University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

Try to visit the colleges that you are interested in several times and see if the environment feels right for you. Consider schools that are willing to give you the most money, don't be afraid to ask for more. The worst thing that can happen is they can say we don't have any more money. Try to choose a school that offers the balance that you are looking for, and checkout schools that are strong in your desired field of study. A way to test a school is to call different departments and ask questions to see how they handle your inquiry. Last, if you just can't decide, make a list of pros and cons of all the schools you are considering, rate the pros and rank them accordingly.

Go with your gut feeling and take every opportunity possible!

The right place will simply feel that way: right! I ended up finding two entirely different places that both felt equally right, so I faced a dilemma. I weighed my options, looked at the pros and cons of each school, and ultimately choose the one that just made the most sense. Many people could be happy at more than one place, but if you run into a dilemma like I did, or are just having trouble deciding, go with your educated instinct. And don't be too cautious; cross the country, or the globe, if that's what calls you.

I would advise students not to be devastated if they don't get into their first choice school. Things have a way of working out. If you really end up hating your school, transfer. Be open to new people and new experiences. Try new things. Join clubs and teams. Volunteer and be involved. Work on your time management skills. Don't go every night. Don't drink every night. Get enough sleep. Naps are your friend.

Sometimes, you just get a feeling, and that is not something to be ignored. When you start to apply to college, there are many things you may think you want. These are often influenced by the movies you've seen and the older siblings you admire, and its OK to come into the process with expectations: at the very least, these expectations will help you know what questions to ask at interviews and on college tours. The answers, however, may lead you down a new road of exploration as you start to figure out the kind of college experience you really want to have. Choosing a college, in the end, is not going to be about the school's history, football team (but maybe the basketball team!), or rankings in U.S. News -- your work in high school has already led you to a place where you are choosing from a group of universities where these differences really no longer matter. What does matter is the feeling you get when you stand on campus, and how hard you find it to imagine yourself anywhere else. When you've found it, your university will feel like a long-lost friend.

You never really know what school is "best" for you - sometimes you just need to take a chance on things. But consider: size, diversity, location (will you get homesick easily?), WEATHER(!!), does the school have a major you are interested in? As for making the most out of your college experience, just be more involved in something you are passionate about. If you are contributing to the college, it will give back to you.

I would begin by telling students and parents to heavily consider the price of the institution. With escalating tuition costs, it is very important to minimize the amount of debt one may accrue during their college career. The following steps would be to determine which programs the school has to offer. Often times, many students enroll in a school not having done their research about available degrees and then find themselves having to transfer. DO YOUR RESEARCH! Even if you dont know exactly which field you will be majoring in, atleast research whether your intended school has areas that interest you. By researching the institution you will be very prerpared in making the right decision! Good luck!

Find a school that fits your budget and go with your child to visit the campus. Make back up plans in case of unexpected events to provide options for your child if they find out once they arrive at the college of their choice that they need to be closer to home or aren't fitting in as well as they hoped for.

When looking for a college, do your research first. Consider what kind of college would best suit your needs and interests - if you're undecided as to what you want to major in, and you probably will be, do you really want to attend a small liberal arts college that only offers limited academic programs? Consider location- would you prefer a more rural college town, or a campus in the middle of a bustling city? Consider social atmosphere- is a big Greek scene important to you, or is it something you would rather avoid? These are all important pieces of information , and there are many more facets to compare and contrast. However, once you've done your research, choosing a college shouldn't be all about charts, tables and statistics- in the end, cliche as it may sound, you have to go with your gut. Chances are, one of those schools you've researched will just feel right, for some intangible reason- and that is the school you will be happiest at. Though I wouldn't suggest this for everybody, I never even visited my current university before attending- but now I can't imagine myself anywhere else.

Focus on opportunities to expand the mind and future as opposed to diluted data and rankings.