SUNY at Albany Top Questions

I think I would focus on explainig to myself the importance of keeping focused on school work and of time mangagement. I would explain that what I thought was busy in highschool would be nothing once I got to college and that there will always be more social events in the future but only one time to complete assignments admirably. I would go on to say that though there will be many times when I would have to miss out on fun social events because I needed to study or do school work, with good time management, good grades and an exciting social life are possible. My high school self should know that it's most important to keep her eye on the prize at all times and to never forget the purpose of attending college. I would stress to her that school always comes first and that she should always give every assignment her all; I'd express that every bit of effort makes a difference. If I had the opportunity to speak with my High School self, she would hear all this, and that, though it will take a lot of hard work, she can have it all.

I would tell myself not to be so depressed during my first year, when my roommates were all vapid, idiotic, lazy drunks, to just ignore all of the stupidity I was exposed to every day and throw myself even more into my studies (granted, I got a 4.0 my first year anyway...). SUNY Albany is a pretty decent school if one puts enough work into one's classes-- it's impossible to receive a good education without putting in the effort. I'd also tell myself to soldier through the abysmally-taught General Chemistry classes; it is certainly an ego booster to know more than one's professors. The classes sophomore year are a lot better if one is certain of one's major. Finally, I'd tell myself not to despair at the lack of common ground I have with other students. By the second half of freshman year, it is generally possible for one to find a social group with which to affiliate, and I found my fellow nerds.

I would tell myself that attending classes is the most important step to academic success.

There is really no advice that I can say. to myself. I graduated number 1 in my 2008 class. I was known as a social nerd. I had fun and was very social and popular and kept a 4.0 GPA my whole 4years in High School. I made the best choice possible for the college that I attend and my major is something that I can not wait to get into once in business world. If I had to go back give myself advice it would. DO JUST WHAT I AM DOING!!!

If I could go back in time and tell myself about college, I would tell myself how much more important homework and studying is. I would also warn myself about accruing student loans. Most Importantly, I would tell myself to get references from my professors.

I believe that I would have told myself to skip the rest of my high school career and continue on to college while taking classes to fulfill my high school deplomia requirements. I personally didn't like the slow pace of high school and the immaturity of my peers. I have accrued 88 credits since I graduated high school in 2008 and have a GPA of 3.82. If I could go back I would have told myself that engineering was not the correct career path for me and that I should look at biology as a major. I have so far changed my major from being a chemical engineer to being a pharmacist (I'm also a PTCB certified tech) to doing research in cell bio and genetics.

Stick with your number one choice school and go there. You made it in twice but had no choice but to go to where you will attend because your parents gave you no choice. You will be so much happier going to your school of choice. You will have great friends both old and new that will attend your school of choice. You'll also be able to play collegiate sports and stick to what you love. Same with the courses. Don't play golf. It'll hurt your back. Fight for what you want. Be hard-headed and you will get to where you want to be. You may even find what you're looking for when you attend your school of choice. Best of luck. Hold your head up. And stay the way you are.

I think the most crucial bit of advice would be to take good care of your cumulative average. A lot of high school students don?t realize how significantly their cumulative average could be damaged by one rocky semester in college. Moreover, the struggle to redeem yourself and bring your cum back up is extremely difficult. New college students should be given this bit of advice and warning so that this issue is clearly understood. I?ve known many students, great students, who let their grades slip in the first semester or two because they were excited to go away to school, meet new friends, and socialize. Unfortunately they ended up paying a high price for that and for a long period of time.

I would tell myself to be patient with the trials of freshman year away from home and to focus well on school because it's more demanding than high school. I would tell myself not to be discouraged by the basketball-shortened fall and winter breaks and that my friends at that school could easily become as important to me as my friends from high school.

Going back in time I would definetely take the opportunity to be more involved in college life. I would try and visit more campuses and get really involved in requirements of each school. I would also approach many different programs to spark my interest and read into schools to see where I could be focused more. I love the school I go to and am really glad I made it here but I know if I would have just known a little more and been more involved in the process than perhaps I could have individualized more and really went somewhere that I could focus and maybe gear up for something for the future instead of having to go to college and figure it all out.

Remember that no matter what happens or how far away from home you are, bloom where you are planted. Make the best ofall the oportunities at hand. You don't have to be who you were in highschool.

Pick a vocational school and save up more money.

