University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

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Be open. You can pretty much make something awesome out of anywhere you end up. Also, don't focus too much on what you think you want to study in college - it is probably going to change!

I think parents should let their children find the colleges they are most interested, giving advice and encouragement but excluding force and pressure. Students should look at all aspects of universities: social life, sports, size, location, area, distance from home. To make the most of the college experience, students should understand that college is based around academics but it is important that they should have fun and enjoy themselves. They should reach out beyond their comfort zones: participate in class if usually they are shy, join a club, try an intermural sport they have never played. College is all about learning, both in classes and about yourself!

I would tell parents and students alike to visit a great number of college campuses before making a decision on a school. Apply to a lot of different schools, with differences in size, in diversity, in location so that you can be sure to find the best fit. Also, when you visit these campuses, talk to students who attend that university. Ask them questions about what they like and dislike about their school. I know that in my experience visiting colleges, the tour guides tend to only tell about the benefits and strengths of the school, so it would most definitely be beneficial to talk to a normal student who could give you their take on the schools strengths and weaknesses. Once you find that perfect school, get involved! This is one way to quickly feel connected to your campus and a real part of the school, no matter the size. Find your friends, find your niche, somewhere you personally fit and live your college life the way you choose.

The "right" college - is there really such a thing? Its about choosing to love where you are. I could have been equally happy or unhappy where I am. I know people that hate it here, because they choose to hate it. I chose to get plugged in with the organizations that share my passions; I chose to balance academics and friends; I chose to fall in love with the campus and lovingly make fun of the things that bothered me. Sure, college is hard. New people, hard work, new surroundings - but, that is all part of life. Make sure to chose a school has the major you want, and the rest - just make the best of it. College is what you make it. Make it good. Work hard, play hard, serve others, love these four short years.

Pick the school you want to go to, not the school your parents or friends think would be best for you.

The best advice I can give anyone when they are looking for a university that suits them is "follow your heart". I know it's cliche, but many times our parents will try to force us to go to a school where we feel unhappy and overwhelmed. Visit as many college campuses as you possibly can. Go on tours, don't be afraid to talk to professors and students about what they love about their campus, the academics, and the extracurricular activities. The more options you give yourself the easier it will be to see where your best fit is. You'll find the school that is right for you, but you definitely have to put in some effort.

The best thing I can advise would be to take the time to visit schools. Walk around campus. Talk to students. Stay the weekend in a dorm if you can. The school you pick will be your home for the next four years, so it's so important to get a real feel for the place. Carolina wasn't the highest-ranked school I was accepted to, and since I'm in-state, I thought I wanted to go farther away. I didn't think Carolina was for me, but one weekend of walking around, seeing how happy and real the students were, and taking in the sights of our incredibly beautiful campus, had me hooked. Be open, because the place you think is for you might not be the best fit, so it's definitely worth giving every school a fair consideration. And go to Carolina. For real. That is the best piece of advice I can give.

Begin your college search early. Visit different schools, and do not keep just one school in mind because you might not get in. Apply for financial aid if possible. Begin saving money for college early as well. Be open to different opinions, because there are hundreds of them on most campuses. The most important thing is to have fun and make great friends.

As far as finding the right college goes, going on campus tours and figuring out what you like and what you want out of your college experience will help you to find the right college. Whether it is strong academics, small classes, or phenomenal sports teams, finding the right college for you is one of the most important decisions you will make. Once you make that decision though, becoming involved with your college will allow you to get the most out of your college experience. I love UNC Chapel Hill so much because there is always something to get involved in. I have never gone a day without having something else to do outside of my classwork. From our amazing sports teams, and campus organizations, to an incredible resource for community service, I can truly say that college has been the best years of my life thus far. Whenever school work becomes overwhelming, I always have my friends and extra curricular activies like intermural sports to turn to for enjoyment and relaxation.

Advice that I would give to a parent or student is know what size school you are looking for, know what type of career path they want to pursue. I would also investigate what type of security system is in place at the college. Know what type of activites the student is looking for at the school. I think they should look at the student composition of the school. Another main thing is how many graduates are employed in their degree area upon graduation.

It is important to remember that college is not solely about succeeding accademically. It is important to choose a college which supports social, cultural, and educational growth in a way that makes a student feel challenged but comfortable. Remember that the highest ranked academic schools will provide you with abundant knowledge, but may hinder social growth as there is little time to focus on anything but schoolwork. Conversely, a socially popular school may provide you with a fun experience, but might not challenge you enough academically in order to prepare you for life after college. It is, therefore, crucial to find a middleground where social experiences and academic learning can coexist so that a student can get the most out of his/her college experience and graduate feeling prepared to take on the challenges of life after college.

