University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

Find a school where you feel like home. I've transfered 3 times now and found my niche. Make sure you find yours.

Choose the school that best fit you. Not the school that u think your parents might want you to go to. But one that will provide you with the best equipement that you will need gor your major.

My advice is to choose a college/university with a campus. Having a campus, in my opinion allows students to make more friends, focus on their education and complete their schooling at one college/university. Having a campus allows the students to feel like a community. When you are walking to class you almost feel like you are walking through your own neighborhood. You feel safe, secure and have a sense of accomplishment as you walk past the residential area you lived in freshmen year, the library that you have pulled all nighters at and the building where you had your first lecture.

It is important to know if you want a big school or a smaller school. Big schools always have a lot going on socially as well as with athletics and clubs. They also tend to offer many options for choosing a major if you are unsure. Smaller schools (if they have a good reputation) may be a better choice academically because they can offer more individual attention. However, the college experience may not be as dynamic as if you attended a big school. There are less people to meet and less chance for spontanaeity.

If you are financially able go to the school you FEEL you belong at., go there. Follow your gut feeling because chances are you will be the most happy at the school. However, college is fun, no matter where you go. If you end up at a large school join a club, organization or team to meet people with similar interests. Chances are you will meet some of your best friends there.

Kids should def visit the college before they choose to attend. Also, to get some REAL advice just ask a random student a question while walking through campus. They orientations that are set up are propoganda. Also, check the list of degrees offered at the university. If your son/daughter is looking for something special make sure the school offers it. Thank you.

The most important factor in finidng the right fit in a college is where you will be socially well off. When you vist colleges make sure you feel welcomed into the college community there. These will be the best four years of your life! This will make sure you will have lots of great stories and memories to tell for the rest of your life.

Finding the right college isn't about statistics or reputation. It's about finding a place that you fit into - a place where you can feel comfortable and relaxed yet get a quality education. College isn't just about learning, it's about growing. The friends you make in college are amazing, and they will probably be the closest friends you could ever make. When you're in college, you should do things you never thought you would do, because now is the time to do it. Whether it be taking a dance class or taking an art class when you're a science major - college opens up a world of opportunities. College, basically, is all about taking chances and not regretting them.

My best advice that I can give a parent or student trying to make the decision of which college to attend would be the following. When you get to a school, you won't have that "ah ha" moment, when you recognize you are at your future alma matter. It's best to take the good with the bad and in doing so sit back and ask yourself "Can I be a student here?" Also it's important to be practical. What type of person are you? Big school, small school? Close to home, far from mom? Finally, can we afford this, and if we can't how can we pay for it, and is it worth that struggle? At the end of the day....pray on it.

Visit the campus! Getting a feel and a "vibe" from the campus is, in my opinion, the number one way to find if you will enjoy and fit in at that college. Take advantage! Colleges and universities have so much to offer. Find out what the school offers and pick a few activities to get involved with. There are so many opportunities that it is absurd not to at least get involved somewhere. Love where you are! College is a special time that only last 4 years (okay, sometimes a little more). But no matter how long it is, you never get that time back, so don't be miserable. If you don't feel like you fit in, find a place where you do. Most of the time you just haven't looked in all the right places. Have fun! For parents, listen to your child. Do not pressure them to make a decision they are not comfortable with. And besides, if they are not into it, it will only be wasted time and money. So make sure the student likes the school and have the opportunity to take advantage of what the school offers inside & outside the classroom.

Don't just fall upon your number one choice school, make sure you take time to look at all the schools you were accepted into, and be sure to talk a lot to students who have gone there before choosing; they are the best resources.

Try to take your personality into account and choose the best college that fits those needs, plus what you're looking for academically.

[to the student]Keeping an open mind and really just letting yourself go. Get envolved as much as you can on ur campus, as far as clubs and activities go, they are a great way to make friends. Plan ahead with money for the cost of attendence. Fill out your FAFSA on time! Get all your work done and try not to leave it till the very end to complete.

To parents: don't try to tell your children what they want out of a college. Not every student wants to attend a small school in the suburbs. Let your child choose for him or herself what type of school they would like to attend. (Also, never visit two colleges on the same day... it gets more confusing for the student that way.) To students: be honest with yourself. Don't let anyone influence your choice. Put an adequate amount of thought into your choice. Once you get to school, don't weigh yourself down with activities and clubs right away. Concentrate on your schoolwork and making the adjustment to dorm life for the first couple of weeks, then start looking for extracurriculars to join. Then get involved! College is what you make it, so do things that make you happy.

Finding the right college can be confusing. It's difficult to judge a school and how you will fit in there from a brochure and a brief tour. Go somehere that can offer you something that you're interested in. Certainly its important base your choices on what field you want to study, but once you have narrowed those areas down take a look at what each school has to offer. College has the potential to be the best years of your life and while you are not paying thousands of dollars in tuition just make sure you have a good time, it is important that you enjoy where you are going. Going to the best school will not work out if its not the best for you. I personally did not end up at my first choice school, but would not change a thing if I could go back and choose any school I wanted. College is what you make of it. No matter what campus you end up deciding on, make sure that you take the time to go out and enjoy it. Study hard, but leave yourself enough time to fully enjoy life at college.

The advice i would give parents and students is for partents to accept that their child is going to a big school and needs to find responsibility for themselves. I know attending a large school can be hard and man students get lost, but find something that makes you stick out, and do it. I got involved in some clubs and i made alot of friends. Another thing is be able to balance your school work with your social life, Amherst has vast oppertunities to have a good time, but if you cant keep up with the work then your going to get lost. Finally for the parents, i would say cut the ties your child is in college now and they need to make decisions on their own now. Let them be the ones who take responsibility now.

Don't be discouraged if you do not get into your dream school. The school you end up getting into is probably someone else's reach school. College is what you make of it and if you go into it thinking you will hate it, you probably will. Don't settle for being friends with the first people you meet on campus. My biggest advice is to join a club! If there's something that interests you, whether it be a club or a sport, join! And if your school does not offer it, look into starting something yourself. Its a great way to meet people you have things in common with, will make you more well rounded, and will look great on resumses. Make sure you stay true to yourself. Even though drinking is a big social aspect of some schools, not everyone does it and that's ok! As soon as you start to struggle academically, get help and don't wait until its too late. Study hard for mid-terms and finals, but make sure you leave yourself time to have fun and socialize. College is the best time to meet new people.