Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Top Questions

There are a lot of things that people put importance on that really don't matter. You have no idea what its going to be like so don't try to put yourself in a "college person's" shoes. It doesn't matter what kind of furniture you get. You don't know if you should bring extra bean bags or whatever for friends, because you've never been there, and have no idea how you're going to interact with everyone. Concentrate on staying comfortable and making sure you're ok with everything about to happen. Never forget why you're there, and for the rest of senior year, become more independent. Make your own schedule, decide things for yourself. Get ready to meet new people and just do what makes you happy. And yes, college is as fun as everyone says it is.

Given the opportunity to talk to myself as senior in high school, I would tell myself to "keep doing what you're doing because you're going to turn out just fine". In high school, I was a 3 sport athlete, an honor student, and a student council executive board member. Juggling sports and academics was what I did. Coming to RPI, I was already prepared for the lifestyle of being a 2 sport student -athlete. I had already experienced the social scences that you would find on a college campus, so that was not a distraction to my studies or my performance on the field. Friends were easy to make coming in Freshmen year. My teammates became not only my best friends, but friends for life. Sure, the workload as a biomedical engineer was more challenging than high school classes, but I would not be where I am today had it not been for the support of my family, friends, teachers, and coaches in high school. They gave me the tools I needed to transition into the college life and make it through successfully and I would not change the way things turned out for anything.

I would tell myself as a high scool senior not to waste so much time analyzing and agonizing over deicsions, because life should be spent living and not thinking about living. I would also tell myself not to hide so much of my personality when meeting people because in the words of the Bernard Baruch, the people that matter don't mind and the people that do mind, don't matter. There are many little lessons I have learned and they are as follows: go to class on time and sit in the front, go to office hours because they are actually helpful, don't sacrifice eating or sleeping, don't do homework the night before it is due, work before you play and you will not be as stressed, take leadership positions as a freshman representive, and lastly to be wary of social networking sites, and their ability to take up hours of time.

I would definitely have myself work on my study habits. I never studied in high school, and when i got to college, it was totally different. I barely made it through freshman year with passing grades. My first college exam grade was a 35, so i would tell myself that and begin to work on study habits.

If you want to be an engineer, you better have taken plenty of AP courses! If you haven't - don't even try to get into elite engineering schools; you may be able to get in, but you won't make it long - unless you are both determined and persistent. Your best bet would be a state school. Don't choose a college because you saw the awesome laboratory facilities - take a look at the course curriculum and look at how many undergraduate courses indicate hands-on experience - chances are there won't be many. If research is your thing, figure out what opportunities are available by visiting the department website of your choice. Contact professors while still in college! The professors will never refuse to talk to you - although there is no guarantee that you will get far. The question you need to ask is: Do you need undergraduate assistants? Typically elite schools have far-better graduate programs than undergraduate, so make sure you know exactly what to expect. Do not base your choice on social life ratings of the school - the extraverts make these ratings - you will always be able to find the right group of people!

Let the student pick the school, not the parents. If the student doesn't have their say in where they go to school, he or she may not have the experience that college should be. Pick your top few schools, and go take a tour of each of them. Ask the tour guide questions that are relevant to you and that would help you make your decision. Once you have decided on a school and are accepted, make the most of it. These four years are the last you will have to yourself before you get a real job in the real world and have to settle down. Join some clubs. If you don't like them, you can always quit, but at least you will know what you truly do and don't enjoy. Try new things that you think you might be interested in. The worst that can happen is that you find you don't like something, and the best is that you find a new interest or skill you never knew you had. College is the time of your life. Study hard, but make the most of life while you can.

I think the best advice I can give is if at all possible don't make price a factor in choosing a college. Go to the best college you can get in to, and to the college at makes you feel happy when you are there. It sounds so silly, but when you set foot on the campus, you know right away whether it is the one for you or not. If you are worried about paying for college there is always scholarships and financial aid that you can negociate if you really want to go there. I have known so many friends that went to state schools because they are cheaper, they are miserable now and therefore their schoolwork is slacking. Follow your heart, do what you love, work hard and concentrate on getting a great job after graduation to pay for those bills!

