Rochester Institute of Technology Top Questions

Do not assume that college will be better than high school. The friends you have had for your entire life are likely to be better than the ones you will meet in college. Try to stay close to home, unless there is no university near by that caters to your interests. Also, avoid thinking about money. Some schools cost a lot only for the sake of costing a lot, a less expensive school may actually offer better services. If you are determined to go to a school that will place you in a job after graduating then make sure you go to one that does so. Many schools are set up simply to prepare students for graduate school.

Get it right the first time. If you get it wrong, you can still make the most out of it by hard work.

College is about more than just classes. I am a mechanical engineering major, and I always knew that it was what I wanted to do. However, not everyone knows this, and it is important to pick a school with a lot of options. I would highly recommend looking at a school in a location you like butthat you also feel has a lot of opportunities for you to try new things. When looking for colleges, it is important to talk to real students who will not give you a "canned" speech written by the office of admissions so that you can get a real feel for what it is like to be a student there. Also, it is important to keep an open mind once you get there about meeting new people and learning new skills. I would also highly recommend getting involved with clubs or other campus organizations sooner rather than later to become part of the campus community. It is easy to get caught up with homework, but there is a lot to learn from social interactions with other people in non-academic settings. Stay positive, and make the most out of what you have!

The "college experience" is different for everyone. Selecting a school should be about knowing yourself, and where you think you will be able to grow. We all have aspects of our personality or responsibilities in our lives that need to be pushed and stretched so that we can gain as much as possible. Find schools that have what you are looking for in a career - and then choose the school that has more things you never thought you would be interested in, because that's the school with opportunities.

Find a college that will give you the most value for your money, make sure the benefits are outweighing the costs, even though the costs will be very expensive, the benefits are worth a lifetime.

Finding the right college can be a very tiring and confusing process. It is statistically known that on average a college student will change his or her major about four times, so, in order to successfully choose a campus, I suggest thinking about all of your interests--both academic and social-- and finding a school that supports all of those options. Also, making sure that the campus is located in an area that is suitable to his or her liking and that the campus is the correct size is very important. Next, visit the campus and assess whether the atmosphere is a place that the student feels comfortable and safe in. Lastly, it is important that the student choose the college that they feel is right for them, and not let anyone else influence them during this important decision. If all of these points are acknowledged in choosing the college, I feel that this will allow the student to make the most out of their college experience and to challenge and push themselves in ways that they never thought they could.

I would definatly recomend that students should live on campus for at least their first year. It really gives you the experience of going to college. I would also recomend students touring their potential schools before deciding on going their especially if it is in a different region of the country. If you are planning on commuting ask how much parking is avalable to students and if it is free parking or if there is a fee. For parents I would just say that you should really let your child choose the school they want to go to. This is the begining of your childs adulthood and if they are ready they will make the right choice.

Choose a college based off of what you feel is most important to you, and your own life. If you wanted to change something about yourself in high school, or if you're interested in studying in a different country, or you want to make sure you maintain a stable social life ? now is the time to make those decisions, because they are just as important as the academics and financial technicalities are. The right choice will speak to you ? and you don't necessarily need to know what you want to do when you grow up, or where you see yourself in 15 years. Focus on finding a college that will make you the strongest, most well-rounded person you can be. Always keep in mind that if things aren't working out, don't get down on yourself. Not everything comes easily to everyone, and adjusting can be difficult. Surround yourself with family and friends who are supportive , and love you no matter what.

See the college and do research.

Go with your gut.

When looking for a college, think of the characteristics that college has and see how much it resembles you. If you are unsure about a major, find a school that allows you to take a mixture of class or that start out as a core structure and allow you to build on top of that into a specific area or field. Don't ever let finiaces scare you away. If money is a problem notify the institue your needs. There are plenty of scholarships to enter and remember every little bit helps. Find universities that make it mandatory for student's to go on co-ops/internships during their college career. They will benefit you the most and when you hand in your resume to a company, they can actually see the experience you have collected. Follow your desires and most of all, follow your heart.

My advice is simple: chill out. Personally, I was put under a huge amount of pressure starting my junior year of high school. I ended up transferring after a year after choosing the wrong school. Why did I choose the wrong school? Because I chose a school as far away from my current situation as possible with no regard to anything else other than getting away from the pressure of my home. It is important to relax when choosing the right college. Step back and allow the student, not the parent, to direct where he or she wants to go. Forcing someone who is creeping up on adulthood into a situation they are not ready to deal with is pointless, and will waste time and money. Your straight-A honors student with a million hours of community service may be just as confused and intimidated as your average C and B student who coasted through high school when confronting college. In either case, remember to support him or her during both successes and failures. Let your student know that even if they get it wrong the first time, you will be there for them until they get it right.

