Valdosta State University Top Questions

Students should really take their time visiting the schools they are interested in. Take the campus tour like most prospective students do, but also choose to take it one step further. Talk with admissions counselors and financial advisors to learn more about possible fields of study and course work at the schools you are interested in, as well as the cost of the school and how much financial aid you will be able to receive. I would also recommend talking to current students at the school. No one else can give you a more honest opinion about the college/university than one of the current attending students. Ask them about the student life (extracurricular activities, student civility, helpfulness of faculty/teachers, campus unity, etc.) and don't hesitate to ask them the million dollar question: "If you could do it all over again would you still choose to attend 'insert prospective college here'?" I would also advise students to be their own person and for parents to encourage their child to do this. Do not choose a school because your friends are going there, it's okay to be different. Always make the right choice for yourself!

To research everythingaround the shcool notjustthe school itself

I would stress to everyone in high school to start early!! By early, I mean start visiting colleges and universities that you are interested in as soon as you can. If I could go back to my junior and senior year I would visit as many campuses as my schedule allowed. Another suggestion would be to do some networking and try to make some friends wherever you are interested in attending and get their opinions on the school, professors, departments, housing, and surrounding city. Transferring is not as easy as everyone would like you to believe and enjoying where you are living and the people that surround you is as equally important as being happy and satisfied with what you are studying. Another suggestion would be to get involved on campus with a club or activity that you really enjoy. Staying busy helps keep you on a good schedule and leaves little room for laziness.

When you are considering colleges, look at the class size, the organizations available, and the diversity of the student/faculty population. When professors are passionate about their classes, the atmosphere for learning and sharing is more apparent and enjoyable. Smaller classes and more interactive classes are more memorable than large lecture halls and huge classes. Developing relationships with your professors and fellow students creates a network that extends beyond classes and curriculums. Those relationships are the ones that last outside of your degree and the brief time you are in school.

Valdosta State University is a ggod school. It is filled with students from all walks of life and professors who actually care about their students. VSU helps students with jobs and career development. There are tutors for every major willing to help along the way. VSU has great classes but also a wealth of social clubs and campus activities which allow students to be well-rounded. Overall, VSU should be on everyone's list for schools to possibly attend.

The advice i would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college would be to start very early. It is never good to rush into the first college that accepts you. Always take your time to visit the different colleges of your choice along with the area where the college is located. The best thing to do is to be familiar with your surroundings about a place where you will basically be living for the next four years. Once you have decided on the college of your choice and know thats where u want to be, make the best out of it by getting envolved with the college activities and meeting new people. You would be amazed at how far people travel to attend the same college that you decided on. College is what you make of it and i would advice you to make the best of your fours there.

Find a college that is right for you. Think about whether you want to go to a small close knit college or one that is much larger. Think about what fits youy learning style, look at class size, whether you will have classes in large lecture rooms or smaller classes of 30 or 40 people. Think about what is most important to you such as sports, fraternity/sorority, or campus clubs and activities and make sure the colleges you are considering have these. Have some idea of what you would like your major to be and make sure the college offers this degree. Make sure to visit the colleges you are considering because touring a campus can give you a good idea of what the environment at that school is like.

Shop around, visit a bunch of schools meet current students. Take classes seriously but make time for fun and extra- curricular activities, get invoved in the community.

Find a college that best fits your ideals. Find a school that makes you feel welcome and comfortable.

Academics and location were the two things I think are the most important. Make sure you think ahead about how often you want to visit home and how far the trip is. Don't forget about the place the college is in. is it a small town, a city or a suburb? Are you going to like it? I did;t think it really mattered and overlooked that question in my decision process and I regret that now. Also, you want to be at a place that makes you feel comfortable academically. You want to be challenged but not over the top where you don't have time to sleep or eat. But you also don't want to be handed A's. Sometimes you may wish they did that, but you want to learn (that is what college is about).

when looking at school options, also look at the town it is in. if you know what you want to major in, look into that particular department and determine if the professors can actually help you get were you want to go. if you do not know what you want to major in, it is perfectly fine to be undecided until you know for sure, this will eliminate taking classes for no reason. if you have the "i didnt need to study in high school, and i did just fine" attitude, change it NOW! the earlier you choose to study the better you will be. do not "cram" for tests. this will come back to haunt you to no end! learn the word responsibility. its a hard concpet for some, but will help you later on in life. between the studying and projects and side jobs, remember to have some fun also!

