University of Vermont Top Questions

Read the book entitled "The Naked Roomate" Don't worry it's PG, but VERY useful.

The first thing is to go to collegeboard.com and take the survey that matches you up with schools that might interest you based on the information given. Look through college books about facts and figures for each college as well as reading descriptions from books that ask students what life at the school is really like and describe the social scene and point out pertinent things about life there to determine which ones interest you the most. Once it is narrowed down, visit schools and see for yourself which ones you really like. Ask lots of questions about the school when you take a tour and ask about the social and party scenes only when addressing the tourguide personally because they will tell you the truth if they know they are not trying to please everyone with their answer. When visiting different schools, each one will have a different feeling, and when you find the right one, you'll know. If the school you like the best is affordable, go for it, and if not, you'll still have a great time wherever you go because in the end it is really about what you put into it.

The most important thing to consider is the experience you can get at your prospective university. Examine the values, lifestyle, and available coursework of the school. You will be part of a community for four years--make sure it is a community that you can learn from and one that you feel excited to be a part of. College is a short four years, I recommend finding an institution that can provide you with not only interesting coursework, but an exciting social environment that is passionate, interested in exploration, and true to your own values and ideals. We should treat universities like companies, try to put your money towards an institution that you feel is trying to make positive change.

The first this a parent and/or student should understand about finding the "right" college is that there are hundreds of universities in this country and others, dozens of which would likely be the "right" college for any particular student. In other words, you have a lot of choices and many of those choices are good ones. With that in mind the challenge becomes narrowing down that long list of potential universities to a manageable number for application. This process chould begin in the broadest terms of the applicants needs/desires. Geography/climate: ie if you hate winter, dont go to school in vermont. Size of school/surounding area: big school? small school? In between? Rural? City? Special needs/interests and so on until you have a list of hopefully between five and ten schools you want to apply to. After getting accepted by some continue look for more specific details about the school to narrow it down: meal plan, housing, class size, social scene etc until you have found the university that best meets your desires. As far as making the most of your college experiencejust don't be stupid and don't be scared. Meet people, and participate.

Apply to a variety schools and keep an open mind. Listen to your guidance counselor's advice. Be sure to visit as many of your choices as possible. In addition to the tour, be sure to speak with students; I found those interactions to be very helpful. During the college admission process, my guidance counselor kept telling me that I would end up at the college where I was meant to be. She was SO right! I hope you are as fortunate as me! Once you get to college, take a variety of courses (not just your intended major) and take advantage of all the school and community have to offer. GET INVOLVED! Good Luck!

Pick a school that offers almost if not all the things you are looking for in your education. Don't settle for something just because it's cheapest.

A lot of stress comes with the pressure to find the right college for you. You'll want to combine social environment, with academics, with geography, price, and accomodations. The advice I have, however, is if you don't find something that fit all these criteria perfectly, don't fret. Don't feel pressure to find the perfect school, because if you happen to, you'll most likely find that it isn't perfect afterall. Be flexible, be open-minded, and do what makes you happy. And if you don't know what will make you happy, take a chance and take time to figure it out. While finding a college is often thought of a critically important decision, what's more important is what you make of it, not where you go. This is the time in your life when it's okay to experiment. If it doesn't work out, try something else. My experience at UVM has taught me to be open-minded about the future and not fret about plans you haven't made. We're young. Just relax.

College is mostly what you make out of it. Going nuts and/or broke over trying to find the perfect school is a BAD idea (been there, done that, and the "perfect" school turned out nothing like my months of research led me to believe). So long as you're in a place where the politics or weather won't drive you crazy, go with what's most convenient.

Go to UVM. Although it is an expensive state school, it is well worth it. Great GREAT school.

visit the school, meet as many prospective students as you can... these will be your class mates, if you don't like them, you won't like the school. The first semester is hard for everyone, don't gve up after only a few months.

As everyone knows, choosing a college is scary because it's a lot of time and money spent in your future. My advice to anyone on the search is to make a list of what you truly want and need out of college--academically, socially, etc. Take this list with you as you visit the colleges you have narrowed the choice down to, and make a note of what schools fulfill what on the list. Besides the list, while you are visiting ask a lot of questions about dorms, food, clubs, activities off campus, class sizes, whatever is going to affect you during your college experience. While you are on a campus, try to envision yourself there, and see if it feels right. And if you have an idea of what career you might be heading towards, make sure you pick a program that works best for you-that offers the class sizes you need, the classes you need, the internships you need. When it comes down to it, college is your time to learn and explore. The college you choose needs to help you make the most of your talents so you can make the most of your future.

Try to save money... in the end, it doesn't matter where you went to school as much as it matters that you went and that you aren't in a ton of debt.

Go into college open minded ready to meet new people and ready to do work

If you think you are interseted apply. Never doubt yourself. You will be suprised.

UVM is a highly accredited academic school. I do like the academics here very much but I find the people to be difficult to get along with. We have a large population of greek life here on campus and I am not particularly interested in fratiernities or sororiteis. I chose this school because it was close to home and because it is the best in the state but now I feel like I made the wrong choice. If you like a big school with a lot of upper and upper-middle class students, then by all means apply, but if you prefer something smaller with people that are more down to earth than I recommend choosing a diffferent school. I certainly wish I had.

Look for something that fits you the best and don't stop until you find it. Your college experience is what you make it, so make sure you're giving yourself the right tools to make your college experience exactly what you want it to be.

Having transferred after completing only a semester away at college because I was so unhappy, I have fortunately found a place where I couldn't be happier. I chose my first college for the wrong reasons. I was looking for a name, a well-known place that would automatically warrant me oppurtunities due to the prestige. However, it turned out to be too much for me. I hated the competition and the intensity of the students. I found it to be too academically focused and needed a place that encouraged extra curricular activities instead of spending all of my time in the library. Finding the right college is not about what your peers thnk you should do, or what you think you should do; it is about what you want. I put a lot of time, energy and thought into my college application process and all of that came to not even matter. I found out first hand that finding a college that would make me look better was not the place for me. Forget about the ranks and numbers, and talk to students on campus, spend some time there and then you can really see what it's like.

Be mindful of where you come from. During highschool a student has the benifit of the school system working with parents . In college, students get exposed to different things, rightly so, it should be a time filled with diversity of experince, however, students who do not come mentally prepared for some experinces (drugs, people, city-life, what have you...) can preform poorly and drop out, potentially ruining a student. Be mindful of cultures and your child. Understand what they can and cannot handle; articulating that to them and preparing them for those experinces.

Find a college that offers you plenty to do around what your interests are, but also make sure that there are plenty of opportunities for you should your interests change. Getting involved, both on-campus and off, is the best way to make the most of the college experience.

Visit the school and try to talk to students from that school without your parents next to you. Parents: Let your child have some time to really talk to students without you asking all the questions. Think of questions ahead of time and focus on things that are important to you. Ask for hints and tips if you choose this place, and try to make friends everywhere you go.