California State University-Fullerton Top Questions

If I could give high school seniors and their parents advice it would be to make sure if they pick a school far away from their hometown, that they're sure that is what they really want. I go to school near home and I absolutely love it. I have the best of both worlds; I have my family near, and I get to experience college life at the same time. I have friends that wanted to experience college in its "fullest," so they moved far away from home for school, and they are completely unhappy and homesick now. Many students get excited about college, yet they do not think of all of the aspects of what really makes them happy. Family is a big part of many peoples lives, and leaving them for a year may be harder than what they thought. Students should really put thought into how far they travel for college.

Whever you go, you will most likely be happy.

Find a department that is right for you, and remember that you may change your direction once you start your undergrad courses. The experience you will have greatly depends on if you are a transfer student, or freshman; either way it is important to speak to other students who are in a similar situation. It is important to find an institution whose Professors are engaged with the student body, and available to their students. If you are interested in activities on-campus, or are considering living on campus you might want to find a school that is not a commuter school. The best advice I can give anyone making a decision about, "getting the most of the college experience", is to work hard. Yes, it is tempting to forget about your studies when there are distractions, however education is a privlage, not a right. The resources available to students at Universities are inumerable and should not be taken for granted.

I would tell people to get involved with the school and also manage your time. When all work and no play, tends to make people go crazy and no social life. All play and no work, tends to get people horrible grades. By balancing out time, we are able to have able to have study time with social life. Time management is the key.

Deciding on what college to attend is one of life's most important decisions. First, a student and their parents need to find out what the student would like to major in. It is not uncommon to change majors, but thinking of what career path will be undertaken helps to whittle down a list of possible colleges. Often, students in high school desire to go to schools that their close friends are attending. This can be a mistake if that college is not the right fit for the individual. When students and parents visit colleges, go talk to students, and if possible, faculty or school staff members. Parents and students should look at many different colleges (different size colleges, out of state schools) to ensure that they will be making the best decision. College is an exciting and demanding time for both students and their parents. With a little planning and an open mind, the right school can be chosen for both student and parents.

Tuition plays a big role in selecting a college to go to. If an individual is looking to further their education in graduate school, they should go to a reputable, yet economical, undergraduate school. It will all pay off in the end when the college student is not as far in debt as their peers. If possible, the student should live at home while going to college. This will allow them to save money for tuition and books. If they are lucky, they may not even need to take out loans since they will be living rent free. Not having a monely rent payment will limit their worries so they can put more of their energy into thier studies. Students should start taking their major courses early on so they are not overwhelmed with the workload.

I decided to go to a community college out of high school before heading to a 4-year university and I feel that I was better prepared for a 4-year. For every person it is different, my reason for attending a community college was because financially my parents and I couldn't afford anything more, but I think that in order to find the right college you should make sure you get your applications in on time, look at campuses you are interested in and figure out what you are looking for out of a college/university. Once you find the right school the next step would be to find what interests you and get involved on your campus. The key to success in college is to find a balance between a social life and passing your classes. You won't enjoy college if you never go out and have fun with your friends. You are only young once and deserve a chance to let of some steam every once in a while; but your academics are important too, so set goals for yourself, stay organized and focused then go have fun and live it up.

It is important to actually go and visit colleges, and possibly go somewhere that is not five minutes from your high school. It is important to go to a new place with a different environment and different people. I made the wrong decision in going to CSUF, and I am planning on transferring to a new school in the Fall 2009 semester. Hopefully I can go to SFSU up north. Anyway, I really think it's a big deal to see what college will fit you best. Not what your parents want, not what all your friends say you should go to, but what you think suits you the best.

Look for campuses that fit your personality. Something that makes you feel welcome and not intimidated. Also, take advantage of your college resources and focus on coursework.

Make sure you select a college that fits you and not your friends or parents. Don't let outside influences dictate where you attend college. Ask a lot of questions of faculty, especially about their teaching techniques. The more outside, real-world experience the faculty can bring into the classroom, the better off you will be. Stay on top of things, do NOT procrastinate, and don't let your social life interfere with your education, there will be plenty of time for social activities after you graduate. Remember, you or your parents are paying for this education, it is not high school. Teachers are there to instruct, advise and assist, not babysit you through the graduation process. If you get depressed about schoolwork, find an outlet (not drugs or alcohol related) that will allow you to decompress and release stress. If you can afford it, I would recommend skydiving. I have been doing this for over 10 years, and this being my second go around in college, found that this alleviated my stress. Good luck and enjoy, college can be some of the best years of your life-to-date and treasured going forward.

