Sam Houston State University Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Adam

Encourage your kids to pick the school where they best fit in, where the programs they want are offered and where they can see themselves being happy. Dont try to influence them to go somewhere because its close to home or because its a bigger school. If they are happy they will do well wherever they are and that is what is most important

stephanie

The advice i would give them is to sit and actually do research on the college that you have in mind about attending. Check out there ratings on academic standards and even research the numbers and percents of jobs upon graduation from that school. Feel free to visit the school and talk to advisors and get a feel of what really goes on at that school. Don't just settle for anything because you have to go to that school for the next four or so years and you want to make the best out of it as you can.

tyler

Find the schools specialty major and make sure it is what you want to study

megan

To make there own decision about where they want to go .

Alan

Distance from home, climate, and economy/jobs available.

Jay

Live your life and have fun.

Savannah

visit the school

Colton

I would tell students to go with their gut instincts. It's hard to know which school is best but all you need to do is go with the one that feels the most comfortable. When you do find that pertect school, jump out of comfort zone as soon as possible. I know i said to find one you are comfortable with, but that is just so you have something to fall back on incase you need some down time. As for the parents, do not freak out, money and your child's well being are all well taken care of. Your child will make friends quickly and money should not be a stipulation for the education they want to receive.

Kristen

Picking out a college could be difficult when students apply to a lot. One way to help students find the perfect college for them is to determine the type of college they would want to live and go to school at. There are many decisions that a student should look at. There are small and large classrooms, large and small campuses, universities closer to home and ones that are miles away. While a student finds the setting that is perfect for them, they also need to look at the majors that the college offers. One thing that prevented me from going to the college I though I wanted to go to was the fact that they had nothing in my field of study. College is a difficult thing to decide but looking at all the facts and discussing it with the people who are close to you could make your decision a lot easier.

katherine

visit a ton of places and go where your heart tells you to, and if you dont like it transfer!

Courtney

make sure you find a college within your budget. dont worry about the social aspect of the school, worry about the academic aspect.

Blake

Simple. In three words: visit the school. You'll never get a true feel for a campus just by looking at flyers and websites. The only way to really know if you're going to enjoy a college is to truly experience it. Stay the night in a dorm, walk around the campus, attend a few classes, and meet with professors and students, not admissions offices. Their main goal is to get your money, so all of their opinions will be biased.

Dayna

Just make sure that you take your time while researching schools. Decipher between the pro's and con's. I am almost done with my college career and I would say to make the most out of it, STUDY! There are semesters I would love to take back because I know that I could have done better, but unfortunately I took advantage of my freedom and didn't study like I should have. Remember, it's YOUR name going on the diploma, not your friend's. You are going to school for you, don't forget that.

Melanie

To both the parent(s) and student(s), the student is the one who will be spending all their time at this institution, so make sure it's mainly the student's choice because if they aren't happy, they won't be given their fair chance to succeed. Go where you feel you'll enjoy learning, not just enjoy being in college and partying. Making the most of your college experience is not about going out every night getting drunk, it's about making friends and memories that will last a lifetime. It's about being able to love learning and aquiring a job that you love with the help of your earned degree. As long as your happy with your choice of college, the rest is pretty easy. Go, live, learn, and enjoy the amazing person that your college will help you to become!

Tommesha

To make sure your child or you, the student are making the right choice about finding the right college, visit the campus to get a feel of what you instore. Maybe you don't have a car and you don't like walking, you might want to know if you campus is fairly spread out. To make the most of the college experience, get out and explore your surroundings. Don't be a person that just sits in their room and study all the time. I'm not saying there is nothing wrong with study, but the old saying "all work and no play, makes it a dull day," something like that, is true. If you can balance studying, play and optional work, then you will be fine.

Monica

Sit in on lectures. Make sure you are comfortable with the setting of the classrooms. Take a tour of the campus. You know what school is right for you when you feel like your "at home." Look into the programs they offer for the degree you are seeking. Make sure those programs live up to your expectations. HAVE FUN while you are there, but make the most of your time!

