North Carolina State University at Raleigh Top Questions

Check out the school before saying "yes" to it.

Take one year after high school and figure out what you want to do, then apply to a school based on the degree you want: don't pick a school just to go there, and then pick a major out of whatever the school offers.

Visit a wide variety of schools in different locations and with different populations. Make sure that there is more than one major that you could be interested at the school you decide as well as a climate that you won't have to get used to. If there is something that you were particularly involved in in High School or something you want to start getting involved in, make sure they offer something like that at that school. Also make sure that you can walk on that campus and be able to see yourself living, studying and making new friends on that campus. In the end it is what is right for that student and should not and does not matter who their rival school is and who did or did not already attend school there. Most importantly, follow your own path...don't let your friends or significant other influence your final decision because friends and relationships end, but you'll be at that school for the next four years.

Go to the school that has the best program for what you want to study.

For Parents: Allow your children (if they know someone that already attends the school they are interested in) to visit for the weekend. This helps them get a feel for what student life is really like and they will be able to better decide if they will fit in and make friends easily at that school. The tours are great sources of information for parents, not so much for the students. During their freshman year, LET THEM CALL YOU. They will, but it is such a new experience, sometimes they get sidetracked. If you feel the need to talk to them daily, send emails...its a nice reminder that you are there for support and that you love them. For Students: GET OUT OF THE DORM. Take afew of your easy electives first semester, don't overdo it trying to fit in all of your hard core classes. This allows time for joining your dorm intramural team or rushing a fraternity or sorority. The first few weeks are the hardest, but remember...all of the freshmen are in the same boat, be outgoing and you will make tons of lifelong friends. USE YOUR ADVISOR!!!! They make great advocates.

Keep an open mind and talk to students that currently attend the school about their experience. Once you get in, strive to be the best. Take advantage of tutoring service and research with faculty. Get involved no matter what! At most schools there is something for everyone. Also put yourself in situations that you normally wouldn't encounter, it will help you become more well rounded. Study abroad. Take weird classes that might interest you and study.

Don't choose a school for its pretty campus, its football team, its campus dining food, or its nice dorm rooms as these are all ephemeral things. This is a transient time of life and minor dissapointments in any of these categories have little value in the long run. Focus on the quality of the education above all. This is the part of college you will take with you for the rest of your life.

Don't hesitate to get involved. Ever.

I would tell parents and students to visit as many colleges as possible!! Take every chance you get to talk with alumni and current students of each school!! If you get the chance to sit in on some classes you are interested in taking thats also a good idea! If your sure of your major then make sure to talk with the professors and check out the programs really well before you make a final choice!! Do what is best for the student!!! Just because one school is closer to home or more of your friends are going there does not mean its the right school for you!! Listen to your heart when you pick a school so that you will be happy the entire time you are there!!

Don't let your original impression of the school discourage you. When you visit or talk to admissions, you don't get the full picture. Your college experience is what you make of it, so you can have a great time at any campus you choose.

go to state

visit the schools first before applying

Just taking it slow through college, if you try too fast so early you'll burn out and end up at the same place by the time you graduate.

It is very important to think about and openly discuss everything that you want as a student in a college or university. Decide if you want a small or large school, the best location for you, and the right academic programs for you. The overall reputation, to a certain degree, should be lower down the list. I would much rather go to a school in the right location with the right size than to a school that doesn't fit me well just because it has a better reputation. Once in school, look into the future at the classes that will need to be taken, and what types of jobs are available for your major. This will give you a good idea if this really is the right major for you, or if you might be better suited for a different major. During your freshman year, get to know you advisor, and as many fellow students as possible. Get involved early with school activities, such as Student Goverment, Club/Intramural sports, and fraternaties/sororitites, as well as major specific clubs. It is important to get involved early and often to make the most of your college experience.

Don't attend a college just because one or both of your parents went there. Go to a college where you will enjoy yourself and where you can figure out what you want to do with your life and be with the people that you can be yourself around. Don't reserve yourself. Be open-minded about everything and try to meet as many people as possible.

Ask your teachers if they will give you contact information of faculty members in your prospective major. Communicate with those people; they are knowledgeable and might end up being your teachers or advisors later.

