University of Pittsburgh-Bradford Top Questions

Have faith in yourself. Enroll in college now. You do have the ability, and you will be successful. Make your education your top priority. You won't regret it later in life, I promise. I know because I am there, in your future, right now. Looking back, I wish you had gone to college sooner. Why wait? Working hard in college will give you self esteem and confidence, those qualities you lack. More than anything else, you will gain independence through education. Who knows what challenges life will bring. You will be better prepared to handle life with an education. No one can take your education away; it is life long, a worthwhile investment. Those years will pass by anyway; you might as well be working toward your goals...starting right now. Take the first step, and don't wait. There is nothing more important. Do it for you.

The advice I would give myself is high school prepares you for the schoolwork, the studying etc... but it does not prepare you for the peer pressure. Peer pressure in high school was nothing compared to college. I was not a drinker during my high school years and my second semester in college I started drinking heavily and weekly making my grades drop and eventually I dropped out. Now that I have realized you can't make it today without a college degree especially the area I live in I wish I could of known them drunkin nights did nothing for my future even though i might of created a couple friends along the way but was is more important friends or a college degree?

I would tell myself to apply in-state. Because the tuition will ad up over time and you don't need that extra stress. Also, be serious about your work at all times. Aleays try to get the best grade possibe. Partying and hanging out with friends is not as important as gettig the highest grades possible. Always ask questions in class. Don't ever be enbarrassed about asking a question because a couple of laughs from others is not as important as understanding the material that is being taught. Make sure you meet people that do the right thing, and that are willing to hlep you when you need it. After all, your success is most important.

I would tell myself to make sure I interact with my teachers when the opportunity is available. Having a good relationship with professors is always a plus when it comes to not understanding something. Studying can seem like a waste of time when others are out having fun, but it helps out greatly. I would also tell myself not to get sucked up into the typical college lifestyle, which I have successfully done thus far, and that it does not matter if I am one of the people that party every weekend. One mistake that I made at the beginning of the year was not being as social as I should have. Being a freshman, everyone is in the same boat you are. No one knows each other so take advantage of meeting new people, be outgoing. College is what you make it, if you isolate yourself you'll get bored. Be social yet be responsible at the same time.

Try to choose a college that feels like home. It lessens the home-sick feeling a lot!

There are definitely a lot of things i could mention on this topic, but i feel that they're a few major pieces that should be taken into account. The number one issue should be finances, you should choose an institution that fits your financial background. Think about your career. What are you interested in and do the schools your applying for specialize in that program to insure you receieve the best education possible. Your living background should also be strongly discussed in determining a school. You have to ask yourself do you want to go somewhere that offers the same environment or do you want to experience something brand new. I believe that these issues should be top priority when reviewing school because they ultimately determine the difficulty in the transition from high schol to college. You want school to be the only thing that is on your mind, especially during the first year.

I would tell students and parents to get active now. Your senior year in college should not be the first time you start thinking about where you wanna go and what you wanna do. If you find that you are not happy with your decision later in life it costs so much money to start over and may waste quite a bit of time you could have been using to be productive towards your degree. It is best to talk to students who already attend the school and maybe even have your major to see what their experience is like and see if it sounds appealing to you also. College is about to be a big part of your life. You should make sure you know what your goals are whether they be academically or personally. It is a stressful and confusing decision but in the end going to college and becoming your own person is completely worth it.

Before jumping into something, research every aspect of the school. Make an educated decision

I would tell parents/students, to leave all of their options open. The student should make a list of what they are looking for in a college, visit each college/university and make sure they are able to talk to the administration, professors, coaches, and any students that can answers and and all questions. Try to sit in on an actual class in their field of study, so they can see what the professor is like and how he/she interacts with the students. Always ask about the financial aid, grants, and any scholarships available that would help with the schooling. Once you have narrowed it down to a few, do another visit and get any last minute answers to any questions you might have and possibly arrange to do an overnight stay at the college. Once in college, enjoy the experience. Take advantage of any opportunities that will come your way, as four years of college goes by fast and you will be entering into the workforce and the life of an adult.

I think that no matter what college you choose, the student is who makes the most of it. You have to feel comfortable with the campus and feel that you can trust the faculty and staff to guide and teach you and to also look after you. When I first went to the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford I felt a connection immediately, however, before I chose Pitt at Bradford I did some research to make sure the they had the major that I wanted to study, what the class sizes were like, and what type and amount of activities, clubs, and greek life the school had to offer. I would advise parents to help their son/ daughter research as many schools as they can, visit at least your top three schools, and to be supportive throughout the entire process because it can be very stressful.