Jacksonville State University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I will tell myself to college is going to be a very diverse place. There will be many different cultures and each professor has their own ways of teaching. As a college freshmen, there will be many different things such as parties, alcohol, and smoking that will try to influence and you will have to do your best in making the best decision if you really want to succeed in college. I will also tell myself to make sure you know your campus because their are many different sources on the campus that will help you understand a course you are struggling in. Lastly, dont know just school be more well rounded because it will bring on lots of stress. GOOD LUCK!

Try to have your major decided by the end of your first year, so you want waste money and take classes you don't need to. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Apply for as much financial aid as you can find.

I know that it will take you five years to get back into school. Know this, the army was a great dicision. Use the knowledge you gain in the service. Keep your eyes open on Iraq, it will change your life for the better. As far as college goes, know that your professors have an ocean of knowldge that they are willing to share with you. Keep your head down and work hard. You are going to meet some amazing people. It is not a difficult transion, as long as you keep an open mind. If I could tell you just one thing it would be that you can do it. Have no fear! There is nothing that college can throw at you that you cannot handle. Good luck.

I would not change my experiences or decisions I have made.

There is so much more to life than Highschool. Going to a Junior College and living at home, then going to a University is not the shameful choice you were told it would be by all your class mates. It is really a good idea for a lot of students. It helps you to mature and gives you more time to prepare for life on a big camput and living on your own. Listen to your teacher when they are giving advise they really do have some insite on the world. Don't worry when you don't agree with another student. That is just fine and helps you learn to be more tolerant of others ideas. Most of all don't stress so much about college it really is not like highschool and you are going to be so happy.

I would not have changed anything along the way. I felt my previous experiences from HS onto college were as they should have been, I learned book knowledge and educational knowledge.

Do not blow you loan money on your partners nor your friends. Keep your bedroom door locked and always brush your teeth every morning...it makes for a better day.

I would not give myself any advice. I was well prepaired for college and have maintained a great GPA. I learned from high school being involved is the way to go and indeed it is. I am involved in countless activities at JSU and all this has been from my prepration as a high school student looking forward to the future.

I would tell myself to start reading the textbook the very first day the reading assignment was assigned. I could have done much better in certain classes if I had jsut spent more time reading the textbook. Also, I would tell myself that procrastinating is not the way to go. I stress way too much getting papers done at the very last minute. I could save myself a lot of worrying and headaches if I started assignments far enough in advance that I did not have to do them the night before.

If I could go back in time to myself during senior year, I would tell myself to focus on the future and my career. I spent most of my time focusing on school activities and grades. I focused on obtaining scholarships which I believe really paid off but wasn't enough. When I entered college I was still unaware of my future and what I wanted to major in. I went the route of Liberal Arts and took the most advance classes offerred; hoping it would be usefully to my field of study. Although that was a good idea, hardly any of my classes counted toward my degree. Students need to focus on the bigger picture and determine their future before their sophmore year in college. By making this mistake I have added more stress and problems to my college life. I have taken above the minimum full time student load every semester and even took summer classes. With all the extra classes and hard work I still will graduate a semester behind 4 years. I believe all seniors should know this. Maybe this information can keep someone from making the same mistake and save them time, stress, and money.

Do a lot of research about the place you want to go. You should definatly visit the campus and try and ask students there how they like at. You should think about the things you like in life and find a school that has all of that. Apply for as many scholarships as you can!

Knowing what I know now, I would go back and give myself on advice of how to stay focused. When leaving home and going miles away with your parents not over you telling things that you need to do, it is hard to stay trained and keep yourself from procrastinating. That was one of my major problems. You get distracted by all the friends you meet and the activities going on that you forget why you went to college in the first place. Staying focused is the key to success. With me not having my parents to make sure things was done, I would procrastinate and get lazy. If you start off that way, it is going to be hard to bounce back. I would suggest to keep everything at a steady pace.

The key to finding the right college is to visit the campus. If you feel comfortable and can see yourself attending the college then you are more likely to have a better college experience. When you do find the right college get acquainted with the staff. Talk to the financial aid office and determine what help you can get. Times are tough and any help is useful. The one thing that most students do is get caught up in partying and having a good time. Always remember that the main reason you're attending is to get a quality education. This doesn't mean you can't have a good time while you're there, but you should make school the top priority. If you get sick or have problems, talk to your professor(s). Most of them are willing to help you. Not talking to them and scoring badly on an exam is the worst thing you can do. Most of all, don't take your parents (or their money) for granted. Spend your money wisely. Don't buy random stuff that you'll never use. Be smart about college. Make the most of it.

Students, parents I would suggest that you start thinking about what college you want to attend early and make several visits to the school. Visiting the school you are interested in and asking as many questions that you can think of, that will help in your choice. If you have a major in mind, see if you can have a special meeting with a Professor involved in that major. It will be a great experience and chances are they will remember you if you decide this is the school for you. Once you pick your school ,start talking to other people that go to that college online, it will make the transition of a new college so much easier, and a little more comfortable. Try and keep a positive attude it will make you feel good, and that will come across with the people you meet.

