James Madison University Top Questions

Talk to the students at the college or university you are interested in. They will most likely be honest about the school and really let you know what the good and bad parts are. Choose the school that fits your personality the best, rather than the best rated school.

Make sure that you are going to college for yourself. Even if all of your friends from high school are going to a certain school, that will not ensure that it is the right fit for you. Make sure that you visit the school that you want to go to. It is a good idea to stay for a full weekend to ensure that the social life is what you are looking for.

In order to help you, parents and students, figure out which college or university is right for them I would encourage them to ask around. Colleges fluff their university by showing off everything it has to offer students in order to get the best of the best out of the application pool. Some univeristies can't walk the talk they give. It's also important to ask around because most administrators do no live the day to day life of a student, which is what your child or you yourself would actually be experiencing. It's also good to know where your school ranks nationally and state wide both academically, socially, and athletically. All of these are good factors to consder when trying to determine the appropriate school atmosphere for you or your child.

As a recent Bachelors Degree graduate, I would tell all parents and prospective students to settle on a school that is diverse, fits your personality in size, for instance if you prefer to be lost in a large pool of students or live in a small community setting where everyone knows your name, it makes a drastic difference on your experience. Another piece of wisdom I would pass on, would be that during your four years or so, make sure that you gain as much experience as is physically possible. Work part-time in your degree field, complete one or more internships and participate in activities where you can undertake leadership roles. Don't be afraid to get out of your bubble every day, talk to other students, frequent the teachers office, get to know your advisor on a personal basis and network with everyone in your field. One last thing I can is to not let social activities or romantic relationships dominate your world, the opposite sex will always come and go, but nothing will feel deserved in your life until you have searched every corner of campus and found yourself.

When choosing a school, I would most recommend welcoming the input of ones parents while maintaining a sense of what one is looking for socially because the parents will guarantee an academically acceptable school, while the student will find a socially comfortable environment, both of which are necessary, I believe, for a successful college experience.

Parents and students should work together and listen to each other about which college is right for them, but in the end let the student decide, because it is the college he or she will be attending, not the parent. I think that students should consider first what they want to study, and make sure that the college will be able to provide the academics for the student . Next the student should look at the location, and size of the college because some students feel alone in a large college and others feel confined in a small one. Then look at what there is to do outside of academic work, are there school related activities, social activities, and things to do in the community? Once you pick the right college you want to make the most of it because you only get to be this young and experience this once. Don't be shy when you're meeting people and get to know multiple people so that you don't feel alone. Many college offer first year involvement groups, so take advantage of them. Take chances, because you're only in college once (hopefully!).

I do not believe it is necessarily the college that makes much of a difference, but the attitude going into the school. If you are motivated and positive, that will make all the difference. Much of the same activities are found at multiple schools, if you want to find drinking, you can at any school. The difference is the people you choose to surround yourself with the first year. To make the most of your college years, do not stress over the work too much that you miss making friends. These are the people that will help you network and support you in your decisions after college is over. I truely feel, what you put into school is what you get back. If you focus on school, you will get those grades; but if you put all your energy on social aspects you will have many friends but no job support. College is a balance where resposibility is fully put on the students, sometimes for the first time and students get a chance to really discover themselves.

The best advice I can give is to be open-minded. I remembered feeling pressured and so worried to make the "right" choice, but do we ever really know what the "right" choice is? I visited many schools while I was applying but when I stepped onto the campus at JMU, I knew it was for me. However, even if you don't ever get that feeling... wherever you end up, college is about making the most of your time there, wherever that may be. Make new friends, try different majors, smile, make mistakes, learn how to correct them, join every club that you can handle, say hello to strangers on campus, read every book you are assigned, talk to every professor so they know you by name, and live everday in college like it will be all over tomorrow, because before you know it, it is.

Where a person decides to attend college will very likely change them greatly as a person, so the decision should not be taken lightly. I would have to say that the most important thing to remember when trying to find the right school is really just to look at all of the aspects of the school. Simply because a school is world-renowned and has great academics, that does not mean that it is the right school for everyone. Each person must look at the academics, size, place, social life, sports, clubs and other extracurricular activities and decide if it is a match for them.

Only go where you're comfortable becaue that will be your new home

Parents and students make sure you visit the college campus before chosing the school.

