University of Richmond Top Questions

In your freshman year of college, it may seem that you have a ton of time until graduation. However, those years will turn into a few days quicker than you think . You'll realize how fast time passed and you'll start to reflect on what you've done, who you've become, where you're headed and everything in between. To find the right college ans make the BEST of your time there, you have to keep/make long-term goals (for post-college) and use them as a guideline for how you act. Keep in mind the goals and aspirations you have for the rest of your life and realize they might change, but after college you still have a lot of living to do: Set that foundation strong. Hone in on skills you'd like to improve. Try clubs and sports you find interesting. Talk to people you ordinarily wouldn't. College is the perfect opportunity to simultaneously do a multitude of diverse activities, learn a lot about yourself and others, get a good education and set the foundation for life without the responsibilities of everyday "real world" living. Find the school that allows you that opportunity,

Visit UR first and then try and compare all of the other schools you visit to the same standard that UR has established; I doubt you'll be able to find another school that not only meets all of your desires concerning beauty and academics, but also of a great campus community and intermurral sports leagues anywhere else. I know I didn't!

Everyone is going to tell you that you have plenty of time to figure out what you want to do, that there is no need to rush and that you will have time to find a field or a college that is the best for you. What people don't tell you is that if you have an idea of what you want and pursue it, then everything will be easier. Even if you are unsure of what school you want, or what career you want to pursue, you should narrow down your interests as soon as possible. Having many options is great, but keeping all of these options alive is not an easy task. Rather than spreading your focus over many subjects it proves much more fruitfull to tackle a fewer number of interests with the same fervor.

A student planning to attend college should ponder two questions: how will the school/programs help me reach my ultimate goal, AND open the most doors possible. Nearly every college student changes their major at least once and an undergraduate major does not dictate the rest of one's life as the average American changes careers several times over the course of their working life. It's foolish to go to school as a freshman and have a very clear cut game plan because college is a time of exploration and education. One should also consider what they enjoy studying as there is no sense being an accounting major if you hate numbers, and then analyze school rankings by major. Look at the top schools in your field, determine what is realistic within your GPA/SAT means, and then use other criteria such as size and location to make a decision. One final piece of advice NEVER allow finances to decide where to apply to. Receiving financial aid is much like buying a used car. Aid money is ENTIRELY negotiable, and personally I go to the second most expensive school in the country, and it's cheaper than state school.

The decision is one that is at the same time momentous and trivial. It is momentous because often it is the first time that a young adult gets the chance to stretch his or her legs in the adult world; it is trivial because it is never the end of the world if the student doesn't end up at his or her first choice school. The important part is to allow the student to make a well informed decision.

As long as you find a place that you are comfortable, one can do well at a school.

make sure about size you want, visit the campus, get involved and dont be shy or afraid to ask questions

Choosing the right college is a wholly personal experience. Individual, mysterious, and complex. You can never know from a single visit or an application packet what the years to follow will entail. The best thing to do is let your intention guide you. Be aware of your goals, your dreams, your strengths and weaknesses, and your drive. All of these are necessary components to college life--both academically and socially. You are dedicating yourself and your life to one institution for two or four years; it is better to know now where or how you intend it to lead you. Do some serious soul searching and then pick your way through the mindfield that is growing up. Choosing a university will only be the first step on the journey to the next phase of your life. If you enter into that phase with an open mind, open heart, and with a little insight into yourself, you will not be lead astray.

It's never too early to begin looking for the right school. Go to as many info sessions and college tours that you can afford to go too. You'll get that feeling when you step on the right campus that this is the school for you, and I can tell you that once you arrive as a student that it will all work out for the best. Too often prospective students misjudge that gut feeling or regret decisions they make in the application process. Finding the right college is more of a natural feeling and process rather than a quanitatively based decison. So yes, do your research on the right schools for you, but then get on that campus and enjoy the process instead of stressing over it.

Visit the colleges you are interested in when they are in session. Plan an overnight visit so you can get a feel for the real life there, not what the student tour guide tells you.

Start the college process early. Visit a lot of colleges and take into account of where it is located, surroundings, what people do on the weekend, etc. --Make a pro/cons list when narrowing down.

Try to isolate specific positive aspects of each college that you visit and then compare them before making a decision. This will help you remeber all of the aspects that you enjoyed and determine which is most important to you.

Pick a place you can stand the sight of, make sure the rooms and food are good, and look around for somewhere with a good academic reputation. Studying comes first, but if it's a 51{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}-49{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} with socializing. Friends make it worth suffering through academically even if your professors are bad. Get involved in a few things you care about and don't overextend yourself.

I would advice them to allow for all possibilities when searching for a school. A student, or parent, may think that a particular characteristic is essential for the school to be a perfect fit but that may not end up being true. The right college is the one where the student overall feels the most comfortable regardless of its prestige or any other specifc factor. In order to make the most of their college experiences, students need to be open to new experiences. They should try doing things that they have never tried before and take risks, both inside and outside the classroom. Colleges exist to broaden student's horizons and further their education about all topics, not just academic ones. College is also an opportunity to learn about yourself, to learn your limits and then surpass them. There is rarely another opportunity in life to be exposed to and experience the wide variety of opportunities that colleges provide. Basically, a student's college experience is what they make of it. Even if it is not their first choice school, embracing everything a school has to offer can make their college experience a valuable and enjoyable one.

Go to the campuses that you are thinking fo attending. It is imperative that you speak with students that are not being paid by the admissions office because they will give you a biased account. I worked for the admissions office for a while and just stopped working until I got fired because I was tired of being paid to creatively misrepresent (read lie). You should trust your gut about where you attend because only the student will no which place is right for them. Do not question your gut if you have a visceral response because it is probably right. Good luck to all prospies.

A sophomore explains that places to buy food close early in UR. Also, the social scene is centralized around Greek life.

A sophomore suggests considering a potential major when registering for classes for freshman year.

A sophomore shares that she enjoyed getting involved in only one activity in order to avoid overcommitting herself.

A senior advises to get involved on campus during freshman year but be sure to not overcommit your time.

A senior wishes he knew that the UR campus is farther away from the city than he would like.