University of Nevada-Reno Top Questions

Make the most of it. Plan early, and be aware that it is not all fun and games, but it is not hard. You don't have to be smart to get good grades; you just have to be aware that hard work will be required, and be willing to do it.

Make sure you look at all your options because the school where are your friends are going is not necessarily the best choice for you. You should also look into the activites the college provides for students. Being busy will help keep your grades up and keep you out of trouble. You should definitely take a tour of the campus to make sure that is a good fit for you. College is quite and adjustment so the fewer obstacles you have to overcome the better. Being in a place where you feel comfortable will make the transition that much easier.

I would have to say that families absolutely have to visit the prospective campuses, if a student doesnt feel comfortable/ enthusiastic/ and challenged at the campus then, then how are they going to enjoy their time at college and be successful when they attend. There is a lot more to a college experince than walking away with a diploma and a stong GPA, its about making yourself, maintaning a social life, networking, and growing into a strong and confident individual ready to take on their next challenge. I would also really try to encourage students to have an idea of what they are interested in, so they can make sure that there are programs and faculty at their school, so they will have the resources and guidance to keep them motivated and reaching towards that goal. Not having the resources for what you are interested in can really hinder your potential.

Students should look for a college that fits their personality. For example, if the student is a more liberal and green thinking person, they should find a liberal school. They will be living in that environment for about 4 years, so choose well. The parents should help rationalize this decision. "Is this college environment benefical for the student's success?" If the student is very social and parties all the time, then going to a party school may not be in the best interest for the student. Students should also look at what degree programs interest them and which schools have good degree programs in the desired field, especially if they want to do research. Students should choose their location based on how far from home they can stand being. Many students become homesick after the first few months. Money should not be the only deciding factor because there are many scholarships availible to student. Students and parents should be willing to go for the "perfect" school because college will be much more rewarding. Students can also work to offset the cost of school. Being a full-time student and working is very do able.

Choose a college based on the things that are really important to you. It is important to find a school that offers a major program for the course of study you are interested in pursuing. If location is an important factor to you, make sure that you are not too far from home. Once you have chosen a school, learn about the history of the school, and the activities available both on and off campus. Join a club, or spend time studying in the library and eating on campus. Go to sporting events, even if athletics are not your thing a crowd of fellow students uniting for a common purpose is an exciting thing to be a part of.

Find somewhere that you'll be comfortable. There will be plenty of times to be uncomfortable in college with classes, social settings, finding friends, etc. Find somewhere that you can realistically call home and not feel uneased.

If you are interested in a particular major, you need to make sure that the schools you are looking at have a good department in that particular field. I would try to make an appointment to talk to the Dean of that particular College to make sure that it is indeed the school that you want to go to. Antother thing that is crucial, are the resources that are available to the students. I would look at the Library, and the Student Union to see what kind of computers are available to the prospective student. UNR just built a huge new Library that is absolutley amazing. It has private group study rooms on every floor, that have a white board, and a t.v screen so that you can practice presentations. I would also see what activities are available to the student on campus. Does it have intermural sports, and other fun activities. Are football/basketball games well attended. Does the school have plenty of clubs to get involved with. All of those things are ways for the new student to get involveded, and make some friends on campus. College can be a great experience, take advantage of it!

Understand that a four-year degree cannot be completed by a student working full-time. This university assumes its students are covered under the Millenium Scholarship, and so gears its programs for non-working students. Submit the FAFSA early, and ask your department for additional scholarships it may offer. These are not always well publicized. Keep in contact with Admissions and Records, for prerequisite and course offering conflicts that can delay graduation by semesters. Don't rely on an academic advisor to tell you everything you need to know. Check course catalogs, etc., on your own. If you think something is wrong, it probably is. Find someone to ask, until you find an answer you're satisfied with.

When finding a college, the community aspect is very important. If people at the school are not very involved then there could be problems integrating yourself in the community. It is especially hard if the community that the school in involved in is a fast paced community. More slower communities that are integrated in smaller cities tend to be more open to meeting new people and trying new things. If you are trying to find a college community, find a small city that has a majority college population and people who have school spirit for their city's university.

My advice to parents and students is to find out what really interests you and then search for a college that will best serve your interest. If you don't know yet what you want to be after you graduate or you have trouble pinpointing the things that you want out of a college. Don't be afraid to visit some nearby campuses to get a feel for what college life is really about. Remember, it's not all fun and games. You need to take into consideration what will happen when all the fun and games just aren't fun anymore because there will be a time when you will want to settle down and get a good job and maybe start a family. Don't be afraid to take some career specific courses too. I am now a computer science major but I would have never decided to pursue that degree if I had not taken a beginning course in computer science. So take some time to figure out what you really want out of life and don't be afraid to try new things.

