Missouri State University-Springfield Top Questions

Get involved early! Don't wait until your senior year. Make contacts.

I am an older student and I encourage other older people to attend college. It's never too late and even though most students are younger, the quality of education offered here is great for all ages.

Go to college to get a job. Don't go to college to just get a degree and figure it out. Too many kids graduate with a good degree with a good GPA, but can't get a job because they never really knew what they wanted to do. So get involved, meet people in your field of study, work for companies that are related to your field, and have a plan of action AFTER you graduate. While in college have fun, and don't stress too much about school, making friends and connections is the best thing college can offer you.

I would suggest taking a couple of campus tours; it really helps the student and their family to get a feel for the campus atmosphere and it helps the parents feel better about sending their teenager there. It's also very important to make sure the school has a good program for the major the student is interested in; the student can know they'll be able to get where they want to go in their career. In addition, make sure to talk with some students who are currently attending or have recently attended the school the student is looking at; this will help get some extra insight into what happens on campus and how other students feel about the school as a whole. Choosing a school is a very important decision and takes a lot of thought and consideration. Make sure to understand what is important to both the student and parents in a college and try to respect their views. Be sure to include everyone in the decision-making process and get all the information possible about each prospective school in order to make an good choice.

choose one that will fulfill you wishes as a student

Make sure that you aren't just picking a school based on where your friends are going; college is about branching out, and learning how to grow up. Not being exactly as you were in highschool.

College is a great way to let a student grow. I lived at home for my first 2 years of college but once I got to Springfield, I felt like I had missed out on something great. If you are a parent, encourage your child to go to college and encourage them to join clubs and get involved. If you are a student, your parents care for you and want the best for you. Call them every once in awhile, because they will miss you, but do not stay at home because you are scared of what will happen. You might not know what you want to do with the rest of your life, but go to college as soon as you graduate high school, otherwise you might not ever go. Take some general education classes to find out what you might want to do. Always do what you enjoy and if you do not enjoy it anymore than stop doing it. Life is too short to do anything you hate.

Choosing a college can be one of the most exciting (and frightening) times of a student's life. Don't be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone! Choose a college that best suits YOU, not necessarily where all of your friends are going or where you think you'll have the best time. Talk to students who attend the college. Take tours of the campus. This will be key in making your decision. When you've chosen a college, BECOME ENGAGED by joining student organizations or intramural activities that interest you. This is especially important if you chose a college where you know very few people. You will be able to meet people that have the same interests as you. College is a time to not only secure your future, but to also make lifelong friendships and memories that will last the rest of your life. At the same time, STAY FOCUSED! You need to find a balance between socializing and making the most out of your last academic years. These years are going to be the best in your life. Take full advantage of every opportunity that lends itself to you. Be bold. Make friends. Study hard.

I would definately tour the campus. If you don't like the campus astmosphere you won't like being there at all.

give it your all!

I would say that to find the right college a student should look at what the college offers in way of class diversity, the availability of jobs on and off campus, and the cultural diversity of the student and professor population. The best way to get the most out of a college experience is to make a keep good friends close to you. Get involved with as many organizations as you can handle and take the time to really enjoy yourself to the fullest.

Parents need to let their children make the decision on their own. Let them make their own mistakes; it's that time in their lives. Students need to consider financial issues and how far from home they are. Some student don't wish to be too far from home, and half way through the semester they realize they went too far away. Students also need to realize the work in college is much different than it is in high school. The professors aren't going to help you out unless you make an appointment with them. You are going to have to take notes all on your own while listening to the lectures, because many times the professors don't give you an outline. You will need to spend a lot more time on the homework you do, and unless you can get used to staying up all night then going to class at 8a you need to learn to not procrastinate. As a student, make sure you can find a place on campus (not in your room) where you can go and get peace, quiet, and alone time to do your homework.

I would advise that you find the college that you would seem to be happiest with. Don't just go for what is cheapest or most expensive. Enjoying your life on campus really makes a difference with how happy and how much fun you have at college. You will be able to tell which college is best the first time you visit.

