Oregon State University Top Questions

I knew my school was right for me the minute I stepped foot on campus. I feel that each student should go and see the school before that decide. I almost went to the wrong school for me. It took actually seeing campus to realize that I was not at home. My college career consisted of a healthy balance of fun activities and school work. You'll save yourself a lot of stress if you find your balance early.

One of the best pieces of advice that I ever recieved is that life has already begun. Too many people think that they are going through all of this to start their lives after college but really life is already here and we must make the most of it. It's really important to start off on the right foot and not just mess around, it is your money and time that you are investing so you need to take advantage of what your university has to offer. There is always so much going on, good and bad, you need to filter the things you want and don't want to do so that you can expand your horizons and really find who you are and what you are doing in life.

Be careful about your work load. Start off the school year taking between 12 and 13 credits during fall term; that gives you time to get into the swing of college life. Increase your course load winter term if need be. Just don't overburden yourself.

Motivation is the keystone to success. Students cannot rely on a college to pave a career path for them. Students must take accountability for their future; when they do, any college will act as an instrument toward fulfilling their career path. Success is not based upon which college an individual attends, it is based on what the student does while they are in attendance. If admittance to a certain private university is viewed as the determining factor for a student?s future, then that particular student is sure to falter. However, if a humble student starts their freshman year with the desire to grow intellectually, with an eye for the future, they will be appreciated by their professors, and they won?t spend their senior year trying to raise their grade point average in a frantic push for a graduate program. A motivated student turns in every assignment, goes to their professors with sincere questions, and utilizes the resources that each university provides. An unmotivated student, waits for counselors and professors to come to them with solutions, has a sense of entitlement for turning in late assignments, and blames their professor, school, and various associates for their failure.

To students and parents getting ready for college I would advise them to find a college that fits you. Find someplace you feel comfortable going to school, living and working. Find somewhere that you might want to get married and raise your family. If you end up settling for a college simply because of the location, or the price; in the end you may not be happy. College is the time in your life to take risks, make big changes and take big chances. Making the most of your college experience is more than just studying hard and earning good grades. It is finding a field of study that you are deeply passionate about, finding friends that you are also deeply passionate about, and trying new things. If something interests you- do it. Go for it; because you will never know unless you try. Do study hard and do earn good grades. But, make sure that when you graduate college you have graduated knowing that you did everything you could, and that you tried everything you had an opportunity to try.

All I can say about choosing the right college is to find a place that you could call home for 4 years. I toured a couple of reputable colleges and could not stand them. I personally discovered after touring the Universities of Washington and Oregon that I did not want to go to school in the city; I now go to Oregon State which is very much away from the city, which I love. Others find exactly the opposite I love OSU and have a lot of fun, but I think the most important thing is to remember why you are there. While my college is a place where there are parties EVERY night, it is important to balance the fun with the work. It is said that "you can retake a test but you can't relive a party", and I would say that this is poor advice. Stay on top of your school work to keep the stress down, and you will have a lot more fun in the long run. You CAN go out every night, but that does not mean you should.

one peice of advice i wish i had recieved as an incoming freshman is to use ALL the resources given to you. students pay tuition for a reason, that enables you to use various centers for math, reading, writing, science and many more. these are great tools that are ment to help you suceed in your college career. i would also encourage trying new things whenever the occasion arises. you meet so many people who will impact your life just by going to a organic growers club, or the rainbow continum (gay strait aliance).

The right college depends on what you are most interested in. Students need to find the niche and feel comfortable in their surroundings. There shouldn't be any pressure to choose a college based on the fact parents and grandparents have gone to that school. The right school is all about the experience you want to have. Go on a campus visit and follow your instinct.

