Stony Brook University Top Questions

make sure you chose a schoolo for the right reasons. It is four years of you life, and although that may seem like alot, even a simple transfer could set you behind.

Find a college where the staff gets things done in a timely fashion. Make sure the students there are the type your child gets along with, Ethnicity is important. The campus must be within walking distance so missing the bus wouldn't screw you over. Every college has a lot of fraternities and soverities, the less the better because they are just useless social circles that get you nowhere and the sole purpose of them is to enhance boy girl relationships. An exception to this are real academic and professional F & S. As for the meal plan, find a school where you are not forced to enroll in a meal plan.

I made the mistake of not visit Stonybrook University an not speaking to any current students before I chose to attend the school. Stonybrook was not my first choice but I picked it seeing as how it was cheaper than any of the other schools I applied to and was accepted by. It turns out, because of the challenging curriculum, and unfortunate meal plan, and inability to find off campus housing, I'll be here an extra year, paying an extra year worth of tuition, and I've already spent more than I had planned on external food sources and i will be spending quite a bit of money on off campus housing in the next year. The total cost of attending what seemed to be the cheapest university, turned out not to be! Just make sure you get the oppinion of all aspects of the university from current students before you chose your university, there may be things you didn't think about that they can bring to mind, and they're not trying to get you to pick their university, so they'll be more honest and more helpful than the welcome wagon. Good Luck!!

Make sure that you like the college that you choose because not being happy with where you are can affect your schoolwork.

When selecting the right college for your child be sure to visit the campus more than once. Also, it is important to find out if the college offers a program that allows graduating seniors from high school to speak to actual students to get a real account of campus life.

When thinking about choosing a college, don't think about big name schools or one that your parents would want you to go to. The whole point of going to college is to learn and it's most important to pick a college where you think you can learn and the best. It's all about how a college fits the person, and how that person can benefit from attending that college. Remember, this time around, *you're* paying the college! It's important to do research in advance about the types of colleges you're going to consider. Important factors include the size the campus, the size of the student body, the art and athletics programs, research and intern opportunities and the social scene. If you're able to find a college that fits you and one that you're happy and enthusiastic about attending, then hard work and an eagerness to learn is all you need to make the most of your college experience and be successful.

Make sure to fully look into the school and talk to random students through out the school to make sure that they get the truth from several different aspects. It is always better to get the full layout of the school before paying so much to attend that school.

Just do what you think is best for your future.

If you have the money go to a college where you can live on campus or near the campus. If you can join extra activites they look great on your resume, and they really help you network with friends. Most staff is friendly, of course you'll get the occasional Im a genius professor that will treat you like a 5 year old and never help you improve. You'll get that at any school, but be prepared to not take this personally its not you. There will also be great professors that will make you think you can do anything if you find one of these try to take other classes that they teach. Never let your work load become to much, if you feel that you cannot handle a task always ask for help. In college you won't be friends with everyone especially at a big place like stony brook where you can't even find parking. Really consider your options, because if i had to do it all over again i would change so many things. Most of all college is a learning expirence where you find out how real people and life is . Good Luck

When choosing a college it is very important to have at least a rough idea of what area of study you are interested in. Some schools are known for certain fields. This can greatly further your education and give you an edge over your competition. Also, if a school is chosen which does not suit this need, it might be necessary to transfer to another school at some point. Transferring schools can be messy because in many cases not all credits are transferrable. I am a health science major at Stony Brook University which is known for its impressive medical background. Having a degree from Stony Brook University lets future employers know that I have received quality training and education. SBU is also very closely linked to Stony Brook hospital located across the street from the university . Being a graduate from SBU will make it very easy to establish a career in Stony Brook's hospital. Because of this, my transition from college to career will be very easy. College is stressful enough. Knowing you are assured a job upon graduation is important and can alleviate a great deal of stress.