Make sure you visit before selecting your school, and don't choose your school based solely on its reputation.

Decide what kind of experience you want out of your future college. It is not imperative to decide your major ahead of time but you need to know whether you want to attend a university or lets say a technical school. Make sure you do your work, college is a lot harder than high school. At the same time, you should make sure you do not spend every waking minute with your head in a book. Go out and have fun, but do not over do it. The first year will set the tone for the rest of your college experience.

Look at a large number of schools. Always eat at the dining hall when your there. Talk to students you see that aren't tour guides. Don't pick a school just because someone wants you too, Pick the school that feels right for you.

Students, pick the school based on what feels right. Not because you think you will party alot there or because it's what you think your parents want. No Matter where you go you will make the best of the situation around you. It's not always the place that makes the school fun but the people. My school is a smart Techi school full of engineers and science majors. and i'm not At first glance I thought it was going to be a nightmare as time went on a gained a love for the school and the people around here. We may not have huge blowout parties here but my group of freinds and i can make fun out of nothing. Parents stop pressuring your kid to go to a college where YOU want. Your time has passed let them live their lives make their own mistakes and learn their own lessons. The fact that they are going to a college should make you proud enough. Where i came from few have the opportunity to attend college let alone stay in one so consider yourselves lucky.

Learn about the school from as many different resources as possible. Decide what your goals are and what you really want to get out of your college experience, and keep a record of them. Look back to it frequently throughout your college experience to remind yourself why you are there and what your desired end result is (it's ok if you need to make some changes over time.) It is absolutely okay to change your mind about your career path. Remember that you are preparing yourself for the rest of YOUR life. Seek out and take advantage of any opportunity to gain experience and learn more about your field. Take care of yourself, and try to maintain a healthy body (helps maintain a healthy mind!) Sleep IS necessary. Having a good GPA is not the only requirement for success. Remember that your peers in college may also be your peers in the workplace someday. Make time to do the things that make you happy.

Its a good idea to check what opportunities for extra curicular activities there are in and around the campus you decide to go to. It would be a was of time and money if you choose a school where your free time is spend lounging around doing nothing. If you are leaving home to attend school, you must realize that the climate can affect your response to a new environment. If you dont expect it, snow and rain can put a damper on your mental and physical health. Although academics are the reason you are attending college, dont forget to have fun. Go to parties, trips, clubs, volunteering, fraternities and sororities, sports teams, games. Remember, if you put in the time to interact positively within your campus, it will provide you with opportunities to meet people and make life-long friends.

My advice to people trying to find the right college for them is that academics, while very important, should only be one consideration in the search. You'll find a number of different colleges that fit your academic needs. To choose among them, look at things such as class sizes and the size of the university. Consider how far away it is from where you live. More importantly, get an idea of the type of student that goes there. Procrastinators want to avoid a university that doesn't let you breath from the amount of coursework. Likewise, a hardworking and dedicated student should avoid a more laid back school. If you don't drink, avoid schools notorious for drinking. All of these things i've mentioned will be better learned from a current student than a member of the administration. Administrators and staff can't tell you everything. Ask the students; they have no obligation to lie to you.

Try not to compromise your education for money. There are loans and financial aid so there in no excuse to not go to the college you want.

The best thing you can od to find the right college is to visit them as much as possible. I don't mean only the official tour, but also overnights and if you have any friends who go there see if they could host you for a day and spend some time on the campus talking with people. One of the largest reasons that I choose my school is that during a high school trip to the campus we ate lunch in one of the dining halls and I found that I did like the idning hall and had a good itme speaking with many of the students there. The official presentations are useful in factual knowledge, but nothing can compare to being on campus for a day to figure out that you do like the atmosphere.

Finding the college that is "right" for your child is essential to their long-term success. The right college is the one that fits your child's needs in every area. You must give careful consideration to how your child fits in academically. Your child's GPA and SAT and /or ACT scores should fall in the colleges median range. The college should offer the extra-curricular activities that your child will want to participate in. Make sure the size of the institution fits with your child's personality. Some kids thrive in large public university settings while others get lost. Sometimes, it's best to be "a big fish in a small pool." The geographical location of the school should also be given consideration. Many activities are driven by location. Lastly, give careful consideration to the costs. Public universities are subsidized by the state and federal government, making them more affordable. Private institutions are more costly, but have more funds available to award for top notch academic candidates. By researching all colleges and universities in the country using the critieria outlined above, I know you will find the college that is RIGHT for your child.

