University of Oregon Top Questions

When students or parents are searching for universities or colleges I would suggest applying to colleges that they may not think they will enjoy. Some schools will really surprise you, and the university that begins as your top choice may not end as your top choice. Also, parents and students should really consider the size of a school when searching. I discovered, after visiting a larger school, that a smaller private school would not satisfy my college needs.

I recommend visiting the schools you plan on apply to, you will know immediately whether it the school for you just by experiencing the campus environment. I also recommend getting involved in any ofthe freshmen-oriented programs available on campus, not only are they a great way to meet peole in the same situation you are in, but they are also a great way to introduce yourself to the school's activites and resources in a non-threatening environment. Good luck!

College is pointless and expensive without a goal. Too many people never graduate because they have no career goal or major. Knowing what major or career goal you want will make finding a college easier. Also, if you can't get anyone on the phone you probably don't want to give them thousands in tuition.

The first college I chose was not a very good match for me. I originally chose it because it had the cheapest tuition in state and was a small college, with no Greek life. In a small college you may get more attention from professors and have a tighter knit community, but there may be less diversity, fewer academic options and a smaller social network especially if it is in a small town. I am much happier in a bigger college with more choice in everything. When choosing a college you should think about whether you mind this trade off. I would also recommend visiting the college you want to attend, but not in early fall when everyone has their new student attitudes on. Visiting the campus during the middle of the year and talking to students and staff about their experience may be the best way to get an idea of what the college is like. You might also check out what percent of students are new and what the student retention rate is to see how many students like the campus and stay there.

We are a diverse people. Advice, like a fine suit or dress, should be fitted to the individual. Bearing that in mind, allow me to give the most universal advice I can: whether you are a type A or B personality, whether you are an optomist or a pessimist, whether you are reluctant, excited, nervous, or downright terrified to plunge into your new college experience, the right school for you is wherever you feel comfortable and happy. Growth and learning don't come from the institution; the institution's job is to facilitate your growth. YOU are the catalyst in this reaction called learning and the school just supplies the beakers and flasks. Wherever you go, sate your soul. Knowledge will follow.

Picking the right college is not specifically about the specifics of your intended career, or lists of prestigious alumni, but essentially where you feel that you might get put on a more general path. Look at the school's location and geography to get a feel for what you will be dealing with. Try to make sure the student body is as diverse as possible, mostly because you want to really put yourself out there to grow in those years. Academic and career advising can be the most crucial part of you collage experience, so try dealing with those offices even before enrolling to see if they are friendly and engaging. Have a general idea of what you might want to do and look for a school that has an applicable program, a host of extracurricular activities related to this field, and an availability for internships near by and abroad. Mostly make sure that you are going to the best school for your personality and money. Do not pick the most prestigious school by rankings or numbers, but instead one that can be a perfect fit for you.

Be open minded about where you want to go, even if you want to leave your state, look for the pros in the places that your parents suggest that you may not be to excited about and see if that outweighs your innate desire to fly the nest. Look for schools that offer your majors, and if they don't see if they offer it as a concentration (ex. UofO and Pre-Med), then see if they have a major that closely mirrors the class requirements for the Concentration, so you don't waste money on classes you don't need for your desired field. Lastly, don't be scared of, or idolize, any person or group of people on your campus, they are just people too. Look for superior human characteristics, rather than giving into the physical, racial, or group supremacy mentality.

The advice that I would provide for parents or students trying to find the right college is to first decide on rather the student wants to attend a school close to home. Next, visiting the schools and applying for more information from the school should be done. Searching for the right schools who attend to the subjects of a students anticipated major and preferrable environment are also a needed detail to confirm. The student's opinions should be highly considered and matched to the parents' opinions for the right choice for a school. They should especially match academic preferences, as well as, cultural, environmental surroundings, and social connections with the school and ideals the student holds and parents wish to uphold.

Don't pick a college just because you want to be closer to friends or family...you need to pick a school that will help you and further YOUR education. Another thing is with scholarships. If someone is offering you money if you sinmply read a book and write an essay...THEN READ THE BOOK AND WRITE THE ESSAY!!!

