Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

Do what you really want to do in life. Try to make every minute of your life enjoyable. Money is just a means to an end. Make you dreams reality. Nothing can stop you once your will is set.

Do wha'ts right for you. Don't go to college for boyfriends/girlfriends/friends. So much changes and it has to be the right fit for you.

Pick a major and find a college suitable for it.

The hardest part of the application process is choosing the institutions to which you want to apply. Selecting a safety school is always a good idea, but applying to a dream school might be an even better one. Parents, encourage your child to apply to schools where he could actually see himself attending, even if his acceptance is uncertain. Students, do not be discouraged by long applications or by low admittance percentages ? you never know exactly what each school is looking for in a potential student.After applying visiting each school is vital to get a feel for the campus and the student body. I waited until after I had been accepted to a school before I visited to save time and money, which might still be a good strategy considering our current economy. When visiting, touring your intended major?s department can be very helpful in discerning whether the specific program would work for you since every institution operates differently. Overall, keeping an open-minded attitude is the easiest way to find a school and to be successful in it. Be ready for change, but know that everyone else your age is at this same crossroads in life.

Definitely do your research. I made the mistake of not looking into schools, financial aid and all the things you need to know about before I started applying for college. Neither of my parents know English very well, so I basically had to do the whole college application process on my own. But I did end up at a top tier school, and I am proud of my parents. Make the best of whats available to you. There is a lot offered out there, you just have to find it!

A safe and affordable campus are vital components to finding a school fitting for a student. However, one has to be aware of the cost, distance from home, size, and most importantly the curriculum of the school before making the decision to attend that given establishment.

For finding the right college for you I feel like the decision can't be made on a whim, it has to be discussed and options must be weighed. Parents and students should discuss every detail that needs to be covered to makes sure that there is nothing over looked. When your visiting a school and something about it doesn't feel right then it's probably not the right fit for you. I think visiting a campus is the best thing you can do because you'll know when you've found the right school the minute you step foot on campus. As for the actual experience I would suggest going into the school with an open mine and set expectations for yourself in terms of what you want to accomplish this year. I believe it's very important to get involved right off the bat and be very open minded to the ideas and different kinds of peope your surrounded by. I believe that makes for a much better experience during this trasitional period and also all the new people you will meet will be attracted to your positive attitude and outlook for the future.

I would suggest visiting the college. I for one did not have that option due to my financial problems, however, if one does have the resources to do so, I would strongly recommend it. I would also like to remind the rising college students to have fun. Yes, you must strive for success, and yes, you will encounter some of the smartest people you will ever meet, but college is not just about learning. It's about building your character, your personality, your views, your likes, and your dislikes. It's about being able to identify your weaknesses, and your strengths. You have to be willing to put yourself out there; to show your peers what you are capable of doing, and what you can improve on. If you find yourself at a college where you can easily relate to, then that is the college for you. Make the most of your time in college. Build the life-long friendships, experience the instant decision-making process, and always search for the answers to what you believe in.

Visit colleges early. Do research early.

My advice to a parent and/or student about finding the right college and making the most out of the experience is this: find a college which suits your basic needs (whether that be a specific program you are interested in, an atmosphere, city, mountains, financial aid, etc) and then conjure up the most positive, outgoing attitude you can from within yourself. College is probably 15{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} finding a suitable atmosphere to grow as a person, and 85{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} YOUR work, YOUR attitude, and YOUR decisions. Obviously, being confronted with such a huge decision as to where you want to live and study for the next four years is a daunting one; many toss ideas of picking the wrong school or making the wrong choice over and over in their minds. With so many amazing oppurtunities offered at just about any University, it seems almost impossible to make a "wrong" decision unless the program or field of study you desired was not offered. The attitude you bring to school with you and how far you are willing to push yourself out of your comfort zone to grow as a person will ultimately determine your success and happiness at college regardless.