To Parents: Challenge your students to get out of their comfort zone while holding on to core values that they possess. This is critical both when selecting a college and while making the best of the college experience. Encourage your student to choose a school because it fits them best, not because it's close to home or friends will be attending there. Once your student goes to college, stay active in their life in a loving way that allows them to make their own decisions (and mistakes) but guides them in the right direction and reminds them of what you've taught them. To Students: When choosing a school, find out as much as possible about it. Find out not only the basics, but also the ins and outs of student life. Try to visit a few times and to get a better feel of the overall atmosphere at the college. Once you decide on a college, take pride in the university you've chosen. Get involved in clubs, sports, volunteering, and social events that interest you and develop yourself in diverse ways. College should be a time not only to grow academically, but also spiritually, emotionally, and relationally.

College is one of the most impactful experiences you will ever have. No matter what they tell you, know that wherever you go, it is up to you to mke the most of it. Do not be disappointed or let down if you do 't get your first choice, because you're going end up going where you were meant to be. The rest is up to you, so make the most of it!

I would tell them to take into consideration the different majors and minors offered at the Univerisity, how much financial aid you would be getting. What is the living situation? Do you want to travel or live on campus? Are extra-curriculum activities a must for you? Does the campus make you feel life you're at home? Does the University have a good reputation? Do you think you could handle a job during school? Would it be too much of a workload? Definately talk with students that currently attend the University, they are the only ones who can really give you an inside look, they were once in your shoes, take their advice. While at school keep in contact with your advisor, he is there to help you, take advantage of that. Take advantage as well of the FREE tutorial service offered at school, there is no reason why you should flunk out of a class. Always attend class, you have to be responsible, there is no comparison from actively participating in class or listening to a lecture and taking your own notes. Make sure, the campus, people and surrounding feel good to you, college becomes your home.

Find somewhere you fit in quickly upon entering into college. Make sure you find encouraging friends that share the same morals and ambitions as you do. Seek academic help when you are struggling in a class. Network with advisors to enhance your college experience.

Start early in your search and your planning.

My advice would be to go visit many different colleges and ask lots of questions. If you decide to take the campus tour, dont be afraid to go up to random students and ask them what their opinion is. Talk to as many people as possible so you can get a feel for the campus. You'll know very quickly whether or not it's a place for you. As for when you finally decide on a college, dont be afraid to get out there and meet new people. Take advantage of all the activities going on at the beginning of the year, no matter how lame they might seem. It's extremely easy to meet new friends in college, you just have to have a positive attitude!!

Read all the information they send to you.

Get a good feel of the school, its academic reputation, what the students do for fun, and the type of personalities that seemingly dominate the school. Visit!

Choose a school that you can see yourself at class, sporting events, art events, and social events. It's important to feel like you are at home even while away. I think that while social activities are extremely important to a well rounded college education, you need to be very smart about your academic choices as well. Make sure that you have fun, but that you focus a lot on the classwork you're there for. I know I made a mistake by putting my social life first--leading to a GPA that I'm not pleased with. I also had a dream to go to Veterinary School, but because I didn't stay focused like I know that I could have, I missed out. Follow the things that you want, and stick to it. Good luck!! Parents--be there for them when things aren't perfect.

Never limit yourself! College is all about expanding your beliefs and looking at life through new experiences. The right college is one that you feel comfortable fitting into, but with lots of room for experiencing new cultures and plenty of opportunity to observe and participate in activities that will challenge you. This is the most exciting time in your life, and the memories you have will forever shape your identity. Parents should look at schools that offer a variety of opportunities for students outside of academics like opportunities to study abroad, service projects, diverse clubs, and cultural experiences and students should take every opportunity they have to trying out everything their college has to offer. At the same time you can't forget about academics so pick a school where the faculty are willing to mentor you about your future. They will be an invaluable resource for you will help you begin networking for the career you choose to pursue. Loving the environment that you are in and having ample social opportunities makes the next four years of cramming in the library all night much more bearable.

