University of Nevada-Reno Top Questions

Really consider all the things that make you happy, like the area and how far away from home you really want to be. Don't just look at schools for money but what you think you will enjoy because with hard work going to any school is possible. When it comes to the experiece try many things but don't do things that make you feel uncomfortable. Be outgoing in your classes because this is the best place to meet friends, they will have more incommon with you because you are in the same classes.

Most high school students when you ask them where they want to go most respond according to their primary interests. The jock wants to be at a school with good athletics, the nerd wants a school with good academics, and so on and so forth. When it comes down to it though, college is what you make of it. I was very reserved in high school and never was very active, but in college I wanted a fresh start. I joined every club that vaguely interested me and even joined a fraternity. When college can be as fun or as painful as you want to make it, and as long as you always realize that you're school work needs to come first you'll never struggle to make the grades you want and still have time for fun. That really is the secret to college. You can't be Bluto from Animal House but you also can't be a total shut in. College is about balance, a lesson that will be taught much more swiftly and painfully if you don't learn it before you get to the real world.

I would advise parents and students to take advantage of any and all financial aid opportunities. During this tough economic time, especially with the budget cuts in the State of Nevada, financial aid is very important and there are many opportunities that are out there it just takes work and time to find it.

Tour the campuses you've been accepted to or are applying to before you decide. Talk to students, see how they like it. Get involved with clubs or activities you're interrested in fairly quickly. Don't procrastinate. Figure out where you're headed, but don't be afraid to reevaluate your major if you find you dislike the required coursework. Make friends, good friends who'll love you for who you really are. Don't pretend to be anything you're not - trust me, it doesn't work out. Go to as many activities as you can without sacrificing too much study time. After all, you're only in college once.

Start with some easy eliminations - Do you want to leave your home state? Are you looking for a 40,000 student university or a smaller college? Do you want a religious influence? Does it offer your desired major? What is the cost versus the value of education? Does an alumni factor benefit the choice? Tour whenever feasible - Nothing can beat a campus visit. Speak to students, not only the 'tour guides'. Get an idea of the off campus neighborhoods, amenities, transportation. Be aware of your surroundings - do you feel safe? Don't overload with credits the first semester - Allow yourself breathing room and time to adjust to college life. Have fun. If possible, avoid working this semester for the same reason. Join an organization that interests you. Make new friends.

Get into it. College is a place of people that want to explore new opportunities and enjoy their adventure along the way. Find ways to connect with others and unite in causes that you enjoy. Take fun classes as well as required classes so that you don't get burned out. Like everything balance is key. Work while your in college, it's not the most fun but it allows you to feel independant. Schedule classes so that you have the most days off. Try to schmooze the professors by going into thier office when they have designated office hours. The more that the professors know your name the better. Try to live somewhere near campus so that you do not have to pay for parking and ALWAYS buy your books used online. Enjoy it, it goes by extremly fast!

I am a California native and when I graduated High school, I went out to Tennessee on a volleyball scholarship. After a year, I decided that I wanted to be closer to my family. When I left, I realized how much I had learned from being so far away and I had gained so much independence. Then I transferred to Reno to attend UNR. When I showed up I knew absolutely no one. It was terrifying. My first two semesters were awful. I decided to stick it out and I am glad I did. My advice to students who are trying to decide on where to go would be to stretch beyond your boundaries and do something new and different. Give yourself the opportunity to grow and do things you have never done before. At times you will want to cry and you will hate it but you will become a stronger person. Your college experince is truly what you put into, so even if you don't get your first choice or if you show up the first day and hate it, just give it a chance and find things that interest you and you will be happy there.

Do a lot of research

Coming in to college I was not a very social person. After two years of being in college I have learned that social skills are essential for any job, and life in general. I also learned that even though a school might be deemed "cheap" in terms of tuition, it does not mean you will not receive an adequate education. The most important advice I can give is that you need to learn what works best for you in terms of balancing a social life and school. School can be overwhelming at times but the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it. Making new friends and networking will do nothing but benefit you in the long run because today you can never know too many people.

People often say that college was the best years of their life. How can one truly make the most of their college experience and still walk away with a degree? First and foremost...understand that today is the first day of the rest of your life, therefore make the most of it. Have no regrets: show up for class, take notes, sleep at home not in class, and join study groups so that your time you've set aside to become a better educated individual is actually spent absorbing what is being laid before you. Subsequently, learn to live a little. Once you graduate and begin to join the workforce, responsibilities may get the best of you. College may be your last chance at freedom before entering the real world. Be sure to get involved in special events being held on campus, take a scuba diving class, protest something at least once, take a spring break trip to somewhere you've never been, stay up all night discussing important topics with friends, and take lots of pictures to remember it all. College can be a wonderful chapter in your life if you choose to make the most of it.