Augusta State University Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Vensuela

When it comes to finding the right college and making the most of the college experience, It takes a lot of work. You have to think about tutition, housing, financial aid, books, school supplies, location, transportation, and food. Some people are not able to afford for tuition and other college expenses and that is where the hard work comes in. Its easy to attend an in state university or college, because fortunately its less expense, more convient, and less hassle. For some people an in state college may not be the right school for them. In that sistuation I would encourage students and parents to be involved in filling out more scholarships, fill out your fasfa, maybe take loans, and encourage them to set aside money every week or two weeks. Its not a good idea to just pick the least expense college, because you have to take in consideration which school has your major, how long do you want to stay in school, and does the school provide some of the qualities or extra curricular activities that you want. That is what I would tell a student or parent to take in consideration when selecting a college or university.

April

Always be sure about what you are looking for in a school and know ahead of time before you go and look at them or tour them.

Lauren

I would tell the student to follow their heart. Chose the right school for you. Do not worry about what your friends, family, or teachers think. In the end it will be you at the school and you need to be happy to succeed. If you are unhappy, no one wins. Make sure you check out everything your school has to offer before going, not only academic, but socially as well. Join at least one club...this will help you with your resume and help you know the school.

Ryan

College is what you make of it and the location and prestige is only a fraction of the experience. Parents should consider the financial burden college is going to become and budget accordingly. In these tight economic times, I feel equally eligible for the job market as I would if I had gone to a more expensive university. Students be sure to get involved in campus organizations and off-campus in civic groups or churches. These places are where life experiences happen and life-long friends are made. Be wary of using your credit card too much and save money when you can so when you face the transition between college and the "real world" you will be most prepared.

Joseph

I would advise to think about what your plans are for the future and pick a college around that. Big expensive colleges known for their partying and football are not always the best/cheapest way to go.

Crystle

Allow students to work through their own classes. Do not push your child into any particular subject until they are 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure that's the area of student they want to be in.

Eric

Just make sure you visit alot of colleges till you find the right one for you

Kara

The difficult decison of selecting a college to recieve your education from can be difficult because so many campuses offer the opportunities that you are looking for, or maybe you are not even certain what you are even looking for. It's important to get the facts on what interests you, so that you can make an informed decision when you're ready. The first thing is, don't worry about names when you begin looking at a college. The worst thing you can do is choose a college just because it's one that everyone has heard of, or that all your friends will be attending. Instead, think about what degrees or programs interest you, and what size campus is best suited for you. You may even want to visit campuses close to home, even if you know they're not your first choice, just so you have something to compare with your other choices. Look at class sizes, tuition and financial aid, and even if that they have a sport or extracurricular activity that interests you. When you narrow down your choices, visit if possible and talk to students, professors, even alumni before making the decision.

Julie

My absolute most favorite part of college was my relationship with my professors. I felt drawn toward each of their offices every day and knew I was welcome to visit them whenever I pleased - whether it was for homework questions or just to shoot the breeze. I would suggest to all college students that they really get to know their professors. Not only did they answer my immediate questions, but I've made valuable references for life. I would suggest that students take advantage of their campus faculty and staff. I did not limit myself to only getting to know faculty. I became close with the main office staff, the alumni staff, and even the janatorial staff. It felt great to walk down the halls of the science building and have a chat with Mr. Ibrahim as he swept the floor or to stop in the Chemistry and Physics office to ask the secretary how her grandchildren were doing. I made an honest effort to understand the lives of the people who did so much for my college. I ended up developing some very close friendships and gaining more wisdom than from just my classes alone.

Hannah

Go with what is right for you. Don't worry about what everyone else wants. Do whats best for you!

Anthony

College is an experience unlike any other. Choosing the right school in my opinion involves knowing who your department chair and department faculty are. You can always make friends with people that live in the area and do not necessarily go to the school. The people you will always see and interact with are the professors and if they are nice and student friendly then you have a winning place. There are an unfortunate number of schools where the professors only care about their research and paychecks and have very little care for the students. Also, pick a school that has small class sizes. The less students you are with in a classroom, the more the professors work with you both inside and outside of school.

Crystal

I would have to say to the parents to be sure to have your children's Financial Aid Application filled out and complete by the due dte of the university or college. To the prospective students always be sure to come to class and be attentive, finish your homework (this also meaning knowing due dates for important documents and events), staying on the task at hand and enjoying your experience to the fullest. What you put in to it is exactly what you will get out of it.