As far as finding the right college goes, I suggest finding one that fits the career you want to go into. If you can not get into that one go to your next choice do well and transfer, I know many engineering students here at NC State who transfered from other schools like ECU and Carolina that are not engineering based schools. Once you get into college, go out to events like semester opening bashes, do intermural sports, or anything else that may interest you. Do not be afraid to get out there and have fun but make sure your acedemics are kept up. The hardest part about college is getting a balance between your school work and your social life.

If I had the opportunity to give advice to parents and/or students about the importance of finding the right college and making the most of their college experience I would tell them to follow their heart. Many students tend to follow their parents' ambitions and do not trust where their hearts want them to go. I would tell the students to listen within and to go where they will be happy. If the student is happy, they are more likely to succeed because they are in the place where they wanted to be, not where their parents wanted them to be. The student will have more pride in what they accomplish and them choosing the right college that meets their needs also aids in the process of getting the most out of their college experience. Not only should the student focus on their academics, but they should also strive to meet new people with similar interests as well as those different from them to help mold the student into becoming a well-rounded individual. Academics is great, but you also need to try to be social and outgoing so that when you graduate, you will know who you are .

Begin you search early. Don't wait until you're walking across the stage or even a few months prior. I waited, and did not have the opportunity to educate myself about all of the options out there. Be sure to educate yourself. Talk to people who are in positions that afford them both knowledge and resources. Talk to your advisors and counselors. They are at your school to help you find and get in the college of 'your dreams'. And take a few apptitude tests to find out what careers align with your interests so that you'll know which general path to take when you get into college. And when you arrive at that college, be sure to familiarize yourself with all of the options there. Meet and speak with the people in power, such as financial aid officers, advisors, and professors. Also, get involved, there is no better college experience than one that combines a healthy social life and a balanced academic work load.

To find the right college, do your research! Go to the campus and take a tour, go online and read about what they have to offer and the costs, and decide if it's in the right location for you. Be sure to focus on school and get help with a class if you need it, but don't be afraid to have some fun once in a while, and try to meet as many people as you can because they could turn out to be your life-long best friends. Try to get involved in a club or fraternity/sorority on campus that shares your interest (chances are there's a club for everything...even basketweaving!). Also, if you ever need anything, turn to your advisor or a favorite teacher, that's what they're there for and they're more than happy to help you!

Start looking at colleges in your junior year of high school. Look at large universities and small, private schools. You may think that you know you want to go to an all girls school, and then end up loving the biggest university in your state. Find a college that has activities you enjoy such as a drama club, or intramural baseball. Make sure the school you're looking at has a major that you want. Don't go to a specific college just to be with your boyfriend/girlfriend or best friends. You'll make new friends. College is what you make it to be. If you go with a bad attitude, you probably won't enjoy it. Make it fun. Join a club, volunteer in the campus's community service activities, and try something new. You won't regret it!

Finding the right college should not be a stressful experience. It took me no time at all to find my "perfect fit." I was quickly accepted and recieved a fellowship in the Journalism program. However, when it became clear that attending the private university would be impossible given my financial resources, I settled for my current university. Interestingly, settling was the best choice I have ever made. Although it was several of the things I wanted least in a college--large and close to home--I quickly grew to love it as I learned all it had to offer. That is truly what making the most out of college is all about. No matter where you end up, there is something for you. It is your responsibility to reach out and find it! I easily found activities and clubs to immerse myself in, and I made many friends. Although while in high school, I stressed and worried about finding and being able to attend the university that I thought was my "perfect fit," I see now that in an academic community, it is easy to make the university your own "perfect fit."

I would tell students that if they want to get into their dream college, then you have to work hard, from freshman year of high school. Also, go on college visits, and make sure that they specialize in your major.

Ask questions and find what works for you.

I believe that, in the end, it truly does not matter which university a student attends, but what the student makes out of it. NC State was not my first choice, but I went to Raleigh, NC, with a positive attitude and decided I would make the best of my situation. It turned out NC State was a great place for me to be. If I had gone in with a negative outlook, it's possible I would've transferred and missed out on a wonderful experience. Most universities offer many opportunities for a student to get involved and become engaged in the journey toward discovering a genuine passion. I challenge all future college students to seek out those opportunities and put their best foot forward - you might be surprised at what you discover.

Sarah tells us about what she wishes she knew before coming to NCSU.

Brandon tells us what he wished he knew when coming here