California State University-Sacramento Top Questions

It is difficult to choose the college that you think is right for you. The best advice I could give is to keep an open mind. Also, consider schools at the city college and the state-university level. Examine each college by researching the programs each offers with the programs you are interested in. Make a visit to each campus to get a feel for the student life, student programs, and facilities. Ask students and professors different questions about the university; the difficulty of classwork, student life on and near campus, and pros and cons of the university. You will develop a good impression if that university is right for you. To make the most of your college experience, find a club or student organization of something that you enjoy. Student groups are great ways to meet students who are like-minded and have similar interests to you. Also, research the study abroad programs your campus offers. It provides an opportunity to live in a foreign country and complete your coursework while doing so. Studying abroad is an incredible way to expand your cultural and educational experiences. It is also a great resume booster for future employers.

Where ever you go get involoved. Join a club or Fraternity... make sure you balance your social life with your academics. The college experience is more than getting a degree, it discovering your own idenity.

I find it most important to interview current students of your intended major. Find how satisfied they are with the school and why. Ask about teachers, classes, major requirements, and very importantly administration and how the school handles your business.

definately visit the college and get a full hand experience of how the campus is, what some of the students possibly do, and look around close by to see what things are close and far (grocery store, bank, etc.)

Every parent wants the best for their children and every school wants their students to succeed. Unfortunately, many students base their decision to go to the school because it is a convinient commute or less expensive than going to a school which specializes in their field of study. Sometimes it's not very unfortunate and that plan works for the individual, but for those who want more for their money should invest in a school that will transform their children into leaders of the future that will be admired by many, and not just that boss or supervisor behind the desk tucked away in the 23rd floor of some executive building. No distance or amount of money should keep individuals from learning not only how to succeed in their careers, but also take away from the school life skills that will last a life time. -Flora Gonzalez

Look to see if your interest is in the particular school. If your interest is music, go see a concert. Make sure you know what you are looking for before making your decision.

I would advise students to take their time in choosing the right college. It is easy to get overwhelmed or discouraged when trying to strike a balance between where you want to go and where you can realistically go. There is nothing wrong with starting out at a junior college in order to be able to go to your dream college or attending a smaller college or university within your means in order to give yourself a head start in your education. Save the prestigous universities for graduate schoolof you need to and don't worry about where you get your degree, the important part is working towards your ultimate goal. Once you are in college, wherever it may be, make sure to work hard in your education while remembering to take some time to enjoy the experience. It is important to allow yourself to take pride in your school by getting involved in activities that interest you or even just spending time getting to know your campus. Never forget that you are there to get an education and that your studies are the top priority but it is also important to enjoy the college experience while you can.

Don't worry about what you're going to do for a living. Don't worry about your family pressure. Going to college is for you and you alone. Do what you love and everything else will work out.

For parents be supportive, we appreciate advice and your knowledge but not when you tell us what to do or press onto us what you didn't (or did) get to do at a younger age because it not might be right for your kids. Definately visit different schools, this is the best way to get a feel for the atmosphere and how to find a comfortable fit. Also don't be afraid to try new things and take chances, I didn't for a long time and i missed out on a lot of things, and if at all possible study abroad and travel see what else it out there in the world. It is Fascinating.

Well I think college is the biggest decision of our lives and our parents guidance is absolutely needed. Parents should help their kids with information and trips to the college, they should be enthusiastic about it and supportive. The best advice I can give to students when choosing a college, choose something challenging but comfortable enough to deal with. Once you have found the right one for you make sure that you do not take too much advantage of the freedom. The last thing you want to do is end your first semester on a bad note. Keep yourself informed on how things work on campus and find a mentor to answer questions. I think the best piece of advice I was given and would give is learn how to find a balance in the college life. Once that balance is found, your college experience will be enriched with knowledge and fun!

Do as much research for different colleges as you can. Make sure you have the right major so you're not constantly changing it. Talk with an advisor and never be afraid to ask for help. They're there to guide you in the right direction. Don't rely on others to help you financially; save up for tuition, because you never know when an emergency can happen.

My advise would be to look at all of the options that your college has to offer. Financial aid, scholarships, housing, etc. It really helps to know how you will pay for college and where you are going to live before you attend. This way you do not have to stress over any of that when you finally go to college. Also, education is very important but it is not the most important thing about picking a college to attend. The most important aspect of called is after college. What you plan on doing with your degree. Because the ultimate goal is to find a profession you will be proud of and happy with. Find a college that will help you toward this and you will be just fine.

