University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

Students need to find a school that's right for them - not for their parents or their friends, but for them. I used a collegeboard.com college search that was extremely helpful. It made me think about aspects of each school that I hadn't even considered yet, like how big of a school I wanted to go to, whether I wanted to go to a liberal or conservative school, etc. Once you get to school, you just need to get out and meet people. The people I've met in college are so different from the people I knew in high school. In general, when you go to college, you're amongst people that have a lot in common with you, starting with the fact that they chose the same school that you did, and that they could get in in the same school. At UNC-Chapel Hill, I usually find myself surrounded by people of the same intelligence level, people with the same interests that I have. Find a school that fits you, and once you get there, get out and meet people. That's the best you can do.

Just be open for anything, but everything in moderation.

Can you do what you love? Will it open your mind and bring you new experience? If you can answer affirmatively to these questions, then you've found the right college. Be careful to not automatically assume that rumors of a college are true: a preppy college will have its artsy niche, and tough academics will be easier if you're doing something that excites you. When I graduated high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do or where I could go to do it. However, I loved writing and always wanted to be able to walk to school, so I selected a college with a good English department, a beautiful campus, and a lot of opportunities. I am now an English and Environmental Studies double major, a leader of a student environmental organization, and I just completed one summer study abroad (about to go on another!). Choosing the "right college" may seem like a daunting task, but if you remember to look for what you love and trust your instincts, it can be an easy and enjoyable experience.

Make sure its somewhere where you feel like you will fit in. Then GET INVOLVED. It is absolutely necessary to get involved in order to have a good experience. Find waht you like to do then find the club or organization that does that and get as involved as you can. Try out new things and find what you like to do, but dont just sit around and do nothing. Get involved and make friends.

Visit the campuses before you decide

It is important to read between the lines when looking at the "numbers" when finding the college. Accordingly, it is crucial to acknowledge that both sides have their ups and bads, and personal preference should be the major factor. Large student bodies may provide a microcosm of society, a beneficial experience, but smaller ones may give a closer, more intimate community experience. Large cities may provide more internship opportunities and entertainment, but suburban places may be an ideal environment to make friends and focus on academics. The neighborhood, various educational facilities, transportation availability, accessibility of internship/career fair/research opportunities, student organizations, recreation and diversity also have a large impact on the quality of college life, the bulk of college memories. Deciding between engineering, arts, sciences, etc is also a big step to make before deciding on which college. Once in college, exploring and deciding on your interests and developing a proactive attitude will be the best way to enjoy college as well as prepare for the real world. Actively research and decide on what courses, job, student group you want to get involved in and consider time management as well. Be open, eager, experimental, responsible, decisive and have fun!

VISIT, VISIT, VISIT! The feel of a college is very important for a student.

Go look at the campus, take a tour, walk around and try it out. When you return for school, make sure you know what you want. It is not cheap to get a quality education, and college is what you make of it. Don't lose focus on what really counts, your grades and your activities. Try not to get bogged down in the social whirl of parties and binging.

Do research. Really.

Definitely visit! Do not base a school on financial reservations, there are numerous packages and scholarships available. Do not go too far from home.

Don't try and use "logic" to figure out which college you want to attend. I would listen to your heart. As strange as it sounds, I had no "logical" reason for choosing UNC. I just knew it was the place I wanted to go to college. It was like a voice told me. As terrible as that sounds, choose the college where you have that feeling.

While college is first and foremost an academic experience, the social aspect of college can not be dismissed. I personally think it is very important to find a school where the student "meshes" with the general student population. Research the various outlets and opportunities for meeting people with hobbies and interests to your own. A good social network will affect everything else. All students are familiar with those who spend every minute of each weekend in the library; I can imagine few things more miserable than that. Make sure to research the opportunities and support for graduates a year or two out from college. An alumni network is crucial, as many fields are run by networking and who you know is as important as what you know.

do what you want to do and don't go where your friends are going

Visit the school beforehand and see how you feel in the environment before you make a decision. When I came to visit Carolina, I just knew it was a right fit for me; that's how I made my decision.

Find a niche to invest time in as soon as you get to college.

Definitely tour campus, and take your time. Think about the distance, academic quality, and location of the school. Also, make sure the school has a good reputation, and the major you are interested in is a good major at the school.

Do what you want to do

Students should take high school classes seriously in order to be competitive. They should make the highest grades possible in order to obtain a high grade point average. Students should also participate in extracurricular activities and community volunteering to broaden their horizons. Parents need to motivate their children to succeed and spend time with them by going to seminars, career fairs, etc.

When choosing a college, make sure you visit the campus and check for ease of parking and proximity to campus. While touring the campus, note the available facilities such as food courts, library resources, student union, religious service providers, places to relax indoors and outdoors, recreation, outdoor lighting and emergency phone systems. Please take the time, especially if you know what you would like to major in, to meet some of the people in that department. Get very familiar with the General College administration to facilitate the transition to a campus. Check the on-campus as well as off-campus housing keeping public transportation systems in mind.

While in high school, my college search was very very school specific. I had it exactly in mind where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. However, when it came time to make I decision, I ended up somewhere completely different than I had planned on being. At first, this was rather disconcerting. But after I got over the initial shock of being in a different atomospher and looked up at the friends, professors, and campus around me, I realized that I was attending a fantastic school! So as you look for colleges and sort out what is and is not a good fit, don't judge too quickly or make assumptions like I did. You may end up in exactly the right place! Focus on what you want to get out of the college experience, and don't get bogged down in all the details. In the end, college is about discovering yourself and becoming an educated individual. So find a place that will let you be you!