Baylor University Top Questions

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

Chelsea

The most important thing about finding the right college is visiting it! You have to meet professors, people you will be going with, and see the campus. Make sure the departments are strong in areas of your interest. Consider how far it is from home, the social climate, how academic the focus is, and it's standing as an institution. A degree from a well respected university is the key to a great career! As far as making the most of your college experience- get involved! There are so many capacities for getting involved, so just pick something and go! It doesn't matter what your activity is- academics, sports, art, music, school spirit- just get to know people, form study groups, join teams, try new things!

Alison

When choosing the right college for me, I really took advantage of seeing the university during school hours. I figured that if I'm going to college for the learning and the social interaction, I might as well see more than what a basic tour had to offer. So one of the thing that I did was ask some professors if I could sit in thier lectures. This gave me an idea of how big a class felt, how the students interacted with eachother, and how the professor presented not only the information but also his passion for the subject. Another thing that I did was that I ate the food in the cafeteria. That gave me insight to the student atmosphere outside the classroom. Basically, the best advice that I can give to a student who is looking for the right college, is to live as a student for one day and go beyond the facade that a tour will give. Once a student, the best thing to get a college experience is to participate in as much student activities that the university has to offer. You'll make friends and have fun. It beats watching TV anyday.

Ryan

Analyze the likes and dislikes of your son or daughter thoroughly. Find a unversity that caters directly to their dreams and desires and not simply the most convenient choice. Visit the college and make as many prior connections within the faculty and leadership at least a year before a final decision needs to be made. Make sure the university has an extremely large endowment and focuses on reinvesting in school equipment to further research needs. Find a university that offers sports but does not emphasize sports over academic success for masters and graduate school.

Charissa

I think the type of advice one gives depends on the situation. I think that finding the "right college" depends upon the individual needs of a student, their interests and their families. The best advice I can give for finding the right college is to stick with a university. I wasn?t completely happy my Freshman year of college. It was hard I went to an out of state university and I didn?t know anyone. I was definitely hard but I kept at it and as a result I grew so much by not running away when I was lonely or felt different. Pushing through when I could have helped met to become more independent person who takes pride in taking care of herself. To make the most out of any college experience would be to have fun. I spent most of my high school years maintaining good grades and taking part in clubs to build my resume. I would suggest having fun. This not to say do not study or recklessly make self destructive choices. However, it?s a good idea to experiment and found out who you really are.

Devon

Be open minded about choosing a college. You aren't too good or not good enough to go anywhere. Small schools are nice, and small class sizes are too, but remember that campuses like that are often wealthy and elitist. You might fit in better at a larger school. Check out all of the options. Don't worry about cost of attendance, there are student loans for a reason. Don't go somewhere just because a friend is going. If you're unsure about where to go, go to a local college for a year. Choosing a college isn't something to take lightly. Make sure that where you choose is where you want to go, so that you don't waste time and money.

Christine

Pretty much any college can seem great on paper or on the web but nothing beats going in person. It's the only way to truly know whether a school is right for you or not. Make sure you'll like your teachers, classmates, location, reputation, cost, food, political and/or religious affiliation of the majority, social life, and student services. Ultimately it's the student who will know whether or not a school is right for him or her--not the parent. It's about what makes that student happy that will ultimately make he or she successful in the long run.

bethany

Don't stress out too much about making the wrong decision when choosing your school. College is about finding yourself and choosing a college is part of that process. If you discover you don't like your college, you can always transfer but at least you've learned something about yourself. Once you're there, be yourself and get involved in something, anything. Don't be afraid to meet new people because at first, everyone is just as nervous and alone as you are. Have a good time because this is your last bit of fun before the real world, but don't forget about your studies or else you might never make it to the real world.

Tommy

Let who is going to be the student decide. It is not the parents decision. While it is very important to get the parents perspective since they have been through college before, in the end it comes down to where the student will feel the most comfortable. You can not be succesful somewhere unless you feel comfortable. With that comfort level comes happyness as well. It is not all about academics when your at college. It is about developing as a person and meeting people you will be friends with the rest of your life. At the same time it is important that students realize it is not all about partying. You are a student first and make sure you keep your head on straight and get a degree, but do not be too uptight and be able to enjoy yourself.

Daniella

College, the first step to a successful future, might seem scary and overwhelming. Choosing the right college is not only important to your education and upcoming professional life, but will also have a great influence on the person you will become. Reviewing the best programs for your area or field of interest is a good way to start. Choosing an institution that will provide you with the best knowledge and will grant you the skills necessary to succeed is of extreme importance, but it is from experience, our environment and the people we surround ourselves with that we learn the most. In order to make the best of your ?college years? do not choose a place that defines who you are, but one that will make you who you want to be. Surround yourself with people that will push you to perform at your greatest capacity, enroll yourself in a program that will challenge your talents and awake your creativity, embark into an adventure where everyday will bring a new lesson and a new opportunity to grow. Make of college your second home, a place to love, to learn, and a part of you.