Two major things: (1) It is best to have a good idea of what you want out of the college and, maybe even more important, (2) you should be leaning heavily towards one specific major. If you know what you want out of college, it will make your decision much easier. Some important things to consider when "school-shopping "include: finding a campus that is renowned for getting students into a career right after college, finding a campus that is comfortable - in and out of the classroom (or even the environment surrounding the campus), and finding a campus that has very knowledgable professors. With regards to having a good idea of a major you want to pursue, I think this is crucial in the college search process. Once you have an idea of what you want to major in, you can visit campuses (or even email) and ask very specific questions to the professors tied to that major. It is very important to find a school that is distinguished in the area (major) you wish to pursue. You are going to college to better yourself in life afterwards - know this and choose one that will be most effective.

When looking for the right college, it is best to look for a school that is well known and has a good program for the major that you plan on going into. Other things to also consider is: distance, financial issues, and other things that you might was to do while attending school, like getting a job. My advice on making the most of the college experience is,to make sure you don't have too many things to do at once. Just because you're in college, doesn't mean you have to stress yourself out. Try taking simple classes at first, in order to get yourself better acquainted with the school. Try joining clubs and organizations that deal with your major, for example if you're going into communications, join the advertisment club. This was you can make friends with those would have similar interests as you and they are able to help you out with any questions you might have with school. Lastly, never hesitate to ask anyone questions; if you need help with anything, just ask. Weather it be a professor, student, advisor, or just someone walking around school; no one minds giving a helping hand.

find a school that has a good program for your major. something affordable. get involved with some activities, whether it is intramural sports or clubs

Talking to an advisor to make sure you are studying the right courses for your interests. Also, I would recommend living on campus the first year of school. It really helps with networking and being informed of all events on campus and within the campus housing department. Taking tours of the campus and meeting faculty will also help in deciding where the student will best feel fit.

I would give people the advice that in order to choose the right college, they need to go to the college first. You should see if you like the environment first, because that is the most important. also you should look at what that school is known for, so you know what kind of school you are getting yourself into. College is a time for you to make a new chapter in your life. Its a time to be someone you wanted to be in high school and you dont have to worry about people judging you, because they dont know you yet. Get active and join some clubs. If you play a sport, and are not at the collegiate level, there is intramural which is a great way to play the sports you love and meet new and interesting people.

College is the most crucial level of education in preparing for your future. Be very picky about the colleges you apply to. Be sure the school offers the precise degree you want; has ample funding; provides on-campus housing or affordable off-campus housing; emphasizes multiculturalism, and fosters learning in many different ways. Check on the professors' backgrounds and the student to instructor ratio. Look for volunteer opportunities to fill out your resume. Above all, visit the campus and sit in on a class if possible--interview professors you are likely to have in class. You cannot be choosy enough when it comes to picking your college.

Apply everywhere, and if you find you want to switch majors, DO IT! Don't just lie aroud thinking someone will talk 2 u bc they won't. Be brave, join clubs, make frends, party a little, but get your shit done. When you graduate u wanna be a better person than when u entered. that is all! Lauren, out!

To find right college: Don't go to college that your parents forces you to go Think about your major and try to find appropriate college To make the most of the college experience: join clubs! find new friends get along with them don't just stuck in the library and study 24/7 Enjoy finals and sleepless if you have to!

In finding the right college, I believe it is important you choose a university that has a great department for the student's chosen major. If you are still unsure of your major, you should spend time at a junior college and take advantage of our general education requirements to see what you are passionate about. You can make the most of it by really getting into all of the general education classes, because you will start to see how all of these classes are connected and you can begin to get a better understanding of the world around us. Students should also whole-heartedly put into the time suggested for studying; for every hour in class, spend two hours outside of class studying. There is nothing more rewarding than gaining knowledge and getting good grades. No night out partying could feel better than getting straight A's. I know from experience. Also, if you have chosen a college that has a great department for your major, you will have great opportunities to prepare for your future, which is the reason we're in college in the first place. :)

I think that parents should not be afraid of letting their children attend the college of their choice even if it might mean moving away and having to dorm somewere else. It is a great life experience to try something different and live life. I also think students should really look into the school that they want to attend and get as much imformation from that school as possible. This will help the student understand what they are to expect of the campuse.