I think the most important part of choosing a college is looking for a school where they have a lot of corporate contacts for job opporunities, the facilities that pertain to your chosen field and if you feel they will be beneficial to your education, the people that attend the school, and the quality of the education. When it comes to making the most of your experience you should always make educated choices, make use of the advisors and other services on campus, get academic help when you need it DON'T LET IT SLIDE AND HOPE FOR THE BEST you'll totally regret it later, and definitely remember to make friends and support those friends and they will support you too. And last of all, do a lot!! DOn't let an opportunity pass you by to do things with others, it will definitely be awesome and you will likely remember a lot of it for the rest of your life. They try to say high school is the best time of your life but it's not, college is!

It may sound cliche, but keep an open mind! Look at colleges you wouldn't think would be right for you. Take me for example, I'm a psychology student and liberal arts colleges weren't for me. It turns out the place for me was a technical college. Once you get to college, you need to keep your mind open to new things and ideas. Try things you thought you didn't like or didn't think you'd like. In college you'll be exposed to so many new things and experiences, don't dismiss something right away just because its new or different. You'll have so much more fun and make so many friends just by trying something you never had before from new foods (try food from a culture across the globe), to classes outside your major (if you're an engineer, take some art classes), to new activities (try a new sport, or join a new club).

Definitely I would say go to a school that's good in what you GENERALLY want to go into. Don't decide until you get there.

All of my life I have been a shy uptight individual, never really getting out and enjoying what life has to offer. That all changed when I first walked onto RITs campus. I decided to be commited not only to course work but establishing an awesome social life and a great network of friends I can trust and have for the rest of my life. The best piece of advice i can give is to be yourself, and to not be afraid to come out of your comfort zone alittle bit. College is a brand new chapter of you life, its a way to restart fresh and you want that restart to be the best a greatest it can be.

find a school that you can see yourself spending 4 years at. Doesn't matter if you like the program or even the campus if you can't spend 4 - 5 years there you aren't going to get your degree there. On that note. Where you go to school is not as important as where you graduate from. Spend time at Community College to get your required courses out of the way and then go to a larger (more expensive) school to work on your degree. This will give you more time to figure out what you really want to do in life and save you tons of cash.

Take your time and visit the schools. One of the most important things for me was how I felt on that campus when I visited. If you don't feel comfortable taking a simple tour, chances are the feeling during classes will only get worse. Visit as many schools you're applying to as possible that way you can compare how you felt on each campus and you'll known which fits you best. Pay attention to your known strengths and weaknesses and asses how they compliment the school. When you visit, try to talk to currenty students away from the tour to get a real feel for the school. Most students will be honest about how they feel when they're not getting paid to talk you into coming. When you've narrowed it down, visit during a different season to get a feel for how you'll react during the winter versus the spring. Most importantly, know yourself and be honest. If you're a social person maybe Daytona, FL should be avoided, if you don't do well without sun, maybe Rochester isn't for you. Those are only a few things that will help you succeed.

Make sure that you go for what you want. If you're undecided, always make sure that they have an atmosphere that the student wants. With a great co-op office like at RIT, sometimes what you learn in the field is more valuable than what you learn in class.

Visit before applying, let your son/daughter stay overnight if the option is available. Really follow your gut. If you have a good feeling and just love a school, don't analyze it. Just do everything in your power to love where you go so you will be more likely to find the positive in every situation. You'll learn more out of the classroom that way, which is one of the best things colleges offer students: real-life learning (before real-life hits!).

To parents and students, I would say take your time and don't stress out (parents especially). When choosing a college, first define what aspects are important to you, and then eliminate choices that would not fit your best interests. If you are already attending school, and you decide it is not the right place for you, don't stay there or you might end up regretting your decision. When you do find a school you are happy with, you need to make the most of your college experience. Academics are important, but having fun and making friends is just as important. These friends, whether they be your peers or professors, will offer life-long support and networking opportunities. Definitely get involved on campus, whether it be through student government, a sport, a club, a musical group, a fraternity/sorority, or even just a group of friends that hangs out regularly. These connections with your college will help you establish pride in your alma mater, because it is important for you to be proud of your degree and the school that you worked so hard to earn it from.

My best advice to anyone looking for the right college is to do your homework and research. Figured out what fits you best personally and what would make you happy, because this is where you will be spending the next 4 years of your life. The next important step is to visit many different types of schools. A website can only show you so much, so I suggest going to each school to get a feeling of the campus and people. After my first year and talking with my friends, I found that we are all very different people and therefore all chose different colleges to continue our education. The most important thing to remember when choosing where to go to school is make the decision on your own and take into consideration what you want out of your college experience. College is all in what you make it and if you are miserable it can be a long haul. With the right college, many new opportunities and experiences will unfold and it will live up to the reputation of being the best years of your life!

