University of New Orleans Top Questions

Don't restrict where you apply based on grades you got in high school, that's how I ended up at UNO, I was afraid to get rejected by my college of choice, so I only applied at UNO.

In the world of college hype and promotion, the high school student can get lost and forgotten. Remember that what matters most is not how prestigeous your school of choice is, but rather how hard you can work while you are there. Be involved in the application process, don't rely on just the information provided by admissions staff. Colleges pay people to try to convince you their school is the best one for you, but only you can know for sure. Ask them if you can talk to a current student, and follow that student to a class, to lunch, their dorm. You will spend four years of your life with this institution, so get as much information as you can before you choose. If you aren't comfortable, you won't put your utmost into learning. With many schools, it is too easy to fall into collegiate apathy and stumble drunkenly toward a degree. Don't let that happen. If you want career options after graduation, make sure your school has a strong, supportive accademic climate as well as numerous networking connections you can tap into when you are ready to put that degree to work.

Pick a major, or atleast have a clue what field it will be in. Then look at schools that offer that. Be aware of financial aid options and also look for schools that have comfortable atmospheres.

work hard in highschool plan for the future and pick a career that you will love

Go to a school that you want to with a surrounding area that fits you. There is no reason to go to a school just because everyone else tells you to.

Pick a college with a relatively small closely knit community. Large universities pose more distractions to students who really want to learn. Also, while living on campus does have some benefits, I have found my grades improved dramatically once I moved off campus.

I BELIEVE STUDENTS AND PARENTS SHOULD TOUR THE CAMPUS AND SIT IN SOME OF THE CLASSROOMS DURING SCHOOL TIME THIS WILL GIVE YOU THE BEST KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THE SCHOOL AND DO AS MANY INTERACTIONS AS POSSIBLE TO SEE WHAT THE SCHOOL WILL REALLY BE LIKE.

To find a college that is the right size for the student, and meets the needs of all or most of what you need.

My advice to all the students out there looking for the right college to go to is to relax, and do not rush your choice. College is supposed to be a new educational experience, but it's also supposed to be fun, and one of the happiest times of your life. Don't ruin that by jumping onto your or your parents first choice college. Do the work. Find out exactly which college is for you.

Don't get so wrapped up in how great the school is that you forget the experience of the city. I'm a film student and chose to move to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina to study. Picking a bigger, well-known school such as NYU or UCLA for my major would have been easy. However, though I was scared af first, I knew the most experience would come from living in New Orleans post Katrina. Not only is the school really great, but I'm getting the education of my life living and working in the city with the people who survived the storm. I'm completely enthralled with numerous cultures and classes all whom have come together to rebuild. So before focusing on a school's success in academics or sports and what it could mean for yourself, think about the location and what you can do for it. You just may find that the education you get from the city's culture and the beautiful strength of it's people is just as good as the diploma you work so hard to receive. I know I have.