University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Top Questions

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!