Look at all your options. There is no rush when looking at schools. The whole entire family must be ready to go to college. It takes everyone working together to make college the best experience socially and educationally. College is just a bigger high school more people, more diversity and more to learn. Everyone can take advantage of what a school has to offer. It a students time to become independent and a perents time to learn more about their child.

To find the right college you should first determine what you would like to major in. The next step is to find what schools have your determined major and what percentage of students actually graduate with a degree in that major from that school. To make the most out of the college experience , you should get involved in clubs such as SGA and any other organizations that interest you.

Go to a tour of the college before you even apply. Talk to staff ans stidents. See what lifeis like at the university, academically and socially. Learn about campus events. Be sure the school is very diverse, schools where people are all the same are not fun places to be.

do your own research first. never take what someone else says

Read read read, about whatever college you plan to go to... Will solve a lot of problems

Research what programs interest you most. Find the schools that offer the programs that most interest you. Compare the schools programs and check to see which one will most meet your needs in the quickest amount of time and in the most cost effective manner. (Making sure that you are not sacrificing quality for a shorter school term).:) Visit the campus and talk to some of the students and get their feedback. Meet with some of the faculty at the school, talk with the financial aid counselor, and meet the president of the institution. Make sure the values of the school have some relevance to your own personal values.

My advice to students and parents who are looking for a potential college is take a weekend and get to know the campus and the area surrounding the university. This way you can get to know the community and the students that attend the university. In my opinion, a university needs a community that will support it and the students that attend the school. It is important for the community to have outside programs for students and also support programs for students, especially those who may be far away from home. After choosing a university, you need to enroll in those extra-curricular activities and get involved in the community. This will help you get to know the people and it will also keep you busy so that being away from home won't feel so bad. Finally, after classes begin, join a few study groups. This will help you with your studies as well as assist you in making new friends. These guidelines, I feel, will help you get the most out of your college experience.

THE ADVICE I WOULD GIVE TO THE STUDENTS, IS TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE FOR YOURSELF AND NOT BECAUSE OF YOUR FRIENDS. ALSO MAKE SURE THE COLLEGE YOU CHOSE HAVE THE MAJOR YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH. ADVICE I WOULD GIVE THE PARENTS IS, MAKE SURE THAT YOUR CHILD HAS CHOOSEN THE RIGHT COLLEGE, NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO CHOOSE FOR THEM BUT JUST MAKE SURE THEY ARE MAKING THE RIGHT DECISION. ALOT OF STUDENTS WASTE SEMESTERS GOING TO COLLEGES WHERE THE PEOPLE ARE JUST TRYING TO GET A GREAT POPULATION AND HAVE YOU TAKING CLASSES YOU DOES NOT SUPPOSE TO BE TAKING AND YOU END UP LACKING BEHIND. WHEN YOU HAS FINALLY FOUND THAT RIGHT COLLEGE FOR YOURSELF MAKE SURE YOU ATTEND YOUR CLASSES EVERYDAY BECAUSE IT'S VERY IMPORTANT AND COULD EFFECT YOUR GRADE AND YOU CAN END UP FAILING IF YOU MISS TOO MANY DAYS. ALSO, GO TO COLLEGE FOR THE RIGHT REASONS AND NOT JUST THE PARTIES. IT'S OKAY TO PARTY AT TIMES BUT YOU HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO BE BALANCED, MEANING YOU CAN MANAGE YOUR WORK AND HAVE A LITTLE FREE TIME. ANOTHER IMPORTANT THING IS TO STUDY WISELY.

Finding the right college is both difficult and frustrating. You have to consider budget, and if you (or your child) could be considered for a scholarship. Then there's the option of student loans. Find somewhere you feel comfortable with. Find somewhere your parents feel comfortable with. Somewhere that has the best program for whatever field you are going into. If you're undecided, go to a school that has many choices. GET INVOLVED. Don't waste your college years away by sitting in the library for 4 years. Study often, but have fun. Without friends, college is just another four years of waiting until you're finally allowed to grow up and have a career. Embrace it.

Find a college or university that will make you (the student) feel comfortable. To make the most of the college experience, have fun, but be responsible. Remember that education is always first, and everything else comes after that.

I would suggest that you research all colleges possible and possibly stay a few nights in the city where the school is to get an idea of the atmosphere if your not familiar with the area.

Do not let them live at the Grove apartments.

The advice I would give to a parent or a student will start by telling them that picking a college could be a hard transaction from where he or she have always been. Netherless, that a child would want to go where he or she is well known by others such as friends, family member ect. But the child who is going to become an adult need to pick a college that can help build you up into the man or women to succesed in life. Picking the right environment to hang around is very effective to a young and willing mind, but if he or she is really to hang aroung positive people than he or she will become positive in life and substain from things that will stop them from moving foward into life and becoming the man or woman he or she wanted to be. Overall, college is a great experince and I think everyone should pick and attend a college in the best intention for them. So good luck on your choice and wish them the best with no regrets. Thank you

Think about location, price, variety of majors and minors, and job placement rate.

