University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

As a current sophomore in college my best advice to parents and students looking at colleges is realize that there is generally not going to be a school that is perfect in all aspects. First find a school that offers your desired major as well as a few backup majors of your interest. Then look as what else the school offers that you may be interested in such as clubs, sports, events, and activities. Visit the school, take a tour and roam around, meet current students and try to imagine yourself there, if you feel comfortable and can imagine it then great. Do your research then look at a handful of schools too few: you may feel like you haven?t explored all possibilities, too many and you?ll feel overwhelmed and indecisive. Remember that wherever you end up you will be happy, the school/students shape you and you will find your niche. Don't think that a private school is better than a public school; college is what you make it so choose a school with lots of opportunity. Attitude is everything: be open minded, positive, goal oriented, and most of all excited.

Choosing a school wasn't exactly hard for me, I knew that UMass Amherst was right for me the first time I stepped on the campus. I feel that it's very important, in order to get the right view of the school, to go visit and take a tour. There are so many schools to choose from, it's very hard knowing which is the right for you. I think that it's important to know three factors: 1. The setting that you want to live in; rural, urban, on the beach, etc... 2. An interest in a major, to make sure the school offers demanding programs in areas of study that you are interested in. 3. A wide variety of extra curricular clubs and activities; I never knew I'd be into ballroom dancing until I joined a club on my campus! Everything else will just come naturally. When you go off to school, there are no immediate cliques, everyone is looking for friends. Also, don't worry about money, there are so many opportunities for scholarships (like this one!) that you can cover the costs if you really try. Good luck!

Find a college that is right for the student who know's what they want to do.

As I said in my graduation speech in May of 2007, life is what you make of it. Be open to new ideas and experiences. You think you know what you want in a college, but at age 18, you're still finding your own identity. Deciding on the institution you want is ruthless. My advice: go where the most money is given to you. If a school is paying you to attend, it means they see something in you and believe you will make a contribution there; other schools may not see your potential. Get past the name, status, and repuation of a college. In the end, it really doesn't matter where you go, it's what you do when you get there.

Find something to dorm in. It helps to really feel the college experience.

First of all, i believe a visit to campus, and an over night stay with students (if possible) is a great way to get a feel for the environment and feel of the school. It's also important for the student to get away from their parents for a bit of the visit and expierence the school for their own eyes. By doing this the student is able to deside if he/she will feel comfortable on their own while on campus. Another great idea is for the students to attend lots of orientation programs, like picnics, bingos, trips, ect. Although these activities are usually filled with corney get-to-know-you games, everyone's in the same boat, and it's a good way to emmerse yourself among your peers. Take risks, make new friends!

Its fairly simple to answer this question. To all parents and students alike who are facing the possibilty of going to college. Be very careful, especially if your income is not at a very high level. This is a big process that can ultimelty help decide your future. Make sure to explore every single financial situation and choose wisely which one best suits your family. Talk to any financial advisors and make it a point to pay bills on time. Regarding grades and schoolwork, do not choose a major simply to have one. If you do not know what your life calling is, then simply choose undecided. It is not the end of the world since you will have plenty of time to decide later on in your college career. When you do get accepted into college, make sure that the school you are deciding on best fits you and you alone. When you do get into college, make as many friends as possible. Form study groups and attend study sessions while also keeping in contact with your professors. Lastly, just like anything in life, have fun doing whatever you do.

Apply to a variety of colleges, and don't let money stop you from going where you really want to go.

Visit each campus; it's housing, cafeterias, classrooms and town and make sure the whole package appeals to you.

Big schools offer students the ability to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Don't be intimidated by the size of a school because students can easily find ways to make it seem smaller (through friendships, clubs, etc).

If I could be completely honest, do not make your decision as to which college you will be attending because of a boyfriend or girlfriend. Also, being a student athlete I've learned how important time management actually is. Take advantage of on-campus advising, tutors, career services, professor's office hours, etc. Don't be afraid to communicate with your professors, advisors, coaches (if you end up playing a sport). As far as finding the right college, really try and visit as many campuses as you can. It's nice to get a feel of being on campus and getting to see what it's all about.

Make alot of visits and take a lot of tours.

Visiting the school will be the ultimate factor. A school may look great on paper, but the visit will determine where you'd like to go. Look for schools on collegeboard.com that have things you're interested; size, majors, social life, location, etc., and then visit them all. If you aren't happy at the school, the statistics in the books don't mean anything. Research, then act on it. I personally should have visited more schools to get a better idea of things, because, though I love my school now, visiting others in colee has opened my eyes to how different every school really is, down to the simple things, like dorms, food, and sports. Atmosphere is key in developing as an adult. You can never visit too many schools.

Visit the campus. See a dorm room, explore the surrounding area, attend a class if you can; see if you can picture yourself there. Talk to current student about their experience there: ask about their relationship with professors and the administration, and ask about what most students do for fun. Try to get a feel for the "culture" of the university; what are the students interested in, what is the general attitude, how motivated are they, to what do they aspire? Generally, a big school a wider variety of opportunities, but requires a student to take more initiative. Take advantage of all the things college life has to offer! Try things you've never tried, take classes that interest you. TALK TO YOUR PROFESSORS, develop a relationship with them - let them know who you are, and make a good impression on them.

Do plenty of research and don't restrict yourself to what everyone else is going to. I'm one of four people from my high school that I know of that even applied here at UMass, but I love it here. In high school, I got big-time pressure to stay in state or go to a school close by, but I went against the curve and went across the country and I could not be happier. Find something that fits your needs, regardless of location.

First, I would say follow your instincts. You also need to do your research; if you can't go to the school to explore, find everything you can on the environment, the level of education, the social structure, etc. Once you've found the school that's right for you and you get there as a freshman, emerse yourself as much as you can. Take advantage of general education courses by finding things that really interest you. Get involved in clubs, or really involved in one club that means a lot to you. Savor every moment, soak in as much knowledge as you can and don't forget to have some fun.

Talk to students outsideof the ones giving the tours, visit the facilities on campus, get a feel for the campus. Don't get sucked into the system once you're there- this is your education.

The only way to know if a college is right for you is to go there and experience it. Sit in on a class, walk through the campus, do whatever it takes to get a feel for the place. You are going to be there twenty-four hours a day seven days a week so you should make sure it is somewhere you are going to be comfortable and happy. Being on your own for the first time can be overwhelming but as long as you make friends who you can relate with and talk to you will be fine. If you are having trouble making friends join a club, take up a sport, or even just start a study group. College is a time for you to figure out who you really are, make sure you do.

Look for a good social environment, and look for how accessible things are around the campus.

Do not base your college choice in your personal relationships at the time. Do not worry about how much it costs to attend, you're going to be working for the rest of your life, and college is the last time of your life to really enjoy yourself. The atmosphere of a school is extremely important, make sure you can be yourself and that there is room for personal growth. Also, don't be afraid to keep in mind the possibility of transferring after a semester or two. Make sure to look outside of the campus, and into the town setting. This is extremely important for possible jobs and social development. The college search is hard, but do take it seriously, because it will be your home for four years. All campuses may seems like potential candidates at first, but trust me, when you find the perfect campus, you'll immediately know. My advice: that's really the only proof you need to know that's where you should be.