Decide what colleges you are interested early on. That way you have time to go and do campus tours and you can investigate more around the campus itself. Try as much as possible to do on campus housing your first year or more, and be involved with activities on campus. This will really help out with adapting to living on your own quickly, and it's a lot better of an experience to have roommates you are friends with then are just simply living with. In high school try to make sure and do lots of extra curriculars too, so one, you're used to balancing your schedule, and two, you are eligible to apply for more scholarships. The more financially prepared you are for college the more enjoyable it will be. It's no fun to be stressing out about being able to afford your next semester. And finally be prepared to study! Teach yourself early, not to procrastinate- it'll eliminate a LOT of unnecessary stress in the long run.

First of all, don't be lazy in college... Ever. Second of all, never just settle for a college, always aim high and hit low (with a chance of getting into a prestigious institution) rather than aim low and hit high. I was lazy and didn't want to write personal statements / essays for college applications (yes, the real ones that matter) and now, I'm stuck with Cal State Fullerton. Don't ever follow my foot-steps. For parents: never lie to your kids about drugs and sex. If you tell them that doing cocaine will make you feel bad and they try it and actually feel good, you have just officially invalidated ALL your future statements. Every person I knew about whose parents told them the TRUTH about all things deemed evil may have experimented with them but have never became an addict / junkie. In fact, I encourage parents to keep the drug problems in the house rather than outside. If children associated all the bad things with "parent-okayed," they tend to not rebel and pursue them actively. Lastly, don't take college OVERLY seriously and learn to use moderation in life. That's all.

Balance the cost of the campus along with the majors it offers, the safety of the campus, and your attraction to its location. You have to like what you're getting, but be responsible, too.

Make sure to do the necessary research of every school you look into. You do not want to end up somewhere that does not satisfy your interests or needs.

pick a school that is great for your major. sometimes the school you think you are supposed to go to is not the right one. visit the school and see how you feel there and get talk to people who have been there to see whattheir opinions are, particulary students who are in your desired major.

The most important thing to consider is if the college offers the major you want. The school should also be in a good location. The most important factor of location is how safe the city is. You might want to look at on and off-campus housing; does the school provide enough? And lastly, how nice or beautiful the campus is could also be a decision factor.

The advice I would give to parents and students is that they research everything they can on the college. By researching they can find about clubs, sports and majors that are given at the college. Once all the research is done narrow it down to a few colleges and then go visit them. Most colleges have a tour they give of the college. This is helpful because you can ask the guide any questions you have about enrolling and fees. I also recommend that you interact with students and ask them how they like the college. To get the most out of the college experience you would have to join a sport, sorority/fraternity, or club. Being around people that have the same interests as you can help you get adjusted to the college. It also nice to always have people to go to when you need advice on what classes to take and show you around campus. The best advice I can give to parents/students is to get familiar with the campus. Also, to get the most out of the college experience I would recommend that you join campus activities to meet people and help you around campus.

Deciding which college to attend can be a difficult disicion for anyone, especially if he or she is not sure what they want to study. Even those who "know" what they want to study in college usually change their minds before graduation. When trying to decide which school to choose I would suggest that everyone visit the school and the surrounding area. Often times a students first choice isn't their first choice after a visit. On the other hand many students last choice college becomes the campus that they feel the most comfortable at after they take a trip there. Students should also make sure to look at the area surrounding the school. Chances are they may live off campus during school or even find a job in the area upon graduation. Students should make sure that they like the surrounding area. Throughout the process students should consider many factors including major, reputation, cost, location, social life, etc., but in the end the student needs to pick the school where they feel the most comfortable, not the school their parents urge them to attend. Student should make their own choice in the coming of age experience.

