University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

The college process is daunting to many students and parents alike. As acceptance becomes harder due to the growing population applying to college, many consider the process as a weighty task rather than a time of discovery. With over 1,000 colleges in America, a student entering any field can find their perfect school. The key to narrowing down the vast number to a manageable load is in finding the environment in which one would wish to learn and live, and not only focus on the fields of study offered by the schools. The school's environment strongly impacts a student's success at a university, both academically and socially, and students should strongly consider their likes and dislikes when looking at a school's campus, location, and the fields in which the university specializes. Once arriving at a college, the air is exhilirating and filled with numerous people who share your interests and goals. Getting involved in groups and other extra-curricular activities that interest students direct them to people with similar tastes and create some of the greatest friendships. College is a wonderful experience to gain enriching knowledge as well as make lifelong friends and create unparalleled memories.

Spend adequate time investigating your schools: don't just take someone's word for it. Furthermore, it is definitely important to seek out and take part in some sort of internship or actual "real world" work experience while in college because too many colleges do not provide such experiences themselves. Although you may not know exactly what you want to do upon graduation, having some real world experience through an internship will at least help you understand what life is like outside of the classroom.

My parents allowed me to chose the school I wanted to attend based partially on where my heart told me I would be the happiest. I believe that it is extremely important for academic success to attend the school where you can see yourself thriving. Entering as a freshman with thoughts of this is where I really want to be leads to a positive attitude towards all aspects of the college experience , whether they be academics or social. My advice to parents would be to offer your input on their decision making process by listening to your child when they express their observations of a campus after a visit and compare those reactions and comments to ones you heard after other visits. Then start a pros and cons list of each college. Seeing facts in writing on one school versus another is often very helpful to both the parent and the students. Stress to your child to be organized! And encourage them to get involved on their campus and in the community. Finally, consider strongly what kind of global programs the schools offer. International experience is invaluable.

In order to find the right college, it is imperative that the student visit the campus and explore it alone. Tour guides and parents can put pressure on the student to feel a certain way about the college, when the student would feel differently if left alone. When exploring the campus, try to imagine how well it would fit your ideal study environment. Do you like open fields or paved areas? Is there somewhere you can get your favorite food quickly? Will the students stop and help you find a place? The student can only discover this alone, and it will make the difference between settling for a college and choosing one that feels right. Finally, making the most of the college experience starts right at the beginning. The student needs to make as many friends and join as many organizations as possible. Explore every interest. It is ok to reach out at the beginning, because everyone else is in the same boat! As time goes by, you'll narrow down the friends and activities to the things and people that will define you for the rest of your life.

Here two graduating seniors offer advice to first year students in hopes to help them make the most of their time at Carolina!

Parents and students both need to find a place that would fit them best. It is important for a parent to understand that their student will be the one living and attending the school. If the student is not happy where they are, they will not succeed. Parents need to provide help and guidance, but not be too overbearing to their student. The student should make sure that there is a balance of academics and social life because college is about learning and getting a degree, but in order to succeed in life social skills are necessary. You have to go into the process with an open mind and gather as much information as possible, especially from students who currently attend the school because they know best. Give the school a chance. Sometimes it takes more than on visit. It is important to realize that you may not be able to find a completely perfet fit for both the student and the parent but there needs to be compromise, and in the end it will work out.

Take your time to research on each school and look beyond the raw number of the schools ranking. The school need to fit the students overall interest and values but still encompass a great academic environment that will allow the student to grow academically and as an individual.

First, know yourself. Do you need sports, cultural events, art, study abroad, research... what? What kind of classes do you prefer? You have to do serious personal reflection and figure out what kind of environment makes you happy and enables you to reach your full potential. Second, do your research. It takes a lot of time, but it is worth every minute to know your school before you enroll. Checkout websites. Visit your school. Talk to alumni. You don't want to be unpleasantly surprised, and in searching hard, you might find that perfect school. Third, when you get to college, give it your all. Study hard--that's why you're there. You'll be glad you did when you get a job you love later, and when you take pride in your work. Get involved in the community--you'll make connections to the real world and break away from the isolation of campus. Finally, spend as much time with your friends as possible. They will keep you going, and you will form all of your best memories with them. Just remember, when reflecting back on college, you will never think, "I wish I had gotten more sleep."

Do your homework. The best way to get something good out of your college experience is to pay attention to details and focus on what you want rather than what other people want during the research process. Also, visit your prospective school and ask alot of questions. The best thing you can do is do your research and be happy from the beginning. Just take your time. You have plenty.

I would advise them to find a campus that draws them in. It is important to find a school that has an atmosphere and community that interests the student. Obviously academic prestige is important, but remember that the student will be living there for four or more years. When the semesters start to get stressful the student must feel at home on their campus. Otherwise, the stress and pressure from school work can be extremely overwhelming. If there are outlets available to the student that allow them to forget about the pressure of school their quality of life will be much higher. For example,if the student really enjoys hiking then I would suggest going to school in the mountains. Just try to figure out what it is that the student is most interested apart from school work. Then try to find a school that appeals to the student's interests. Just remember, going to college is much more than devoting four years to school, it is also often the most memorable years of a person's life. Life is too short to worry over grades and results, do your best and try to enjoy the ride along the way.