Ericka

Make sure it is the college that the student wants to attend not the parent.

Eric

Students and parents should find the college which best suits them. They should base this off of the cost to attend that school and the style/type of education offered there.

Travis

Find a school that has a strong belief in your chids individual career goals

Heidi

I would personally say to apply to all the places that you want to apply to, visit all the campuses you can, and get as much information as possible because where you go to college, in the end, is a big deal and you dont want to leave any stone unturned.

Kendra

I would advise anyone searching for a college to visit!

Mallory

I would look for a place that has a program that is really established in the major you want to persue. Do not just go to a place because your friends are planning to attend it, or because the location looks fun, but because you believe that you will recieve the best education for what you want to do professionally from that that university. After all, you go to college to set up your life in a career, and going somewhere that you do not really learn much will not aid you much in the future.

Daniel

Pick a college and stick with it and knock it. Pick somewhere away from home and don't commute.

Nicole

I think that students need to find a univeristy that fits them, not their parents. Make sure that it's in an area that they feel comfortable in, that they like the faculty and classes that they would be taking in their major. For parents, make sure the education is affordable beucase that is the biggest challenge.

Pamela

Finding the right college is about choosing what feels comfortable. Don't go somewhere that scares you unless you're ready for that next big step. Take your time choosing a field, and experience everything about that school fully by getting to know a variety of people. Bury prejudices and have an open mind about everything, but know where you stand on major issues. Don't be afraid to look for yourself in college, and don't ever settle for being a replica of someone else.

Matthew

There are many who look towards finding the "right college" for themselves, and for their children. The real truth is, however, any college can be the "right college". Most colleges have a good mix of social and academic areas that people can take part in. Anyone looking for academic challenge will find it, and anyone looking for a party will find it. The problem with success in college has little to do with the colleges themselves, and more with the people who attend them. You could be provided everything you need by the school, and still easily fail. Remember, college is not for everyone, and if you find yourself struggling semester after semester it's important to re-examine what you want from life. If college doesn't work out, there's a whole world out there that can be achieved without a degree. In other words, if you think you're not going to be able to graduate in 4-5 years because it's too hard, college isn't for you. It's important for parents to be supportive of their student children in anything they do, even if it ends up they aren't going to attend.

Amanda

Visit the campus you're thinking about. Don't just rely on pictures and internet sources to decide on a school. Once you are able to narrow down your school choice, plan a trip with your family to see the campus and the students. Remember over half of what you learn will not be in the classroom at all, but through your social life, so although a great academic reputation is beneficial, take time to see whether or not you can see yourself in a thriving environment at the school of your choice. Once you appear on campus, you'll realize there are so many other things to picking a college or university than what you can find out on the internet or by word of mouth. Visiting the campus will make your dreams come to life!

alana

The most important aspect of incoming freshman is to be able to have a calm and comfortable environment.

Kim

Spend a lot of time talking to students who've actually been there, not just advisors and orientation leaders. And don't rely on the information just on websites; they're often negatively biased because people who don't like the school generally will find a site to complain about it on. Satisfied students won't go out of their way to say so on the internet. So pick one you're interested in, sit in on some classes, and talk to students who are in your field of study to see if the school's program is meeting your needs.

Jennifer

Do all of your research and don't concentrate all of your attention to just one or two schools.; always keep an open mind. Make sure that you don't just assume that you can slack off for a couple of semesters and fix your GPA later on - it will bite you in the butt later on down the road. Also, don't just hang out exclusively with one group of people. Part of college is making friends for life!

T

I picked to you go this school because I could afford it, it was close to home so I could commute if I needed to. It is a great friendly and learning enviroment. So, pick the university that best appeals to your needs and what you can afford.

