University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Top Questions

Money is a huge issue. Parents should help the student pay for college even if it means the student will pay the parents back at least this way they will not have to pay interest on loans.

My advice for parents as far as choosing a college for a child would be to allow it to be for the most part your child's choice. I feel that choosing what college to attend is the first major decision a person makes. For me, the first time I walked onto the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse campus I was a sophomore in high school and I instantly knew this is where I wanted to go to school and after researching I was positive I would attend this school. I think it's important to research the school and compare it to others. Every school has it's own pros and cons and it's important to evaluate. As far as making the most of your college experience, my advice would be to get involved right away. Go to the opening week activities and just meet people. Every freshmen at you school is in the same boat as you and is feeling the same way. So go out and meet people...you won't regret it!

Make a lot of campus visits because you get a feel for how happy students are there and you get to see the living conditions as well. Check RateMyProfessor.com also because you get a clear idea of what the professors are like and get honest answers about how qualified the professor is from students who have actually had them for class.

Go and visit the school. You can never tell if you really like something by how it looks on paper. Take a chance to go explore the school, see how and feels, and make sure you feel comfortable there. Once your in school, be friendly, open up, try new things. You never know how fun and exciting something might be untill you try it. Get involved, you have a chance to make so many new friends, some which could become lifelong friends. Dont be scared to open up. Everyone else is new just like you are, and everyone else is just as scared, be brave and introduce yourself to someone new, you never know you could end up being the best of friends.

I think one of the best ways to find a college is to first decide what area of the job field the student would like to go into. This can be a broad category such as science, or business.. If you can determine an area of interest, it makes it easier to narrow down your choices for school. You can start looking at schools that are known for having good programs in you area of interest. After you ahve completed this, I would start using college search engines. You can type in some personal information that will allow the website to match you up with possible colleges. Then, start looking at the websites of those colleges. Some you will be able to rule out immediately based on factors like distance from home. After you have narrowed down you selection of colleges to 4 or 5, I would recommend scheduling a campus visit. Maybe even attend a lecture to see what the college classes are like. Once you get to college, do as many of the activities as you can early in the year. It's the best way to get involved and meet people!

Entering college is a pressing and stressful time, but think of it as a lifetime investment. Select a campus where you feel comfortable; you should be able to breath deeply and picture yourself enjoying your time spent there. Enter college with the mindset that you will learn new ways of interacting with people, and be willing to accept others' opinions... you may find yourself intrigued by the viewpoints of others, and then even change your own ways of thinking. Choose a major that you enjoy rather than one that will earn you the most money. You may find college much more stressful if income is your ultimate goal. In my experience, college can fly by, or it can take an eternity; it all depends on the enjoyment you experience through your chosen classes/ major. Classes that spark your interest-- ones that you will gain knowledge from and then use later on in your life-- will be more beneficial not only in your future job, but also for your mental and physical well being. Enjoy your time in college; get involved, meet people, and use the time to find out what it is that will lead you to eternal happiness.

I would not only suggest visiting the colleges you're considering attending, but also having candid discussions with a number of students in attendance. And certainly, don't just stick to the campus area, but look around - how close are things like parking, banks, the post office, etc. As far as making the most of your college experience - be sure to get involved. Even if you're not sure you'll enjoy a given group or organization, sit in on a few meetings. Don't be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, and you'll have the time of your life!

If I could give any advice, it would be to take at least a few weeks to write down your goals and asperations. Take time to get to know yourself and what you want to achieve in your life. Once you have done that research your choices and contact professors or alumni of the college to get their persepectives. Finally, look at your finances to make sure you can afford your choice. I wish I would have researched more and I wish I would have thought more about my future when I made my choice. I didn't think about myself or my future career when I picked my first college and I did not look at the costs. This poor planning led me to transfer from a private university to a public university.

Finding the right college is a very personal process. The most important thing to do when looking at colleges is to actually visit the campus at a time when students are there. This gives you the opportunity to see what life is like for those students that are currently attending that college. It is a hard thing to describe but when you are at the right college you will just know. I think one thing that helps make the most of your college experience is taking the time to reflect on the things that you have learned outside of the classroom. College is a time to further your academic knowledge but it is also a time to further your personal knowledge. By taking the time to acknowledge your personal growth and independence throughout your college years you will be able to make the most of everything you have learned in the classroom and will not regret your decision to attended the college you choose.

I would say that you should definitely research whether the students at the college have a voice or not. It is important that the administration and faculty actually listen to the student's wants and needs.