Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

I would give the advice to the student and say: "pick a college which specializes in what you want to pursue eventually in your post-college career". Do not pick a college based on whether or not your parents or family members attented, whether or not you like their sports teams, or whether or not your high school friends are going. In the end, what will make you happy is the fact that you know you are getting the best education that you paid for. Choosing the right college is, yes, a scary choice but when you can look back on your four years and know that you were able to excel emotionally, socially, and intuitively you will hold little, if any, regrets

Make sure that economically its the right decision for both of you, and to choose a career that you will enjoy the rest of your life.

My advice is to pick a school that makes you feel at home; a place where you can study what you want and feel comfortable there. Of Course pick a school that offers the program that you want, but I believe whole heartly that the school has to feel like home for you to do well. To make the most of your experience get out there and get involved, with all the types of clubs offered everyone can find people with the same interest as them and make friends for life. And what is college all about? Getting the education you want and making friends for life having the time of your life.

As a Senior in High School, I was in the provess of choosing a college. I visited a few schools, knowing I wanted to be an engineer major and that I wanted to be in the South helped my process, but I still wasn't completely sure where I wanted to go. The best advice I can give students looking for a college is to keep your options open and look at any and all schools that seem somewhat interesting. Make sure you are going to have a good education and a good social life, or else you will hate your first year. Parents, be there, but don't be there; make sure you can support your students when they need you but let them come to you. Students, get involved!!! This helped me so much, still as a Junior I stay involved!

For most parents, a school that has a great atmosphere and a strong influence for academic success is top ranked. I, however, tend to be slightly skewed from this view. For most students, college is a place to find themselves, to find their future friends and families. To me, in order to find these things, a school must go beyond the academic standing it holds. A school must provide an endless amount of opportunities for a student to express him/herself. Whether it be a sports game, an art class, a science lab or a dance company, students need to get involved in as many activities as he/she can and start to figure out what means the most to them. Not every student prefers to study at night, but by studying, a student can gain the knowledge to pursue an endless amount of opportunities in the future. If a major doesn't seem to fit the student, then change the major. Life is too short to be doing something that a person is not enjoying. Money isn't everything in life either, it comes in the way of many life decisions and to me, it should not rule anyone.

Most kids fit in and find friends that share similar interests and hobbies. Parents should worry less and encourage their child to explore and meet new people.

Pay attention in class and try to think about the job you want to get when choosing what to really grasp. Get involved in an activity if you are having trouble meeting people.

Take your time. When you look at a school, make sure you consider what the student's needs, such as financial aid, social activities, academic programs, housing, etc., are and whether or not the college can satisfy those needs. Every college has its own uniqueness.

I would definitely tell parents and students to visit any college they may be interested in attending. Take tours and speak with real students who attend that college and ask them about their experiences. Asking a current or former student what they love or hate about their college is a great way to figure out whether that college is right for you!

I would advised parents to be involved with their students throughout the application process. No matter what we say, we really do need your guidance. Gather as much information as you can by going to College Fairs and programs offered at your high school. Use the resources at your school's career center for dates of college visits, SAT/ACT help, sit down and get advise from your counselors. Start early in your high school career and realize that every grade makes a difference. Make sure you visit all the colleges you are intested in, take the guided tours offered. You must see the college during the day when the students are present to get a good feel for the university. Eat a meal in the dining halls and talk to students you see. Don't be influenced by where your high school friends are going or "the" school in your state. Make sure the college has your major and that companies recruit seniors for jobs after college. Regarding making the most of your college experience, only you can make that happen. Get involved with extracurriculiar activites by joining clubs and intramurals. Go to class and study!

In one word, VISIT. A lot of my friends from home did not visit the college of their choice and have since transferred because it was not what they thought it would be. I was not going to apply to Virginia Tech until I visited and could not be happier with my decision. As far as making the most of the college experience, get out and meet people. Do not hesitate to speak up or voice an opinion- people will love you for it. If you think a club may be interesting- go to a meeting and try it out, its worth a shot and it may help you make decisions regarding your major or the rest of your life. Talk with your professors, they are key assets in college and can really change your outlook on teachers in general and may even help your grades!!