Realize that with the current economic conditions, the best education may not necessarily be the college with the highest tuition. Be financially responsible while weighing the pluses and minuses of each university.

Follow your heart! Do what you are passionate about and you will not have to find the "right" path through life, you will make your own. When it comes to choosing a college I think it is sometimes hard for highschool students to know what to look for especially when colleges tend to barrage them with advertisments about things that in the end don't necessarilly matter to much. I think that the best way to get an idea for a school is to walk around the campus and ask a few random students what they think about the school and what they appreciate most about it. Then when attending a college to make the most of it I think that students need to look at the experience as being for them, and to make it their own by taking advantage of what the school offers to persue their own passions.

Visiting overnight and staying with a student would be a great way to get a feel for the campus outside of the admissions run tour.

You're only in college for a few years of your life, so make sure to find one that meets both social and intellectual needs. In essence all colleges teach the same material just in a different way, so find the one thats right for you. In the long run a lot of the material that is learned is never used again, it's about proving that you are capable to learn. This is the reason why the work load of an ivy league school is more intense. To find the right college you need to have self awareness of your own learning capablity. College should be more about the experience, so it's important to also find a college that will allow you to be able to express your creativity.

SAT scores and high school GPA's are a common focus among high schooler's looking to find where they belong . Average salaries and companies graduates work for is also seemingly important; but these factors are nothing more than statistics, they provide no information pertaining to the quality of life of the average student. Intellect and future prospects are important factors, but I wouldn't consider them deal making. I strong urge all high school students looking to find the college they belong in to go to campus when classes are in session and visit with some of the students. Talk to them and ask them how they are enjoying the scool and how they get along with their classmates. Find out if the amount of time they dedicate to their studies versus their social life is a balance you are comfortable with. Make sure that you can relate to the students there, that you can connect on multiple levels in multiple ways. Most of what I learned in college wasn't from the classroom, but from connecting with the people I bonded with there and undergoing the pitfalls of life together. Money and grades are transient; expereinces last forever.

Finding the right college doesn't mean applying to as many schools as you can. Find schools that offer the degrees that you want, and narrow the list down based on what sort of campus community and environment you would like. Don't take schools off the list just because their applications are long; a few hours' effort on an application pales in comparison to the benefits finding the right school. As for making the most of your experience, don't be afraid to say 'yes.' Get involved with lots of campus groups--you can drop them later if you're not into it. Sticking with just a couple of groups and holding officer positions in them will probably be less stressful and more rewarding than being a member of every acronym-named group there is. Take advantage of career opportunities available through the school. Networking is more important today than it has ever been in the past.

First of all, it's the student's choice, not the parent's choice. The college has to feel comfortable and friendly while still offering the right academic resources for the student. The student should remember that this place is going to be their home for the next 4 or maybe more years of their life, and should pick a place that makes them feel at home.

Visit the campus, ask all of your questions, know how the professors are, konw what majors are offered, know what financial aids are offered, and be aware of class sozes.

if you get a good feeling when you visit a college, your first instincts are usually right on

In order to find the right college, it is first necessary for the student to identify who they are and aim to be. There are multiple online resources available, as well as high school counselors, to help students align their interests and goals with what schools have to offer, and I would highly recommend taking advantage of all possible resources. Once the vast list of universities is narrowed down, the next step is to visit them all (or as many as possible) and speak with current faculty, students, and alumni to get a feel for the campus from different perspectives--I truly believe that it is necessary to visit the campus and surrounding area so there are no surprises. In order to make the most of the experience, students should be willing to try new things and interact with new people, while maintaining a healthy balance between academia and extracurriculars. There is always something to do on campus or in the surrounding area; however, activities are not necessarily advertised for, so it is sometimes necessary to do some research. To summarize, the best decision is an informed decision, and happiness really does influence a student's outlook and performance.

