University of Wisconsin-La Crosse Top Questions

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In order to find a college that fits you well you need to follow your instincts. You should be able to tell upon walking on campus if thats the place you will enjoy. Remember, your major will change several times so you need to be somewhere that you feel comfortable with the environment. Don't go somewhere just because your parents or friends like it, you need to find a place that suits your tastes. College is a lot more work than high school. Be prepared to put in 4xs the amount of effort to achieve similar grades. Keep your head up and be positive and you will make the experience worth while!

To find the right college, I really think that you need to tour a couple of schools and figure out which one fits you the best. Not every college is right for everyone and you shouldn't choose a school just because that is where your parents went or it is the best school in the state. You will know once you are there whether or not you think that it would be a good fit for you. Once at school, I recommend that you do not stay in your comfort zone, but instead try new things. I met a lot of my friends by just simply talking to people that I didn't know in my dorm or joining a club. Of course school is important as well, but college is also about the experience and there is no other time in your life when you are surrounded by so many people of the same age. Get to know people and I guarantee you that you will find friendships that will last the rest of your life.

I agree with most people that finding a school that has your major is pretty important, but that should not be all that you consider. Make sure you tour your campus ( if at all possible) at least once, hopefully two to three times. Get a real feel of the campus to see if you would be comfortable there or not. Another big thing to consider is how big of a school you want, or how big of a city you would like it to be in. I know many people who were from large cities and went to school in small towns, or people from small towns who went to school in large cities and absolutely could not handle it. Most of them ended up transferring after a semester or year.

I would tell students, and this is indirectly for the parents too, to choose a college that you want to go to. A place that feels right to you, and not for anyone else. That a chance to get away from home is sometimes a good thing, being on your own helps learn responsibilties with your schooling with that in college, you are on your own, people do not check to make sure you are doing homework or studying, you want to make sure that you can do this. I would also say that, even if you have no idea what you want to do with your life, that's okay, you do not need to know right away. College will let you explore options to figure that out, you do not need to feel pressured to have a major coming into college. Lastly, I want incoming students to know to just have fun, make friends, do not be to serious or the stress will show on your school work. In having fun, keep up with school work, its what you are paying to go to school for. So have fun, and study hard.

Picking the right college is not always as easy as it sounds. You may know people who go there that enjoy it, you may like the sports teams of the campus, or maybe you have wanted to go there since you were little. However, from my experience in finding the right college you must tour the schools you are interested in and stay over for a night if that is an option. You may like all the campuses that you stay on but the one you feel most comfortable at is the one to choose. Once kids get to school everyone's reaction is different. Some love is right off the bat and others have a hard time adjusting. I know there was times when I just wanted to go home. Despite that, you must stay involved on campus, meet as many new people as you can, and stay true to yourself. It is ok to feel home sick but after a few months you will have a new place to call home.

In finding the right college, parents and students should be looking for a place that they feel fits them. From my experience in talking to people, you will get a great education at most of the places you are looking at but if you're not happy with the campus then you should look elsewhere. As for making the most of your college career, all I can say is stay focused. You don't necessarily have to come in knowing what you want to do but you should understand that college isn't just about the parties or hanging out with friends. College is not easy and will require your utmost attention. I'd also recommend getting involved on campus and finding like-minded people. Finding a new sport to play or a school group to join is critical to being happy at school.

I would have to tell parents that they need to be actively involved in the school their child attends. Look around and ask outside brochures of the school to get the full scoop. Once the student starts school stay actively involved and look for signs of binge drinking, depression, and other things that bother your son or daughter. This will be a wonderful experience and you won't want to miss a thing!

Visit lots of schools and try to talk to students and get their opinion of the school.

Touring seveal campuses and getting a feel for the atmosphere of each campus while classes are in session is vitally important. It's virtually impossible to know how one is going to fit into a campus when it is completely barren. Also, making sure that a student is comfortable enough to get invovled is a decisive factor. By getting involved on campus, it reduces the feelings of "homesickness," starts to make the campus feel more like a second home, and will help a student to be more engaged and productive in this new experience. One of the greatest decisions I made coming into college was taking the initiative to get to know as many people around campus as I could. Not only did I meet some great people that are now like a second family, but I was able to familiarize myself with what resources were available, and network myself for so that I could build connections that extend into post-graduation job searches. Overall, the best piece of advice is that every student is as different as each campus. Go with where you could see yourself succeeding, because that really is the ultimate factor.