My advice to parents would be to allow your children to follow their dreams. Let your children have a say in which college they want to attend and most of all support them because this is a stressful decison. Also voice your opinion if you feel something is not right, this is a big decision but it needs to be a smart decison. Parents, when your children begin their college experience, it is important to learn to let go in order that they develop responsibility. Don't forget about them, but let them make their own decisons. Remember you don't grow from your successes, but from your mistakes. Students, the college experience you have is up to you! People will not come running up to you to be your friend, to ask you to join clubs, or join Study Abroad. It will be up to you to seek out opportunities. Make the most of your education, study but have fun, and remember the best four years of your life are right ahead. The friends you will make and the experiences you will have will be priceless and indispensable. Celebrate a new phase in your life!

Visit the schools, the department head, the coaches, the publiciy captains of clubs, and never be afaid to ask all the questions.

To the prospective student, I would say try and find a college that fits your style and has a good variety of majors. When visiting a possible school, taking a tour of the campus is important, but make sure to "tour" the town as well. Try and drop in on a class that exemplifies your potential future field of study. Once you've picked your school, get involved! Chances are, there are oodles of organizations and clubs to pick from. Unlike high school, there's no right or wrong club to join. The cliques that are the glue of high school life no longer exist in college, so just be yourself and make as many friends as possible!

You should choose a school that's right for you and only you. Don't choose a school just because of it's name or reputation. When choosing a college you should make sure to evaluate the courses to ensure that there is a course load for your desired career field or required prerequisites for your likely graduate school. You should try and schedule a tour or visit to each school you apply and eat in the dining facilities if allowed to make sure it will be a good fit for you. Also looking at tuition rate trends will help to ensure proper financial ability throughout all of the years you plan to attend college. To make the most of college I would suggest being involved in the campus. Don't be afraid to try new things, but don't commit to an organization until you are sure it's the right fit for you. You should also try and get to know as many people in your classes or major as possible. Taking advantage of career fairs and academic seminars are also a great way to make the most of your college years.

Before you choose your school, be sure to look around. Go on plenty of visits and give yourself options by applying to several schools. While at school, get involved early. Most of your decisions freshman year will affect how you are the remainder of your college career. While joining organizations, don't forget that you can take advantage of the events put on by ones you're not involved with. Make time to study, get in that habbit. But most of all, have fun and make lifelong friends. That's what college is for.

Know what you would like to be involved with and choose the school with the best program. Make the most by stepping outside of your box and having no fear. Try new things but stay focused and maintain excellent organization. Get a planner.

Finding a college that is right for an upcoming freshman is always difficult and challenging. While many college bound students focus on name only, there are much more important factors that can make a difference between graduating from college and years of heartache. Parents and students must first look at financial aid offered at different colleges. It is generally cheaper to go to a university in-state versus going to an out of state or private institution. However many private colleges and universities offer a wealth of financial aid to attract deserving students. Secondly, students must find the university that offers the best program for their major. While a student?s first choice may offer their course of study, there may be other universities that offer the same major for less money and may have a more rigorous program. Finally, the potential student must assess the size of the university. While larger universities generally have well-known sports programs and larger social scenes, smaller universities offer smaller class sizes, and more personalized instructions.

When you take a tour of the college that's for you, you will know immediately. Remember, college is supposed to be the best 4 years of your life so make the most of every moment.. becoming an adult and learning to live on your own is equally as important as your grades, still study your tail off, but don't stress too much over school, no matter what happens you will find a way to get through it!

To prospective college students - my advice is simple. College is the time in your life when you are able to discover your passions and your purpose for being on this planet. Think about the things that make you smile, that make you want to achieve more, that make you want to get better, and that make you a human being. Take your time when scoping out different environments of different potential schools, because you need to find the perfect place that will enable you to become the person you want to be. Talk to students at these schools. Exhaust all your options and explore every corner of every campus. Choosing a place to further your education should be personalized. Don't select a college because you "heard it was a good school." Don't lie to yourself! Do your own research and make a decision based on your desires and needs. If the search for your school is done correctly, you will know when you've found the best. It will scream out your name and suck you in! Just be honest with yourself throughout the entire process, because that's the only way you'll make it.

To visit the school and feel the atmosphere of the students and campus.