You need to find a college that fits your personality and makes you feel the most comfortable. Try something a little far from your parents so that you have a chance to grow up and learn to be independent. College is a huge part of your life, so you want to make it memorable. Don't be afraid to try something new, this is about making memories and gaining experience. You also want to look for a school that will continue to support you even after graduation. A school should communicate with each student on a more personal level, rather than just to get it done. Schools that want you to attend for your own benefit are much better than those who just want you for their numbers and statistics. Also - If alumni give back to the school and often visit, you know that they had a great experience. Trust what other people have done. What worked for them will probably work for you too.

I believe that finding the right college isn't as hard as parents and teachers make it seem. As a student who has some idea of a career choice, you will be able to find a college or university that suits you best. I do think that visiting a college, either before or after applying, is extremely important because, though you might not realize it, the environment of your school will be a huge factor in your studies. I would also suggest applying to as many schools as you can in order to give yourself enough options to make the right decision. You may have the "perfect school" in mind, but you never know what could happen in the time you're waiting for your acceptance letter. It's also really important to give yourself room to breath in this entire process. If you don't like your school, you will have options, but that's not an excuse for slacking off in your decisions. This is an important time in your life, try and make the best of it!

For high school students who are looking at colleges to attend, I would suggest to first look at the price. Can you afford the schools you are looking at? If not, that school will not work. Second, I would look at the value of education the school offers. For myself, I applied to three schools, Cleveland Institute of art, Alfred University, and RIT. Cleveland was very nice, but too expensive so I automatically ruled that out. I had to make a decison between Alferd and RIT, RIT seemed like a better school for obtaining a job after graduating and it was the same price as Alfred, since I would have to live there and not at RIT. So now I am in my second year here at RIT as a fine arts student, I like my teachers a lot and I have learned quite a bit, the only thing that I really dislike is my social situation, however I still have friends and I think I am getting a great education.

When you visit a campus, talk to the students that are there. Schools put out a front that they want you to see, and while they don't outright lie about things, they "bend the truth" and hide things. The only ones that can give you real insight on what the campus is really like is by talking to the students who are there. Most of the time, they'll be more than happy to tell you all the good things about the campus, and even happier to tell you all the bad. They'll tell you how hard the academics are, what the student body is like, and what life in general is like on campus. Of course the school will give you their opinion about these things, but what the school thinks, what they tell you, and what really goes on on campus are all three completely different things.

Based on my college experience I would say that experimentation is the most important thing. If someone goes into their education not knowing what he or she wants to do, its best to try things out and find what you really love. If this involves changing schools or majors then that is what is going to benefit someone the most. People will be there to provide support and help with this process. I have learned to fight hard for what I want out of my education and that is why I am satisfied with it right now. If I hadn't faught, then I would have been in trouble financially and would have stayed in a major that wasn't for me. Fight for what you want, and never give up.

Make sure that you thoroughly research each college or university that you are considering attending. Utilize the free websites that break down each school by size, demographics, academics, male/female ratios, cost, housing, etc. Utilize the school website and contact anyone with questions. Do not hesitate to contact either the dean of your particular college or a professor to answer all of your questions and expectations. If you are unable to visit the school, most school websites have a webcam to view the campus. While attending school, make sure you manage your time and don't get behind. Don't get caught up in a party atmosphere.

Visit plenty of colleges before choosing any one. There are many different types of school atmospheres and it is imperative that you choose the correct one in order to succeed.

I would say that the right college (RIT) is making the most of college experience because parents and students can meet many different people who can sign or not.

The best advice I can give to a student about finding the right college is do a lot of research! Talk to people who go, or went, there. Visit the campus if possible and if not then maybe take an online tour, find out whats around it in terms of social life and job oportunities. Basically don't settle. Also, while parents may have some say in your final decision (especially if their helping to pay for it) don't let them push you into a school you wont be happy at, because if your not happy then you wont do well. As far as making the most of your college experience goes my best advice is that you get your work done and then you have a good time! College is a time to grow up, make new friends and to try new things. You can learn a lot about yourself and life in general if you just take the time. Be open minded to new people, ideas andexperiences. My only advice for parents is let them go, if you don't theres a good chance they will hate you for it.

College is a major part of someone's life not only is it four years but it creates the way to success in your future career. Thats why the college process is such an important and a very hard decision to make. You have to take into consideration everything about yourself, what you like to do (hobbies), your personality, your friends, what your major is, your lifestyle, culture, religion and beliefs. They all play an important part in picking the right college for you. So when you are looking at colleges make sure you visit all of them, talk to current students and go into a class or go to a club meeting that interest you to see if you would mesh well in that campus. Even though college is about learning not all of your college experience is in the class room, you also learn more about yourself and how to live with other people, by socially interacting with others, so you learn from your professors but also from your peers. Most importatly start looking into college early in your high school experience, that way you have more time to look at all the different things each college offers.

Give it a try.

