University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

It's great to find out what kind of career you would like to have after college so that you can focus on what will benefit you the most. Most people do not know this though, so it is best to take a variety of different classes to see what you are most interested in. If you know what kind of career you want, then find a college that specializes in that area. If you don't know, then find a college that fits your personality. City or suburbs, large or small, competitive or not, art oriented or science oriented, close to home or far from home. No matter what you are looking for, there is a college out there that has it all.

Figure out what type of area you'l like to be in, if you'd prefer large or big classes, etc; and the best way to get a fee l for school is to go and visit any school you're remotely interested in. If you can't see yourself at that school, it just isn't for you. Don't deny gut feelings. Utilize the resources that the tour guides talk about. Ask as many questions as possible, and try all sorts of new things. College is a time where you really learn who you are; especially under stressful situations. Begin working hard from the very beginning. Building relationships with professors (who will be more willing to help you if you do) and fellow students (who, as your friends, will make your time at school much more enjoyable) to ensure a balance between the social aspect of school, and the very important academic aspect of school.

The one thing that I found most important in going to college was not going directly out of high school. At that time, though I was a driven student, I realized that I didn't exactly know what I wanted out of the college experience. I took about six years off in which I was able to live, work, travel, and generally experience the fulleness of life and its options, after which I had a much clearer idea of what I wanted from college as well as how important it is for me to now be there. In returning to school I see many of my younger fellow classmates who are only there because they were expected to be there, they don't know what they want and don't take the work or themselves as seriously as they might if they had taken time to really get to know themselves and the world first. My younger siblings who did go straight to college have all found this to be the case, and I would highly recommend that prospective college students take at least a year off first to clarify their intentions for going.

Take your time and apply to a lot of places.

Publicly-funded schools are the best education for the money. Private schools cost way more than they're worth. Any college is about what the student puts into it!

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I believe that any student applying for college should pursue a major in something that they enjoy doing. Now, I realize that my own desires have changed over the past few years. Thus, I might not even pursue a career in my field of study. Though, I enjoyed every minute at my school. It is also important to choose a school based upon its environment. I like the city, so I wanted to attend a school in a city. I like the range of opportunites that the city offers. For example: my school takes advantage of the art scene in Pittsburgh by providing cheap tickets or free tickets to local shows.

Parents and students looking to find the right college should take into account what the students' personality and work ethic is, in addition to the financial situation of the parents. For instance, a student who just wants to get 'away' from their parents by attending a college halfway across the country is not a credible reason to attend that school if the student can't handle the schoolwork and/or the parents can barely afford the cost. The best way to make the most out of the college experience is finding a school that matches the desires and motivations of the student, where the student feels comfortable, while being challenged academically. The best college experience is pushing yourself to try new things and learn new things, and with the right college, the college experience can be fulfilled.

Choosing the right college is a stressful decision for both parents and prospective students. However, it is imperative that the college-bound student gets the final word. The parents are not going to have to endure the peers and professors that the studnets will encounter daily, nor will they have to LIVE the entire experience. Thus, my advice to the students: visit the college. Stay overnight, or a few nights, if you can. Visit when the school is in session so that you can see the daily grindings of the university and observe the countenances of the current students: do they look happy? Stressed? Depressed? Content? Read the school's daily paper, where you'll find advertisements for activities going on on campus. Have a meal at the dining facilities - can you imagine eating this food every day? Go to the student center or the hub of student activity (every campus has one), and see what students are doing: studying, chatting? Ask students about the party scene, especially on weekends. Most importantly, close your eyes and take a breath, thinking of everything you've seen, and consider..."Do I see myself here for the next four years?" Open.

Choosing the right college is about more than just academics. Make sure you choose somewhere that you can see yourself living for the next four, maybe more, years of your life. Academics are the first thing you look at, but remember to think about other things like sports, big city or little city, big school or little school, clubs and other activities offered. You can find similar academics at many schools, but when you consider all the other things like location, price, and the things I listed above it helps you to see specifically what kind of school you are looking for. I knew I wanted to stay in PA, but I also knew I wanted to escape my small town. I love the city, the sports, the social life, restaurants, clubs, shopping, and everything else the University of Pittsburgh has to offer.