Montana State University Top Questions

If i could go back in time i would have researched more coleges and applied for more. You can never have too ,any options. I would have made sure that the college i ended up attending was the correct college for me, for both educational and social goals. I also would have made more of an effort to learn about what majors intrest me. I would have tried to attend group meetings or seminars explaining something about a specific major. I still worry myself about my major today, i tend to think that you have to have a specific major to be sucessful later in life. I am hoping this is not true! I would pursue somthing that really interest me.

If I could go back in time and be a mentor to myself as a high school senior, I would give much insight. First, I would tell myself to stay focused in every class and always read the work and do the homework assigned. I would tell myself to be involved in as many on campus activities as possible, but only ones that I am passionate about. I would tell myself to not party, drink, or do drugs because I have seen it interfere with people's success and ruin their lives. But, most importantly, I would tell myself to dis-regard anything anyone has told me about my college and make a decision for myself. Have fun, study hard, and just enjoy it!

In my exposure to college, I have learned that there is a perfect school for everyone; one just has to put time into finding it. For half of my freshmen year, I attended a small private college. My experience there could be compared to four more months of high school: no new faces, limited club possibilities, and similar weekend activities as provided by my high school. This college did not fit me in any way possible. With a small selection for friends, I had a hard time finding the right kind of person to fit my idea of a good friend with the same interests and values as my own. My sophomore year, I transferred to a large university where there are opportunities to participate in activities and clubs with my interests, which helped me to find the closest friends I have ever had. My advice to myself as a high school senior would be to spend more time finding the college that best fits me instead of picking the closest school to my hometown. Going to college is a second stage in life and a time for new adventures, becoming independent; a time to let go of stage one.

If I could go back in time and give myself advise as a high school senior, I would start by telling myself to take high school more seriously, that good grades really are important and participation in extra-curricular activities will help me to become prepared for the busy academic and extra-curricular life a succesful college student is faced with. I would also insist that I take full advantage of the help available to me from my high school, such as assistance with filling out college applications and advanced high school classes that offer college credit. I would also recommend that I go and visit some college campuses and take a tour to get a feel for how vastly different college is from high school. Most of all I would tell myself that even though college is a lot of hard work it's important to embrace and enjoy the great adventure and excitement that is such a huge part of college life.

Start writing more everyday. Get use to writing so you can get use to writing papers in college. Also find a job and save all the checks you get. Enjoy every single day of high school and the fact that you get to see all of your friends everyday. Don't let the cruel things that other people say about you get to you, because you will be moving on to a place where you can meet new people and be able to avoid the people of look at you mean or talk about you. Also, do not let a boy hold you back. Moving on will be hard but it will be worth it. Make sure you pay extra attention in your math classes. Stop worrying about what others think of you. There will be many different people who will like you for who you are.

It is important to go to college with an open mind. Not everyone will think, act, or have the same values as you. This doesn't mean that they have nothing to offer, be open to hearing about their experiences and learning as much as you can about others. Don't be afraid of not knowing what you want to do as a career for the rest of your life. It is an important decision that shouldnt be rushed. College is about finding yourself and figuring out what you love and what you are good at. Though college is a fun experience, take high school seriously. The skills you learn are important to being successful in college classes. Learn good study habits. Dont change who you are to fit in. College is about being yourself to figure out who you are and what you want to do/accomplish.

If I could use a flux-capacitor and go back in time to converse with my younger self I would tell him to continue to strive for excellence and to continue pursuing his dreams to see and experience the world. I would tell him to join even more clubs and network more and more. Also I would inform him of more opportunities available to him and tell him to apply for more scholarships earlier in his college career. "Young man," I'd say, "focus your talents, hone your organizational skills. A clipboard and notecards will save your life!". Then I would tell my past self to take a foreign language and culture course because of the benefits it has in understanding how others see the world and how people communicate differently. I'd tell my younger more shy and meek self to take a few more risks and to not beat yourself up about small mistakes. Life is a learning escapade that only happens once; take charge, steer the reigns and continue to dream of a better world for yourself. I'd then get back into my DeLorean, wink goodbye, hit the gas and speed up to 88 miles/hour.