I would suggest that parents and students learn to take advantage of community college classes to help them discover what they would like to study. Take a look at the number of students per classroom as well as what type of instructors teach at the school (all part-time faculty or more tenured). This can help you determine the types of professors/teaching styles you will likely encounter. Get involved in a club or extra-curricular sports team (like a frisbee team or an engineering club) they do fun activities that often help you to make friends and also often involve the community. Take advantage of free events the school offers such as music concerts, local bands, movie nights, etc. This saves money and gives you a sense of school spirit and a chance to meet people. Also, be sure you can balance your social life with your studies. Don't just keep your nose in books, but don't just hang out or party - it is important for your college experience to have a healthy social life while keeping your main focus on studies.

If possible, live on campus.

The best advice I can give would be not to search for what has the most prestige or history in a school but what will offer the best learning environment and opportunities for the student. Having great professors and great fellow students can be more beneficial than having the highest and most elite of schools. Gaining bonds with classmates will also help advance the student even further than just the mere prestige as those bonds can help future career paths and choices to better the student. There is no such thing as a wrong choice, or a bad choice, every choice will have benefits of some kind, so just choose what will let you have the most fun while learning. I for one never once thought that the professor would suggest meeting at a Denny's to help aid students with a study session before finals, but because of that I was able to have fun and recommend that class and professor to other students to better themselves. Don't choose a school that focus on parties, but choose a school that can balance between fun and work and then you will have the best time in college.

Explore the college campus first before deciding which school to attend.

pick the one that best meets your needs

When recieving advisement always ask what is required for various majors (for example, I didn't know the difference between a BA and a BFA until I was a Jr.) Always fill out a FAFSA even if the parents make lots of money. There are various schollarships available and FAFSA is always required. Don't assume you wont recieve aide because the parents "make too much money."

I believe that students should chose their college based on what they want to do as a career in life. they should chose a college that has many options in case one should change their career path. its not about chosing the biggest name school, its about chosing a college campus that makes the student feel comfortable.

Visit the college first

Just be happy in what you want to do for the rest of your life. Never hate school. Learning is amazing. Have fun kid.

Make sure to do your research. Dont decide to go to a college out of state because you want to get away from your parents, you will need them especially in the beginning years of college. Be open to making friends, you have to remember theres a million other students who dont know anyone just like you. Lastly, be willing to work! Your there for your education, not for your social life.

Personally, a smaller and less populated school would sound more appealing now. You can get a more one on one education at that type of school, and concentrate more on your academics. Making friends is really important too. At a smaller school you might find more down to earth people and be able to bond more. Take in to consideration all aspects of the school (learning environment, geographical environment, and what the school has to offer).

Start early, and be through. Give yourself the chance to actually go to the campuses being considered and ask questions while you are there. Flyers and websites cannot fully grasp the feel of a school. If something about the school seems to not fit move on and find something that seems to work. If you are not comfortable on your campus, no matter how much you love what you heard about it, you will not do as well nor will you enjoy your overall experience as much. Also don?t be afraid to learn about yourself things you never knew and embrace them. Habits can drastically change when you get to determine them yourself and sometimes you learn brand new traits that you had no idea you had. College is a lot easier if you don?t have false expectations of yourself. Remembering that best friends are not made overnight was huge for me, as I wanted to connect and yet felt so alone. Friendships take time to build and often the first friends made just get you through the first few weeks until you get your feet on the ground.

Take campus tours!! It is extremely important to find a campus setting that matches with how you think and want to live. Academics are obviously important, but I would be extremely unhappy in a campus setting that I didn't love. The only way you know for sure which college will fit best with you, you need to get out there and experience them first-hand. Ask the students that you pass what they think of campus, the classes offered, the professors and the general setting. The college I ended up selecting had very friendly students who were glad to stop and answer any questions I had. When I started attending school there, there were a lot of study groups and student organized events which made my transition into college smooth and fun. Make sure that you talk to and form some bonds with people in your classes so that when you need help with that subject you'll have easy access to people who may understand it better than you. Also, take advantage of your professors office hours. Go talk to them, ask them for help if you need it! That's why they're there!

Go visit the campus before hand and contact the school, professors, and alumni's before picking your school

Several decisions must be made in terms of desire, goals, and personal philosophy in order to efficiently narrow the multitude of options for higher education. The first choice to be made is that of geographic desitnation. Whether a student wants to remain close to home or travel afar is of great bearing on where the student applies and chooses to go. Upon narrowing geographic options, a student should investigate what qualities they desire in the school so far as program size, campus size and environment, and clout within the community. The social environment should also be given due consideration in terms of how prominent the greek society is on campus and how clubs collaborate with the educational departments and accomodate ethnic variety. The final and most pivotal decision is to assess the vibe of the campus after visiting it. I chose CSU Fullerton because the atmosphere of the environment resonated with who I am. It made me feel comfortable, was not daunting, and the people were friendly. This is possibly the most important step in choosing a college because, for all the advertising a university can do, there's no way to manufacture a fitting environment for students.

ones that will help you in achieving your main goal. ones that will give you less stress. ones that pertain to your major.