Sarah

Picking a college is not an easy decision. I advise you to look at you options and find the one that offers the major that you are wanting to pursue. I also would advise visiting the school and looking over the campus before you just arrive for the first day. Take time, attend one of the concerts and even visit friends for the weekend to see if this really is the school for you or your child. Once you have narrowed the options look at cost and the scholarships that you will receive. This is also an important factor in choosing the college of your choice. You do not want to be so burdened by the cost of the school that you are focused more on money than on your education. Lastly, have fun in chosing you school. This is one of the most important thing you will ever decide, enjoy the time to discuss with you parents about what he future may hold for you!

Jessica

For students to make sure they know what they want to do and visit the college before the start going to the school.

Forrest

The most important advice I would give parents and students about finding the right colleges is attend a college which demonstates their career plans because there are professors that are highly skilled to present students with what they need to get high paying jobs. In addition, students just should not choose a college because of the area nor tution because students have to get the most information out of what professors have to offer. Parents should do specific research on the schools their child plan to attend to make sure their child knows the pro's and the con's of the academics and social life. Therefore, when students finally attend the college of their choice, they should highly focus to the best of their ability because the work load is very different from high school. College is based on a lot of responsibility to study, complete assignments, and to take advantage of resources when classes get tough, such as, Math Lab, Writing Center, or Study Hall. After the students get done with their academic course work, extracirculum activities can come and having fun can relax the mind. Having fun relaxes the mind and keeps stress from building during college.

Matthew

Visit the websites of the university you are interested in, gain feedback from students and alumni, and tour the campuses. Once enrolled, get involved in a student organization.

Holly

Some advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to most importantly research the financial situation the family is capable of helping out with, and also how much is going to be needed in reality for the student to live comfortably. Minimizing financial stress on the student from the start will consequently help the student focus on more important tasks at hand, like studying and paying attention in class. In addition, students should look into what type of social scene and networking is available at the prospective college in order to make the best of their college experiences outside of the learning aspect.

Janet

Go see all school choices first. Visit the city as well to know what kind of town you will be living in. Also ask students that go to the school how they feel about it and the work load.

Arielle

It would be a good idea to research the courses and majors/minors that are available at the school that a student may be thinking about attending. Schools that generally have a smaller number of students attending offer fewer choices, and if a student isn't sure what they want to do with their lives, it may be more beneficial for them to attend a larger school. That way, they are exposed to more options.

Melissa

Be more focused on the students needs and not on what the parent thinks is right or what they want the student to do.

Karlyn

Pick a college that is right for YOU. Don't listen to where your friends are going, and don't feel like you need to go where your friends go. As long as you interact yourself with groups on Campus and do as much as you can you will make other friends at your university. I would tell any college student to definitely be involved! That is the key to enjoying your years in college. Go to sports games, join groups, fraternities and sororities. Do what you want to do! Experience things that you haven't ever done while being at your highschool. You will be surprised at how much you learn by just branching out and getting involoved!

Laura

Find a school that has a good reputation, has students your own age, and has activities that you would be interested in joining.

DeeAnna

Advice that I have for parents and/ or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to research all the schools that you are considering. Make sure that the particular schools that you are considering have your major that you want to pursue and that is affordable. Parents and/ or students you also want to visit the colleges that you are considering to make sure that you are completely satisfied with the particular college of your choice. As a college student, you want to make sure that you that you keep yourself active by getting involved in extracurricular activities and by making new friends that will encourage you to do well in your studies.

Shi

To stay strong in your studies and do not wait until the last minute becuase it can hurt your grade in the long run

Kimberley

Students should plan to visit various colleges to get a feel of what school you prefer to attend. The college visitation process is essential in selecting a school. The student can attain a bundle of helpful information that may or may not have been available through word of mouth. It is a great experience to interact with students at the school and faculty alike. Although students become over joyed with their first college experience students tend to forget their priority reason for attending. After students are accepted into the university it is very important that they continue to excel in thier classes so they may reap the benefits of graduating and receiving an authentic college degree. Making the most of your college experience prepares you for the majority of your future endeavors. It is wise for a student to take advantage of the friends, knowlegde, and overall challenge of college to better themselves accordingly.

Kyong

I would advice some of the parents and students who are looking for the right college that contact the students whoare attendint that college. Also, try to visit the college and classes; this will help you to experience little bit of that college life.

Ryan

Read! Utilize the internet. Find the school that offers the best programs for what it is you want to accomplish out of life. Don't let money hold you back. There are tons of resources to help students attend the schools they want to attend.