Don't worry about trying to have your major right now. In your first year, stay broad. There are so many different classes you can take so why not use that to your advantage? Also, do not put off doing your applications and scholarship forms. The sooner you do that the easier it will be when it comes down to the deadline. Last, don't be too quick to leave high school. College is hard but if you are prepared to come to college and be open-minded, you will have a great time! Remember to always put school work first. Yes, you are away from home and there are no parents around but you need to stay with your plan. Don't let those parties get in your way.

This is about people. Everything that matters in this life centers around people. If you can grab hold of that, it'll change your life. Money, security, social standing, success? all noble goals, to be sure, but there is so much more. Behind every face, behind every name, there is a person. They are as human as you, and they are just as flawed. To be human is to be flawed. It is not in our strength that we find our humanity, but in our weakness. When that weakness is brought to light, confronted, wrestled with, and acknowledged, we open the door for change. Not just superficial, behavior modification, but change that reaches to our very depths and begins to transform us from the inside out. To see that kind of change is the noblest pursuit of all. In simple words: Love people. Discover what they need, then address it. If what they need is food, then feed them. If it is an understanding listener, then empathize with them. Meet people wherever they're at, and you will see faith expressed in love change hearts and transform lives. Always hope, always learn, and always love. Go.

Be prepared to spend a lot of money! Save up as much money as you can your senior year and the summer before college - books are extremely expensive, as well as housing arrangements, food plans, and many other things. I would definitley recommend living in the dorms the first year, because it gives you an opportunity to meet so many more people than if you were living off campus. Understand that you really do have to study for exams, you cant just expect your homework grade to help you with your overall grade - exams usually make up about 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your overall grade. It is very nice being on your own and away from parents, but you have to be able to take responsibility for yourself and your actions. And most of all, don't be too stressed out! You get into the flow of things within the first few weeks of living on campus! Just relax, be yourself, and have fun!

Wow! Advice from the future... This is an opportunity to gain knowledge I think you should listen to. Do not worry, you are doing fine. But, there are a few key pointers I am going to let you in on to make our future even brighter! First, listen to Mom and Dad. I know they are "strict" but they know some things. If they say that studying for that math test is more important than your social agenda, thier right! It seems like the end of the world, but trust me, it's not! Secondly, do not be afraid to admit you need help. Get tudored! And you can't fool me, I know the opportunity is there. You have some great teachers too, use them as a resource. Lastly, take your education more seriously. I know you did not slack off but you also did not work to your greatest potential. Try harder in Spanish. It will actually prove itself useful later in life! That goes for all classes. Get yourself organized too. It will help. Your looking good kid! Keep it up and push yourself harder. P.S. Mom and Dad get cooler (or maybe you just mature :)

I would probably tell myself to work hard and stay focused on my goals. I would also tell myself to just let Montana State give me a roommate instead of choosing one, but maybe it all happened the way it was meant to be (I don't know). Finally, I'd tell myself to take English more seriously. I had tested out of English in college via my ACT score, so I just wanted to be done.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now, I know I would have told myself to study a bit harder, not take things to serriously, and apply for scholarships.

I would go back to my Senior year and make sure I studied alot harder. This would help my studying skills to even get better scholorships that would be nice. My friend life was awesome in high school so would not change that but overall studying would of been the number one thing I could of done better to increase my overall college level of educatoin

The biggest piece of advise I would give myself is not to be swept away by the freedom of being away from home. You are out on our own, out from your parent's eye, and have a new type of freedom that shouldn't be taken advantage of. Be the responsible adult you know that you can be and balance your social and academic life. Put your studies first, as that is what you are paying to do at school, not to party or play video games till three in the morning. Stay on top of deadlines and manage your time well. But in the midst of all the papers, tests and projects, don't forget that it is important to have a social life to stay sane. Get involved with clubs around campus and make new friends! Joining a club can help you meet new people, learn new things and have a great college experience. So I guess to sum it all up, I would tell myself to be responsible and make decisions that my parents would be proud of.

Explore new areas. If you have the chance to go somewhere else and get away from your hometown for a few years, take it. Its amazing what new things you experienece and the different cultures there are. Enjoy college and have tons of fun but make sure to set aside enough time to get your schoolwork done. Pick your roommates carefully. Some people are easy to live with but others can make your semester miserable.

It's hard as a highschool senior to know what to majior in, what school to attend, or whether or not to even attend a college. I belive that it is best to start right out of highschool and attend an in state university. New students should pick a majior that interests them , it can be changed later. I belive everysone should try college. Not all people need to or should go to college but everyone should try. Go to college right out of highschool. don't take a break. it is much too easy to get out of the grove and not be able to stettle back into it.