The best advice I could give to parents and potential students is to go the tours that the school they are interested in attending. The tours provide a great example of a typical college students life and if he or she have any question the tour guide can provide a practical answer. I know this to be true because i attended one of the tours and I saw that most of the tour guides were students, asking them questions really helped me pick out what school i wanted to go to.

The advice that I would give to parents and students trying to find the right college is to find a college that's in an environment you can see yourself in and has a good reputation in your major. I highly recommend living on campus and getting involved in exta cirricular activities such as sports and other competitive teams and clubs. There are always more resources available than most students have time to discover. When visiting a potential school or stepping on campus for your first time as a new student, take the time to walk around the campus and inside every building. You'll find lots of opportunities you probably had no idea about and plenty of people who are willing to answer any of your questions. DON'T FORGET TO APPLY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS! There is thousands of dollars of scholarships that go out to all types of students every year and most of them have less than a dozen applicants. Also, get involved in student government if you can and spend some extra free time on campus. You'll discover helpful people and make new friends that'll talk you through all the cool things they've discovered.

You can't really go wrong with Cal State Fullerton. It's an affordable school with many strong departments. I have never heard anything negative about any departement, and as a part of the theatre department here, I feel I made the right choice by choosing this school. Even if I change my mind in my major, there are so many other really good programs here at Fullerton. The downfall is that this is a popular school for these reasons, therefore the population is massive and classrooms are crowded. My biggest struggle is the financial aid issue. I was one of the first to apply for the year back in January and I am still waiting for my disburstment in October. But other than that, I have no problem with Fullerton and am very pleased with my decision.

Your "college experience" is arguably the most unique, exciting, challenging, enlightening, and spontaneous time of your life. You have not yet been tainted by the cares and harsh responsibilities of "the real world", but you are old enough to have the freedom to choose your own path. That is exactly what I urge anyone looking for a college to do: choose your own path. Forget everything anyone has told you about what you "should" or "shouldn't" do. Go with the choice that you feel best suits you at that time in your life. Would you like to attend a school in another part of the country? Do it. Mom and Dad will survive without you. Want to study abroad? Go there. At this age, the possibilities are endless, and the world is at your fingertips. Literally. So do your research, get a loan, rake some leaves, or sweet talk Grandpa into an early birthday present so you can pursue your dreams. And don't forget to call home every now and then...and not just to ask for money.

My advice would be to stay calm and excited and then start compiling information on various schools that is interesting to mainly the student but also the parent. Once the information is compiled, compare and contrast the options, this will help narrow the schools. One should end up with a small list of schools, pay a visit to them and get a feel for the atmospehere, people and surroudings. The school that stands out and grabs your attention will most likely be the right college for you. Once a school is decided on the fun begins. To make the best of the experience I advise that a student join organizations, programs for incoming new students, live on campus and start talking to classmates. This will help find new friends and help make a student feel comfortable. A student might feel embarrased but in reality many student are feeling the same way and with that in common it will bring people together. Also, if fraternities and sororities are not for you then don't think you have to join one to make friends. Schools offer plenty of options to join organizations and make new friends. Lastly, be excited!

Finding the right college has much more about finding yourself. All schools will have their cost, but in the end everyone will have to ask the question if the cost justify the friendships, professors, and experience of obtaining your degree? There will always be those items in which you never thought of prior to selecting a school (i.e. cost of parking, adequate healthcare, or even student health insurance). Regardless, finding the right college is by no means an exact science, but more over a cost-benefit analysis. The ultimat benefit is thus the exploration of finding oneself having been removed from the protection and security of the youthful years. Seeking the right college has more to do about seeking a place to grow, live, learn, and become responsible individuals if that has not been achieved as of yet. In the end, the sole differences between colleges will be the amount of support one receives in order to assist in reaching such success.