Shannon

Finding the university that fits a potential college freshman is imperative in making them feel more adaptable to the huge changes that are about to occur. Make sure that you are able to feel at ease during your orienation or campus tour. The tour guides at Sam Houston and other univeristies are usually more than happy to answer any questions. It is very important to find out information regarding your university that you may attend. A well known fact. that is slowly discovered as a college student, is that no question is a stupid question; with that in mind be sure to ask as many questions at orientation as well as during your entire education experience. The most important thing to keep in mind is comfort at your university, whether it be your major or the school in general. If you're not comfortable for any reason, you should talk to someone and see if there is any way you can feel more at ease. Most freshman deal with this issue, but it is easily resolved within the first few weeks away at school. They can join clubs or groups to help feel more involved within their new school.

Leann

College should be an experience that enhances your life. People you will meet, activities you will take part it, and the lessons you will learn will change how you see the world. Find a college that has the capability of offering those things to you. Find a college that is open to new ideas. Find a college that allows the diversity of the campus population to engage in activities that are specific to their interests. While in college, joining organizations, taking part in on-campus activities, and even small groups like study sessions, will only add to the college lifestyle. Meeting new people is the biggest reason, besides actually receiving an education, a student should attend college. The people you meet there will offer a whole new perspective to you and, as you will see, college is the perfect place to find who you are as a person and what you are capable of achieving.

Jenny

When choosing a college or university to attend it is best to consider things like what would feel like home, would you rather be somewhere with tons of classmates, or fewer classmates, and does the college/university have a good curriculium in the area you want to major in. Students should get involved in some sort of event, even if it means a small club or organization. Not everyone has to be in a sorority or fraternity, just get involved in something to keep you active. Attending sporting events is fun and a great way to hangout with friends, and to meet new ones. While in college enjoy the time, study hard, and be thankful for learning while having fun.

Sara

Visit college campuses before making decisions. Ask a lot of questions. Find out what programs are available at the school and see if those programs will meet the needs of your student. Also look for social networks available on campus that might help your student not only get plugged in, but also make friends throughout their college career. Also, encourage them while they are still in high school to develop the proper study skills and time management that is essential to success at college. Other than academics, scope out the towns in which the colleges are located and compare them to not only the student's hometown, but the personality of your student and ask yourself "will they be able to adjust?" Last but certainlky not least, pick more than one college when applying because it is not always clear what life will throw at you, whether it be acceptance or finances. It is always good to have a back up plan

Ashley

Make sure that when you pick a college, pick somewhere you will be most comfortable. Don't go because your friends are going or because that's where your parents want you to go because you will not get the full experience of college if you do that. Your best bet is to visit college campuses and observe like crazy inorder to find out what type of atmosphere you are getting yourself into. Also when you schedule a tour make sure you go during a long semester not close to a holiday so you can see how it really is. Other than that keep your grades up once you get to college and become a part of extracurricular activities to enhance your experience.

Kendall

I would have to say beforehand to really try and save your money, especially if you come from a low income family. it is really hard to find money for school. after I think you should find a school that you know you will be completely comfortable at. because if you aren?t then you wont really focus on your school work.

Sandra

Look at the type of people who go to the college your researching when making a decision of where the student should go. Look at what greek system is in place and what there is to do outside of the classroom. No only is this important to the social life of the student, but it also decides the academic atmosphere and whether there are any outside distractions that may hinder your student's educational progress.

Ruben

Never give up! Always believe in yourself, no matter what anyone else thinks about you. When you are looking for a college to get into make sure that college offers your specific career field and is in high rankings with that department. A college education sets you apart from the everyday citizen in society which makes you an elite. Since you make the choice to strive for further education. So don't waste your time and money partying and drinking with friends. Your in college to do one thing get an education to hopefully get a nice job afterwards. Make alot of new friends and treat them with respect and likewise that is how you will be treated. Interact with your teachers and let them know that you are here to learn and get an education not to be in class and be counted as a person in the body count because you just might need them one day to help you or even list down as a reference when it comes down to job hunting time. But, all in all enjoy college while you can but, be responsible in your actions. Because education comes first and foremost.