Push yourself. Do research. Find what you need. Any college is a good college, if you get what you want out of it. Only a motivated student can succeed. Opportunities to overcome financial, academic, or involvment barriers will present themself. You, the student, must take ahold of the chance and move with it. Higher education means higher responsibility. The faculty will be supportive. The resources will be available. You, and only you, must make the decisions to work hard and succeed in your field. When the going gets tough, fall back on your family and advisors. You make the decisions, but you have support behind everything you do. There is no wrong choice in selecting a college. What you learn at one may not be the same you learn at another, but that information is of equal value. The lessons learned will vary from school to school, student to student, life to life. But all lessons, no matter what size, are invaluable to your future. It is all about you. You (not your college) are what will determine your life. Surround yourself with what you need and the world will welcome you to success.

Visit lots of campuses. Get involved when you get there.

Put your head down and keep going. Even when things get tough in the application or transfering process as long as you keep turning those forms in and keep working toward your goal of getting a higher education, you WILL pull through!

find somewhere you want to be at for years of your life

First of all, to the parents I would say: Yes, you may be paying, but it is four years of your child's life they will not get back if they are not happy. Let them choose the school they think they will enjoy and excel at. It is easier to pick the right school the first time than to deal with transfer credit and switching schools a semester or year later. To students, take your time. research all of your options and VISIT!!! You can't know the school until you see it and experience it first hand. Also, following the crowd may not be your best choice. If you want to go somewhere none of your friends are, do it! You will likely have a better time meeting new people and starting fresh than trying to keep up while your old friends make new ones. It is extremely important that you make the most of college by being active. Join a club and participate in it. Take exercise classes. Do anything that gets you around other people that are potential friends and study partners. It is always great to have someone to fall back on. #1? HAVE FUN!!!

Get involved and bust out of your shell! College is the best time of your life, so enjoy it and conentrate on what makes you who you are. Study hard, too!

I would suggest getting out of your comfort zone a little. I know I wanted to go out of state and I am very happy I did. The money for out of state tution is hard to come up with, but I wouldn't want to attend any other school. Don't try to hold on too much, let your children grow up on their own, but be there if they fall. Students need to be sure they let themselves be independent and need to be sure they always make school their priority. Sometimes it can be hard and there will be a lot of distractions, but that is the main reason you are there.

The perfect college will help you achieve your academic goals, and make sure you find a job after you graduate. The college will help you every step of the way, through good and bad. It will also provide you the opportunity to create a network of friends that will last the rest of your life. Of course, tuition and housing costs are important to consider. Narrow down your choices based on costs, location, and job placement rates. Next, talk to students from your prospective colleges. Ask them what they like or dislike about their college, if they have enjoyed their college experience, as well as anything else you wish to know about their college. Finally, pick the college that you believe will give you the best possible college experience.

Find a college that makes you feel comfortable. I place where you can grow as a person while creating expierences that you will remember for the rest of your life. Your college will not be something you go to for four years. You will create memories, make friends and begin your career. College will be your home. Involvement is the key. It creates a network of friends and professionals that will help you on your path. Join a club, have an open mind and mostly have fun. This will be the time of your life!

do your research, dont settle, dont go to school in your home town, if you dont find the right school or know what you want to do right out of highschool, dont freak out, just wait it out until you are ready to go to school or find the right university for you.

I would advise parents and students to seriously consider their local community colleges as a place to complete the first 2 yeaars of schooling. I think it saves a tremendous amount of money and still has many of the same opportunities as a university. I would also encourage students to get involved with activities on campus and to join clubs. Not only does it give you something extra-curricular to put on a resume, but it allows opportunities to find people with similar interests. Overall, I would encourage students to take schooling at their own pace and advise parents to be supportive of the decisions of their children. After all, if failure is not an option, then neither is learning to make choices!

It's good to worry about money, but also give some room for them to be happy and motivated with where they wanna go.

Make sure they check see how much money they school is giving them. Always pick the school that gives you the most money.

When choosing a college you have to listen to the child that will be attending the school. They have to be comfortable there. You have to give your classes everything you have. It also gets very busy. Most of college students have to work some but too many hours can cause much stress. The finiancial part of school and loan payments when you graduate , working and trying to keep your grades up can be a lot to handle. You need to talk about all things and not let them get you depressesed . In the long haul it will pay off.

Take the time to go see the university and talk to the teachers in your childs area or interest, not just the advisers. Talk to the students as well. They are more likely to give a realistic veiw point. Find a place where you and your child feel comfortable and safe. Students, have fun. Get your work done as well, but have fun. Get involved with your school and you will learn more and live more because of it.

