Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Top Questions

The first aspect that should be considered when choosing a college is definitely whether or not the college has at least three programs that one would be interested in taking. This allows for flexibility because undergraduates tend to change their majors within their first or second years. Secondly, when choosing a college one should make sure they know what size campus suits them the best. Too many of my friends have found that their colleges were either too large for them to handle, or too small for them to feel comfortable. As for making the most of your college experience, I have come to the conclusion that three "F's" need to be satisfied. No, not academic "F's," but friends, fun, and focus. Making friends in class is probably the most important aspect in college because it not only builds your social connections, but it makes things easier when you need notes or help for classes that you may miss for whatever reason. Following this is aspect is fun. You have to find ways to relax when you can to cut down on the stress of class. Lastly, is focus. Strong focus will bring you success in all things.

First and foremost, visit the colleges. Do not let your dream of attending one university cloud your judgement on other schools. See if the colleges, you wishes to attend have program where you and your parents can spend the night on campus and see if the you will like the school. Apply for as much financial aid as possible. Once you have chosen a school , go to the orientation, look at all the clubs the school has to offer. Go to some club meetings and see if you would like to join. Rush even if you know that you do not want to join the Greek system because rushing is a wonderful way to meet people. Take advatage of talking to upper classman and get the inside knowledge on the professors. Do not be afraid to try new things but be careful and do not let yourself get carried away. College only happens once, so remember to have the time of your life and leanr many new things both inside and outside of the classroom.

Choose a college where you know how hard you will need to study. Obviously you want a challenge, so choose a college that will superseed your normal studying habits and learning in highschool, but don't choose one like Tech, where it's almost way too much. College is a chance to meet people, make new connections, and learn new things. It's not about simply studying hard to get a job.

Visit the college. Once I came to campus, I fell in love with it and new that I HAD to come here. It's atmosphere fits me and my personality.

Deciding factors should be distance from home and cost of attendance. Do not go to the school that is ranked highest in some newspaper article. A good student can take advantage of programs and opportunities anywhere he or she chooses to go, but going to school is more difficult if the student misses family members and feels a financial burden too great. College is easier and more enjoyable if some forms of stress can be eliminated.

Visit the school and make a judgement on how the area makes you feel. Nothing can change a mood faster than walking outside and just being happy to be there. It has helped me a lot of times.

Firstly, the student will have the most successful college career if they know what they want to do before they start college. I chose to go to an engineering school, but then I decided that I wanted to major in history. My school only had a small program for history, and it did not have the resources or prestige that would have come with attending a liberal arts school. If you're unsure about what you want with your future, be sure to choose a school that will give you options. A school with an equal focus on the sciences and liberal arts would be best for undecided students. Also, be sure to consider location. If you're more comfortable in the city or in a small town, choose a school accordingly. If you want to be close to your parents, think about that too. Choosing a school is a personal thing. Be sure to consider other things that are important to you, and compare all of the schools you're thinking about attending. I found that making a chart really helped me compare schools. Lastly, don't underestimate your gut instincts!

Go to GT.

Don't worry about the prestige of your collegiate options, or about how great the sports program is or whether you'll be close to all your friends. Instead, take a trip to the campuses of your favorite colleges and choose the one that fits your personality the best. If possible, speak to some students there, get to know what really goes on instead of mindlessly believing the propoganda provided by the college. This decision may be one of the most important decisions in your life. It can determine your future career, economic class, and even interpersonal relationships. You probably only get one shot at this life, so choose the atmosphere that fits you and you will succeed.

Take advantage of every opportunity while you're in college. Sign up for the clubs, study abroad, do it all! Once you graduate, you'll wish you had done more.

Everyone is looking for something different out of college. Find out what you need/looking for and apply to your college choice.

I would advise parents to let their children make there own decisions. Even though their children will not always make the right choices, they need to learn from their own mistakes. I strongly encourage parents to let their children know how important it is for them to go to college and graduate. And once they're in college, get involved with as much they can. It is very important ato make friends and to make the right friends. If they get involved in a lot of extracurricular activities, then they will get chance to experience everything that college has to offer. College is about finding out who you are because most freshmen entering college don't know who they are and who they're supposed to be in the world. After some time goes by, they will learn what all life has to offer them. They will be able to live the life that they want to live and be confident in living it.