Leigha

Parents should not control where their children go to college. It should be up to the child to pick the best environment for themselves. Also a students need to look at the environment, size of school, and whether or not the school has the classes and subjects they are interested in.

Jessica

First of all, to the parents, I would encourage them to direct their child, but not be pushy during the selection process. This is an important time in their life. Don't try to chose for your child, but be there for them during this time to help them explore all of their opportunities. To the students, I encourage you to examine all of the aspects of the schools that you are applying to. Don't chose a school just because you know your friends are going there or they have great facilities. While this can be great, there are so many other things to consider before jumping into a college career. So take your time, ask questions, and make sure it's the school for you.

Ayotomiwa

The most important thing is finding the school that matches you the best rather than worrying about prestige and big names.

Dustin

Pick a college where you feel comfortable, maybe not too far from home because sometimes you'll feel the need to reconnect with home and friends you left behind. That allows you to refocus and continue. Parents have to give the student their own space and recognize that they are becoming adults and let them make their own decisions about what it right for them. But students need to remember the love and wisdom that they can gain by listening to their parents. Your family are the people who love you unconditionally and truly want the best for you. I work and carry a full academic load and even though it is extremely difficult at times, it is also rewarding and is teaching me how to handle the real world. College is a time that young people need to learn just what it takes to suceed in the world on their own. So at graduation they are ready to take on that world, not go back to their parents home and try to learn to start taking care of themselves. They should be ready to venture out and take on the world on their own terms. Dustin Palm

Calle

Do not go to a school just because it is close to your friends because in the end you want to make new friends but also going to school with your friends could just mess up the friendship. You also do not want to give in to peer pressure always go to class and do your homework. Also study twoce as much as you think you need to.

Elizabeth

Really plan out your degree and have options available if emergencies should arise. Plan on doing your best always and really work hard to do well, so that when you get to go out and have fun, you can really have fun and not worry about school.

Jonathan

I would say that you need to look at what you want to do in life and base your decision off of what you want to make of yourself. The social part of school will be there no matter what school you go to, and friends will always be there as long as you put yourself out there, so don't worry about those factors. Get involved but make sure that you have time for studying. It is a long toller coaster ride so be prepared to have ups and downs and know that it is normal to have hard times, but know also that the good always is so much better than the bad.

Talrah

look around

Haley

In my experience, the best way to find the right college is, first, to decide whether or not to attend an in-state school. Second, if the funds are available, visiting the school is the best way to decide if the school is the right one. I visited three campuses and found that the college I am attending now made me feel the most comfortable even though I had no idea where to go or how to get where I wanted to go at first. Making the best of the college experience is up to the student. However, I have found that keeping in touch with my parents is essential for my emotional well-being. College is tough, and I get frustrated and feel over-whelmed often, but my parents are always there for me when I call. Parents cannot be the only means of support, though. Friends are extremely important because students have to get away from their books sometimes. That can mean going to the movies or just having a bite to eat, but it is vital to maintain a healthy state of mind.

Sarah

I would advise parents to encourage their children to attend college in the first place. Whether the money is there or not, education is a key success in our world. For students I would advise getting very involved. May I be more specific and say getting involved in the right crowd. Universities offer so many different organizations (for your major or interests), religious groups, athletic groups, or whatever you can think of. Staying cooped up in your dorm is no way to experience college or even do well. Get to know people and find study groups. Make education the priority and make time for the social. Having friends who will suffer through staying up late and studying are a great way to experience college.

Amber

The best advice is to visit college campuses that you are interested, and talk to people that are a part of that community so you can get a really good feel for what the campus experience is like! And don't let anyone influence your decision, pick the college that you want to go to, not what your best friend wants!