FIND ONE THAT YOU AND YOUR CHILD AGREE ON.

The first thing you want to know is what you want to major in. Whether you know specifically or have a general idea. Find a university that offers this type of degree. Remember, not all universities offer all degrees. Then, you want to think about the geographical location that you want to be in. Ask yourself, "Do I want to be close to home, just far enough away, or really far away?" This can help narrow your search. Next, decide if you want to go to a large, medium, or small school. Once you have narrowed the search, go visit the campuses you have picked. Sometimes, it just takes seeing it to know. Once, you have decided where you want to attend school there are some imporatant steps to remember. If you need financial aid, I suggest doing this first. Get information on housing, meal tickets, tuition, etc. to know what you are about to get into. Once you start school, make the most of it. Many students spend their first year not knowing what they are doing. Studying, staying focused, and having great communication with your professors is the best advice I can give to someone just entering college.

Finding the right college really depends on your priorities. I think making a list of these priorities before visiting the colleges on your list is a great idea. After you have done your research including a visit to all of the campuses (if possible), you are ready to revisit your list of priorities. By comparing your list to what you found out about the colleges, you should be able to pick the college that is best for you. Then, once you get there make the most of the college experience. Many college students think of college as their first time out on their own and tend to lose sight of why they are there. The best thing to do is show that you are responsible and find the appropriate balance between work and play. If you find this balance quickly, it will have little to no negative effect on your education. The students that have issues with finding this balance or decide that college is all fun, either lose sight of their goals or spend future semesters trying to make up for earlier mistakes. Of course the entire process is a learning experience. I wish you the best of experiences!

Choose the college where you feel most at home where you have a ton of friends to share the experience with. Also, go to class and learn everything you possibly can!

Let your children make the decision. If your child is truly dedicated to creating a better future for themselves, they will eventually figure it out. It may take a looooong time, but they would have learned where they need to be.

Make sure you know where whats around the college before attending it.

I would say search until you narrow it down to one because it hard finding the right college. And while searching look for scholarships because the college yoy pick may not offer enough fininacial aid to get you started good. And look for a college that ypu will enjoy, not where your friends are going, lots of parties, but look for what you will be getting out of your field of interest. So thats all i have.Thsnk you.

I would start with getting the facts on academics, which is the most important part of college. You need to check out the cost and match it with what you will be getting for that cost. Start early with the college search as this is a very important first step. Also search out extra-cirricular activities, clubs, fraternities and sororities, etc. Also be sure that you meet all the deadlines, and apply for financial aid if needed. (I got very little from Stafford because I did not quality for Pell Grant). Anyway, just keep an open mind and make your choice carefully. There really is a difference in all of these things that I listed.

Go look at alot of colleges and keep your mind open to all of them. you never know what one will be right for you

Start applying early so you will have plenty of time to make your decision. Also, develop some good study habits while you are still in high school.

I would say pray about where the student needs to go. I prayed about the school I am currently and everything is working out fine. The family needs to find the estimated cost of things, what does the school offer, and distance plays a big part as well. Also to the student, "Get Involved". It does not matter how small the school is, no one is going to meet you at your residence hall. But along with getting involved comes responsibility and realizing the reason why you are there. Those are my tips for finding the right college and making the most of the college experience.

Just make sure that you always know everything about the before you pick which school you would like to attend.

See whic college is ranked high in your acquired major.

My advice would be to exhaust all of your options when it comes to looking at schools. Go to college visits, ask ALL of those questions you have on your mind; basically shop around. When you find the right school, everything will feel right about it. As for the college experience, try to participate in as much as you can! There is usually so much to offer at most universities. You only have that freshman year once, and as well as all the other years, make the most of it and be an active college student. When you graduate you can look back and know you had fun.

collegeboard.com parents give them some freedom and money

Apply yourself. Do not be foolish. Do your work and get out. Don't play around with your future.

I believe that everyone is different. We are all a piece to a puzzle and we have to find our perfect fit. It may not be the school our parents went to, it may not even be a well known school, but it has to meet our needs. For me, it was simple. The school needed to be close to where I lived and have a good field of study that I was interested in. It just turned out to be the puzzle I fit in perfectly. A good suggestion would be to write out a list of what you are looking for in a college experience and then research to see which of those meet your needs.

First of all, I would tell them to find a place that they feel comfortable with. If they don't feel comfortable, they will not have a good attitude about attending. I would also tell them not to be afraid to be different. Don't just do something because someone else wants you too, because after all, you will be the one that has to live with your actions. College is tough and you will go through some sticky situations, but if you be true to yourself, you won't have any worries!

Search several schools, look at finincal aid as well as the class size.