It cost too much money to start college not knowing what your going to study. Take the time to figure that out and save yourself thousands of dollars in tuition and room and board. Not everyone is cut out for college. If you do not find yourself enjoying what you are going to study or if the job that goes with your degree is not one that you would see yourself doing than simply save the money and get the job you would love. Don't give up when it gets hard the teachers are their to help you thats what you pay them for. I they won't, try another professor in the department. good luck and have fun meeting new people and making good friends.

Continue to prepare for college and to further your knowledge during your senior year of high school. Take harder, advanced classes that will prepare you for the future. By slacking and allowing senior iddes to take over you are only hurting yourself.

Having experienced college life, advice I would give to students entering the university system would be encouraging -to get the most out of life and give back. "You are entering a new chapter of your life which will determine the rest of your life. Be positive, stay focussed, open minded , diverse, meet challenges, learn, achieve, and get involved. Live your dreams and develop your passions, desires and goals. Experience life through developing yourself, living each experience to the fullest. Live in the moment, and use your imagaination to reflect back on the journey. Life is energy. Direct your energies in a positive direction to make a positive environment. Meet obstacles and challenges along the way with optimism and learn from each experience. Judge your success by what you had to give up . Take into account that great achievement involves great risk. To do something truly great in your life and live life, you must find something interesting and extraordinary. Your point of view and understanding of the world is priceless. It makes you the distinct person you are. Share your knowledge - it is a way to immortality." michael

Get a better experience by getting as far away from home as you can get. People say there's no pressure to figure out what you want to do with your life, but that's a lie. There's pressure in abundance. Be smart with your money - save it. You'll need it.

I would tell parents and students to go with their gut reaction. Make sure you know the facts, make sure that what the college is advertising is true to life. Visit the school and attend a tour session. I did that with my university and found more than what i was looking for. Even if the student isn't sure what they want to do with their life, or what degree to pursue, like i did, take general courses in order to find what their true calling in life is. Once you choose the right school the rest will come naturally, look at bulletins for social events, get involved! But most of all do what makes you happy, and make sure you have a passion for whatever it is and you will reap the benefits!

Advice I would give to parents is to let there kids spread there wings. This is the point in their life where they try to figure out who they are. If they are being forced to go to a school they do not even want to attend the college experience is ruined for him/her. College is meant to be fun and taken seriously all the same time. Some advice to students is to try to the best of there ability. Do not just try to get by; get the best grades possible so that maybe him/her can graduate top of the class. Also, it is not always about school, enjoy other things around campus; take a break from the study/ academic world and relax. Students should reach out to meet new people; afterall, some may turn out to be life-long friends.. If a student has no idea what they want to be, try a little of everything, it will come to him/her, trust me.

As you go on your senior year of high school, start deciding on what type of field of study to go into as you look through your options with college. Make sure if you decide on a major like business, that you find multiple business colleges that best suite you. Once you've decided on a major and a good number of schools, next look at how far away you want to be from home. If your someone whose comfortable with the environment your living in now, then stay in it, if not look at the alternative colleges that you wish to go to that are out of state and that could be located in a city or a rural town. Personally living in a populated city could be a bit hectic, so If you don't like to be surrounded by too much drama, then look for a place that's more studious. Now that you've done that, your basically done and ready for college! All that needs to be done next is figuring out which dormitory you wish to live in, check for scholarships that are available, and what type of extracurricular activites that would interest you.

If I were to give advice to parents and/or students, I would have to advise them to visit the school that they are thinking about going to. That was how I decided on where I was going to school. Lots of campuses can look pretty in their pictures, but a student will never really know how they are going to feel on that campus unless they actually go and visit. Also, I would tell students to go and visit with the dean of their desired college, and talk about their major and what they are thinking about. In addition, take AP classes and make sure the student is aware of the scores that their desired school accepts. 20 transfer credits from when I was in high school really helped me, and allowed me to be able to take more classes that wanted to; rather than classes that I had to.

When students first get to college, the first classes seem to be just like highschool until the tests hit you hard. More studying is needed at college because the expected learned material goes beyond the homework and class notes. You have to read the book. I find the best way to read the book is to highlight repeated facts, such as stuff that was mentioned in the homework, labs, or previous tests. Also I highlight things that may seem important. Look at the teacher's notes, usually they will give you page numbers for reading further into the notes. These will most likely be on the test. Another plus side of highlighting is that when finals role around, instead of reading throught the whole book, the most likely test material is already prepared for you.

