life that you'll have an oppertunity to llive wherever you want. No matter what most say, money is important. You may want to go to graduate school or law school after college, both of which are expensive. Keep this in mind while you try to decide if it's worth it to go to a school that you will need to loans in order to attend. My advice would be to find a school that is affordable without sacrificing what is important to you-- whether it is location, academics, or resources. Most importantly, follow your gut and don't second guess yourself; you know what's best for you.

The best advice I would give to students and parents is always visit the campus prior to living there. It is fairly easy to know how rigorous the academics are with a little research, but that is only half of student life. The other half is the social life. Be sure that there is an active student life on campus; this will help your child stay involved on campus where there is no alcohol or drugs available. Furthermore, it is very pertinent what size of campus is suitable. Some students love large campuses such as myself, where there is always something to do, while some students love small campuses where they feel more comfortable and less overwhelmed. The most important thing is to have fun, but study hard because nothing will be fun if there is a low GPA haunting you.

I think that it is very important to consider the opportunities that a school offers. A smaller school may seem more friendly, but often they present fewer classes, fewer activities and there are fewer connections to meet and friends to make. College is about both growing up and getting a job. A place where you can learn to be independant and responsible for yourself and have all the opportunities possible to get the kind of job that you would like is the ideal place for you. In order to get the full college experience, you need to get involved: join some clubs and teams and make friends in your dorm. A religious group is often a good place to start as they tend to be very welcoming and a place to meet some friends and get connected.

In order to pick the right college and have the best experience, it is vital to start early. They suggest starting in your junior year but your sophmore year gives you more time to research and visit places. From my personal experience, I never visited a college until the day I walked on to the University of Maryland as a transfer student from a community college. I wish I could have visited colleges to find one that felt right. I am enjoying my time at school but being able to pick one by seeing the campus might have made the experience much better.

My advice would be to really research what you want your career field to be. Certain colleges specialize in certain fields. My school has the best Criminal Justice Program in the nation as well as being one of the Top 25 public schools in the nation so I lucked out, but I know some people that weren't that lucky. I did my research before I applied and I knew that UMD College Park would be the best fit for me. I would also say to parents to be financially realistic about college. The economy is not what it use to be, and college can become a burden if your not financially conscious about what's going on in your life, you could face a hardship. All in all, college is a wonderful experience inside and out and there is money available to attend school but both the parents and student must be diligent in their efforts to apply to the school and get the most out of it.

The only Problem with UMCP is too big. If you hate ignorance, it's hard to get attention because there are more than 20,000 students on the same campus. There are so many activities going on but most of students should work very hard all semester long or your GPA will fall into a critical situation. If you commute and have a part time job out of campus, you may not have time to make many friends and hang out with them. Your professors could be friendly and helpful but that depends on your major.

Pick a school that allows you to grow. You should be attending a college that allows you to become the person you want to be. It does not matter what your peers titled you in high school or the plans your parents made for your future career since before you were born, college is for you. It is a place to, yes, gain an education that will be the foundation for your career, however, it is also the perfect breeding ground for you to gain life experiences. The right college is the institution that will foster your growth as a human being. While quality professors and alumni networking should be important factors in the decision, you cannot and will not have the optimum college experience without extra-cirricular activities. Be sure the schools you look at have provide opportunities for students to interact outside the classroom, perhapse even outside the country. Be it athletics, religious groups, community service or any other interest you may have, make sure the school you choose to attend fosters your passion and allows you to have hands on experience. Anywhere that allows you to grow in knowlege, confidence and passon is the right choice.

If you know what college you want to get into, fight for it. It's worth it. I fought to go to my first choice, and I love it here.