Visit and stay at the college to see what its really like without all the tour guides

Ignore all the glossy guides, and talk to people who attend or have attended the school. Most of the things I wanted to know about my university before I went weren't featured in the campus brochures, but were things students on campus considered common knowledge. Talk to students who go to other schools, and find out from them what kind of reputation students at your prospective school have. And, of course, taking a college tour and sampling food at the campus eateries is a must. To make the most of the college experience, figure out what you most want to take from your time at school. It sounds obvious, but looking back I was so unfocused that I only sampled some of the things I would have liked to do because I wanted to try everything. It would have been wiser to pick the things that mattered most to me and to have focused on those few things.

Visit the school and dont only take a tour but talk to the students. Watch them, see how willing they are to help you, if they hold open the door. Ask them about the off campus life and how much partying really takes places. Get the unsugar coated verson of the school. And never rule out places that you think you wouldnt like some places can turn out to be the perfect fit.

James Madison University was, and still is, the right choice for me. Do your research, and don't take pressure from others to major in a certain area or attend a certain school. Being academically successful is important, but being involved in extra-curricular activities and seeing what else the college has to offer is just as important. What's the point of spending all that money if you're not going to enjoy your experience? Once, or if, you figure out what you want to do with your life, try to remain open to all possibilities - I thought I wanted to be a band director, but I discovered that I want to be an English teacher instead, and although I've made the switch, music is still a huge part of my life. And finally, take the time you need, especially if you change majors. Like the t-shirts say, "College - it's the best 5 or 6 years of your life."

Come to JMU!

First, make a list of all of the things that you are truly interested in. Then, decided whether you would like to attend a small school, a medium school, or a large school. Also, try to decide what you would like to major in. Then, after completing this list, begin your college search. You will find the college that best matches everything you are looking for during your college experience. And do not get discouraged if a school does not fit your needs or wants. Good luck!

I believe that it is not only important to look at the academic quality of your potential school, but also to take into account the surrounding environment and the types of activities students participate in on campus. Different schools have different identities. In my case James Madison University was an extremely social school, and students liked doing outdoor sports and activities like hiking, cycling, frisbee and soccer. While this was great for me, people who are coming from a city environment will have a hard timd adjusting. While academics are paramount, students need to consider the environment they will be living in for the next 4 years if they hope to have a positive college experience.

My advice is to visit numerous campuses prior to making a decision.

I would recommend to students and parents that they research the majors carefully at the colleges and find out what kind of employment rate does the college graduates have at their school. ALso, I would recommend that the students establish strong study skills when attending college because it is alot different than most high schools. Get involved in activities to meet new people and be open to new ideas. Don't judge a book by its cover, look deeper into the pictures of the college or university. Spend a day or two walking around campus and interact with the students. Ask about the students college experience and what they have learned or would change at the college. Realize that all colleges are not the same and try to pick out certain things that mean the most to you when you start narrowing down your decisions for colleges. Most of all, do you picture yourself on this campus and where will you fit into the environment. Also, work hard right from the beginning because it is hard to get your GPA up when it is low and will take alot of hard work to get it up.

Tour every college that you are interested in going to, because it might be a great school but not a good fit for you. Make the most out of your college experience by getting involved and meeting people that you never would have talked to in high school. College is where you open your eyes to new experiences and new people, so take advantage of it. Make these four years the ebst years of your life!

visit school.

Like many people, I was not entirely sure what my future may hold when I came to school. I ended up picking my school because of the reputation and the distance from home (and the fact in-state was significantly less money). I really benefitted from the classes they require and the ones offer as electives with realizing a path for my future that would work well for me. After I started making these realizations, however, I found there are not many classes in that field offered. The application process is stressful, but thinking about what you like to do away from a social life and what classes promted the most interest throughout the high school years would be incredibally beneficial. I never thought about that while applying; it would have helped. Also, get involved with campus life. Its hard to come back to once you get into a routine.

Definitely visit each school and get to know individual people on campus even if that means staying in the dorms with a student or making a few extra weekend trips to goto a football game or something. It is a completely different experience speaking to a student that is just hanging around rather than faculty or recruiters. It makes it a much more fun experience and you learn a lot more about the school through these students.