I would tell parents to always support their kids in what ever they do and which ever school they choose. Their kids will miss them whether they admit to it or not. I would tell college bound students to apply to as many schools as possible so they can have options. Visiting schools of intrest is a great idea to get a good feel for a school. The best advice I would give college bound students would be to have fun but be smart. College can be the best years of your life. Always remember you're in college for academics first and foremost. Don't be afraid to ask questions or for help. Keep your mind open. You never know when you might learn something new. Most importantly, pick a college that you feel most comfortable at. If you're able to picture yourself in the school colors, singing the fight song, and cheering till you lose your voice, its a school you should definately look into. Lastly, never give up and always try your best. :)

The best way to decide which college to attend is to research. There are books compiled with descriptions of the atmosphere of each college; read them! Go to each colleges' website. Visit each school. Talk to students who attend or have attended the college. After reading, discussing, and experiencing you will being to feel a magnetic pull towards one school. Sometimes a couple schools will stand out and the difficulty of choosing between those schools begins. As said before, research more. Remember to consider: the size of the school, size of classes, extra curricular activites, financial reasons, distance of the school from home, and whether the school is located in a city or country. Although it seems difficult to choose, there is no such thing as the wrong school. There may be one that fits you better than another, but no school is wrong. At any school you attend new friends will be made, an education will be provided, and a sense of independence will form.

Most students want to go to college to continue their education. Though college isn't just continuing ones education, it is also getting ready young adults to find what they want to do for the rest of their lives. The best thing for a prospective student to look for is what they want to do for a living and from that, find a good college that would help them achieve that goal. An advice my high school advisor told me, was not to worry about the price of the school, but how well the school was for me. Even though the prices seem high, there are many ways to pay for it like loans, scholarships, and grants. The best thing is to apply to as many scholarships that you possibly can enter. Another things is that college should also be a fun place, so find time to go out and have fun with new friends and also get to know your professors since they are there to help and teach you. They are trying to pass their knowledge onward. Parents should keep their mind open to accept and support what their child would like to do for their living.

What I would tell a student trying to find the right college for them is to try and visit the colleges they are interested in attending. Try to visit campuses when school is in session, it gives you a better feel for the school's environment. I also suggest trying to think of the five most important things when it comes to what you want in your college experince. Once you have a clear idea of what you want it is easy to find a school that matches you. To have a great college experience i think it is very important to meet as many people as possible. Freshman year you schould live in the dorms . Also, getting involved on campus is a great way to feel apart of and connected to your school. Try to use up all your school has to offer you. Attend events, utilize the library and computer labs, it will make you more satisfied with your whole school experience. And lastly plunge into school with a positive attitude, be willing to grow and learn academically and socially. College is the best time in your life to open your mind to the new. Embrace it.

Let your child decide where she/he feels most comfortable, dont let statistics or bias' get in the way. Never use money as an issue. There are so many scholarships available that a student should never narrow down his/her college selection because of money. If you, the student, visit a college campus and can honestly say, "I feel at home here" then you may enroll in that college.

One word of advice to parents: understand that it is your daughter/son's choice not yours. Support them. As for students, make a list of what you really want and go take a tour of that campus. As other students as well as your tour leader, and if you have a chance break away from the tour and do some exploring of your own. Check out how everything feels to you and don't make the decision to please anyone but yourself. Once you're in college know that it is what you make out of it, and that if you end up hating the college you chose, there's a good chance you can transfer. Most of all, have fun and don't skip too many lecture classes.

If the shoe doesn't fit, try again. Picking a college isn't the end of the world. You can always change.

Make sure to not settle on just one choice. There are so very many options out there for you; don't be afraid to apply to a school that you may think you might not get into because you never know what will happen. Remember school is your number one priority, do not get wrapped up in what everyone else may be doing. Whenever I feel like blowing off homework or skipping class I remind myself that I am paying for this education that I'm receiving; I'm learning the tools I will need in order to be the most successful person I can be in the world. Yes, college is supposed to be fun, but it is also preparing you for a career, hopefully one you will have the opportunity to choose if you stay motivated. Make sure to stick to what you know best, yourself, and don't let money change your opinion about what you want to do or where you want to go. You have the rest of your LIFE to pay back the loans you may incur by attending the school if your dreams. It's worth it!

The best advice I could give parents and students about finding the right college is looking at more than the student population, the dorm room space, the men to women ratio, or the average class size. Everything about college needs to be taken with a grain of salt because there is no such thing as the perfect college. A student must make the college perfect for their specific needs. My college is criticized for its small residence hall space and average class size. However, I found many positives to the University of Oregon. For example, because of its large population we are offered endless course opportunities. I have never had a boring or unwanted class. Also, there are so many campus sponsored activities that it is hard to keep track of which one is going on when. Professors are almost always available when you need them and they encourage you to contact them if help is needed. Students and parents should look deeper into college facts and not be afraid to ask questions that are left unanswered because it could make the difference between choosing the right college and the not-so-right college.