Amanda
Moms and Dads, this is your child's future and four years. Please let them pick their school. Stay involved with them if you can, there is no PTA in college, but that just means you get to talk to little Mikey or Suzie about what's going on (instead of their roommates). By all means, visit (bring money), help with the laundry (drop off quarters), get the mealplan, and invest in the parking space. Encourage on-campus housing if your student-to-be is not the terribly social type (they will want it already if they are), it helps your freshman get involved with the school itself, make friends, and stay focused on the schoolwork that they are actually there for. Yes, your student will occasionally forget that college was the point of this venture, you are allowed to remind them. Last but not least, do not be afraid of that community college up the street. A two year degree will transfer just about anywhere and cost a fraction of what those two years would be at a university.
My fellow students, do your work. Pay your rent. You make this experience- make it a good one.
Amy
Finding the right college is different for everyone; it really depends on what degree you would like to pursue. I would visit each college and ask for examples of social events that go on throughout the year. For someone who is shy or has a hard time making friends, I would 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} recommend living on campus the first year. This will introduce you to people in your dorms and make it easier to make friends. Making the most of your college experience means focusing on your schoolwork but also balancing it with clubs and activities.
Usavadee
Don't put a price tag on your/your child's college experience. th amount of education has increase 17{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} every year, but inflation should not effect your decision about a institution that is going to nurture and mold you into the profession that you have chosen for yourself. Visit other campus gets the prospective students and guadians a sense of what the university is all about, anybody can send you a pamphet about their intitution and highlight the good qualities, but you as a comsumer is investing four or more years into this university, so tarvel arrangements should be made soon.
Shante'
It is important to find a college based on academics but it is more important to find a college that is comfortable for you. If your college is number one in your major but you don't feel comfortable or you don't seem to fit in...it will mean nothing because you will be miserable. It is hard to excel when your under stress and pressure and maybe depressed. When looking into college check the size of the school and decide if you can function in large or small classes; observe the surrounding area of the school, are you comfortable in a rural environment or do you prefer more suburban. Look at the statistics and decide is it too diverse not diverse enough. Consider the idea that you may want to come home, and is the school a decent distance if you may want to come home often if not think about in case of emergency and holidays. Not saying that accredation and ranking isn't important, it's just not the main factor which makes your decision because your well-being is far more important.
Heather
Take your time and start early.
Clodomir
Attending a university is neither the same as high school or middle school, nor is it similar. It is a totally different and ultimately life-changing experience; whether it be for the better or worse is up to the student. Once you choose a college to attend, one should expect to be there for a minimum of 4 years. For these reasons, choosing the right college should not be a process taken lightly. The student should be satisfied with the level of education administered, the environment , the possiblities in a social life and the available opportunities on and off campus. Of course, even the most accredited institutions aren't perfect, butba student should apply to colleges that are the closest to their desires. Once accepted, students should do their best to not succumb to the negative aspects of college life and stay on track with what they came to accomplish at the university. Many students lose sight of their goals and become caught up; my advice to them is, "No matter what the adversities may be, remember overcoming it will build your character. Adorn your motivation proudly and know that failing to succeed initially doesn't mean you failed ultimately."
michael
When looking into a school you shouldnt be naive about a school, if a school dosent exactly have what you want you shouldnt look over it because it may have something else that you never experinced. and college is all about expanding your ideas about life i believe cause in the real world people are so diffrent so is only good you get a head start in college. to make the most out of your college experince you should always remeber what you are in college for, and that is to get a degree. you can make the most of your experience if you manage your time. always get your homework done and study and the partying will be more fun than normal trust me, all the rec activities will be more rewarding and on top of that you will maintain good grades.
Anastasia
Deciding on which college to attend is the first major life and financial decision a young adult will have to make . It is a decision that has the capability of affecting almost all other major benchmarks in life: career choice, when and where to buy a home, finding a spouse, and even the year of retirement. So, yes, you better choose wisely! Choose a school that gives you the biggest bang for your buck- and make sure you know exactly how far that buck will stretch. But also be sure to choose a place that you will start to call home after the first semester or so. More and more students are opting for degrees that can take four and five years to complete; be sure to feel comfortable in and enjoy your surroundings since transferring can ring up costs and tangle up credits. And parents: my biggest piece of advice to you is to not be afraid of a school that seems just out of financial reach. There are so many ways your student can make up the difference with scholarships, aid packages, and not to mention a job after graduating! You can only go to school once.