The right college should appeal to the student and offer the basic resources for your child to succeed. It should offer a wide range of extracurricular activities such as clubs and other social organizations. It should be well connected with businesses within the area and other research industries in order to get an internship/job in the future. The most important thing however is to find the right friends and enjoy college as it is.

consider what motivates you the most

Although the internet can offer indivudals with a variety of easy access information, it is essential that a student makes personal visits to the colleges that he or she is considering. It is easier to picture your life at a particular college if you phyically place yourself in its locale and immediate surroundings. When you are picturing yourself at this college you need to analyze the feelings that it provokes. In order to make a more efficient choice, pick the college that provokes the most positive feelings.

you should think about what area you like the most and find a campus that matches. urban - urban campus etc.

Definitely go and live on campus and try out the food and attend some lecture classes. It will make your decision a lot easier.

Make sure to visit every college you apply to if you can manage it. Talk to people on those campuses and get a sense of what they think of the school. Walk off campus to see what it is like around the college and how easy it is to do things off campus. Choose a place where it doesn't get muddy when it rains or icy when it snows.

Go cheap

Take the time to really determine what it is you want from your college. Stony Brook is good in the sense that it's a big campus, but still feels like a small community sometimes. Visit the campus A LOT. You will be spending a lot of time here (for the students) and the parents will be hearing a lot about the campus (and it's cleanliness). Be critical and picky, ask every question you can think of-- and then some. Make sure that you pick the school that best suits your desires as a student. Go to a smaller place if you want small classes, and a bigger place if you like anonymity. Find one with clubs that interest you or has buildings that look like you won't mind spending time in. Check out the library and on campus resources!!! And the food! Most of all, if you don't find yourself enjoying the visit, you probably won't enjoy your stay. So keep that in mind ;)

The best advice I can give is on how to pick a college that makes both the student and parent happy with the choice. It is important for the student to talk to their parent. One thing I know is that if the parent is not happy neither will the student be. It is also important for the parent to pay attention to the need of the student because the student will be attending this college and not the parent. If the student is happy the parent will be happy with the grades. If the parent is comfortable with the students choice the student will have an easier experience separating from the parent and becoming more independent. Both parents and students should communicate their wishes to each other . They should look at what is most important that a college has for them. Making a list will make it very easy to compare schools and tell why they are a good or bad choice for the family. I also recommend visiting the school. A visit can change an opinion about a school either the way the school looks or the way people treated you their or the campus as a whole.

Visit it!

visit as many schools as possible; visit on the weekends; sleepover if you can; be cautious of big schools.. its easy to get lost. It really is the student's choice. Parents should not decide for kids no matter what!

The best advice I think the parents and students should take in a consideration when they making decisions about which college to attend is to visite the school to see if you really like it or not. Also, talking to the students when were in that college will let you know a lot of the "secrete" things about that college. You will know more from the students than the papers or flyers.

What's right for your friends may not be right for you? You have to know yourself.

Choose a college that you want to go to not whatever one you get into or your parents want you to go to. Go with your gut instinct. Visit the campus on a weekend and weekday to get a good feel for campus life.

Visiting the college is an absolute MUST. You will not know how you feel about a school unless you are there to experience it beforehand.

Use your time wisely!

Visit the school, talk to alumni and students that attend. Spend a weekend

When deciding on a college the best thing to do is to go visit that school and try to visit during the week and on the weekend during the semester, not when school isn't in session. You get a real glimpse of what the school is like that way. Pick one that suits your personality not just because its a good school because its better to be happy than to be miserable everyday. Once you find the right school and it's move in day for freshman make some friends during those opening activities. It's probably the easiest and best chance to meet new people and to make new friends. There are alot of college students that become depressed as the year goes on because they didnt make friends or don't have any friends. Nurture your friendships because those friendscan and will help you make it through the tough times.

Really research the school, because you don't want to regret your choice later. See yourself in 5 years, and assess what you really want to gain from the college experience.

My advice for students is to pay attention to the major degree and graduate programs available at school and apply for them asap if applicable to your major, be VERY INVOLVED and be sure to join at least one scholastic club as well as social one that you may be interested in. Use you free time WISELY! Do your work and study during the day and during the WEEKDAYS, that leaves all the best times (nights and weekends) to do what you want to do and ditch work that you Know you'll ditch. Study Abroad-- At the end of the day it gives you an edge up on the kid next to you who didn't. Adopt an advisor you trust when you get there and keep in contact with him/her all throughout or you and your future will just be tossed around. Parents, your child's happiness at his/her university is in fact VERY important to the way they perform academically. So pay attention to them and call often..no matter how many times they ignore your calls.

