University of Southern Maine Top Questions

The most important things to do are research and VISIT! The best way to get a feel for a school is to visit it and experience it for yourself. The moment I stepped onto the campus of my current university I knew it was the one for me. So go to the campus, take tours, and ask tons of questions no matter how silly you may think they are. After that continue researching and fact finding online - using social networking sites is a great way to get a feel for the social dynamics and aspects of the college as well as provide opportunities to talk to current students in a more relaxed, pressure-free setting. You can get the inside scoop on which dorms are the best and get a better idea of whether the school fits you or not.

When looking at a school, tak to several different current students about their experiences at the school. Don't pick a school just because it's convenient--pick a school because it will challenge you and provide you with diverse opportunities. When in college, remember that time goes faster than you think or want it to. This applies to getting assignments done on time, and on a larger scale, taking advantage of opportunities to broaden your personal, social, and academic horizons. Conncect with a variety of people--you never know what you can learn from someone. College is a place for both academic and personal growth.

My advice would be to make sure you visit each school you apply to, don't just apply to them because their brochure looks pretty. A school may look pretty but it may be the completely wrong school for who you are. Finding the right college is like finding the right pair of shoes, you may have to try a few on before you can find the one that fits you best. Make sure that the school has programs that you know you will get involved in; clubs, sports, etc. It's important to be involved in the school you choose, its where you'll make friends that could last you forever and get started in the right direction for a career.

To find the right school you have to visit the campus and get a feel for the type of people that go there and the surrounding area. Make sure the college is within your price range. If you have that feeling after visiting that that is the school for you then go with your gut instinct.

It doesn't matter where you go to school, it's what you do there that counts.

Finding the right college is not about choosing the college that is most popular and has the best reputation. It is about being able to get what you need from it while being successful at the same time in order to further your carrear. You can get the same degree going to a $40,000 school as you do going to a $10,000 school. You have to make it so it works around your circumstances because it does matter a lot how much money you put into going to college versus how much you actually get when you finish it. Most students in college don't have the money to afford expensive colleges and housing, and a lot of them don't qualify for financial aid either so it is smart to choose the best college that satisfies your requirements for your degree and also doesn't require much money. Also gettin involved in as many activities as possible and interractive with new people every day helps in learning more about what you can do to improve your studies and learning and just makes life easier when you're going to school.

Advice that i would give to students and their parents looking for colleges: 1: look for as many types of financial aid as possible, but if you dont need financial aid, dont take it save it for people who really do need it. 2: choose the college that is best for you, not for its name, its standing amoung other colleges, etc. Choose it because you want to go there. 3: Remember your schoolwork, grades, and future are the reason you are going to school, not what happens on campus, or who you hang out with. Students and Parents need to remember it is about the students future, what they want to do and where they want to be 4+ years from now.

Go to Community College for 2 years. You have an addition 2 years to further hone in on what you want to do with your life, and you save a boatload doing so--as in 2 years for the cost of one semester at a big university.

Passion and determination is vital to the success that can be obtained through the college experience. Involving yourself with positive campus events and actively engaging with people who are different from yourself will inevitably open your mind to the possibilities the world has to offer. College is not simply about academic achievement, though that is an extremely important aspect of it. It is important to remember that a 4.0 GPA is not the answer to life's worries and woes, so do not let your self-esteem suffer, if you do not achieve a 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} on your first Biology exam. Set goals for yourself that are not only academic, but also mind-opening: try something new everyday, interact with someone who has interests and hobbies that are unfamiliar to you. You will be very surprised at the great sense of self-validation you feel when you realize that you are someone who not only possesses the will to succeed through rigorous college coursework, but also the will to embrace the unfamiliar and indulge yourself in learning experiences that go beyond the pages of a textbook. Enrich your mind, but also leave it open. Never settle for less in life.

Go big or go home!