University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

I would tell parents and/or students that the right college is the one that leaves no doubt in your mind that you will recieve a beneficial education when you attend. There are so many things to experience in college and so many different lessons that are learned. No one should waste their college experience or consider not going to college. The friends you make at colleges and the experiences you go through will last a lifetime.

The most important advice that I would give students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to be absolutely comfortable in your school environment. When you are comfortable with your surroundings everything else comes a lot easier from the learning process to embracing a new social setting. Make sure that the school that you choose fits your personality not only from an academic stand point but for the other aspects that impact your life. Going to college isn't just about getting good grades. It's an overall experience that teaches you outside of the classroom as well. So, when finding the right school don't let anyone choose but you because you know yourself better than anyone.

I would make sure that there is a strong alumni base at the University. Currently I serve at the President of the most influential alumni associations on campus, and have seen firsthand the opportunities that the alumni can give to students. Also I would be certain of a structured plan for payment at the institution. As for academics, of course research should be done to best accommodate your learning style, whether large classes would be beneficial or small classes for more personal contact with professors. The college approach is multifaceted. The institution should first meet the personality criteria for the individual, then should focus on research or graduate programs. Once that is all squared off, there should be provisions made for financial assistance to ensure that the student will graduate on time and as accredited as such, to pursue a successful career.

The key to finding a school that is a good fit is actually going to the school and spending time there, possibly an overnight. It is even better when the child can do this away from their parents. In doing this you get to live on campus and see if it feels right. Many things can look good on paper but not feel right. College is alot of time and money wasted if it doesn't suit you or your needs. Also by going to visit the campus you get little insights to how everything works before hand, you get to see where people hangout, what people do, where to go for certain needs and if you're lucky enough to sit in on a class you get to see what the professors are like. If a trip can't be arranged by sure to e-mail or call to find out about things. It makes a huge difference.

My only advice is to try to look outside of your comfort zone and don't strive for schools because they are "Ivy League" or "known" because you can get a good education everywhere. It all depends on the effort you put in, not the school you go to.

My advice to parents and/or students would be to choose a college and attend undergraduate studies with an open mind. You can never be too sure what you want out of life, because it can always change. Going to a larger school with more resources and a variety of options of classes and opportunities can be good for someone who isn't quite sure what they want to do with their life. Therefore, it's not a good idea to go into school with the mentality that you are going to be pre-med and nothing else; you might take a history class and really like it and find that education is your calling. You must be willing to identify what's best for you and what you enjoy so that you'll be happy with your life in college and after.

take college tours before you attend the colleges. sit in on classes before making a decision. don't go to a school simply because it is convenient.

Visiting the college you plan to attend is always a good idea. Knowing where you would be living for the next four years is important.

Find one that just feels right when you visit and check out all it has to offer. Ask yourself a lot of questions about your daily life and what your expectations are.

I would advise that you pick a college that you can see yourself living at for the next 4 years while reamaining focused on your studies. You may not know exactly what college this may be but you should genearlly listen to your first reaction about the environment and how it struck you. I liked Pitt to begin with and liked it all the way through to graduation but I did make the mistake of going against my own personality and opted for a more social lifestyle (lived with friends, went out all the time). This was a fun path and I made many friends but I didn't have the kind of personality to separate fun from work and my grades suffered. I knew this about myself going in but I just went with the flow of the campus "vibe" wihtout regard to how I would perform best. I could have chosen a different living situation and still had fun while keeping out an excessive amount of distraction. So knowing yourself and making decisions based solely upon how you will best thrive would be my advice.

I don't think a university's reputation or name should be important to picking the right college at all. To be honest, I chose to go to Pitt on a whim, and I wouldn't go back on my decision if I had the opportunity. Any major college would be a good choice, so long as the necessities are on campus and there are plenty of classes in line with your interests. I suppose that's all I have to say; I'm not really the expert on colleges.

I think that the best advice to give in terms of the decision process is to visit the school. Whichever feels right just by being there is one that you're probably going to be most comfortable in. Your interests might change so try to not limit yourself. Your college choice is going to determine the rest of your life, but don't stress the decision too much, because any school you choose will present an opportunity for growth. And once you're there--get involved! It's important to take advantage of the huge amounts of opportunity centralized in one location. Don't just focus on class. Focus on people. Focus on the community. Focus on your goals. You will witness firsthand the evolution of your character. This period of rapid growth will most likely be your best and favorite years.

Go to the best University that offers your major.

When I was looking at schools, I first researched online to figure out if they had the type of program I wanted. Once I narrowed down my list, I went on tours. I didn't really feel like any of the other schools fit with me . I either didn't like the way the tour program was run (it was unorganized) or I didn't feel like I would fit in with the students I met at the school. Only one school really opened their doors to some of the classrooms they have, while others left me guessing. I think it is important for students to research, visit, and ask as many questions as you can. It is so important to choose the school you want because it is where you will be spending your time for at least 4 years. Parents, I would just support your child in their decision. It's their decision. If you're paying for it and worry about the expenses, visit the financial aid department. Once you choose your school, it is very important to make the best of your experiences. Find an interesting activity. Make friends. Enjoy your college experience!

Visit the collegest first and ask current students what they think of the campus, and the down-sides to going there. If a student struggles to think of negatives you can tell he really likes that school. Explore your options and try and know what you want. Do not let your friends guide where you go to school. During the first months of school keep your door open when your in your dorm so you can make new friends, and try and forget about your high school friends for a little while so you are not hung up on things that happened at home because it will stop you from making new friends. Make the most of your experience and enjoy it, everything about college is fun, even the parts that are difficult.

I would tell parents to really allow their children to make their own decision and go where they feel most comfortable. Not to look at the price tag of a college but look at the experiences the college could offer.

I would recommend to talk to some current students at the University and ask them what they like to do for fun, how they like classes, and the quality of the advisors and how the campus is being managed overall. Visiting the school can also give you a little glimpse into the life of the college students and facilities, but I find it to be a little misleading (as if you are missing part of the picture) because there is restricted interaction with the students and the tours are usually minimal.

I would suggest to take a tour and find out as much about the campus as possible. Look into all of the factors such as the size of the university and access to careers and services in the future. Ask to sit in on a class or talk to current students at each college you are looking into. Find out more about the academic as well as social daily life of all of the undergrads. To make the most of college, get involved in as many extra curriculars as you can while still being able to balance school work. At a school as big as mine, extra curriculars and clubs are how you are going to meet people and find your place on campus. Also, a word of advice: you have to study a lot more than you did in high school so make sure to hit the books hard your first semester. Make time to party and socialize but do not let that get in the way of your education and studying.

I think size and academics matter when finding the right college. Some places can be too big or too small for the student, which often makes them unhappy. If size is determined before hand and they visit the college, it is easier to see if it's a better fit for them. Researching the college is important too. Class size, academics, social activities should be included when looking for a college.

Make sure you know what you're looking for in a school, and know what your interests are.