Apply to as many schools as possible, visit the schools and try and do an over-night. Take sincere consideration of the availability of financial aid.

The true key to selecting the college that is best for you is look at the opportunities available. Look into your interests, your strengths, your passions; then, find a place that best suits those ideals. Visit the campus. Make sure that you would enjoy living there for potentially the next four or so years. Think of the climate, the location, the landscape, and the culture. Interact with the present student and faculty bodies. Use them to get a firsthand idea of what life is like at that school. Figure out how big of a school you want to go to. Try not to focus on the cost of tuition. Even if you cannot afford it, the money is out there. Do not let money limit your future. The academic, social, and community quality of a school will play a vital part in your future. Make sure you choose a place that will allow you to grow as a person and flourish into the adult that you were meant to be.

I think for parents, they have to have some trust in their child. That he or she will make the best decision for them, because its not the parents that are going to spend the four years there. I think another thing for the students is that once you choose your college you are not stuck there for four years. If you end up not liking your original choice look for a better alternative.

The best way to find the right college is to visit! After touring quite a few college campuses I was able to figure out what sort of characteristics I wanted my school to have; lots of school pride and spirit, a football team, friendly students, involved professors, etc. Talking to students at each school, eating meals on campus, sitting in on classes, and staying on campus overnight provided a different and more realistic feel of what school would be like if one went there and it definitely helped in my final decision. Becoming involved in clubs, sports, and activities is the best way to make the most of the college experience. The best part about being involved in school activities is meeting so many different people. People with different and similar interests come together and it creates many opportunities for new friends. Not only are new friends made but also chances for study groups, sports teams, and volunteer groups are made. Taking advantage of academic help such as review sessions and office hours will help the college experience from the academic standpoint. After all that's the reason for going to college!

Make sure that when you visit the campus that you could see yourself walking around campus and enjoying it. That when you see students walking around you can picture yourself in class with any one of them. Make sure that the atmosphere makes you smile on the inside as well as on the outside.

Money shouldn't matter. College is so much more than the money aspect. I can't afford this college one bit. I'm going to be in so much debt when I get out that I won't know what to do with myself, but it is completely worth it. With only one year under my belt, I have had experiences here that no other students at any other colleges could ever have. Even most upperclassmen at this school haven't done some of the things I have had the opportunity of doing. Also, when looking for the right college, make sure you visit first. My mom dragged me to visit Tech, but the second that I stepped on the campus, I knew this was where I had go. It's an instict, and it's 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} correct. And the day you move in, meet the people in the hall of your dorm. They will become your best friends. My absolute best friends lived right next door to me and others downt the hall from me. And it all started with a hello the first week of school. Without them, my college experience would not be the same.

I would advise students to pick a school that is not only challegeing academically for them, but a palce where they can have fun and enjoy being a college student. These are the best four years of your life so you need to make the best of them. Work hard academically so that you can enjoy everything that college has to offer. When you work hard you can play hard too.

Make sure they check into what programs are offered to meet the student needs. Find the right fit for you that makes you comfortable in social events as well as the classroom.

Students should sit down and analyze their hobbies and what they enjoy in school, in terms of subject matter. This is a very good way of determining what major best suits you as a student. The type of lifestyle you lead is a good indication of what college will be right for you. Money is a very important factor when making a college decision, but there could be a trade off between money and experience. For example, you could live at home and only pay 3,000 a semester for community college but chance are you will not get the amazing college experience that almost all high school students dream of. My best advice in picking a school is to figure out which major is best for you, pick a school that has the social aspects that you look for, and that is affordable. If you don't know what major you are interested in pursuing, you should attend a school that has a broad range of majors to choose from that interest you as well as the social aspects and affordability, as mentioned before. Once you pick the right school, make the most of the money you pay. :)