To make most of the college experience for the students and their parents is to work as a team. When I first started college my sons where still in middle school, now one is in college and the other is finishing high school. Working as a team has been the most effective path for all concerned then and now. While my oldest is in college, I am going back to school working on my Masters. As I achieve, it encourages and strengthens them. These qualities come from more then just me attending school; it comes from my approach to life in the same manner, never give up. Things may get rough?but never give up! Do not, I repeat, Do not compare yourself to others and their goals. Make your own, stay organized, and focused. Another part of the team will always be the teacher. Work with the teacher wisely. They are there to assist you in any manner possible. Your teacher can be the best ?Guide? on campus for you and will if you allow them to be.

When it was time for me to make the decision on where I would continue my education, both my parents and I had a say in the decision. We sat down and listed all of the pros and cons of in state schools verses out of state schools. The same way my parents and I made that decision, I feel that you and your parents should do the same as well. This decision is not one that should be based solely on neither the student?s decision nor the parent?s decision. I feel that this should be discussed together, because in most cases parents are the ones who pay for you to get a higher education. So, why not include them in your decision. Once you have made your final decision about where you are going to get a higher education, you must go in knowing what your priorities are because if not then your grades will definitely start slipping. Your educational life should always come before your night/party life, because there will always be a parties in college. If you are able to keep your priorities in order, you will excel when you go off to college.

My advice to parents and students about finding the right college would be to not to make the decision too quickly and to make sure that if possible, to go and visit the college or university to get a better understanding about the town, people, and even to observe what student life is like. I believe that taking that visit should play an intrical part in the decision about which college or university to attend. Once you decide which college or university to attend, I would advise students to become involved in as many activities as possible. In college, you are a "little fish in a big pond," and in order to meet people and make friends is to get involved with extracurricular activities. My other piece of advice is to go to with an open mind because you are going to have the opportunity to meet and associate with people of many different backgrounds so it is important to have that open mind because every person's personality is different and having an open mind will make it easier for you to get along with other people and vice versa.

Check them out.

Visit campuses, look at the surrounding community. Check financial aid choices. What type of academic choices are available. Get involved in student activities, take advantage of freshman first semester programs to help acclimate yourself into the college community. Sorority and fraternity associations can be a positive step in forming lasting friendships, ability to volunteer in the surrounding community and contrary to popular belief, improve or maintain academic status. What type of housing is offered. What are the meal plans and what are the meal choices. What is available for study aids (library) and technology (computer access). What type of transportation is offered on campus to assist students get from place to place on campus. How far away from home.

I would advise parents to let their child pick at least two or three schools they would like to attend. Make a visit to the campus and talk with students there. Once the decision is made, you need to apply for admission to the school. Apply early in case you are not accepted, there is time to enroll somewhere else. I suggest living in the dorm at least one year in order to meet different people and get a real feel for campus life. This is an exciting experience and this is where you learn a lot about the school and area from other students. Consult with the financial aid office early so that all paperwork in ready prior to the semester starting. The most important advice I would give is for the student to know their major. Once you start school and get into the major courses and decide you don't like it, you change and it takes longer to finish school. Think about the career you want and go and job shadow someone in that job for at least two weeks to be sure that is what you want to do for the rest of your life.

I would encourage students to visit the campus before they apply and meet the faculty of their intended major. Also, do not forget to check out the library.

To parents, make sure it is what your child wants. To students, make sure its somewhere where you will happy studying what you love to do.

START NOW!!!! Apply to as many colleges as you can and of course visit them. I suggest ones that offer broad array of degrees and transfer programs if you want to change majors. Dont be ashamed to decide to be undecided your first year. If possible take maybe one class in the summer to get a good feel for the school and how classes are going to be. Fight for your classes when it comes time to register and know if you want them in the morning if your an early bird or midday if your lazy like me. Late afternoon classes are the best in my opinion. The classes are more likely to have older students that know the way things are and the professors are more laidback or just ready to go home. Its a bad idea to skip class if you know or even you think you know you dont have to go. Join something, whether it be marching band, frat/sorority or just an intramuals team.