Florida Atlantic University Top Questions

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

Victor

Do the research on the particular school it strongly makes a difference where you go to school. Your education as well as yoru social connections with the institution will last you a life time.

Carlos

Make sure that your student really understands what its like to be alone in the world because in college teachers do not wait for them to catch up like in grade school. And most importantly make sure that you can afford it sing up for every scholarship learn how to manage money effectively.

christen

To know what you are looking for, at least have an idea of the area of study you are wanting to pursue. It will make the college search alot easier on the parents and the student. If neccessary do a pros and cons list of the colleges you have picked and go from there. It makes it easier to continue at the college you start at, but if you move or change your mind, just remember its your destiny.

Ludmilla

Do your homework!

Lindsie

Some advice I would give parents and/orstudents when trying to find the right college and making the most of the college experience is that when choosing a college pick one works with your lifestyle. Don't choose a college just because it's where all your friends are going or because it's the "best" school to go to. One should pick a college based on their own criteria and what works for them and their financial situation. As for the best advice for making the most out of the college experience, I would have to say that one should always be willing to accept new things and be open-minded when it comes to trying new things and to be nice towards everyone because you will meet a lot of new and diverse people at college and some of your best friends can come from college so in my best words all I can say is jsut live life to the fullest and have no regrets but be careful to not let all the fun of the college experience allow your grades to suffer.

Kerrie

The people you surround yourself with will ultimately shape you more than any classroom. So make sure you check out the social culture of the school.

Valerie

The single most important tool in choosing the correct college is to know the student himself. There exists a perfect ollege for every student, but you can't know where it is unless you know what kind of setting the student would best learn in, be it warm or cold, small or large, liberal or conservative. Also, visitng the campuses is very important. Brochures can never give the best look at what a school can offer when compared to a personal visit. Even Open Houses tend to be more sugarcoated than necessary; look for Preview days, and other opportunities to experience the school as an enrolled student would.

Shana

Though many students think the right college is the one that gives them easy classes and a party atmosphere, the best college is one that will give you all the help you need in order to succeed and bring you into a career that will make you forever happy. Students should do their best to find a college that they can enjoy, yet also learn a great amount at. It is okay to have friends and go out and party, but it is important to know when the library is open in order to go and sit and study and do well in their courses. College is an important decision and the most important education one can recieve in order to have a happy future.

Yesenia

Students and/or parents should focus on what programs and degrees are available based on the student's major. Also when it comes to the college experience depending on what the student's tastes are like, he or she should pick a school with a good football team if he or she really enjoys football or a school with a lot of fraternitiy or sorority activities if they plan on joining one. Students should also try to speak to several students that already attend the school in order to get a sense of whether or not he or she might want to attend the school, but not base the decision completely on other's opinions, instead combine it with research of the school and on-campus trips to the school.

Greg

I personaly think that the right choice of collge is should be based a few things such as diversity, housing, and education . Diversity is very importent because students need to learn how to deal and interact with different races and ethnicities. A good housing plan is also impatant because that is where the studernts spend most of there time and interact with peers. Education is importent, well you know why, but when choosing a school one should make sure the educatuion level is not to difficult ot to simple. When it comes to college experience, that differs for each person. For the best experience in colleg,e i suggest living on campus and getting involved in greek life or some kind of on campus organization. A good college experience is not determined by a certain school , but determined by the attitude and the involment of the student,

Dina

If I could give parents and students advice about choosing the right college i would have to say do not wait until the last minute to research colleges. To get the best college experience you need to start researching early, around sophomore year of high school. You should research the school websites and websites, websites that include ratings and ratings from students who attend the school. Remember to always visit the school before you accept, It may look completely different in the picutures. Be sure to do the research on campus saftey especially if living on campus. Dont be afraid to email or message students on sites such as myspace or facebook to get their oppinions on the school they attend, it is the best way to get the inside scoop. Most upperclassmen will be more than happy to answer any questions you have and you might even make a friend.

Maria

College is a stage in life where a person finally on their own. Its a time to grow up, and to also work and play hard. But its very important to remember how to balance the working and playing hard. Its a popular belief that the 4 high school years determine one's future, but if you did great in high school, do not believe that you are done . For those who did ok in high school, do better in college, because how you do in college will really determine your future job. The ages of 18 through 22 or 23 are very significant. At 18, one is finally an adult, and at 21 one is finally allowed to legally go out and drink. Its the last 4 years one has where your an adult but without all of its serious responsibilities such as finding a job, paying the bills, etc. For the parents, I would just inform them that if their son or daughter experiences mood swings, to cut them some slack because its a lot of pressure, but very once in a while, its also healthy to maintain a good social life.

dieulune

I would advice parents or students to take tours and ask as many questions possible about the college. The reason why is because the student has to be comfortable and happy where they are attending school, or else they will not perform to their best ability

Stephanie

Spend a weekend there with real college students (not the orientation guides) to get a real feel of the college.