Finding the right college is about finding a place that integrates what you like to do with a social environment. If you are a hardcore gamer, find a place that promotes campus sanctioned LAN parties. If you are really into design, find a place that allows students the opportunity to design the campus. This makes it easier to balance work and play because your work is what you like to do. Integrating your interests into your curriculum will make you want to do better in the class room, thus making you more presentable to the workforce. In my case, I love networking and security, and RIT has clubs that allow me to design and secure networks for prizes and money. Classes are also geared towards this so I enjoy attending class.

Find a college with a social life that you can connect with that focuses on the field of study that you want to follow. Your going to college to learn and eventually get a good job but it's not that simple. Being happy at college makes a large impact on how much you learn. If your not happy you won't be motivated and going to class everyday will be a chore. You won't learn the material, won't grow and you will be miserable everyday.

RIT is the best choose for deaf people to socialize and getting a degree at this school.

In the current difficult economic situation of our country, it's important for both parents and students to think and plan for their future. They need to be focused on how their degree will get them a successful career in a highly competitive situation. Choose a college where the material is applicable to industry, where classes are small so you're ensured to get the proper attention, and where industry experience is valued. RIT requires cooperative experience for most majors and employers continually choose experienced candidates over others. The campus life is what you make of it. If you want to be very involved there are plenty of exciting opportunities and if you're interested in doing your own thing you can. Choose a college that will help you get a career by teaching you applied knowledge and skills. Don't choose a college that takes pride in absure theory discussions and has large classes (>45 people).

No one really knows what they want to do with the rest of their lives. The best advice to give is to try anything and everything you can, both acedemically and socially. The people you will meet in college will stay in contact with you for years to follow. Every experience in college is a learning experience. If you don't try it, how will you know if you like something or not?

The best advice would be to lok at everything the school has to offer. When attending the school get yourself a good group of friends who will last you a long time and accept you for who you are. Your personality will always change from high school and before because college away fom home makes you a different person, just dont let yourself change too much. Additionaly take advantage of everything you can be it equipment, facilities, or the knowledge of professors since you never know when you will have the opertunity to do that again.

visit campuses!!!

Go anywhere but RIT! Haha, no. Just look around and feel out what you want. Bigger colleges will have far more to offer, yet smaller schools will normally have smaller classes

It seems that many students who are still in high school don't know exactly what they want to go into and are confused while looking for a school. I, on the other hand, found my niche in computer/info sciences while still in high school so I had a well thought out plan before even applying for college. I do, however, have many friends who attend a near-by community college that are going through this problem. My advice to most would be to make some sort of long term goal, whether it be big or small, before entering college. That is surely what has kept me going when I got to school. I had a very easy transition because I did not feel that I was just leaving home, I felt I was going somewhere to DO something and I feel I have succeeded in getting it done. In short, my simple advice is to HAVE A PLAN that you know you are able to fulfill before going into college and the results will be fantastic.

Visit some schools, see what fits you. You'll learn best in an environment suited to your personality.

Visit the campus, if it doesn't feel right, strikes you the wrong way, keep looking! I chose the college I'm at because it felt like the right place for me to be and I have no regrets! Don't be scared to ask questions. Every question you ask leads you to furthering your decision on where you want to be. Don't be scared of tuition! Loans and scholarships are always available, sometimes you just have to work for them and if its the right school, it could be worth it. When it comes to making the most out of you college experience, you must be open minded and willing to try new things. Don't be scared that on-campus events will be corny or stupid, you have to take every opportunity with an open mind, automatically assuming you won't like something without trying it first can make you miss out on a whole lot of different experiences.

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Make sure to take your time in researching the college that is best for your major. Really think about whether you want to be near home or not, and be ready to hit the ground running. In terms of making the best out of your experience, try to participate in at least one club, and make sure to get out of your dorm room, otherwise you'll end up leaving school feeling that you didn't get as much out of it as you had hoped. Good luck!

My word of advise, figure out what you want to do IN college first before selecting a school, if you desire to party more than study, I would suggest going to a party school like University of Hawaii. If you prefer to study more, stay away from the party schools! And finally, do visit the schools/campuses thatyou are considering applying to before you make your final decision.

Going to college isn't really necessary. Be prepared for something that you can imagine yourself doing for the rest of your life.

Ask the students of the school. RIT is tied for the number 1 photography school in the country, but I completely disagree with it. The more you find out from the student body, the most valuable information you will find out about the school.

Take a tour of the campuses that you are interested in, if you are there and it doesn't feel right, then that school is not going to make you happy. Going to the school and checking out what you are going to be doing and finding opportunities that are going to be available to you and what some of you classes are, and if you can arrange it try and meet some of you future professors in that you may have for your major. If you go to a school and everything just seems to fit, the atmosphere, the people, the professors and the activites then that is the school you want to apply to.