Make sure you visit the school to get the feel of the college and the students before making your decision. Websites and brochures don't always paint a realistic picture. If you can schedual a meeting with someone in the major you are looking at to get a feel for that particular department. Also make sure you take the tour to get some facts and see the facilities first hand, but also make sure you look around by yourself and if possible talk to some of the students on your own to get an unbiased opinion. If you choose the right school it's easy to have a great college experience. Get involved, make friends with your dorm mates and those in your major. Remember, unless you're going to school with all of your high school friends this is a new chance to be yourself. College can be some of the best years of your life. Make the most of it. Just don't forget the reason you're there, your education.

I would say that the most important thing to think about when looking for the right college for you, is to find somewhere that you feel comfortable. Don't go to a college because it's ranked number one in the nation and you're promised a million dollar career after four years, go to a college because you can see yourself making a home there. For me, college has been the best (almost) three years of my life thus far, and has become a second home. I wouldn't change it for anything, even if the college wasn't accredited the way it is. You are going to gain knowledge anywhere you go, that's what a "school" gives you, so find somewhere you want to spend a few years of your life that you will immensely enjoy.

Find alumni or students attending that college or university from your hometown. If not, talk to current student at that school, you get better information from them about college life at that school then if you just talk to the recruitment people or the acceptance emplyees.

Let your son or daughter chose what is best for them, don't make the decision for them.

Go on instinct, nothing is better than how you feel about the school to tell you how it actually is going to fit your needs.

The student must decide their own college. It is a personal decision and the parents should support their child wholeheartiedly regardless of their choice.

Pick someplace that has the sort of clubs/activities/sports that you're interested in. Make sure that you like the program you're applying for and if you aren't sure about that particular program make sure there are a few others that catch your interest. It's okay to not know which exact program you want to enroll in. Pick a campus you like, you will have to live there or near it or take classes there at the very least, so you may as well like where you have to live/attend classes. Most of all, though, pick someplace you're happy.

When looking at prospective colleges, look into the cost of attendance as one of the top factors. Though I am receiving some financial aid from RPI, it's definitely not enough to cover half of my expenses. Since I barely get any financial help from my parents (lower middle class), I have loans hanging over my head. I always have this fact in the back of my mind and it worries me all the time about how I'm going to pay it back. When I was in high school I just said, "I don't care how much it costs...I'll just get loans and pay them back." That's what I did, but only now do I realize how much of a burden it's going to be to pay it all back. I'm at least thankful that my odds of getting a good, high paying job are very high. If you're rich then lucky you, go to the best academic school you can get into.

Visit. Talk to current students. Attend a class. Visit a student's residence. Try to get the fullest picture of what your next 4 years will be like before you make your decision.

Just have fun.

You sort of know when you find the right college when you are touring and hear about a project or class or club, and just listening to the person talk about it makes you feel like you are right there doing it with them. The campus feels like a natural place to be, and you can see yourself having a fun time there for at least the next four years. To get the most of the college experience you have to be prepared to work hard, but you also have to know when it's time to put down the books and unwind, because the harder you force yourself to study when you are not prepared to, the less you are going to get out of it. Half an hour of TV can mean an extra hour of better studying sometimes. But the number one thing is to find a major in something you like to do. It makes the work a little less grueling, and makes you a better student when you are actually interested in what you are doing.

Take your time & really think about what the reason is for you choosing a college. No matter what there will be hard times in school & it only makes the future easier for the student if he/she enjoys the place they are at. I would also advise people to pay attention to how the changes in the seasons at may affect them during the school year. Different regions have certain characteristics during the seasons that may affect students in a positive or negative way besides the typical snow, rain, etc, etc. Lack of sun (like in the north east region) for someone from a sunny place can lead to lack of sleep & many other issues. The best advice is to ask many questions & take as much time as possible if the descision is hard

Students find a college that suits you best. Parents don't force your children into something they don't want.

