University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

Don't stress over choosing a college. Make your decision based upon the factors that are most important to you and your family. Some students rely heavily on the financial aspect; others just want to go where the weather is warm. No matter where you end up, your experience will have the potential to be a great one because college is only what you make of it. If you're bitter about where you're headed, then your sentiment is likely to exacerbate. Remember to keep an open mind and always smile. Do that, and you're bound to go far. My final piece of advice is the most important lesson I learned my freshman year, one that I will carry with me for the rest of my life: if you don't like the way something turns out, DO something about it. Do not ever allow yourself to become defeated when a situation seems bleak. There is always something you can do about it.

When looking at schools, people should make sure to pick the school that works best for their personality and not just that has the "best" program according to surveys. If a student is happy in their learning environment, then they are much more likely to do well and to remember more of the things they have learned. As well, and possibly more importantly, when interviewing for jobs or grad schools it is a common for someone to ask about your college experience. If a person is really focused on choosing what college they are going to by how much it will help them to get the job they want, then this is deffinately somthing that they should consider.

Pick a college for a major that interests you. At least have some idea what you want to do when you go into school. The social life will naturally follow.

I highly recommend that freshman live in dorms to make new friends that will last, and to get a traditional first college experience. I also recommend that students be as serious as possible about academics and their future after school, regardless of what school they decide to attend. As to choosing the right college, I recommend finding a school that will ensure the student a stable future. Also, the tuition should be managable, because (and I would know), if money is an issue, then there will be anxiety about having enough money for things such as food, social activities, extra-curricular activities, or even class itself.

Finding the right college is really up to the student. Too many people will try to influence your decision. My only advice that I can give you is to go with your gut decision. The only advice I can give to parents is to not try and find the right college for your student. My parents really wanted me to go to a small local college (Hope College). I am looking to go to medical school after my undergraduate studies, and while they are great for this, I really am a social person, and they are a very small school. At the last minute, I made the decision to tell my parents that I wanted to go to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. My parents were not very happy about the choice, but reluctantly they let me go, figuring I'd be transferring after one semester. I love the University, and it was the best choice of my life. So, the best advice I can give to you, is to let your child choose where they want to school, because it is as big of a choise as what they will major in once they reach college.

for an instrument or voice, take a lesson at every school you visit.

Come to U of M! It's the absolute best place in the whole world. :)

Have a good idea of what you want to do for a living, and look for schools that specialize and/or have majors in that area. If you aren't quite sure what you want to be, find a large university with many options, because chaces are you'll find something you'll like there.

Don't do extra work to try to attend the most prestigious university possible. Work and study as hard for standardized tests as you want to work for the next four years. It isn't so much about the prestige, but about the school that is the right fit for you. I am so glad that I did not attend an ivy league university, because Michigan is the place for me.

Do your research on all the colleges considered. Encourage kids to get out of their rooms and meet people. Find a college that is diverse and one that caters to the needs of students from all types of backgrounds. Have fun but do your work.

As a senior in high school, I thought it would be wise to apply to schools based on the colorful brochures they sent me. If the pictures were cool and the graphics looked good, I sent an application to that school. I mean if the brochure was nice that meant the college was too, right? Not exactly. My best advice is to visit the colleges that you might want to attend. Look around while you're there-do students there seem happy, is there school pride, do you like the way the campus is laid out? Don't be intimidated by big or confusing campuses. In time you will learn where everythin is located. Most importantly, can you picture yourself on that campus? Do you feel proud when you imagine telling people that you go to this school? These last two things are crucial because in the end these things are what matter the most.

Make sure you stay focus on your goal, and save money for the hard times.

Find a school that will be challenging for you academically, but not so overwhelming that you forget there is more to life than getting an A in every single class.

Visit as many schools as possible. Go to the one that you like the best and where you feel most comfortable.

Always be yourself and have a passion for your life and goals that intersect the school you want to attend. Keep an open mind and value every aspect of journey........

I think the most important thing to remember is that, for most people, there is not just one "right" college choice. Your college life and experience is what you make it. The ways you choose to get involved once on campus are what really define a great college experience and open doors for the future-- not the name or image of a college that you choose before getting in. I have known people who ended up despising the college they had always dreamed of attending, and others who ended up falling in love with a college they were apprehensive about heading off to. Our choice of mindset and outlook on the college experience are what define it- the ways we get involved and the perceptions we have (positive or negative) about our future will ultimately lead us to it.

I would give parents and students the advice to research many colleges in and out of there home state. I would recommend that they visit colleges that they have an interest in to learn more about all aspects of those colleges and to discover the pros and cons of attending those colleges. I recommend that they consider the academic, financial aid, extra-curricular, and social opportunities available at all the colleges they have an interest in before making a final decision. In order to make the most of the college experience I recommend that students be adventurous and utilize the resources available to them. I recommend that they be involved in as many extracurricular organizations or activites of their interest that their time allows without sacrificing their academics. A student shouldn't be afraid to try new activities or step outside of their comfort zone. The more on-campus involvement a student has, the more people he or she will meet, and the better college experience he or she will have. I also suggest that when it comes to academics, always attend classes, join study groups, and utilize any other resources a professor provides in order to succeed in classes.

The college application process should be enjoyable for both parents and students- this is where you get to spend your next four years! Don't go crazy, but visit a variety schools that you may be interested in attending. Then, make a list of and apply to 5 or 6 schools that define what you want in a college experience, based on the size of campus, location of school, type of social life, amount of school spirit, etc. The college process will be less painful if you succinctly narrow down your options, but make sure you would be comfortable and happy attending all the schools to which you apply. Otherwise, it is wasted time and effort. When you start your freshman year, focus your first semester on adjusting to the new environment by concentrating primarily on academics and making a strong group of friends. During your second semester, you should pick about one or two extracurricular activities that you would enjoy participating in, but make sure you adjust to your classes first! It is important to be involved on campus because it introduces you to new people, ideas, and interests that you may never have previously explored.

I would suggest strongly visiting the school during the time when classes are in session so you can see how the classes are run and what its like during the week on campus. It is also important to do an overnight stay with a friend if you can to experience both the school educationally and the student life. When making your decision, making a pro and cons list helped me when I was stuck in my decision. Also, when applying to schools and deciding on which school to accept as the "one", make sure you outline criteria you want in a school, like class size, activities, religion, and cost. When looking at financial aid, apply early and call to see if you can recieve more. Also, keep healthy, it sucks being away from home when you are really sick. Get to know all the facilities avaiable once you decisde to attend the school, because sometimes if you wait to late, it may not be available anymore. Also, don't be afrain to take chance and apply for things, the worst that can happen is you turn it down.

I would say that it's best to take your time researching colleges and to go to the university that offers the most exciting program for what you intend to study. If you don't know what you want to do, I think a larger college where you are encouraged to explore different majors is best. Once you start going to college, take a deep breath and plunge in; get ready to dedicate most of your time to academics, but schedule time to get to know people, have fun, and relax. College is also a time to try new things and discover more about yourself, so look at the kinds of clubs and groups that you might not have had access to during high school. Most of all, take pride in the things you learn and the accomplishments you make, or else you may begin to feel lost or lose sight of why you decided to go to university. Remember that you are ultimately at college for yourself, whether this means getting a high-paying job, making an impact on the world, learning a healthier lifestyle, choosing a dream career, or becoming an important figure in the academic world.