Be sure that the college fits not only your academic needs, but that you can grow as a person and be comfortable in the surroundings. College is as much about growing as a person as it is pursuing a degree. Once you find the right fit be sure to try out as many different clubs, go to sporting events, and take part in as many different activites as you can. Having the "college experience" only happens once in a life time and it is by far the most exciting and unbelievable experience anyone can ever have. Go forth, study, play, make mistakes, grow, and most of all enjoy every little adventure along the way because it will make you a much better you! Best of luck and see you on the road of life.

Find a college community that makes you comfortable, where you feel that you are accepted as your own person. Once you get to college I advise you to get involved right away and serve the campus/community as soon as you get to campus. Going Greek is one of the best decisions you could make that will give you a great place to start finding opportunities and create connections that will last for the rest of your life!

I believe intuition is important in making this decision. I narrowed down this decision the way most people do; in state, considered a good school and inexpensive. When I was left with only a few choices I went with the one that felt right. I met a man in the dorm rooms my freshmen year and at the time I literally hated myself. I told him at the beginning I was there because of a gut feeling, believing this experience would change me. I ran into him last semester (I'm a senior), and he could hardly believe how much I'd changed, he even thought I was in love because I was just that happy. I took a homeopathy class and my professor introduced me to Aikido, which I originally joined because I thought it was beautiful and I ended up finding myself surrounded with more love and joy than I ever thought was possible. The real irony was this man was an old friend of my professor from several years back and when I found that out I could actually see how perfect everything came together. Going with what you feel is right is always your safest bet.

Make friends, ones to study with and ones to socialize with. Also, I feel like making sure the college or department you want to attend satisfys your needs. Some schools offer programs but might not be a strong program at that university. Also, check with finacial aid and see if they are going to help you. Make sure you get what you want out of college!

First, I would tell the parents and students to talk to current students at the school. I worked as an orientation leader for MSU Admissions, and I know first hand that the school will always talk themselves up and say all the good things about themselves to make it sound more appealing to the students. If parents/students talk to actual students and get their perspective they can have a much better mind set as to what they should expect when first entering college. Also, it might also be best to talk to students who are currently in the same major that the student is interested in. Second, I would tell the parents/students to come and actually sit in on a regular class. During orienation they put on a sample class, but again, they do all the fun things that happen throughout the semester in this one class. It is not a very accurate representation of the classes. I would suggest sitting in on a couple classes that covers the materials of the major the student is interested in when they actually come to college.

You have to go and visit the campus, do your research, talk to the students there and find out what they like best about the college and see if those things are what you would enjoy too. Make sure the college has a couple of areas of study you might be interested in, just incase you decided part way through that its time to change majors.

Parents and students need to first take a look at whether the school offers the programs of study the student is interested in. If the school offers this degree program, then the student needs to find out how much it costs to attend each year. After widdling down there choices with these methods a student will then find a school that is best suited to them academically and economically. A few other considerations should be taken into account, however. If the student is interested in sports they would need to research the sports programs offered at there desired schools, and also if the student is a very social person, what kind of social activities are available to them. A final area of concern for them is the availability of financial aid and work study. These are all things which I would recommend a parent and student research before choosing which school to attend.

Whatever college you decide on will be the right one. College is expensive but not everything will be spoon fed to you. Believe it or not, you will need to look around outside of class if you want to really get your money's worth. It would be best not to lean too heavily on everyone around you because this is the time to learn how to deal with the state of independence you have been thrown into.

Don't consider one thing. And faculty to class size ration is extremely important. Also don't listen to your parents.

The best advice that I can think of is to get involved with some sort of group or organization on campus, or affiliated with campus. Sometimes even more than one group can be beneficial in order to get maximum involvement. My reason behind this is because many people come to school completely focused on school only, and don't allow time for their personal lives, and thus suffer socially. Even though groups may interfere with school work at times, it is better to judge how to juggle the problems offered by school and the group, for then you learn how to be responsible. It's one thing to be responsible for yourself, but learning how to be somewhat responsible for and with others is a learning experience you sometimes won't get in the regular classroom, but it is an experience and asset that is essential and/or helpful in many careers and jobs. Get involved and learn to be responsible while socializing and still working hard in school.