It's an odd feeling when you've found the perfect college. You definitely have to go and visit any college your considering attending. You have to feel comfortable and you don't have to explain yourself to anyone if you just don't like the place. You're going to be paying a lot of money, you deserve to go somewhere you feel good about. Make sure that the schools you're looking at give you several options just in case you find that you no longer want to pursue a major in a certain field. Make sure there are extracurricular activities you can partake in if you so choose and don't hesitate to join a club or sport thinking you might not have any time. Just give it a shot and the worst that could happen is you were right, you don't have enough time, but atleast you tried.

Go where you want to be.

Reputation of the school is important. Every school has parties, but going to a college known for them may not look so good to those looking at your resume in four years.

What I tell parents and students when I give tours as an Ambassador for Admissions is that the most important thing in choosing a college is that it has to feel right. You shouldn't go to a school simply because you feel obliged to from your friends or family. You need to pick a school where you will be happy spending the next four years of your life. Only then can you make the right decision.

By all means, pick a school with an excellent program for your desired field of study. Look at the exit salary statistics, read up on what kind of financial aid the school offers, and check out the campus. Just remember, when it comes to making the most of a college experience, there is much to be said for atmosphere. College is big step for young people, but it does not have to feel like one. A college with a friendly, welcoming atmosphere smooths the transition. Even a student who continues to live at home quickly realizes that many of his friends from highschool are headed off to distant lands. If he cannot make friends at his college, he may become lonely and depressed. A college atmosphere is easy to pick out: What kind of clubs do students participate in? Where do students hang out? What best represents the school? If you are visiting a college campus, make sure you talk to students and get a feel for how friendly the campus is. Will you get along with students here? Wherever you end up, make the most of it. Study hard, make friends, and stop worrying so much. College should rock!

I would give 3 thoughts of advice to the parents and/or students in picking a college. First, do not pick a school that is out of your financial abilities. No matter how great the school is, more likely than not the student will end up taking out a ridiculous amount of loans that he or she will struggle to pay off for years after they graduate. And in the end it?s really not worth it. Secondly, I would advise the student to pick a school that matches their work ethic. Sometimes students don?t realize the work load they are getting themselves into in going to the best university they were accepted at. This can lead to stress and depression, instead of a life changing, interesting, and learning situation that college is supposed to be. And thirdly, don?t pick a school for athletics, a relationship, or based on what your parents want. Being amazing in a sport does not last, high school sweet hearts can go sour, and going to college is to help with YOUR future, pick a school for you and what YOU want.

The art of choosing the right college is just that: an art, and not a science. Choose what feels right to you. But there are some easy tips to follow in order to guide your thoughts. Make a list of what is important to you in a college, whether this be class size, cost, distance from home, club/activities availability, academic reputation, etc. Rate each of your potential schools on a scale of 1-5 in each topic. Then assign a weight to each topic between 1 and 3: 1 being not very important, and 3 being very important. Multiply the corresponding scores by the weight (e.g. if you rated Cost a 3 and 4 for School A and B, and gave Cost a weight of 2, you'd have a new score of 6 and 8 for A and B), then sum them up. The highest score might be your best fit. Once you're in school, relax! They're not kidding when they say college is the best 4 years of your life, so enjoy it! Do something you've never done before! Make friends! And most importantly, LEARN! This is the best chance you'll get.

Talk to the students in their studying/ working setting when you go to visit the school, not necessarily the ones giving the tours.

When selecting a college make sure that it is a place that will have the major you are looking for. When it comes down to it, college truely is what you make of it. You can be as involved as you would like. You have the opportunity to be social, have friends, be a bookworm, or anything you would truely like to be. However, the only thing that is really out of your control when it comes to your choice of college is what majors they have to offer. Select a major in which you will be pleased and you will truely enjoy any college that you go to.

One of the best things i could've done but didn't was take advantage of the sleepover programs that a lot of colleges offer. Visiting a school is the most important descision making tool you can use, but sleeping over a school with students that go there is an even more effective way at getting a truthful impression. Don't base your desision on reputation either. Its a good foundation but a lot of schools use their reputation as a branding device to lure in more students, even if the resources they have to offer won't entirely help that student become successful at whatever he or she was trying to accomplish by going to school. Do research and question actual students, not tour guides. This is where the information is.