I would say choosing a college that has a friendly enviroment is the most important of all. It is easy for students to fall into depression for having to adapt to a completely new environment, getting away from home and being independent, and making new friends, but if the campus is lively and students are full of enthusiasm, the chances are that they will enjoy their college life to the fullest. Academics and careers are important too, but I think those four years in college is when you can learn the most about life. It's more important to learn it well now than to struggle later on in your life, because your grades and careers are not the only factors that will affect your life. I also think you should check to see if the school has good alumni or not. Networking is very important, and it is so much easier to get a job through people you know than to find it yourself. Usually small schools are good for this, because alumni are very loyal to their school. In whatever the case, choosing a school that you could fit into easily is the most important thing.

As an Admissions Ambassador I get asked both these questions frequently, especially when those on my tours learn I am an out of state student at a state supported college. Many recognize the names of the excellent colleges I passed on that are in my home state. What I tell them is after narrowing my choices, I visited each campus and arranged to stay with a student so that I could talk to and interract with current students and have them share what they liked or did not like about their campus. I feel in- depth visits are critical in the decision making process. I also encourage anyone to make a comparision chart of each school they are considering. Often when you see costs, location, etc. side by side, the choice becomes very clear. And lastly, if all things being equal, go with your heart. Choose the one that you felt the happiest at during your visit. Join organizations! It is awesome to meet and interact with so many diverse people and be exposed to new opinions and cultures and activities. My number one suggestion though is to get to know your professors! Visit them often during office hours.

Visit a college, and stay overnight. Even visit a few times during the year to see the atmosphere. You cannot judge the college by one visit. Make sure you know the type of people that go to the college, and try to imagine yourself fitting in there. If you cannot see yourself at that college, then that means it is not a good fit for you, but you will never know until you try. Make the mistake while applying not after you have started to attend the college. College is the most important part of your life, so you want to make it count, and be the best experience possible, for you and no one else.

Walk around the campus and/or town before you decide to go. Do you feel like you could be friends with some of the people you meet or see walking around? Could you live there for four years? Do people generally seem happy? You would probably be happy at several colleges. I visited quite a few and most of them were perfectly fine but didn't quite feel right. When I visited the school I ended up attending, I left with the feeling that I definitely wanted to come back. Before I started college, I considered myself shy. Put yourself out there. Talk to strangers. You are going to meet people you think are smarter, funnier and more talented than you. In reality, they are probably thinking the same thing when they meet you.

Finding the right college: go with what feels like home. Making the most out of college: Study hard & party hard!

In choosing the right college I would tell student and parents to take a thorough tour of the school. And along with that tour asks current students about both the education and social life of the school, because often college tours are not reflective of the actuality of the school. You also would want to attend a college that can foster your needs, if your need can't be fostered by a certain school then its not the right one in my opinion. In regards to making the most out of the college experience--You only get to attend college once. I myself feel that I haven't accomplished as much as I am capabale of through my first two years. Continue to do the things that you enjoy and change for the better not for the worse. Alot of people say that the most important thing in college is to get an education, but I feel that the most important things is to "grow" as a person. By the time you graduate you should be someone quite different from the entering student, someone whos is brighter, wiser, and able to make important decisions in regards to your life.

I would advise parents and students to visit a college or university before enrolling, especially if that school is out-of-state. Walk through the campus, sit in on a class, talk to some students, just try to get a general feel for the school and the community to make sure it's a good choice for you. Also, don't pay such close attention to rankings guides. The most competitive students tend to become obsessed with US News and World Report around senior year, but those guides cannot take into consideration factors like class size and assimilation into the student body, or whether a student will feel comfortable as part of the learning environment. The education received at a school is what each student makes it. You can take the most challenging courses at almost any school, get to know the professors and do research, and get an education of the highest quality. But doing that will be more difficult if you feel out of place, so make sure you attend the right school for YOU. Also, don't forget to check the price tag. As a recent college graduate, trust me - loans do not disappear.

Parents and/or students should choose their college based on which place makes them feel most comfortable and at home rather than basing the decision on college rankings, sports statistics or a prestigious reputation. Everyone's college experience can be very different and should reflect that person's qualities and interests. However, each student should try and give back to their college and the surrounding community in any way they can.