Don't go to a school because they have a good football team. Don't go to a school because your parents went there. Visit. Visit. Visit. Visit. VISIT. Don't let a formal tour decide; go spend the weekend with a friend. Don't go because your girlfriend/boyfriend is going. Meet new people. Everyone is in the same situation as you. They are feeling the same doubts, nerves, exclusions. Some of your best friends of your life will begin in college. Keep a journal of those first few months in college; read it two years later, and you will laugh at yourself. Try new things. This is a once in a lifetime experience. Let everything unfold around you. Learn something, and learn it passionately. Living in a dorm is amazing; looking back on it will put a smile on your face. Don't go home every weekend. Don't go visit your boy/girl friend every weekend. Go out to eat at 3 am on a Tuesday. Stay up all night and tell stories about your past. Play jokes on your roommate. Have the most fun of your life. Be the change.

The most important aspect about finding the right college is to do their "homework". Both students and parents should research schools, see if the desired academic program is available, and learn about student life. If students are undecided about their major, the school should provide services and help that will help guide students in discovering a desired career. Students and families should visit the campus to check out facilities, student life, and dorm life. To make the most of their college experience, students need to have decided on their own that it is their top choice. Students should feel comfortable in their surroundings, feel safe, and be provided with the quality education that they expect out of the school. Students should also research school traditions, learn about what current students partake in, and learn about opportunities available to them on and off campus. Parents should be open minded and learn about the schools along with their student, and also understand that it is where their child will be spending several years studying, working, and living. Students should be prepared for life changes, and these should happen in a setting where they are comfortable with having these changes happen.

I think it's important to let your child pick the school that makes them feel great. If you step on a campus and you don't instantly know it's the school you want to go to, then keep looking. I never thought I would have that feeling until I stepped on this campus and I didn't look back. Make a list of things you are looking for in a school and visit a school that has all the things you want, and then visit a school opposite to what you want. Pick out the advantages and disadvantages of every school you look at. Remember, the next 4 years of your life will be spent there. Also, don't be nervous, you'll find the right one.

Don't worry about whether or not a particular college has high standards or is ranked high in academics. Pay attention to the program you want to study; look at what opportunities the school offers, such as studying abroad and internships. Don't go somewhere just because all of your friends are going there; you'll make more friends wherever you go. Think about how you learn best- do you need small classes that allow for discussion, or are you fine with large lecture halls? How far from home you are should not be ranked as the most important unless you truly have need to be near home. If you find more than one school that matches your requirements, then you can look at the other things. Is there a particular language you've been interested in studying that only one school offers? Is there a particular extra-curricular activity that you're dying to try? Also, visit the campus. I feel that the atmosphere is important as well. When visiting, pay attention to how comfortable you feel in the campus's environment. Listen to your instincts. Choose the college that feels right, not just the one that looks best.

Look at as many schools as you can. Make sure you like everything about the school. Definitely go and visit the campus. Make sure you ask a lot of questions. Make sure you can envision yourself at the school. Remember freshman year isn't going to be perfect. It is so different from high school. Challenge yourself to get involved in clubs and organizations on campus. That will really help your transition. And even if things get rough at school, stick it through. Give yourself a chance at that school before you think about transfering someplace else. Things really will get better.

The only way that a student can really find the college that will be the best fit for them is to visit every school that interests them. No matter how many statistics you look at and brochures you read, you have no idea what a school is like until you visit it to experience it for youself. Campus tours can be very informative, but you will get the best feel for the school by just walking around campus on a weekday and observing the students and the type of attitude they have as they go to class. In order to make the most out of your college experience, it's important to be open to meeting new and different types of people and trying new things. Every college offers numerous activities and extracurriculars, so try out a few and you might be surprised at what interests you. Of course, sports games are huge social events and a way to make you feel more spirited and connected to your school. Most of all, don't let your social life distract you from the reason you are at college in the first place--to get an education. Always put your classes first.

I would tell them to visit as many colleges as possible. College visits are very important becuase you get a good feel of the kind of people that attend the college and you see the environment that you would be living in for the next 4 years of your life. Don't limit yourself to small, or medium, or large schools. Test them all out, because you might be looking at a small school but a medium school could be a better fit for you. Also, dont stick with one geographically location. If you know you want to go south, look at a couple schools north. Thats what I did, I wanted to go north and ended up in the south, but it's alot like the north becuase I'm in the mountains.