Dont let the average GPA and the lack of lifestyle deter you. Georgia Tech is an absolutely amazing school with SO much to offer you. No matter what you major in, people will look twice at you as a GT Gradute. If you want to make it, you will!

Talk with upperclassmen that go to the colleges you're looking at to determine if it's the right school for you. Specifically, find upperclassmen that are in your potential major and that aren't affiliated with the university. The tours and orientations are very misleading. Find out if the learning style is the right one for you. Find out if the school allows you to easily change majors. Will you need a part time job to help pay for school? If so, an engineering program at a college may not be a realistic option. In my experience, you'll have the option of choosing two of the following: pass classes, work, sleep, or have fun. Going to school somewhere away from home is a great way to meet new people, branch out, and move on from high school. People that stay near their hometown rarely make new friends and new social circles.

Studentes should look for a college that has their program of interest in mind, and is affordable. Also, a college with many extracurricular activities is helpful to take the student's mind off of the course work, and meet new friends in the college. Joining clubs, and being active in the school will make the most of the college experience. There are many clubs that directly relate to certain majors at the college, and this allows the student to easily find other students who share that student's interests. Becoming a member of these clubs will often times, give an advantage in employment oppurtunity, or give more experience and applications with the skill set needed for classes. Students should also look for a college where they can fit in and just have fun. It never feels good to not fit in somewhere. Having fun is definetly one of the biggest parts of the college experience, and it also helps to relax the student in stressful situations.

Students should take campus tours and attend orientation; parents should encourage their children to go off to school if possible. Students stand to gain more by venturing off to new places and taking on new challenges. One can learn a good bit about oneself by being taken out of his or her comfort zone and meeting a variety of different people who come from various cultural backgrounds. Other benefits for students include a greater sense of independence, life-long friendships, and networking opportunities. Community colleges have their advantages; however, sometimes it can be an extenuation of one's experiences from high school by continuing their education with peers from previous academic years. If the student enters college with an undeclared major, at least have an idea of what subject in which he or she would like to pursue a degree and make a more specific decision later.

A campus visit to the college is a must. I just got a great vibe from the campus here. I would definitely encourage parents to let their kid talk to other students (alone!).

Parents and students who are chosing a college should take many things into consideration. College is way more than paying tuition and going (or not going) to class. Students should really look into the extra-curriculars on campuses and find out if their top schools have opportunitites for them to get involved and enjoy being involved. Parents should voice concern when neccessary about housing, meal plans, and such; they should try to be encouraging throughout the process as much as possible. If I could go back and change one thing about finding and applying to college I would have had my parents visit campuses with me instead of not touring any of them. College for most students is a long time far away from home. You want to make sure you pick a place that you can feel comfortable, safe, and happy while pursuing a degree and participating in countless activities that you never would have dreamed of if you were not there.

Advice to an incoming student? The kust is long! Finding the right school for you is a very important decision. But it's not a decision that cannot be corrected if the school you choose turns out to be wrong. Fear not! I think that is one of the most important things to remember when looking at colleges. Before making a set decision, be sure to visit all the schools on your list. A place may look fabulous in pictures, but things take on a whole new perspective when you're up close and personal! In order to make the most of the school that is right for you, get involved! Meet new people. Find something you love and stick with it. Join a club, an intermural team, etc. Make the most of your college experience, but don't let your classes suffer!

To Students: I would urge students to truly consider what is most important to them when choosing a college. Don't just settle for a university because you can't afford the one you really want and don't judge a school on their stereotype. I would encourage students to actually visit the schools they're interested in to decide for themselves. To Parents: Don't be so hesitant for your child to take out loans. I mean, give them the proper guidance and warn them about interest traps, but honestly, most students are coming out of school in debt, and they should be able to find a good job with a college education to pay off their loans within the alotted amount fo time. Also, let go. Your child will not gain the proper social life if you guilt them into going home every weekend.