Olufunmilayo
Make sure u find and get enough information about your desired school. It would even be better if you asked someone from that school that you don't know so that the person can be honest. If you ask your friends or someone you know, they would just tell you what u want to hear cause they are your friends. Moreover, school is no joke, so work hard and it is easy to procrastinate, trust me. Still have fun and get involve and most importantly, make SMART choices and don't forget God.
Michael
Look around at different collegees. Don't wait til the last minute to start looking. Widen your horizon and apply to a couple different places. Decide what you want to do and find a university that fits that want. Once you get there, continue planning ahead and enjoy yourself.
Joshua
Look at individual teachers in programs that you are interested in. I would make sure that you know that the area is somewhere that you would want to live. If you know what you want to major in then pick a school that has a good program for that major, not just a school that everyone has heard of.
Cameron
College is an opportunity, nothing more, nothing less. When picking a college a potential student must understand this basic fact. No matter what they guarantee you, there is no guarantee in life. When picking a college do not go soley on statistics they throw at you about how many people get jobs vs. those who graduate because by the time you are done it won't be the same. When deciding on a college it is imperitive to visit the college and see that the student can see themselves there for the next 4 plus years. Every college is unique you have to pick a place that will challenge the student, but at the same time feel comfortable enough to make it the student's home. Don't pick college on statistics pick college on what is right for the student.
Ronnique
The best advice would be is to make your decision wisely, and be sure that the school is the one for you.
Christina
The environment where you learn in is a big factor in how you develop intectually and also as a person. College is about personal growth; so a nuturing, creative environment is better for a person than a sterile and bleak one. Find friends that support you, and each other, academically and emotionally outside of sororities and fraternities.
Yes, worry about your grades and whether if you'll make it into med school or not, but it's very important to balance school out with your social life in order to maintain your sanity. Make good memories of college, because it takes you at your youthful prime.
Ariel
Every student searching for the right college should first decide the type of experience one would like to have. Weather it be a traditional university, technical college, or community college. Each student should also decide which environment they would be more comfortable in such as urban or rural. Parents should prepare thier student's mindset for college because it is easy for all of the freedom to become a college student's downfall. Parents should push their children towards higher education from an early age so they can look forward to becoming a more well-rounded person as well as a professional later on in life. Even those students who don't think college is for them, should at least try one year at a community college or university to see if college would be a path that could help guide them in the direction they are trying to go in life. Students shouldn't let being undecided about a major stop them from attenting college either but rather figure it out when they get there. I believe college is one of the most learning filled experiences anyone can go through.
Sharmila
Now that I've had two years of college experience under my belt, I can surely say that college is an essential part of an individual's development into adulthood. With that said, I believe and hope that every parent would want their child to grow up with a strong desire to learn, an extraordinary desire to help those that need it and the ability to accept those that are different.
I believe a college should be an agent in the adult development of an individual. If you can find a college that indirectly instills those values of acceptance in a person, then you have found the right place. A college where those of different socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations and differences of opinions are understood and not shunned. VCU is that place for me and I couldn't have picked a better choice. This is the best advice I could give anyone heading off to college and this is truly my wish for anyone who attends a university.
Clarissa
schoolis exactlywat you make, no more and no less. VCU is a wonderful school. It is full of a miriad of opportunities, but with out effort on your part it is a wasted opportunity.
Anthony
Go with what feels right and definitely don't settle. For the price, you shouldn't have to settle. And when I say price, I'm not just talking finances. Your future and the person you will become hinge on this decision. This is the beginning of the rest of your life. If you already know what you want to do, this is your means to the end. If you're still searching for that special something in your life, that's fine. This is your springboard into the wonderful world of possibilities. This is an incredible opportunity that doesn't knock every day. Make the most of it.
Cynthia
Find the school that feels right; the program is what you are looking for, the professors are helpful, and the campus just feels like home. Research the professors and talk to current students, especially people enrolled in the program you are looking out. Make sure you have realistic expectations of the workload and the social life on campus- don't allow yourself to be dissapointed with what you didn't bother to find out.
Emily
In regards to finding the right college I think that is very tough. Most people think they find the right school for them, but after one semester they hate it. I think you definitely need to visit colleges first see if you like the campus and the area surrounding it. While you are on these campus tours try to talk to some of the students there to get their unbiased opinion. I think you should find some key aspects about your personality and try to find a school that best fits your needs. For me VCU was a perfect choice because the campus is in a city where it is very easy to get around and find things to do. I also realized that it had a lot of students like me that are culturally diverse, open minded, and liberal.
In order to make the most out of your college experience I think you need to let your guard down and be open minded. Encourage yourself to get involved in things you like to do that way you meet people with similar interests! Also always make time for your school work and use school funded tutors to help you!