The best piece of advice I could give would be to visit as many schools as you can. If you think you're interested in a college, a visit could help you decide whether or not it is right for you. Also, it is important to get the feel of the campus, and sometimes that is hard when you do a formal visit. So, a good idea would be to find someone you know that goes to that college and spend a day or two with them. Once you have chosen your college, make the most of it by embracing new experiences. You won't have a lot of your old friends, and you won't be in your old comfort zone. So make new friends and try everything at least once! Even if you're unsure whether or not you'll like an activity, you'll never regret giving it a shot. Who knows? You may find something where you really feel you belong.

I think that it is not about what college you attend, but what you, as the student, make of the experience. It is impossible to search all of the colleges and university available and decide on the perfect choice: because there is no perfect school . There is always going to be something about a school that you do not like 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, but that's okay. If you go into your college experience with a positive attitude and just take it for what it is, you will have an enjoyable time. Do not expect to arrive at college and just have a picture perfect experience. Go to class, do the work, and most of all GET INVOLVED!! No matter what school you attend, if you get involved in an organization you will have a better experience because then you will invest in your school. If you invest in your school, it will invest in you too! It's not about the school, it's about what you put into that really makes a college experience. Be smart, be safe, have fun!

Finding the right college for you is either a really easy choice or very hard. My advice is to visit every school that even brings up any interest to you. On the college campus tours you can get a wonderful idea of how the campus will be like when you are there. On the tours you are not only given the opportunity to see everything on campus, but also see what kind of students you see and how they interact with each other. Pay close attention to the flyers that are on the wall or around the campus. These often show you what the school is interested in, and how you can socially get involved on campus. I think that being as involved on campus as you possible can be is the only way to get an amazing college experience! You get the chance to meet so many people and at the same time get experience in fields that you are interested in! The only advice I have for parents on this one is, let your child choose this one. This is your child's first chance to be independent and your first chance to be just the support needed.

There are three important factors to consider while choosing a college in my opinion: quality of education, social scene, and of course cost. Each of these things are equally important, because each of these three things are connected. The best education in the world will seem worthless without a good social surrounding to make you comfortable and motivated. Its important to have a fun enviroment, because school will eventually become a burden and without a good connection with the people around, you will become overwhelmed. The cost of a university is important, because after school you will most likely be paying back those loans. There are so many universities with affordable tuition with great education and social outlets, and thats the kind of university you want.

go to class everyday... even if your going to be late

The best advice I can give is to visit all the schools you're interested in and even a couple schools that are in your price range that maybe haven't really sparked your interest yet. You never know, you could love the school once you visit. It's a lot about finding a school where you feel comfortable. All universities have good education programs or they wouldn't be universities. You have the find the best fit for you and usually that's more about where you'll be living, who you'll be living with, and the town where you'll call home for the next four or five years of your life. Find a place that is comfortable to you and you'll have nothing to worry about!

Find out who you are, then pick a school that matches your personality. I know that the world may be overrun by different people, but instead of blindly accepting and conforming to differences, one should learn how to defend their beliefs and ideas rather than learn to best become a herd animal. What are your politcal views? your religious views? your personal involvement with society? Surround yourself in a place that matches you--not a place that wants you to match them.

I would tell parents to encourage students to apply to as many school as they can, even to ones that they think they would only get into in their wildest dreams. This is the beginning of their individual lives, encourage them in whatever decision they make. Just make sure it is their own decision, because you want your child to make this experience their own.

When picking a college, make a campus visit to each prospective school before making a final decision. This allows you to get a feel for the academic atmosphere as well as the social aspect of each school. Try to remember that, while it probably is a factor, cost should not be the ultimate deciding factor. Every college has financial aid opportunities, check them out! The first thing I would advise about making the most of the college experience is to get active at your school right away. Being involved on campus allows you to meet a lot of different people and also to better your school, community, or what have you. Get involved, and stay involved. Don't be afraid to reach out for help from classmates, floormates, professors, anyone who can help you succeed academically. Forming study groups or just studying with a partner are great ways to prepare. Your first year away can be stressful, and even a little scary, but remember that there are many, many students going through the same thing you are. Never be afraid to ask for help. Make the most of your college experience!