The best advice that a parent of a college-bound student can get is that it is up to the student to make decisions about college. Choosing a college and a major are two things that will affect that student for the rest of their life. A parent should not force a decision that will change what the student wants to do with their life. It is up to the student what they will contribute in this life.

The most important part of finding the right college is visiting campus and really immersing yourself in the culture and experience. A college can say many great things and present itself however it wishes to, however, a visit may reveal what a college is truly like and may help a student and parent feel the atmosphere. The impression you get by spending a weekend at a school is much more important than the number of people that graduate or the average income of undergraduates that leave the school that you're applying to.

A positive attitude and a willingness to work hard are all that is necessary to find the right college. The college is only as good as you make it. There is no need to put pressure on a student to get into the 'right' college, we put enough pressure on ourselves! Entering any university or college with an open mind is essential to your academic success. To make the most of college , learn from everyone- your neighbors, professors, and even friends. Studying abroad is a great thing to do as a student. More of the world is available to us now than ever before. Get a truly global education, go see the world. Don't be afraid to get involved. Don't be afraid to ask for that job as a research assistant or resident advisor, good things come to those who ask.

When looking for a college, first choose a school with a major you're interested in (or multiple majors in a field, if you're undecided). Choose your school based on location (whether you like the small college-town atmosphere or the big city), on social life (whether you think you could find a group of friends in that university), available activities (sports teams, if you're a fan of sports; recreational spaces and intramurals if you like to play sports; clubs based on your interests or perhaps your religion; fraternities and sororities if you think that might interest you). Also, make sure that the school you choose is at a high enough level to be challanging you; you don't want to end up with a degree that's worth less than the paper it's printed on. Once you get to college, make sure to make the most out of your college experience by going out to join clubs, attending sports events, and hanging out in the dining halls and quads. Another great way to make friends is to leave your dorm-room door open (in traditional dorms) whenever you're in your room, during your freshman year.

As an orientation leader on my campus, I am faced with parents so nervous about making all the right decisions all at once. The advice I find myself receiving the most words of appreciation for is that in real life, you can't make all the decisions for four years in one day. By the end of even the first semester of freshman year, most students have grown so much as individuals that what seemed right for them at the end of senior year of high school in terms of study abroad or extra-curricular activities is no longer interesting. So it is always best to pick a school that has enough students and options, that you feel confident will have the resources and facilities to explore the love of fencing you discover junior year or the Japanese classes you yearn to take after a summer trip with your family as a sophmore. And also not to be worried about making friends, instead focus your time on exactly what you want to cultivate in yourself, like a reading group or a club rugby team, and your friends be more natural than if you sought them out.

Take what you can get, you'll adjust to any small details but you can't make something out of nothing.

Do not try to get into a school simply because it is well-known or someone else wants you to go there. Choose a school that YOU feel most comfortable (in terms of school size, academic difficulty, etc.). It is your decision and no one elses. Picking a school that you feel is the best will result in higher success and happiness.

Campus tours are essential

When it comes to finding a college you not only need to search for a college that has the right type of program available for your major but also a college that you will be able to adjust to as far as the people and area the college is located in. Once you get to college a way to help yourself adjust is to get out and go to as many activities on campus that can help you meet new people who you aren't used to being around.

When students are finding the right college for themselves, they have to be realistic first. They need to realize what type of person they are both as a student and individual. Because by doing that, they will know how to improve themselves. It'll lead them to create goals for themselves. It's taking that first reality-check and sometimes, it may hurt, but you have to do it. It will be better knowing early rather than late. Never comform because what your parents tell you or your peers. Do what you think is the best, whether it is pursuing an Engineering degree rather than trying to do Medical school because your parents want you to. In the long, you will regret your decisions if you do not think for yourself. Your mind will be filled with "what if's". "What if I had gone to Engineering school and would I have better friends who fit with my interest?" College years and the friends you make there only come once. So always think for yourself. Finally, once you get into college, do not take your first semester of college lightly. Work hard because you will regret if you do not.