The first piece of advice I would give is to go visit every school you have an interest in. When I came and visited UNR, I had NO idea how beautiful the campus was- and it's one of the top reasons I ended up coming here. Also, set up appointments with professors or advisors in the field of study you wish to get a degree in. They will give you all the information and tools you'll need to know about prior to declaring your major. You should also survey the student-life. Can you see yourself chatting with people on the grass? Participating in the activities and intramural sports they offer? And lastly, find the right college that you feel you are going to get the most experience out of, and not just academically. College has so much to offer, and it makes it that much more of a life changing experience when you open your eyes to activities and ideas you had never thought about before college. These should be the best years of your life and you should undoubtedly make them count, because you don't get them back.

"College is a fountain--and the students are there to drink." Although this quote has no knowledgeable author, it can be derived that if a high school graduate is thirsty for knowledge, they need to find the right college to quench that need. In order to do so, one must research thoroughly and explore all of their options. As a Student Ambassador for UNR, I am constantly giving tours to prospective students. I don't sugar coat anything, I just blatantly tell them the truth about campus and my own personal experiences. Sometimes they are disappointed but sometimes they fall instantly in love. Finding the right university is like trying on clothes--you wouldn't pick out an outfit that didn't fit perfectly, or wasn't your style, or a good color for your skintone. Students must find the right school for them. For example, I want to be a future educator and I love dancing; so when looking for my future university, I sought out schools that offered teacher licenses and also had dance teams. I also love snowboarding so UNR was an obvious choice for me. If you're thirsty, get out there and quench your thirst!

The largest struggle seems to be getting competitive education that does not break the bank. Do no assume that only private schools boast prestige or small class sizes. Visit fastweb.com and find schools that match your (or your child's) preferances and you'll probably be surprised by the results. University of Nevada, for example has one of the most prestigious Journalism departments in the nation, and tuition here is a third of what Carnegie Mellon will charge, and one fifth of what New York University will charge. Always, always visit campus before you make the big decision. It is well worth the time and money to check out the college or university for yourself. Keep in mind websites show the best parts of the school and romanticize the experience. You can't base whether you would like to attend a particular college if all you have to go on is their marketing tools. Once on campus, jump right into some clubs. The people you meet outside of class is essentially your social life, which no matter how independent you are, you're going to need to remain sane.

I think it is important for students to find a college that offers the programs they are interested in studying (obviously), and one they can afford to attend. However I think the single most important thing to do in choosing a college is to visit several and see, in person, what the campuses are really like. Visiting a university is the only way to get a feel for its campus life. Is it the right size, in both number of students and campus acreage? Does it have a competitive, success-driven attitude or a more laid-back and fun-loving feel? Are the size and layout of the buildings agreeable? Does it offer the right kinds of jobs and/or extracurricular activities? Is it a campus that has a cohesive community? I visited five colleges my junior year of high school, but only one clicked and felt like it was the right place for me; four years later I know I made the right choice. Only the prospective student will know what they want out of college, and visiting the campus is the only way to find out which college they'll be able to thrive at.

The "right" college is not as important as what you plan to do there. Allow me to qualify this: Most major colleges are going to provide a good, solid academic emphasis with lots of extra curricular and outside activities to get involved with. It is more important that you take advantage of all of the opportunities available at whichever college you attend. My advice for college is the same as my advice for life - go at it full force, 100 percent. Get your work done, get involved, have fun, and meet new people. There is so much to do - just make sure you do it! You'll never look back and regret all of the fun things you did...what you will regret are all of the things you did not do. Generally speaking, that's the best advice I can give you for making the most of your college experience. More specifically, to make sure you can do everything you want to do, follow that old adage - "If you do the things you need to do when you need to do them, you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them."

Look around at different colleges before you pick one! Explore the campus, classes, faculty, and extracurricular activities that the school offers. Find out what there is around the campus to do in your free-time. Pick a college that suits your personality and you are comfortable at. Don't worry about whether or not your friends will be going to the same school, you will make a ton of new friends at college. Base your decision on your own preferences and tastes. After all, it's your school and you will be living there for the next four years!

Major in a science program. Almost all liberal arts degrees will not get you a good job after college. If you don't know that you are ready for college or you are not sure what you want to major in, go to a community college and find out. It is way to easy to get distracted with other things if you dont have wel difined goals and reasons for going to college. If you are doing engineering, get an A in all your math classes.

Find a college that suits the needs of your student, as well as being financially plausible for your family situation. Find a campus that offers many of the things your student is looking for and try visiting it on more than one occassion before actually committing to the college or university.

You should make sure the college has all the classes you need to take for your choice of study. You should check to see what programs or clubs are offered. Make sure the campus is willing to help you succeed in your adventure through college. Look for some place that has diversity a place where you can meet all kinds of new people and are able to get the help you need.

Research the programs that the scholl has then look at the schools themselves then apply to them all and accept the scholl that fits you best from the acceptance letters you get back.