Lauren

I would say to spend at least one year living on campus so you can engage with the students and on campus activities. Always visit the campus before you enroll to make sure you feel comfortable and speak with people in admissions to get a feel of how the college operates. I would also reccommend reading course discriptions in the major of your choice to see how colleges differ and what sounds more interesting. I attended three colleges before I found the one that I truely enjoyed so I know how hard it is to find the right one. It is important to do your research and their are some great websites that have information on colleges from the size of classes to the environment. Financial aid, overall, is not difficult to find, but you may have to do some research and work; there is always aid for someone that needs it. Keep up with your work and study! Remember that this is important that you like where you are because it can influence your progress in school. As long as you do the research, I am sure you will find the right school.

Kevon

When looking for a college, selct the one that has the most campus activities and student involvment. The first couple of semesters can be difficult without the help of your fellow classmates.

Dewey

Finding the right college begins with knowing what you are looking for in a college. First, if the college has a respected department in the field you intend on studying. Also look at the campus life of the college and decide if that is what you are looking for out of your college experience. Do you like the cold? Climate and location play a large part of your decision as well the surrounding environment. Remember that you will have to live at or near your college, so if you hate the city or love to watch the leaves change you need to remember this. Once you are at college make as many friends with as many different people as you can. Surround yourself with people who will make you a better person. Get involved with the on campus clubs, and if there isn?t one you like start your own. Create the environment that you want your college life to be and the rest will just fall into place.

Sydney

Look around. Dont be set on one school. Know that there are so many different places to go. Visit and spend a weekend at a school you are interested in so you can get a real feel for it. Dont be shy. Find activities at school that you are interested in and meet people who inspire you!

Christina

Before finding the right college, it is important that students weigh the importance of balancing a social community and academics. Make sure that the outlying community has enough options to allow students to get off campus. It is important to have an outlet from school and if the community is not geared for students then life can get monotonous. Also make sure that the college has a strong correlation with passing entrance exams to get into graduate programs and accepted to schools.

Alana

Do research for the curriculum one wants to be molded for.

Laura

I would just tell them to appreciate the oppurtunity to expand your knowledge. Not everyone can afford to take that next step and get the college experience. It is something that should be taken seriously and appreciated. The college experience is not partying, it is learning.

Pearline

As a parent my self I would like to tell parents / students who are interesting in finding the right college to look for the diversity in the school population. In addition, make sure the college not only strive for academic excellence in student who are highly motivated but also try and help those who need some motivation. College is a big step for everyone regardless of their background. As a mother of three, going back to college at 38 was not easy, however, the patients and understanding of the faculty was most helpful in facilitate me to excel. This fall I will graduate with my bachelor and move on to graduate school in the spring.

khristian

Put all your effort into schoolwork, but don't forget to have fun too.

Jenny

Dreams can come true, they have for me. It has not been easy, but my dreams for being a college graduate will become true shortly, and I owe that to hard work and perseverance. I also feel that a key point to succeed is to do what you love. I aboslutely love science and this particular college has a great pre-med program taught by doctors in their specific fields, guaranteeing that I am getting the best education out there. Choosing a place that offers great quality professors in a field that the student loves is a key factor to make the student want to strive for their best and reach every goal.

Hailey

Let the choice of college be your own, do not let it be influenced by your friends and family. Look at many different schools and choose the one you feel is right for you. Also learn you limitations fast. So many people are unsuccessful because they have too much fun. Fun I a neseccary part of college, we all need stress relievers, just be careful. GO TO CLASS!

Lauren

Parents and students should intensively research universities and their pros and cons. It is imortant to find a college that offers the programs that the student wants to study. Things that you should focus on are tuition and other expences, but also campus visits in order to get a feel for life at the university. Details like wether or not the student would like to participate in extra-ciricular activities or study abroad or athletic programs are equally important. In oder to make the best of your college experience the student should become involved because college is what you make of it. If you don't participate in any school activities then you are bound to feel home sick or board and overall unhappy. If you enjoy foreign language clubs or intramurals it is important to join them. The experiences will help you to make friends and relate to people who have the same interests as you do.