Hands-on experience is your best tool when choosing the right college. I would suggest narrowing your choices based on the schools appearance, degrees offered, and housing, financial assistance, safety, and graduation rates. Then arranged a campus tour with the top five schools, observe a class in progress, attend a social event on campus and visit the surrounding of the outer school campus. Finally, based on all the above, decide which school is right for you based on your overall experiences that really left a great and happy lasting impression.

Parents: Take an active role in the college experience. They still need you, not just your money. They need you to write the check on time so they don't get disenrolled. They need you to fax in your tax documents on time for the fafsa application. They need you to ask about the classes they're taking and help them understand whether or not they're filling the requirements. It's difficult and the advisement department DOES NOT cut it. Students: Work. Get a 20 hour a week serving job where you can understand the value of a paycheck that is nowhere near the amount you feel you deserve. You will make friends, deal with annoying people that test your patience and develop social skills. You'll need those eventually, maybe even more than the overpriced education.

You have to start with academics - find colleges with a good academic record in your chosen subject area. If research is important to you, you can narrow down the choices to schools with strong research programs in your selected area. If you have no selected subject area yet then you can usually at least decide on arts versus sciences depending on your interests. Location and cost are next - do you want to attend school a rural or urban area, and what are the total costs and financial options. Other interests then come in - do you want marching band, football, etc. These are the main criteria you should use. If you have strong political viewpoints or beliefs you might look at the faculty to see if they are likely to be aligned or opposed to your views. Once you have applied the filters, you should visit your shortlist of schools to see which campus you prefer.

Don't let the money guide your decision. While I have no regrets about attending my school, there are still lingering "what ifs." What if I had just taken the loans to go elsewhere? Would I still be doing what I'm doing? Would I be more comfortable there? Would it really have been worth it to wait? These lingering questions can and will cause you to second guess yourself at incredibly awkward times - the middle of an exam, while out with friends, etc. If you have to take out loans to go to your number 1 choice, do it. You pay the money back after you graduate anyway, and it's an experience you cannot afford to miss out on. Even if another cheaper, closer alternative exists, it's just not worth the small nagging questions in the back of your head to take.

Apply early and often for scholarship monies. Also try to find a college that will cater to your needs. You need to make sure to visit the camous multiple time during the year to see the different environments that occur at the school. Dont just go during the orientation week when campus is usually closed and less busy. Apply early and often for scholarship monies.

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I advice that parents and students should have a slight idea of what major the students are interested. Therefore they can look up the right college that best teach that field or have a good reputation for that field. Fact is, certain university only offers certain fields and unversity that is not well known for a field will lack classes and staffs for that field. Perhaps classes are offerred once in while and this may slow down the students from graduating. So know your child if you are a parent. Know your interest if you are a student. Don't pay for nothing and be smart.

After living as a full-time student in college for two years, I feel that college should be used as a place for learning. When I say "learning," I do not mean "show up to class for four years to get a piece of paper." It's so sad to see students trying to get by with the mentality that "C's get degrees." It disgusts me. Their parents will have literally invested thousands of dollars for a shot at a good future for their son or daughter, and it sickens me to see those sons or daughters waste that money by showing up to class and fall asleep, wait until the end of the week to party, or cheat their way through an education. Make the most out of your college experience. Make the harder but more beneficial choice over the easier but depreciating choice. And do today what others won't so you could do tomorrow what others can't. Don't be normal. Ascend mediocrity when going to college and... do honestly good work.

I think it is helpful when a student knows what subject they would like to major, in order to help them find the right college. In order to make the most out of the college experience, it is important to get the most out of your money; by choosing a college that is geared towards their major, students and parents can really feel like they are getting a lot of bang for their buck. Also, I would encourage students to try new things and to really put themselves out there in terms of being open minded as well as friendly. Fellow students are more like colleagues at the college level and it is important to adjust social behaviors, accordingly. Mostly, I hope that students would be willing to work hard and have fun, but to be goal minded at all times.

When it was time for me to make a choice about college, I based most of my decision on my current boyfriend. We broke up less than a month into my first semester. I am still thrilled with SAC STATE but I feel now like I missed out on most of my first semester because I was sad over a boy. As much as people say do not pick a college for a boy, I really do not think it matters. The school you go to does not matter in the long run. What it comes down is how you act while you are there, the experiences you create for yourself, the people you make connections with, and extra-curriculars you choice to participate in. Anywhere you go there will be something for you, you just have to get out onto your campus and experience it for your self. I think going away to college and living on-campus is a very important part of someone's life and the things you learn doing it can change you as a person for the better. Tour schools first and see how you feel on campus, you will know when its right!