University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

Having successfully found the perfect college for me after a whirlwind of a year spent searching, I am eager to help other students find their perfect fit, because I know it is possible. Toward the end of my college search I was very confused about what I wanted, moreso than I had been at the start of my search. I took a very smart and beneficial step back, and analyzed where I had always pictured myself at college. Did I see myself on a city street corner laughing with friends while waiting for the light to turn, or did I see myself walking through a grassy quad surrounded by students playing frisbee? Did I see myself walking to class and knowing every student en route, or only recognizing a few? After reflecting on my visions I was able to substantially narrow my options. As for making the most of your college experience; get out there and try new things! The only way to learn what is going to make you happy at college is to experiment. Find out what makes you smile and stick with it. Ultimately, listening to yourself is what will aid you in finding your perfect fit.

Apply to more than one school. Seriously. Some places WILL offer more money than others, and it is absolutely worth the time to fill out the extra application. To students: don't bother being someone you aren't during freshman year. Relax, be who you were in highschool and make friends with similar interests. If you didn't party in highschool, you don't HAVE to party in college. If you try to force yourself to be something you clearly aren't, you will only drive yourself towards insanity.

Make sure you visit the campus before deciding anything. I was sure I wanted to go to one school until i visited it. And once you pick a college, make sure you put yourself out there..make friends, try new things. I'm not the most outgoing person but it's so worth it to make new friends. STUDY..college studying is different from high school studying. A LOT more reading. But don't forget that there are other things. Get your work done and then have fun! Don't ignore any art and theater experiences your school has to offer; you'd be surprised how amazing they can be. And don't forget your family..sometimes its easy to get caught up and forget they exist but you will truly miss them. And for anyone unsure that they made the right choice: hang in there and give it a chance. It might be new and different but that isn't a bad thing.

Narrow your search, decide a few top things you are looking for in a college, including things such as how close or far from home you want to go, the size you want your classes to be, whether you prefer a more rural or urban setting, what kind of extracurriculars or internship opportunities you want and even if you would need a large amount of financial aid. Find schools that match your personal list, these decisions are going to effect how much you enjoy and benefit from your college experience. Choose a college and a major that you want, because it is your future.

Obviously, picking the right school is a very important choice. First, do your research. Spend time looking at the courses the school offers and the graduation requirements etc. Once you have narrowed down your choices, you should definitely visit as many schools as possible to see how you likke the campus and possibly speak with current students. Once you decide on a school, the fun begins. Getting to campus is an exciting time that you should use to familiarize yourself with the campus, its surrounding areas, and to make new friends. You should look into joining clubs or organizations. If you pick the right school, in my opinion, things will just sort of fall into place. It just feels right. You start to feel at home and your new friends will become your second family.

If the university is not your first choice, don't fret, there's a reason the admissions officers let you in. They believed that you fit in on campus. Don't be afraid or too shy, there's people from all over the country, even the world, and a large enough selection that there's a niche to be fit in somewhere. Try everything at least once, be a part of campus life instead of disdaining it. By getting involved, you get your money's worth out of the fees you pay, and become more informed about the school in general, and you'll be way ahead of your peers who drink and play all year long.

When deciding on a university, look for a well-rounded environment, somewhere you are comfortable living, and diversity in academics. You are going to university for an academic education, so remember that although you may think you know exactly what you want to do/major in right now (and maybe you don't, this applies just as much to you, if not more), most students change their major at least once, if not many times. Find a school that offers many programs, including sciences, arts, business, engineering, and pre-professional studies. This will allow flexibility to pick what you really want to do with your life, even if it wasn't what you planned. You need to be happy and comfortable living in the area surrounding the university. You'll be there for most of the year, considering that another suggestion is to stay on campus (not go home) as much as possible and develop your independence. Lastly, you what happens outside the classroom, social experience and growth, is just as important as what happens in the classroom. Find a school that has various clubs, volunteering, sports, study abroad, internships, and acitivies, both in the school and the community.

I would tell students and parents to make sure that they visit the campus and go on a tour. I feel that it is very important to see a campus before you make such an important decision. Also, do not be scared to ask questions to a tour guide or to a student that is on the campus.

Apply to more places than you think you will need. My school was my last choice but since they gave me a full scholarship I came here and could not have been happier. Think outside the box when considering things you are looking in a school, such as sports teams, environment on campus, their policies, size of school and where its located, resources that big schools can offer you small schools might not be able to.

There are a lot of things to consider when choosing a college. I think one of the most important things to remember is to look past classes and costs. Of course those are extremely important, but they shouldn't be the only thing you consider. There is so much more to college. Location, size, atmosphere, sports, clubs, and more are all things you should think about when visiting schools. Make sure you can picture yourself there everyday being successful and happy. Once you do choose the school for you make sure you take advantage of every opportunity. Since I've been at school, I've done things I never thought I'd do. Don't be scared and hold back, just give everything a try and you'll be surprised.