I would definitely say "Calm Down!" It's one's own prerogative how many schools they choose to apply to, but it is in my own personal experience that applying to an excessive amount of schools is just added (and unnecessary) stress. What constitutes "excessive" is subjective, but I would say anywhere above 12 schools is a little overindulgent (and not to mention expensive). And as much as I love almost every aspect of college and definitely agree with the sentiment that college graduates have a significantly greater advantage in the job market, it is also about who you know. Having an internship over the summer can vastly improve an individual's chances once it's time to enter the real world. One thing to never forget is that college doesn't make someone, and neither do grades. I feel as though seniors forget that college is a short gateway into what you will be doing the rest of your life. High marks at an outstanding college are impressive to a prospective employer, but having a great personality and being passionate about your trade outweigh any A+.

DO NOT trust your roomate and DO NOT assume your going to be friends!!

If I was able to go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would tell myself would be "Be honest with yourself MaryAnn. Don't pick a school that you think is popular or people will admire you for getting accepted into. Go to a school that you enjoy and would like to be proud of. Don't pick a college that will impress your parents or family, because when it comes down to it you have to be happy." The transition to college was easy because I was outgoing, but I would tell myself to make a better choice because when it comes down to it, I am the only one that needs to be happy.

Upon making the return to high school as a senior, I would tell myself not to fall in love! As soon as I came to campus I fell for a fellow undergraduate going through the same adjustments as me--except for the fact that I was attending out of state and he wasn't, but he made being hundreds of miles away from home comfortable. He made me enjoy my time in school and also miss the university when I was away from it. Being so blinded by falling in love I missed my first Economics assignment! Therefore, I would tell myself and other high school students that their is tons of support from your fellow students in college, but you should also be aware that you have more responsibility in your hands.

I would tell myself that I really need to learn to study prior to entering college. As well as to take more College in the High School courses, instead of taking a New York State BOCES course. That instead of attending New Visions Allied Health, I should take Calculus I and Advanced Biology, as well as Economics and Government, and English. That way when I entered college I would be on a more even playing field with my fellow classmates. I would also say that Pre-Medicine was not the right choice for me, and what I saw was a very dramatic and non-sense vision of working in a hosiptal. That I should consider entering college with a more open mind, and consider taking a range of courses to examine myself, and what I am truly interested in. I would also tell myself, to remember to be true to myself, and enjoy every second I can, not to work all the time, but to also not have fun all the time, and to learn to balance them. Because college isn't all about work, nor is it all about play, but both, and a lifetime of memories.

Take as much math and general education classes that fulfil multiple general education requirements as you possibly can because you won't get that first year back and doing so will allow you flexibility in choosing any potential majors you may learn about during that first year. Join more science oriented clubs since you need the experience and connections. Don't worry too much about money but search the college's website for some pretty readily available scholarships and before enrolling ask the college financial aid office to see if they can increase your merit scholarship. Don't worry about your annoying first roomate, he gets moved under some fairly hilarious circumstances, but beware; he's replaced by a more subtly annoying one that will destroy your sleep. You care too much about things. Stop caring and you'll be much happier and won't get into nearly as many unwanted situations, such as the Honor's College, which has far more annoyances than benifits.

Stay Focused! College life is great and you will meet a lot of people however you need to work hard. Life after college is very competitive and you want to be in the best possible position to succeed. Have fun enjoy your independence but don?t forget to get your work done. Also, go to college orientation during the summer, it's definitely worth missing a couple of days at your summer job. Figure out what interests you academically and sign up for good classes. Ask upperclassmen to recommend their favorite classes to you. Advice from those who have been there will save you a lot of time and will get you good grades! Buy books online because the bookstore will take all of your money and you can still sell it back at the end of the year for some extra cash. Spread your wings and don?t be shy because you will miss out on a lot of great people. Last but not least, don?t be in a hurry to graduate the real world is not half as fun or intriguing as it may seem and those four years fly by!

I would have told myself to put myself out there more, and not to get discouraged by drama and negative experiences. Not caring what everyone else thinks about you and doing things that make you happy. Taking in part and clubs and other such activities that are interesting can make all the difference in making new friends. Be understanding of people's differences and open to totally new experiences. I think that it is obviously very important to study and work hard academically, but college is also a time to have fun and do exciting things with your life that you might not have time for later in life.