Laura

Education is the most important aspect of anyone's life. A lot of thought is to be put when choosing an university, depending on what the future universitary student interests' are, different schools may look more appealing. I haven't lived on campus but for what I've heard, It is better to stay in the quietness of home. I would also tell students that partying can be done later in life instead of going out everyday and lowering the GPA. You only get one shot in life and you want to take advantage of those little opportunities life throws at us!

Arlene

The ultimate goal of college is to get the best education possible. In order to assure this, you should really look into the school's course catalog and ask questions about course offerings and how many students finish on time. It is also helpful to talk to people who are current stduents at the college you're looking into. Admissions offices are just recruiters, watch out for their sales pitches and talk to people who actually experience the school in the way that you will.

Anthony

the first thing to consider when choosing the right college for you is to research on which schools provide the most education and are noted to be the best schools for the area of degree that you might be seeking. Make sure you are able to afford the college you are applying for so you dont have to work so much to pay tution and concentrate more on your studies and sociel life. If you want to get the most out of your experirnce in school get involve in the campus activities play intermural sports, join clubs etc.. do anything to go out there and meet people.

Mark

The advice I would give parents and /or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to find a college that offers many opportunities and that no matter where you attend, to focus on each experience instead of the goal of graduating to start a career. The college experience is a journey to find yourself by learning about your passions and how they fit into your future. If a college does not offer a variety of educational and other options, you may not have the experiences which lead you to a true personalized education. It?s easy to think of going to college as a means to an end but, the best pieces of advice I can give is ?Seize the moment?, pay attention, and be present. If you go into the experience with an open mind, you will allow yourself to grow to your potential. So, as you can see, I truly believe the best advice to parent and students about finding the right college and making the most out of the college experience is to not limit yourself and go into it with ?Eyes wide open!?

Adrianna

I would first tell the parents that their student needs to be happy where they go. The only way that they're going to work hard is if it's what they want. Parents should still discuss the pros and cons of colleges so that the student doesn't feel alone with such a big decission. As far as making the most of the experience, have fun and be open. That first week of school can be nerve racking but try to take everything in. Talk to people in your classes, sign up at different club tables, and get involved with any school hosted event. Parents let the student discover who they are before it's too late and your money's wasted. :o)

Nathan

I would suggest a student go to the best college for their major, however, the majority of students cannot afford the best colleges nor do they know what field of study they want. I had this same dilemma and chose, what I believe to be, the best alternative. Going to a junior college for the first two years of study saves money, while still taking all the same core curriculum you would have to take at a university. Community colleges also offer a great introduction into the college life and time management. Taking two years worth of classes usually helps narrow down the desired areas of study for a student and will help them decide at which college they would like to continue their education. After saving thousands of dollars by going to a junior college it is a lot easier finding funds for just two years at an expensive university than it is finding funds for four years. This strategy helps students find the right college and helps make the most of their college experience without sacrificing other aspects of everyday college life or accumulating a debt they cannot pay off.

Ben

My advice would be if you think that you are not going to be happy at the campus your college experince is not going to be good at all. College is not about parties and thing like that it is about who you are around. If you have a great roomate your freshman year college is going to be great for you. But if you have a roomate that drinks all the time or does drugs you are going to hate being at the school and that will carry over to your school work. If you are happy at the place you are at you are going to do well in school and love the experiance that you had in college.

Yesenia

I would recommend to go to a college where they have done extensive research about the school and know that the school has a strong background on their choice of a major. If someone is planning on transferring to another school, they should find out what classes are transferrable to the other school before taking any classes. I have had friends in which the school did not offer what they wanted to study so they had to transfer to a different school and pretty much had to restart all over because their credits were not transferrable. I would also recomment to check out the library and make sure that it is a place where they can study because they are eventually going to need to use it.

Maria

Look for a strict college Education costs School area Diversity race Social involvment: political, social, and economic. Research and civics oritented

Laura

I believe the key to picking the right college is doing the research. There are people that go after the big state named colleges just becasue they are popular but then end up not recieving the education they needed for their particular career choice. As a parent and/or student you want to best education for what you want to do as a career. You want to be knowledgable in anything and everything that field has to offer but you want to make sure it is the optimal place. Some schools might have your major you have to look at the cirriculum to see what kind of classes you will need to take and the information that goes with each class. This is vital because comparing cirriculums will show you whether one school has more extensive knowledge base on your particular major.