The most important part of choosing the right college is expecting change. Over the first two years of college, you may find yourself to be a completely different person from when you finished high school. Taking this into consideration when choosing a college to attend is crucial. Don't just look for a college to attend because of your lifestyle in high school. Take a close look at your interests, and find a university that is diverse and offers everything that you love, and many things that you don't know much about, because in a couple years, you will find yourself doing things you never imagined you would be able to do. The most important part of maximizing your college experience is making new friends. One great way to do this is to live on campus. Although the dorms often have stricter rules than living on your own, you will meet amazing friends living there. I lived on campus for one year, and the people I live with two years later and my best friends are the people I met living on campus. Be outgoing, be friendly, be social, and love life.

My biggest tip would be to really just get into and involved with the school. Go to all of the awesome events, join a few clubs, take randomly cool classes, support school sports... you know? Go crazy for your school! Show some spirit. I know people say it over and over again, but it seriously is a great way to meet people and have a ton of fun. Work hard, play hard.

Make sure when you're choosing a college, do campus tours, talk to those that are on campus taking class and see what they think of the school. Do your research.

Look for a school that is in an environment that you can picture yourself living in for four years. Don't worry if you don't know what you want to major in right away. Look into all financial aid possible. Make as many friends as possible. Check out the Greek community on campus.

Giving advice about picking the right college is diffcult. You have many factors which involve are in the actually 'choosing of the school.' Does your student know what he/she wants to study? Does he/she play sports? Will your student be interested in student involvement, etc, etc. If your student is one of the lucky few that knows his/her's career path. I would elect the idea of picking the best ranked school for that degree. Not to forget the factors of costs and expenses. For the rest of us, unknowing young adults, I suggest picking a school that's offers a broad range of classes which one can experiment and explore. A school that is well rounded with academics and student organizations. Attending college is firstly about the education, but the close second is the development, fun, and experience of that student. It shouldn't be an either-or in the decision process.

Choose a school based on the fact that it suits your personality, field of study, and ideal environment. Don't just choose a school based on the fact that it is prestigious, and don't think that the higher the tuition is, the better the school. Know thyself. Really, it all comes down to that. Know who you are and be realistic; don't assume that going to a big party school will make you less of an introvert, or that going to a science school will make you like science more. Accept your traits and desires and work with them, not against them. Another important factor is the environment. If you like sunshine, don't go to a school that has rain and grey skies for most of the year; you will only end up depressed. However, once your college is chosen and you move in, it is time to try and step outside of your normal boundaries and grow as a person. Make new friends that are different than the ones in your highschool clique. You aren't required to be involved in everything, but pick something you love to do and have fun with it!

The advice that I would give parents and children about finding the right college is: choose your college based on your chosen career field and apply for as many scholarships as you can. Financial aid is sometimes hard to find, so start early on in the process for college. Take time with your application and apply detail to them and the scholarships that you apply for. They determine you success and acceptance into the school of your choice. In order to make the most our of your experience in college, I would enter college right after you graduate from high school. You will be more prepared for school work and for the world of studying. Entering into college with you graduating class helps get you aquainted with others with possibly the same interests as you. In addition, you will meet friends and have a quality social life if you do decide to live in the dormitories. Living with people of the same age and having a roommate who is always home and there for you to talk to is the best environment for the first couple years. Moreover, go to every class and always be prepared and on time.

Selecting the perfect college is very important to create a great educational and social learning environment and experience for each student. There is a lot of anxiety attached with picking a school. When deciding where to go, it is very important to visit the campuses of your choice to make sure that you like everything from the size or the campus, to the amount of students attending, how crowded the school is, and the overall feel of the campus. It is a good idea to research the weather if you are going somewhere far away from home. Some students are not used to lots of rain, for example, which can cause seasonal depression. It is also extremely important to be realistic. Students will be much happier attending a school at an appropriate academic level for them. For example, if a student is not ready to work hard, do not apply to an ivy league school where academics are the absolute main focus. If you value your social time as much as your education and are not willing to spend all of your weekends studying, go to a college with a more relaxed atmosphere. You will be much happier there!

Choose a school that fits a students learning needs and wants. The desire to go to school must be present and an understanding to seek education and positive life experiences.