University of Virginia-Main Campus Top Questions

Tour colleges until you find somewhere that you feel at home or feel there's a possibility you'll feel at home there in the future. Don't worry about where your friends are going to school because it really doesn't matter. It sounds absolutely cliche but you will meet friends, most often closer friends that you have now just because you're forced into tight quarters and stressful situations. With classes and exams holding you up in the library living off M&Ms, you need the students around you because they're going through the exact same thing and this common stuggle will find you some amazing friends. It's important to give your school a chance. If you come to college believing you won't like it, there's no way that you're going to get the most out of the experience, and after all, you're paying quite a little chunk of change for this experience...make the most of it!!! Weigh your options and what each college has to offer, but once you've chosen, jump head first into the experience and enjoy the next four years. Good Luck!!!

As a second year student at the University of Virginia, my college experience thus far has been an interesting one as I have grown from absolutely disliking my school of choice to more than loving it. In giving advice to parents of future college students and the students, I would emphasize three important points. First, it is important for the parent to allow the child to make their own decision as it is important to the child's happieness and therefore performance in school that they attend a school they will love and a city/town they would enjoy living in. Second, the child should step onto campus with an optimistic attitude and an open mind. Not only should the student be ready to meet a diverse group of people, but he/she should readily volunteer to participate in activities that he/she would not have in high school--he/she will be very surprised in what new joys this may bring. Most importantly, the student must realize that the experience will be what he/she makes it. Step out, volunteer, enjoy campus life, participate, be friendly, study hard, explore, prepare yourself to enrich the world!

Make sure that you absolutely love the school. Don't settle for a school because you hate it the least, go to a school that you absolutely love everything about.

Students need to have an idea of what they want to do. With this knowledge you can then sort out what schools are best for your intended major and future plans (med school, law school, etc). You also need to know what you can afford if scholarships and financial aid doesn't pull through. Also, I feel that your surroundings are very important so go check out what type of setting your colleges are in. For me, I just couldn't be happy at the best school in the world if it were in the middle of say New York City because I'm a small town girl. Making visits to the schools that you would like to attend is expensive, but its a great experience for you and your family. Again, for the students, get your parents input on the schools that you are thinking about. It will be important later in life when you look back and reflect. Utilize some universities' interactive sessions with current students. Ask them what really goes on there and what the social life is like or the academics, etc. There are many options out there and at least one is perfect for everyone.

Visit a school before applying. Despite the reviews by students and other visitors, you have to see each school through your own eyes and experience it yourself before deciding to apply. Apply to a few schools in every ability range; be honest with yourself when classifying schools as "safety", "comfortable" and "reach". Once you're accepted, if possible, give the campus another visit and try to stay with a current student so you are able to get a more realistic picture of your potential lifestyle there. Once you're in college, meet people different from your old high school crowd. Reach out to people who don't live or look like you; try things you've never tried before. College is the time to get involved and discover who you are and what passions you have in life. You will undoubtedly be surrounded by people with different points of view from you: take the time to listen to them. Share yourself with others as well. Have fun, don't worry about a major right away and most of all, keep an open mind.

The old adage "follow your heart" doesn't apply when it comes to selecting your college. Being realistic and goal-oriented will ultimately palce you in the school that can best help you obtain the life that you want. As far as your college life goes, your mindset will determine exactly what you get out of the experience. If you firmly believe that attending the college will help you out in the future, you will find a way to be happy within your chosen environment.

Find the school that fits you. People matter, not brands. Find the right fit, and you will find the right college.

I have not been what is considered a "traditional" college student. I went to college for two and a half years before taking time off for personal and financial reasons. During my five years off, I continued to take classes part-time while working full-time. I have finally reached the point where I am able to return to school for one final full-time semester in order to graduate. I think that my experiences have given me a very different view on the college experience. Being back in school, I am trying to enjoy the experience to the fullest. I've learned that college really is a once in a lifetime experience. It is the only time in a person's life to get to experience anything and everything. I think that the best advice for making the most of the college experience is to get involved. The opportunities that are available when you are in college will very seldom come around again. College is the chance to take classes and learn about things that interest you, and to get involved with groups and meet new people that could become your friends for life.

To make the right choice when choosing where to attend college, be sure to visit as many campuses as possible. In my experience, when you set foot on the campus that is right for you, you will know it. When I first visited the grounds of UVA, I just had a strange feeling that I knew this is where I wanted to go and I somehow knew this was the place for me. I hope you will get that same feeling, because it makes the decision much less stressful. As for making the most of your college experience, try new things. Join clubs, play sports, and try out anything the school has to offer that may interest you. Stick with what you like and it will be an amazing four years.

Before committing to a college, it's very important to talk to students who actually go there. They will give you the most accurate representation of what campus life is like from a student's perspective. The admissions office or faculty will not know whether there are good places to study on campus, what the food is like, how friendly the student atmosphere is or which ones of their colleagues are more attentive than others. Look into the classes offered and the grading systems. If you are not a good multiple-choice test-taker, it may not make sense to go to a big school that can only get grading done by scantron. If you are anxious in groups of small people, a class size of 20 probably won't be as comfortable as one of 100. The important thing to realize once you're there is that there are other people around who share your interests and passions. You just have to find them. Stay on top of your school work but get involved in extracurricular activities and continue developing the person you want to become.