University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Top Questions

Choosing the correct college can be a very difficult proposition. There can be concerns about the financing of the education, the distance from family, and if the school is a fit for specific goals. Some of the best advice I can give in finding the right college is to have an open dialogue with everyone possible. By talking to people, both parents and students can gather information on almost anything that there might be a concern about. Being an engineer, I can never have too much information and I've found that the best choice generally separates itself from the rest. In regards to making the most of the college experience, make sure to make time to enjoy yourself. It isn't always the easiest thing to do, especially with homework assignments, exams, and projects bearing down on you, but by scheduling to get those tasks completed early, you will be able to relax more in the long run. If you find yourself getting too stressed out by what is happening around you, take a break. I've found that a few moments away from the unrelenting tasks at college allow me to find a fresh perspective to start again.

When looking around for a college, make sure first and foremost that your son or daughter likes the environment on campus. Next, figure out what resources will be readily available to your child. It is incredibly important that your kid has the resources that he or she needs to succeed but also know how to get to them easily. Talk to some professors to get an idea of how classes are run and taught. Figure out what your child likes to do in his/her spare time and make sure that the campus can provide your child with something to do to relax or have fun. Make sure the school has workshops to teach time management (and other life skills) and that the school has a program to assist in finding summer internships or jobs. See if the school has part time jobs that are easy to apply for: it has been shown that part time jobs can help a student learn valuable time learning skills as well as give them some extra spending money.

The most important part of picking a college is making sure it is right for you, but at the same time it pushes you out of your comfort zone a bit. College is all about learning more and this includes learning more about yourself. Try to pick a school that you know you will fit in and have a good experience at; a school that offers the classes and programs you are interested in, that has the out of the classroom activities that interest you, and has a campus setting that you enjoy. Not only that, pick a school that can provide the experiences that you haven't had yet, such as meeting different kinds of people, being in a different area, or some other aspect that will help you learn more about others and yourself. Lastly, take your time picking a school. You only get to experience college for the fisrt time once, and it can be a scary choice. With what ever your pick, it is all about how you make the most of it by trying new things and getting involved.

Start the process early and visit each school of interest. Make sure one could live and succeed in the college's environment. GET INVOLVED at your college. Four years go by quickly, so make the most out of them. Join clubs that interest you or make your own club! Going to college is a great experience only if you make it so.

Look for schools which have many different programs. Even if you're certain what you want to study, you can still change your mind. Go to a college you can afford. If the college you want doesn't give you enough money, contact the school and explain the situation. I did this with Michigan, and they ended up giving me a scholarship. Once you're at college, choose your friends wisely. Make responsible friends who want you to succeed in college and in life - not ones which want you go forsake your studies for partying. Work hard, even if you don't enjoy the class. Get to know your professors - go to their office hours, especially if it's a large class. I've had some of my most stimulating and interesting conversations with professors outside of class (and you'll need them to write that letter of recommendation later on). And finally, if you're an over-achiever like me, don't think the world will end when you get an A-! College is full of bright people who are used to getting straight A's. You're there to learn, not to have a perfect GPA.

Visit the school.

Visit the colleges that you are prospecting and get a feel for what your college experience will be like at each college to make the right decision.

Don't worry about it too much, try to go to the best college you can that suits your personality. If you go someplace that will make you happy socially AND academically you are much more likely to succeed. College visits are a must. At the same time, don't worry too much about which school you go to, once you get out to the work force, it won't matter what school you went to but what knowledge you have. The University of Michigan is a good choice mostly because we have the largest living database of alumni and we're so full of school spirit so you can bond with people easily over it. Also, remember to try to balance school and social life. It's hard, but just trying to do it helps you to succeed in every way.

Visit the campus and make sure you're comfortable with it, that you can see yourself wandering through it finding your first class. Rush, participate in extra curricular activities. Go out. Go to office hours. Get to know your Professors. Play frisbee/have picnics in the diag. Don't take it too seriously. :)

Before choosing a college make sure you really know what kind of school you want - big, small, liberal arts, etc. Take into account, how much you want to know your professors and administrators, how many students you will get to know, how many class options you have, and what kind of groups you might like to join. To make the most of your college experience, get involved. If you find an interesting group, join it. Give it a try. You'll meets tons of new people. Make an effort to go to guest lectures or performances or events on campus. Don't be too cool to go to school sponsored activities. Take advantage of everything, including tutoring so that you don't spend all your time struggling with classes. Also, take lots of credits. There are so many amazing classes, so take the time to find them. Don't stick with the intro class. Try to stick at least one interesting class in your schedule every semester such as Afro-Cuban drumming, Hula, Hip-Hop , and American Humor.