University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

Go with you heart and let your child decide their future.

I would suggest first that you evaluate what you want out of your college (size, activities, location, etc) before anything else. This is important because if you can't handle going to a university that is far from home then don't waste your time applying to those that are far away! Second, you should look at all your options (use the college websites, college review books and magazines) and see what most interests you, and research the colleges that stand out most to you. Third, get in touch with the colleges you are interested in and talk to real people to see what they think and what they suggest. Finally, in making the most of college I would say that the key is to do what you enjoy but don't slack off. College is for fun and getting away from home but it is about study and your future more so than anything else. This is a big step and you need to be ready so make sure you know your strengths and what you want to get out of it before you make a concrete decision.

When deciding which on colleges, it is not always about the name of the college that should be taken into consideration, but the quality of the education. Rather than rely on sources such as princeton review or newsweek that consider themselves to be experts on college, look at what the students have to say about the college because they are the real experts since they are the ones living in and surrounded by the environment. To make the most of the college experience, grab a hold of every opportunity that comes your way. Even by striking up a conversation with the person sitting next to you can help build up your network connection that will come especially handy post-graduation. Seek help when help is needed because colleges have those programs for a reason and it would be a waste if no one made use of them. And finally, make sure you go into a major that interests you, not your parents or others around you. You will do much better academically if you're able to engage and engulf yourself in what you can enjoy.

To visit the schools while its in session during the weekdays in the mornings in the winter. I visited my school in the summer and it was the complete opposite during the regular school year.

Try and remember to include fun on the list of goals for the college! If at first you don't succeed, you can always transfer!!

The most important factor that you should consider when picking a college is that you do not need to know your life goals--and as a parent you should not force your dreams for your child's life on them. Student, make the decision yourself, or otherwise you will hate the school you are at and won't be able to enjoy it. The truth is, there are downsides at all schools, so you must love your choice because it is your choice in order to be able to see past those flaws and still go to the school. Don't stress too much, instead walk and act with a calm confidence, knowing that your decision will be ok.

Take a tour of the campus before deciding if it is the right school for you or not. Check your options to see what school has the most to offer in the areas that you are interested in. Once in school, make sure to allocate you time well -- studying can take up alot of time, so be sure to be well organized. Make sure to take study breaks (don't want to get headaches). Make sure to have at least one day of fun or a little time set aside each day that is just for you (and not school work). Remember to always work hard and you will get good grades (don't slack off, or you may fall behind and/or not understand what is going on).

The right school is one that you feel you might someday be proud of. (For me this was related to sports and the city location.) To get the best experience, don't be afraid to switch majors multiple times. Don't feel like failure for taking five years to complete college. It's never to late to switch to something you enjoy. I regret immensely that I never changed to architecture or history. Travel abroad. Study in a foreign country. Minor in a foreign language and learn it overseas. You will never regret the experience and will make friends you never would have imagined existed. Find a club on campus and be a part of it for a while, involved in what happens. It will make your resume shine. And do a summer internship in a field you're experimenting with. 3 months is a small price to pay to find out you hate/love something.

"Cry now, smile later." That's what I'd tell people. Partying and other distractions that tend to flunk people out of college should be on the low end of the priority list. Make the most out of the carefree days of college. No bills, just books. You'll hate studying now but you'll realize that that studying will be the difference between a good or a minimum wage job later. You'll appreciate the fact that you went through the four years of college to earn that degree. As for partying, you have the rest of your life to do that, and even have more money to party longer once you have a job to pay for it all. As for the right college, make sure it feels like your home away from home. After all, you'll live there. Attend a school with people that you can see yourself eating, sleeping and studying with. Make sure you love it; you wouldn't want to spend the rest of your life with someone you like rather than love, would you? So why stay a college you just sort of like? Love your school and you'll love college.

When I came to visit Seattle for the first time, I fell in love. I suggest to all prospective students that they visit a campus and walk around the town and envision yourself in that place. You never know if somewhere is going to be right for you until you taste it for yourself.