Corina

Yes

Ari

it's a great school, it's very diverse. there are people here from all over the world (mostly ny and nj).

Shea

Go to the colleges you are thinking about, whichever college you love, go to. Even if the one you fall in love with it's the best, go to it. you'll be a lot happier

ashton

Apply early, have many options, looks for scholarships if you need them.. there are SO many different types of scholarships and financial aid!

Jennifer

Choosing a career path is not necessary in your first year. Every student must complete their Associate Degree with General Education courses. I rushed into buisness classes thinking that that was my future. I ended up switching my major and learning that I had wasted both my time and money.

Heather

I advise students to focus on school, without the distractions of working and get involved with organizations both on and on campus. This allows you to build important relationships with professors, other driven students, administrative personnel, and those in the community. These ties make your education much more valuable and give you an opportunity to explore "real world" interests within the academic environment, which you may not have known existed before. It is also important to know your strengths and weaknesses both academically and personally. Each student will probably experience a difficult period of time while completing their education and to work through these challenges self knowledge and a good support system are invaluable. Most importantly though, students should study what they are passionate about. Most acedemic grades are correlated to the quality of work completed and time dedicated to the course work as opposed to your academic aptitude, so chose a field you love, work hard, and explore all the learning opportunities that are available to you. If you follow your interests, you will learn everyday about different subject matter that inspires you!

Monique

Although students may not be sure of what they would like to do when first entering college, it is necessary to decide on a major and career path quickly. This avoids taking unnecessary classes and wasting valuable time and money.

Stephanie

The most important aspect in deciding where to send yourself (or your son/daughter) to college is what they plan to do in life. The main purpose in attending college is to work towards having a good career and a prosperous future. College is also meant to expand our outlooks on different cultures and backgrounds so you should to find a school with an adequate amount of diversity. Keep in mind that not every school close to home will have the major of your choice or what you are necessarily looking for in a location for four or more years of living, and traveling is not always cheap. Remember that the farther you go the more expensive it will be to travel home for special events and holidays.

Hamzah

Find the college that has a very good program available for you specific career choice. Research the potential of good jobs that are offered to the college you want to go to. You can enjoy your time and have fun, but at the end of the day, study hard and get the grades. That's the only way someone is gonna give a good job.

Christina

The best advise I could give to parents and/or students about finding the right collge is to choose based on multiple characteristics and weigh the best options. Choosing a school that only fits one of the criteria that you have chosen is important will not give you the most of the college experience. Also talk to previous or current students to get an realistic idea of what campus and academic life is really like at each institution. While having a fun time at college is part of the experience, it is also important to remember that education is an important part of the package and finding a school that can balance both is crucial. The last piece of advice that I would give prospective students is that it is important to explore the surrounding area of the campus while searching for the right school so as to ascertain that there are off campus activities. It is important to attend a place that allows you to get off campus and interact with a variety of people and enjoy non-college related activities.

Laura

The main piece of advice I would give is this: take time and care when choosing your college and when you do, remember that it is not only about the partying. College is a chance to better yourself and expand your horizons. Not everyone gets that chance so savor it and give it all that you possibly can.

ADRIENNE

I decided to stay in my hometown after highschool and wait on attending college. by doing so, it only made it more difficult for me academically the longer I waited. My younger sister on the other hand, went straight to an out-of-state, four-year University as soon as she grauduated highschool. Hearing her stories about the friendships and experiences she created while going to school has made me realize that I really missed out on such a great opportunity. Not only has she already finished school and working in a great career, she has those memories of going away to school that I will never be able to experience. My best advice to anyone considering going away to school: Go for it! I wish I would have.

Kathryn

Guidance. Seek a mentor who has gone the same path that the student desires. Very often student advisors are swamped with students. While they do give good advise, sometimes it isn't to a single student's advantage, she is just giving the general advise that she gives everyone else. That's why it is important to have a mentor who can tell you which classes you should be taking, which classes are good to take together. They can also help prepare a student for the amount of work load to expect and clear up any confusion.

Stephanie

Do not settle for the first college or university that you or your child are accepted to. This education will influence the decisions that you or your child make for the rest of your (their) life (lives). So take the time to look, feel out the schools that accept you (your child), and make sure that the school that is choosen is the best for you (your child) based on your values and your needs. Only you (your child) know(s) what your (their) needs are, and taking the time to find out what they are will make the difference between a successful and dreadful college experience.