University of South Florida-Main Campus Top Questions

Choose a college that is not too close to home but not too far away so you are more comfortable when moving. Also make sure that the student body is united and that the school has many extra-curricular activities that you can be involved in.

Visit the college beforehand to get a good feel of size and atmosphere of campus.

The advice that I would give to all parents and/or students about finding the right college is that college is a place where you can easily get distracted and to not choose that college just because all of your friends are going there. College is where your real life begins and when you start building your future and a future for your children and/or family. Make sure when selecting a college they have a diverse population amongst students and staff as you will encounter this in real life. Make sure they have a diverse range of degrees there because at one point in your life, you will question your current major and think about another major and you do not want to be stuck with that major because you've spent so many years there and there is nothing there to choose. Lastly, make sure that you are comfortable with the size of the college and classes because your learning and education is paramount and you do not want to be intimidated by the size of class or campus and not do well in your courses. College is wonderful and you can also have FUN!

My best advice is to first evaluate your life. If you are a student that has to work and support yourself through school, then a college with lots of off-campus housing and off-campus jobs would be a good environment to find. I chose a school that provided classes at a self paced schedule. I didn't have to take the maximum load, but could still graduate at a good pace. Some of the larger campuses push academics and then school activities. As a working student I couldn't stay on campus all of my extra time to do activities, but when I found time to attend one or two I still felt included and part of the team. So, again my best advice is to choose a college that best fits the reality of your life. Otherwise, you will feel like you are missing out on something.

Take your time and follow your heart. Pick the school that feels right. Ask many questions about every aspect of the school.

Start saving now!! Money is something that can get in the way of classes and stress you emotionally. Don't let yourself get discouraged from being bogged down with classes and all else that comes with the new college experience.

Picking the right college for each individual student is a difficult choice. The most helpful tool that I used to help make my decision was www.collegeboard.com. At this website I was able to enter all the criteria I was looking for in a school. It gave me a list of schools that upheld my expectations. After finding schools that you think are right for you, the next best thing you can do is to visit the school. This is important because sometimes you feel at home at a campus and sometimes it just does not work for you. I think a student needs to be comfortable and feel safe on their campus in order to get the best experience possible. Lastly in choosing a school I would advise the individual to speak to several different people who already attend the school. It is helpful to get other's opinions on the school because they would know best what the school really entails. In this step however, it is critical to ask multiple people; Everybody has different opinions and you would not want to be pushed away from a school just because it isn't right for someone else.

As for finding the right college, I don't exactly have a grand story. I started my college education at a small college in my hometown. (Manatee Community College) University of South Florida is out of my hometown, but near enough that MCC has an office dedicated to USF information and transfer. The networking between the two colleges made the transfer simple. I didn't have to find it, I didn't have to fight for my application, and USF helped me discover my career path. I consider myself fortunate and blessed. As for the college experience, that's different for everyone. I don't participate often, as I don't live near enough to the campus to make many extracurricular visits. But I participate when I can, and my experience is richer for it. In short, my advice for making the most of the college experience is listen to your heart, and you'll find just what you need to be satisfied.

It's simpler than you're spending all your time stressing over. Don't worry so much about going to a "Brand Name" school. What really matters in the long run is the student's attitude and actions once they get there that first semester. Get involved in all that school has to offer and you'll find school pride when you've never had it before, interests you'd never dare before, friends you'd never wave to before, classes you never thought you'd ace before and an experience you never thought you'd love so much before.

I would tell parents and students to make sure and visit the University and look into all the different activities it has to offer as well as the curriculum it offers. make sure to remember that its not always about image, sometimes what seems like the "Top" college to be at in your state is not always the right choice for you. Be sure once you do select the University that fits you best that you go out and get involved and make sure that you attend different things that you would never think about attending because you might end up liking something that you usually wouldnt and it usually makes for a more fullfillng experience and i can almost promise you wont regret it.