University of Nevada-Reno Top Questions

I have asked my own parents about what college I should try to get into when I was in high school and they told me that the right college would be the one where you feel home at. I took their advice and decided to stay in my hometown and attend the University of Nevada-Reno. My advice to both parents and students about finding the right college is to find the college with the right atmosphere that allows you to be who you want to be. Don't go to Harvard if you are more of a free spirit and if you like to struggle for excellence, don't settle for just any school. The college experience is one hell of a ride. You will have the best times in your entire life, you will have the most stressful times, and you will have the flat out worst times but you find that the experiences you have in college help define who you will be, more than any other time in your life so take the experience for what it is worth. Make friends, join Greek life, drink beer, study hard, go to games, just don't miss out!

I would tell future students and parents to look at the whole picture. If you don't have the money to go to a big named school, then don't! There are plenty of other colleges that have similar programs that you can look into. They usually have smaller class sizes, which means that students excell faster because they are getting more one on one time with professors. Staying closer to home is not a bad idea either. I know that it helped me get though some tough times. Students also need to remember that there is not a time clock ticking once you start a program. It is almost impossible to finish school in 4 years anymore and that's nothing to be ashamed of. Study hard...keep your grades up....but most improtantly enjoy life!

As un-appealing as it may seem, sometimes the best school to go to is in your own backyard. Often times, this is one of the cheapest options, as you get in-state tuition, free room-and-board by staying at home (if you choose that route), and the advantage of being familiar with the area the school is in. Often times, too, your friends also choose to go to that school, which is nice when you get there and are surrounded by thousands of other students that you don't know. Familiarity can be a life-saver in the beginning. Finally, college can be scary an intimidating, but it is FUN and SO worth the hard work and time you put into it. Take advatage of on-campus services, activities, and other students; even more than professors, sometimes, fellow peers can be the best resource of information. 4 years goes by quickly, so make the most of it!

It is hard to say on how to give advice on finding the right college because it usually comes out of personal choice, or parents went to school there. The only thing that I could say about picking the right college is go for a school that has your major and their program is one of the best at that school. As far as making the most out of your college experience, I would say that you need to get involved with your school. Whether its in the greek system, student government, clubs and organizations. Anything would work it all just depends on you being motivated to go out and get involved in as much as you can while keeping up with your schoolwork.

Finding the right college is all about finding a place you feel at home. By visiting a variety of campuses, a prospective student can really get a sense of how he or she could fit into this new college atmosphere; this is much more effective than simply looking at pictures on the college's website. When it comes to making the most of the college experience, my best advice is to try new things! There are so many unique people you'll meet during your first year of college that it would be a shame to be too shy or too scared to introduce yourself. Don't be afraid to step outside your personal bubble; say hello to the boy next to you in English, or ask you Chemistry lab partner if she likes Mexican food! Personally, I've met some of my greatest friends simply by going out of my initial comfort zone. The university setting is the perfect place to discover not only higher-level academics, but also to learn about yourself and make the most of these fun four years!

Don't worry too much about finding friends. As long as the student goes out and joins a club or a club sport; they will find a friend. Find a college that has a great student activities program because you can make many friends there and it keeps the student from attending too many drinking parties. The right group of friends can help the student focus on school especially if they're in the same major or minor.

The best advice I have to dispense is that a student should always go with their first choice for school. If you have to work a little bit harder to get there then it will make it that much more worth it. Finding the right college is a hard choice, especially if you don't know what you want to do with the rest of your life. College is one of the biggest stepping stones in life and it is so important that the right choices are made. The experience, however, is what really counts. It is truly the adventure that counts at first, worry about the destination when it is time. And parents, it is a tough time and your little birds are getting ready to fly away from the nest but it is the best thing for them. Letting go is hard, there should be tears, emotion, words of wisdom should be exchanged but do not make your children feel guilty for their decisions to leave home or go too far away. The holiday season comes fast and you will be so happy when you see how much your children are growing from their new experience.

The key to finding the right college is simple but will require some hard work. First, understand that you are going to college to learn, not just about a specific discipline, but you are there to also learn about yourself. So ask yourself: what are your likes or dislikes, what do you want to do with the rest of your life? Leave your options open, but the University you attend should offer many programs that you are interested in just in case you change your mind. College is also about the person, and they offer great activities for you. When searching for a school I recommend finding schools that offer that a diverse arrays of activities that interest you. I recommend taking an unofficial campus tour in the beginning of the fall semester when activities are prevalent. Once on campus making the most of your college experience is also simple: try everything that is legal, and within reason. Seek to discover the new campus, new people, and a new you! In conclusion, take your time when deciding, you could be possibly spending the next four years there, it's worth it, and far easier than transferring to a new University.

I advise parents and students to explore all of the college possiblities they have. It's important to know what majors are offered and how respected the school is. You should also consider the atmosphere of the college, what extracuricular activities are offered, and what kind of environment surrounding the school. Although classes and schoolwork will take up much of a student's time, they should enjoy their college experience which involves clubs, sororities/fraternitites, sports, intramurals, and outdoor activities.

Make sure you weigh the cost of education correctly. You do not want to be burried in school loans after you graduate, but you also want to have an enjoyable time and be at a University that makes you happy! Go and visit the campus before hand, and speak to some students and see how they enjoy it. Also, I feel that it is importand to have some type of recreaction around in the area (such as snowboarding, surfing, wakeboarding) to keep you occupied and sain when the school work starts to pile up. I would also advise joining a Greek organization to make the most out of your experience. I am very religious and have had no problems with presure from my fraturnity. Most of all enjoy yourself while you are in college, because it will be gone in a flash!!