Even if it is not your first choice, and even though the first semester is awful...a college experience is what you make of it regardless of its location.

About choosing the right college, trust your instinct. If you feel that you are able to walk around campus comfortably after going to the school for an open house then most of the time your initial instict is right. Attending a lecture, oversee the list of campus life programs or clubs you might be interested in, check out the residential dorms (if you are planning to live on campus), check out the off campus attractions, such as the proxmity of the mall, clubs, downtown area, etc., the availability of a part time jobs on/off campus, are a few important factors in finding out if that college is the right college for you.The best advice about making a college experience amazing is simply just follow a schedule that is suited where you are able to time manage your day so that you aren't pulling your hair out by the end of the semester. Leave time for school, studying, and time with your friends so that you aren't up until 4 a.m. trying to finish a paper that is due in a few hours.

Instead of just going to visit a campus and taking a guided tour, go on a day on your own and just walk around the campus. Stop some people who look like students, and who look like professors, and ask them questions like whether or not they enjoy the people on campus, whether the workload is hard, how much politics go into the curriculum (or are teachers open to bring whatever subjects they want into the classroom). Ask students whether they believe their professors are student oriented or research oriented. In some colleges, professors are more concerned about their personal research and teach classes out of textbooks just so they can get paid the extra cash for taking on classes. Some professors do research, but truely enjoy teaching their students. I honestly believe that a professor who enjoys their students teaches better, makes longer lasting impressions, and inspires more students (pardon the cliche here) to be all that they can be.

College is the first time in a person's life to truly live. You will succeed and/or fail by your own accord, and it builds necessary skills as well as character. Work hard, because in the real world there is no room for those who expect success to come easily.

I say the most important thing is to really research. Narrow your list down and even go and visit the school. Look at academics of course, as well as class ratios, but also look at the socai laspect because you want more out of college than just an education, you want a lslting experience

Decide what you want in college, more of the same of highschool or something different. Decide prior to going to look at schools. Check flickr sites and such to ensure that its "your crowd" at the school. Good Luck.

Every student should visit the campus they are interested in before deciding what college to go to. Campus environment is very important. A student must feel comfortable at their new home away from home in order to progress socially and academically. Also, the amount of free time a new student will find themselves having should be used properly - so maybe before coming to college the student should read up on time management strategies. College can be an amazing experience as long as you are comfortable where you are and happy with what classes you are taking. Following your own path of interest will lead you to finding friends who are interested in similar things, too, and on most campuses you will also meet people who are different and that is just as important. A student must do what they want to in their hearts in order to make the best out of their college experience.

Students should definitely visit the colleges they are thinking about attending before they apply. Campus life is a very important part of college and it can make or break a student's college experience and affect the way they learn. Also, applying to many colleges will be very beneficial because students will be able to have a range of colleges to choose from and it will ensure that there will be at least one college that the student wants to attend. Choose colleges based on the environment that they will provide as well as the academics that you are interested in. As for making the most of the college experience, students should go out and engage in as many extracurricular activities that interest them as they can because it is a very good way to make friends with people who enjoy the same activities as they do. Take advantage of the college's resources and don't sit in your dorm room and watch your college years pass you by. Seize each day and be productive!

Many people say "college is the best four years of your life" and I completely agree with this statement. College is what you make of it. A lot of students choose to study 24/7, which is not necessarily a bad thing but I also think students should balance their workload along with a social life. It is recommended to be active on campus whether it is joining clubs, fraternities or sororities, or even having a job on-campus. Incoming students should do some research on what schools best fit their needs so they don't come into college regretting their choice. Students should make the best out of their college experience because that experience can say a whole lot about who they become in the future.

Make sure what you want and go for it. Reputation is nothing worth than actually learning something.

