Sonoma State University Top Questions

No matter what school you go there will always be something to do and learn.

I would tell them to visit the colleges, talk to the students, talk to professors. Definitely attend informational meetings for their desired majors.

To parents, do your home work regarding available financial aid and scholarship opportunities. It makes the college experience much more enjoyable if you don't have to stress about money. It is possible to work yourself right out of school, working an on campus job helps keep you involved and is easier to manage. Also take advantage of living on campus as long as possible, you will make more friends that way. Get involved with group activities at school. Be honest with yourself, are you the type to get lost in a lecture hall class and not advocate for yourself. If so maybe a smaller campus would be best, it sure has made a difference for me. Get to know your professors, if they know you care about your performance they are more willing to work with you and allow you extra credit work. Also the environment off campus is something to consider, big city verses small town. I prefer the small town, there is less distraction and I am at schools to earn an education not party. GO TO CLASS, you are only cheating yourself by missing, trust me you will regret it. Don't stress out, have fun!!

Make sure you take as many campus tours as possible until you find the perfect college suitable to your academic and social needs. It makes a huge difference! I only took one campus tour and I loved that school, but I waited to get recruited by a softball coach instead. Goes to show I only played one year and I have been unhappy for the last couple years at my university. Make wise choices! Have Fun!

I would tell any potential new students to pick a school based on what they feel, and what is right for them. It is important for them to visit the campuses of any schools they are interested in. It is also important for new students to be excited about the school they chose, and feel like they fit in there. If one visits a school that they thought they really liked but then figures out that they do not get along with many students there, then that school is probably not the best choice for them. Another thing I would tell new students is to avoid driving home for at least the first month of school. I have seen a lot of new students drive home during weekends when they first get to school and miss out on many opportunities to meet new people and form new friendships. As for the parents, I would tell them to be supportive of their children. The decision that their children will make will affect the child much more than the parent; therefore it is important for students to make the decision with minimal outside influences.

Choose the place where you feel most at home, an easy transition makes life much easier.

First and foremost you need to be comfortable. This may mean going to a smaller university, where you don't get lost, or a bigger campus, where you are presented with many activities. Four years is a long time to study in a place that you don't enjoy being. Those who do the best in college are the ones that are comfortable with their surroundings. Find what fits your preferences and situation, when you are able to do this your college experience is so much more robust. Once in the right college it is important that you stretch yourself. Try things that are new and challenging. This can mean taking a course that is outside of your field, or doing volunteer work. These will expand your horizons and may help you realize an affinity for something that you had never thought about before. College is an ideal time to discover or explore passions and interests; epistemology, the study of oneself, is the most rewarding. Though you will be challenged in the classroom, it is the many novel opportunities to challenge yourself outside the classroom that will make the most of your college.

Visit each school and make the choice by the classes they offer for what you want to do. Take your time making your choice

There is no right college. Everything in life is what you make it, of course, so it really depends on the reasons one would decide to go to an institute of higher education in the first place. So don't go to college because it seemes like the thing to do. There's a proliferation of information, you can get the same knowledge no matter where you are. As far as getting the most of the college experience, it's not importent to find a niche, a group of friends, the whole point is to meet as many new people as possible, get exposed to as much as possible. it's better than high school because you don't live with your parents, but a lot is the same. Same people with the same goals. So don't think by entering college you're getting youself into a cornicopia of brilliance and truth and beauty, it's nothing so sublime, it's life, and as I said, it's what you make it. College is chill.

Visit the college, ask what it is known for and what students like about it. Pick somewhere that will benefit you acadmeically, but gives you a challenge in expereicning something new. Get to know the resources on campus, get involved and try new things, even if you think you may not like them. Don't be afraid to change your major, or even transfer if a college is really not right for you. Do an internship or get a job that will give you hands on expereicnce in your field. Make friends with people who are different from you to get intersting perspectives. Actually go to class. Ask for help when you need it, and find ways to keep yourself balanced and reduce stress. Make time for fun things. Understand all the requirements needed for your degree. Don;t stop learning once you graduate.

Choosing the right college is about knowing what you want and not what others want for you. Sometimes people are lured to a college by friends and family but that not be the reason. Size, financial aid, location, & major availability are some factors in selecting a college. Once these factors are specified and clarafied then it will make it easier to select a college. The experience is all about what YOU make it and, once again, should not be decided by anyone but YOU.

I would tell kids to stay away from the larger party schools. Too many kids choose a school where accessibility to alcohol is plentiful and the majority of them drops out or graduate with horror stories. We come to college to learn and quieter smaller schools offer a much better environment for study. Overall I would suggest a university rather than a state school because of classroom availability. The price may be as much as double but the teachers are more qualified and registration is easy. At my smaller school of 10,000 students, by the time my registration appointment arrives many of my classes have filled up and I am stuck taking last choice alternatives. Once in college i suggest living with random room mates. Living with friends always seems fun and a good idea but usually ends in disaster. When living with random people, room mates respect your space and possessions which ultimately leads to a less stressful living experience. Also, a student?s focus should be school so avoid pets. They seem cute and furry but only serve as gigantic distractions. Lastly, do not succumb to peer pressure; strive to be individual despite what the majority wants.