Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

When students leave for college, they enter a world that will mold them into the kind of adults they will be when they walk across the graduation stage. Choosing the right college is pivotal to one's future, yet it seems like such a large decision to make at merely eighteen years of age. The rule of thumb to choosing a college is simple: choose a school with a community that will engage you personally, socially, and academically. When visiting campuses, make certain to notice how the people and school make you feel; can you see yourself walking through those doors, can you see yourself as close friends with the people you meet? Look into the curricula for the majors you are applying to, and ask yourself if the classes sound intriguing enough to keep you excited throughout undergraduate school. Search for extracurricular activities before you begin school, because your individual growth comes from these activities as much as from academia. The people you meet in college will become a family away from home, and you have to be certain that the community at a school suits your lifestyle, to best foster that family relationship.

College is a place to enhance what you know about yourself, not a place to find yourself. If you wish to know what you SHOULD do go backpacking through Europe, hike the Appalachian Trail, interview with people who do what you think you would like to do. Do your research and figure out who you want to be before you go to college and they begin to make the decision for you. College is an expensive privalege, not a free gift. Treat it as such.

definately visit the campuses to see if you like city, suburban, or rural areas better. check out the surounding areas as well because remember you will be living here if not commuting. also make sure you have a little knowledge on the programs offered and the majors. you don't want to wnd up at a school that doesn't have what you want. my school, VCU, is one of the biggest schools in VA and has one of the best art schools in the nation. the art is partially why i am here, but also for the business.

Knowing what career you want to do fresh out of High School does not happen for many people in this day and age. Think of what you want, or what you can see yourself doing, and find a college that can offer an education towards that. If you have thought it over and still cannot decide, find a college that has the most available options, you never know what you may end up doing. But, most of all, remember that you do not have to stay in one career forever, so nothing is impossible.

don't go somewhere because of religious affiliation, party reputation, previous family attendence, etc. go somewhere because it's where you want to be to get the education you want to get.

Take the trip. See the school. Feel the energy. Looking at pictures and reading handouts and pamphlets will get you so far; calculating your GPA and SAT's and comparing them on school websites to the averages will get you farther, but the final, most important step in making your decision will be made when you're walking through the halls or streets across the campus. Something in you will ring true and no website or brochure will ever be able to replace the true essence of the school the way that being there does. Take the tour.

Please make sure that you take the time to really check out the prospective schools for yourself, because what is right for someone else might not be right for you!

Make sure you're not forcing your child into college. If that seems to be the case, let it be a small school maybe a community college. You don't want your child to be miserable or to waste the money.

Make sure you visit and spend time on the campus so that you can get a feel for where you might be spending a lot of time over the next 4 years

If you know your direction, choose the college that can help you follow that course best. If you're still undecided, choose the college that has the resources to help you decide your direction. To make the most of your experience, DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE FRIENDS!! College can be a lonely place and friends can help you maximize this experience.

DO visit the college. DO get on campus housing your first year. DO drink responsibly. DO be responsible. DO follow your intuition DO NOT start smoking because your social life is mundane, go meet someone new instead. DO NOT break the rules, campus police and administrators will be less forgiving than your parents. PARENTS PLEASE give your child more responsiblity before they move out. controlling parents tend to have children that just go bonkers with their newfound freedom and get into alot of trouble.

Visit the college, examine what the people are like, and get actual opinions from students who attend the school. They have the best insight because they are the ones who go there. Be very hands-on when you take your tours and even make a list of your likes/dislikes about that institution.It can come in handy when you are making a final decision on where you want to go. Definitely find out about financial-aid not only from a counselors perspective, but from a students point of view as well. Oh and if you have time tour the area because you want to be in a place that encompasses all your interests and be able to get around effortlessly.

First and foremost make sure they offer the fields of study that interest you and if you're transferring make sure that they take all your credits. Also get to know the advisors and professors prior to attending and meet some of the students and ask questions. That hard ones such as how satisfied are you here ,why and why not. What does this school have to offer that you didn't know about? How much funding are they receiving if any. What's the success rate vs. dropout and how many find job placement within a specific time frame. Also check out their technology, how new is it and is the school expanding, if so will it benefit you? Is the school giving back to the community? And lastly have FUN! College gives you that "real world hands on experience," but with a safety net. So if you should falter you won't be ruined and marred before you go out into the real world. Take as much as you can from the experiences; good, bad, funny, and sad and savour them but most importantly learn. It's not only a time to grow academically but also independently!

Look for a college that suits not only the program you wish to pursue but also a campus that makes you feel comfortable. Ask important questions from students such as their stress level and how satisfied they are with the college. Tour the departments and school and try to meet as many faculty as possible to gain an idea how they interact with the students. Also, if possible, attend some social events to see if you would be comfortable outside the classroom. Find out how many and what resources are available to help students. And look at a few campuses before deciding on a school.

Make sure your visit the schools you are thinking about and take tours at the school (dont be afraid to ask questions). As a student make you sure a completely satified with the school the school you choose dont just pick it because that is where your friends are going to be make sure the school suits you and makes you happy.

Parents and prospective students should visit any campus they are considering. They should do an official guided tour, but also walk around the campus themselves and get a feel for what the campus is really like, not just how it presents itself. Financial aid can play an important role in selecting a school, so make sure to contact the financial aid office prior to choosing the right place for you or your student. Talk to current students to find out the hidden details and fun parts of the university. Once the student is at the college/university, study hard. Make friends, join organizations, but make sure that your focus is on your school work. Don't overwhelm yourself with too many activities. And, most importantly, never be afraid to ask your professor or advisor for help. They want to help, and are always impressed when a student takes the time to approach them and ask for help. They'll never steer you wrong, and it never hurts to know a faculty member for recommendations.

If I could advise parents and/or students about finding the right college I would say that their choices should be narrowed down to the schools that would best prepare you for the field that you want to enter after graduation. Once you get into school one of the main things that you have to remember is to be social and get out and meet as many people as possible. This will not only help you to build a good social life but it will also turn out to be a good thing when you need extra help in a class or it you need to get a study group together.

Make tons of school visits, and spend more than a day there. When you are at the school find out how the people at the school like it, and look around for extra curricular activities that you might be interested in.

Make sure the college has what you want. VCU wasn't known as the best school in my highschool but it is the top art and advertising school and that's what I wanted. Don't listen to other people and make you own decsions.

Being very brief and concise, I must say that It doesnt really matter as much what school you go to unless you really have to be part of a unique program that the Univeristy offers. Academic stregth of the the institution shoud be the main focus. Other than that social, cultural and other factors should matter to a certain extent. Do not make a decision that you will regret four years later. Choosing a school, is like choosing a highway that will take you a destination. What matters more is the final destination rather than the travelling expirieince itself. Ofcourse the more comfortable the ride is to you on the highway the more satisfied you will be.