Academics are important but the friends you make and activities you participate in are what make the college experience. Talk to current students if possible to get an idea about the real atmosphere of the school. Sometimes what is advertised in school pamphlets doesn't show the real picture. Ask about the weekend scene and social lives of students. If you know what major you're interested in make sure your school offers it. Get to know your classmates and professors. Get involved by joining clubs or sports; it's the best way to meet other students, make friends, and give you a connection to the school. Most of all, follow your instincts. The college experience is what you make of it.

Do not limit the schools that you look at because there are so many options. Give every college a chance, meaning tour all different kinds of schools. Think about all of the factors you want in the college you choose, make a list and see if those schools fulfill your needs. Make sure that you can accomplish your goals at your college and are surrounded in a positive environment. Parents, make sure the college is within your budget and affordable, because a financial struggle can cause a lot of family problems.

I would tell students that they need to follow their heart. If they have things that they are looking for like a certain sized school, athletics or academic programs that will definitely help narrow the search. Either way if you have criteria or not, it definitely helps to visit the campus and explore the school websites (if you can't get to the university) and take a tour, talk to the people and go in the buildings and see what the environment is like. It really helps with the decision of what school will be best. As far as making the most out of the college experience; take part in the freshman orientation if it is offered, that is where you will make some of your life long friends. Get involved in something, there ar normally hundreds of things to do. Go to athletic and other school events. Take advantage of the availability of your professors, never be afraid to ask questions and study groups are always a great choice. College is going to be what you choose to make of it so just go in with a optimistic outlook and take chances.

I would let them know to follow their heart. More importantly though, make sure to look at different kinds of colleges. All I ever looked at was large universities, and here I am wishing I was at a smaller one. Take the time to visit each school, take a tour of the campus, and ask students who currently attend to give yourself a feel of what the school is really like. If you are not comfortable with parties and drinking, I really suggest asking others who are currently attending to tell you the truth about the party scene. Pick a school you could honestly see yourself at, not because of its name or because you think your friends will be jealous. Really sit down and think about what you are picking, but it will alter your life completely.

I would tell students and parents, to go visit the college, when they aren't giving tours, when they campus wasn't prepped for thousands of prospective students and their families to visit the campus. That is when they are going to see if that school is really what they say they are, are they the friendliest, cleanest, most school-spirited, it's a time when you can see what the atmosphere at that university is really like. Also, for the students, really do your research when it comes to your major and what you want to do, find out what schools have the best programs, if you have limitations work with them, if you can't go out of state for example, then find the best business programs within your state. It's especially important that students also know about their program, when they will start taking major-related courses, required GPA, and pre-requisite classes that are needed. Students need to be organized, have good time management, but also know that part of the college experience is making those friendships you will have for the rest of your life, so focus on that too.

Parents and students should visit as many colleges as they can in order to experience the ways each one differ. This will give not only the parents but the student a feel of where he/she will fit in on and off campus. While visiting they should talk with current students and faculty and perhaps ask questions that they have about on campus life as well as the community around the campus. If possible they could try to participate in an on campus activity,such as football game or sit in on a class.They should also drive into town, have lunch or go shopping. This would not only benefit the student but the parents as well.

I would advise them to visit the school outside of visitors weekend. It allows you to see how the campus really is when the school isn't trying to show off. You know when you find the right school.

I went away to college in order to see and experience what a Shenandoah Valley brochure had visually invoked inside of me, a certain excitement and beautiful escape that whirled my vision like an array of waltzing illumination. As I write this response, sitting in the fourth seat to the left in one of JMU's blue-stone buildings, laptop open and eyes absorbing today?s sunrays over the green valley and tall mountains, I type without giving the keys even a glance. I did not choose JMU to tap on keyboard- but to peer out of a window, reflect, and look forward to the beautiful lessons that I will learn in this seat. The room is illuminated- the weather is perfect- there are friends laughing below- squirrels are climbing up the neighboring blue-stone building to say hello- and the remnants of past lessons flow through my mind, brushed along by the cool Shenandoah breeze just outside the windowpane. My advice is, choose the college that makes you feel alive. I wish I could contact the photographer who compiled my Shenandoah Valley brochure three years ago; this view should grace the front page.

Parents don't pressure your kids to go to a certain school or into a certain major. Let them figure it out thats the best way to find the right college.