I would tell students to choose a college that has the major that suits them or have similar concentrations they are interested in. Try to choose a school you'll feel comfortable in. For example, could you adjust to a big or small school. Could you live away from home without feeling homesick, how far can you live without feeling homesick. If you're social, see if the college you choose has a huge variety of clubs/organizations. Mostly important, choose a school that gives you a really good financial aid packages and a whole variety of other scholarships being offered to students. For the parents, support your child's decision on where they want to go to college. They have to feel comfortable and welcomed in their choice of college/university.

My advice for parents and/or students on finding the right college would be to tour the campus and get a sense of a college student's life at that school. There are so many colleges to choose in this country alone that it would be great to find one that meets the student's preferences. I am not sure if many colleges have this, but I would think the best way to determine where to go is if colleges set up a "Weekday(s) Stay" for prospective students. Imagine: coming onto campus, moving into a dorm room, saying goodbye to the parents, sitting in on miscellaneous introduction courses, grabbing lunch at the Union dining hall, attending student events in the evening and then returning to your dorm for a good night's rest. The student would have a taste of the college experience and be able to say whether they liked it or not. College is a place you should enjoy to be and it is especially important to "get your money's worth". So why not live it, before attending full time?

Make sure its a college where you can feel most at home and comfortable in the atmosphere of the school.

I think students should stop stressing about getting into a school with a big name or a big reputation because doing so doesn't secure you into becoming sucessful right aftr graduating. It all depends and how you work towards your goals and what you make of everything you are given. I think students should, instead, look to find a school that best matches them, both in the social and academic aspect. Joining clubs and interacting in school activities really helps to make the most of your college experience. It helps you to meet new people and network, and gets you to understand your school a whole lot better.

Finding the right college is often a daunting task--the best advice I could give is that students should take into account not only the academic aspects of their potential schools but also the overall quality. Often, parents and students look only at the prestige of the university and not how well it suits the individual child. Class size, closeness to home, campus dining and housing, and finances are all important aspects of the college experience and should not be overlooked in their quest to go to the top universities.The ''top''school may not necessarily be the ''best'' school. College will be what you make of it and having a healthy balance between work and play is important. If you like to dance, sing, volunteer etc., then look into some of the clubs and organizations available on campus. You should, however, keep in mind that these things are not handed to you or dropped in your lap, you have to look for them yourselves. Remember, success is not just about doing well academically, but also about being creative, innovative, having the ability to adapt, seizing opportunities, meeting new people, making friends, and working hard towards your goal.

Make sure you visit the campus and make sure you go to the dorms! Talk to regular passing students, you'll get raw information from them. Once you get to college, get involved! College is the best 4 years of your life, do it right!

Look into all the aspects of the university and just because a school specialices in a specific area doesn't mean is not good in others.

I think that a large majority of people attend college after high school because it's what you are "supposed to do." In my personal opinion, 18 is awfully young to decide on a career that will define the rest of your life. Take a year off or going to a community college to take a broad spectrum of classes. Not only will you have a more well rounded education, but you will learn what subject you love. Students should be encouraged to pursue their passion. I think that too much emphasis is put on what status a certain professional title might hold, or how much money one could make. Also, take your time. Rushing through the college experience in order to get your degree faster cheats you out of enjoying your youth. Go to parties, make friends, just make sure your priorities are in order. Your future comes before your current social life because friends come and go, but intelligence is yours to keep. Don't shy away from something because of one bad professor, or because its too difficult. Anything in life that is worth doing will be challenging.

I believe every family or student is different in ways to find the right college or university for them or their children, but I recommend visiting the campus after doing plenty of research. I neglected to find out little details such as oncampus shuttles to stores or malls, or the tyoe of food they have on campus. Go on a tour and ask to see all of the dorms and facilities because they tend to take you to the areas that they feel are the most appealing. I dont think i made the wrong choice , i just wished I paid attention to the minor details. Also make sure that the financial aid package is reasonable and take a look at all the things that are covered in your tuition bill.

You can't know for certain what you'll end up majoring in or persuing as a career, but go forth in each decision as though you knew this was it.