Jason

Although it may not seem important, try to find a school wih student s that are involved. The attitude you have while in college is very importnat and if it is not a positive one then your grades will be highly affected.

Colden

I think it is very important to take campus visits to the colleges your student is intrested in. Make sure the school has the degree program you are interested in, and has a good reputation about it. And as far making the most out of the college experience, i say have the time of your life. this is the last bit of childhood you get, after college your in the real world. Meet as many people as possible and hangout with them, get to eachother. You can never have enough friends. also i recomened that all students come to their school with a sense of pride and spirit. college is what you make it, have the time of your life.

Tashiera

Choose an environment you would be most focused in.

Devon

My advice would be for parents to really be involved in the whole college application and selection process. I didn't get very much guidance from my parents because I'm the youngest and they'd already been through it many times with my siblings. For students, I encourage you to make a list of things that are important to you in a college and then select some that fit most of your criteria. If you do that, you'll most likely be happy wherever you end up. No matter where you go, make new friends. Thats one of the best parts of the college experience.

Jonelle

The one piece of advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to first visit the school the students and/or parents are most interested in to get a better feel for the school and whether they can envision themselves being at that school for the next four years. Many times students and parents get so caught up in the financial aspect of the institutions, which is important, but it is also important to visit these schools because although the idea is to get an education, you also want to attend an institution where one can also grow personally and build long lasting relationships. Also, the institution and the town it is located in should have a feel of a home away from home, which would also minimize the feeling of being homesick that many first-time college students can have.

Crystal

The most important aspect of life most certainly applies here; "don't settle". If you don't think that you will be happy then you won't. A big mistake some my peers and I made was not to venture away from home and that cost just as much as living sixty miles as, maybe not in actual dollars but in experiences! I haven't experienced nearly as many situations as some of my friends who moved away for college and I can't go back and change that. Apply for all the scholarships and aid early because you don't want to let the cost drive the decision, experiences and education have their own rewards and in the long run you are learning to fish and not just to eat!

Bionca

Make sure you go to the college that you want to go to. Don't let your family keep you back. If you do go to a college near home, you should live with your parents. I was required to move out and had a hard time working and going to school fulltime. If you have to work, make sure you get a roommate to work parttime. If you have to work fulltime, try to go to school partime and go during the summer. Take some classes that you want to take. Don't just take the ones to mark off your list to graduate.

Christopher

The most important advice I would give to parents and students when trying to find a college is to go to the prospective colleges and take a tour. This gives you an oppurtunity to see how the students and professor interact as well as how well the student life interests the prospective student. Also take this time to find out about living accomodations. This will be important as roomates can be distracting and very influencial on learning. The living situation should allow the student to be safe, have fun yet still provide the oppurtunity to learn and study when the time comes. Make sure both the parents and the student is comfortable with the choice and take your time to analyze other colleges in the same ways as well so that you leve yourself with options that will best fit your needs.

Rebecca

The advice I would give to anyone would be to first make sure the college has the major you are looking for and I would go and visit the college and talk to professors and students to get the feel of what college life on that campus it. In order to make the most of your college experience would be to get involved with college activities and really be involved in your classes and participate. In order to learn one must participate. Study groups are a excellent choice because you meet friends and you also learn other ideas from classmates. Also, I would recommend that you love the major you are majoring in and be involved for example do research.

Sarah

Visit the college that you are thinking about attending. Sit through some of the classes to see if this is the right school, and you will also learn about the friendliness of the classmates you might attend classes with. This also allow you to see the atmosphere of the school as a whole. Having gone through the process of visiting campus also give you an idea of the staff in the offices you will come in contact with while at the school. Lastly, once you find the right college get involved in the activities the school offers. Learning and getting involved with the people makes the time more enjoyable for everyone involved. Most of all, have fun and take classes to give you an overall view of the future.

Micayla

Consider everything. Not only where the college is, but what is available to you off-campus. Look at what goes on after class, the student life, the availability of professors, the class size, etc, and consider what's best for you. Don't look at a huge city college if you're a quiet country girl. Don't consider a small community college in the middle of nowhere if you're from New York City, unless that's what you're looking for specifically. Don't get stuck on academics. Get involved with something, even if it's just an intense study group. Branch out and make friends with people that are different from you. College is where you learn to be yourself, not just get an awesome education. Network with teachers, make friends with classmates, and get involved with a club that is affiliated with your major. You won't regret it.