Make sure the students best interest is in mind first. Also consider important things like money, distance, and living situations. Make sure that they have as much fun as they can and get invovled with as much as possible because its all about oppurtunity. Dont be afraid to say hi first and learn new things and stay focused in class because its easy to get distracted. There is a fine balance between social life and studies and you get what you put in.

Making the most of your college experience is easy. Remember to do your homework, take advantage of services offered to you, and most importantly, just have fun. You do not need to have the next ten years of your life planned out in order to start going to school and broadening your future horizon.

My greatest suggestion is to pick a school to fit your personality. Most degrees are offered at campuses across the nation. Pick a school atmosphere that fits well with you. Yes, college is a time to branch out and try new things but a huge culture shock can be detramental to new students. If you do find a school environment that you do enjoy, try to find three more and then make your choice. Don't just jump at the first school you like.

Visit colleges! Ask questions! Be persistent!

The student needs to be confortable with the school they are attending. I came to this school because I love the outdoors and was looking for a school that taught Engineering. MSU was an obvious choice, being that it is very class and outdoors oriented. The best thing for a student to do, is to get a grasp at what they might want to study. Find the schools that provide a good education in that field, and visit them. When they find the school that just feels right, then they have found the best school that they can attend. Parents need to be attentive and supportive of their children, and attempt to help in anyway possible, but when push comes to shove, the student should make the decision about which school to go to. It is their future.

To find the right college and make the most of the college experience, go somewhere where the environment fits what you enjoy and are comfortable in. Talk to professors and get a feel for their teaching style, and the mood of the school before making your decision. During school, get involved as much as possible with student life because that is the easiest way to meet people and make friends.

It is imperative to search the internet for your schools that you might be interested in and then go an visit those schools and the towns they are located in. It is very important that you like the town that the University you want to go to is located in. I saw several schools that I thought were better than the one I ended up going to, but they were located in really desolate or impoverished areas with little in the way of activities or stores.

The college has to work for you. Go visit the colleges that you are interested in. Attend some classes if you get the chance. You may be suprised when you actually go and visit the campus and you may change your mind. Also look into total costs for each school and compare your options to get the best deal.

Get your financial aid done early.

dress warm

When I first began looking at schools to attend, I was caught up in prestige and finding a small school that was perfect for me. Once I actually got into it, though, I realized that there were no small colleges perfect for me. A bigger school provides a lot more choices and allows for flexability in academic pathways. For a student who knows exactly what they want to study, a smaller school may be more appropriate, but a nice medium-sized school gives multiple opportunities combined with the choice of class size. As for the prestige, a college experience is what one makes it. Montana State doesn't come with a lot of accolade, but I feel like I can push myself just as hard as I want to and learn what I want to learn without being forced into it. To make the most of a college experience, it is important to just put ones self out on a limb and get into whatever seems the most interesting, be it research, community service, or skiing, the student always makes the decision as to what is important.

Don't be too concerened what you want to do with the rest of your life, it is ok to attend college and still have no idea what you want to do. It is ok to not know what you want to do. Make sure you choose a college thats right for you, not your parents. Make sure you choose a major thats right for you, not your parents. Friends you make in college will become lifelong friends.

College has been the best time of my life thus far. Getting a good education is obviously the primary reason to go to college, but enjoying the experience the entire time is also crucial. Find a college which offers activities you enjoy in an enviroment that feels comfortable and natural. In college, the social life one encounters is probably richer and more fun than it will be at any other point in life, and it's important to take full advantage of it. There is no universal solution for finding the right college, it is just something that you know and inherently feel is right. Don't let yourself be pressured into choosing a campus that doesn't interest you, because it would be a shame to waste what could potentially be the best years of your life. Keep your brain on academics and your heart on happiness and let the chips fall where they may.

Academics is the most important part of college obviously, but be sure to factor in everything else as well. Without having such a supportive campus and group of girls (my team) around me I would not have been successful. It is important that in addition to academics you find a campus and surrounding community that interests you. I picked Montana State because of the volleyball and academic opportunities, but really fell in love with it because of the wonderful outdoor opportunities in nearby national forests and national parks. The academics taught me everything I know and prepared me for life, but the hiking, backpacking and fishing kept me sane throughout the process.