I would also tell myself the answers to all the questions I ever got wrong on tests :) I don't have a lot of regrets about my college experience because I always put school first and take it very seriously. I wouldn't really change anything.. except maybe I would have told myself that my parents aren't going to be able to help me pay for college so I should worked longer hours durring summer and winter breaks to save up. Working and soing to school full time can get pretty difficult.

Finish school, so that you can get somewhere faster in life.

This is a great question because I've have made poor decisions outside of high school because of lack of motivation and role models. With that said, I am now here full time at 24. I wish I could stress to myself to keep focused even though you don't know what you want to do quite yet. Life isn't just one big party and having a good sense of tranquility is something some people do not learn until it is too late. Get in school and reach out to people to whom you may not think you have an interest in knowing. You will be surprised on how much you and that person really have in common. When you get stressed or anxious, take a couple of minutes to call someone who really cares about you. It could be your parents, siblings, or even someone you?ve just always talked to. If you get angry, try to think of all the things you are grateful for. It is impossible to be grateful and angry at the same time. Keep your head up and remember your long term goals while having some of your best memories of your life.

I would tell myself that freshman year GPA matters A LOT. I realized unlike highschool, GPA in college is very hard to raise. even a 0.1 is hard to raise. I would tell myself even though it is hard to focus on school work during freshman year, I should focus because it affects your future. Also, I would tell myself to make a lot of friends that are beneficial, knowing a lot of alumni's can help too.

Get involved faster and dont be afraid to ask questions. Take advantage of all opportunities

I would tell my self to push myself harder and that socialzing isnt everything. There is more to life than having a good time. Being successful and trying your hardest at whatever you like is one of the most important lessons one can ever learn.

If I could talk to myself, I would tell me to start working earlier at my classes. In my first semester, I didnt study as much as I should have and it cost me because my grades werent that good. I picked it up second semester and my grades dramatically improved. If I had started working harder at my classes earlier, I would have much better grades and would be in better standing in my classes. I would also be happier knowing that I did as well as I could. I would also tell myself to get involved earlier. I did thing on campus, but later in the year and missed out on some great friends.

be open minded :)

Going through the application processes and seeing my fellow classmates do the same made me realize many things I will always keep in mind for my children. The expenses of the college and its distance from home should be the least of one's worries while selecting the right college! Being away from hom eonly helps the students experience the real world without having their parents besides them to help them out. Parents who are attached to their children or even concerned about their safety tend to not allow them to attend colleges too far from home. But college is the best experience of a student's life and and parents should refrain restricting their options. As far as the cost goes, there are many scholarships, grants, loans, and funds out there that are appropriate for every individual. These aids will allow students to have the best experience and their desired colleges by helping them out with the financial situations and making their education affordable. Speaking from experience, I suggest you keep these two factors as the last resort in selecting between colleges.

Always be sure that you ike the city, town, area that your college is in. Make sure youre also comfortable with the campus, what it has to offer, and the price! Money is always a problem for college students.

Make sure your child has a good feeling about the school initially. Take into consideration where it's located and how accessible transportation is for getting home. Find out about campus life and what life is like off campus. Find out what interships the school offers. Talk to kids on campus. Find out if they provide extraciricular activities you would be interested in.

Some of these things, I learned later than I should have, when I started applying for college in my senior year of High School. I'd suggest looking into what college one wants to attend as early as Sophomore Year, what career they want to pursue, whether they'd stick to being in their hometown or if they'd be going away, applying for financial aid early, etc. For parents, I'd suggest they start getting their sons/daughters to look into all this stuff that early, or at least during Junior Year, so that they're prepared, they know where they want to go, what they want to do for a career, and all that before they get to apply for college during their Senior Year. Had I looked into scholarships and other aid before my Senior Year, I would've probably avoided having to take out loans, and it's something I sort of regret now. That's why I suggest these things; to hopefully make sure people learn from my mistakes, just like I did.

definitely don't settle for the first college you see! you need to look at your different options, and ones that you might not even think of at first. you might just choose a college that you least expected. most importantly, before you make a decision, go visit your top choices and research them as much as possible, so you know what you're getting yourself into.

Be more open-minded about what colleges is right for you. For students, do not take anything for granted and don't rush into things that might incur problems. When looking for the right college, you should definitely prepare a list of what you want so the process is easier. Also do not take chances in procrastinating so as not to get caught up with deadlines. Once you have all the process of applying downpacked and the time for moving to school comes around, you will be very anxious as you don't really know what to expect. However once in college, you should definitely set your priorities straight. Academics should be the top on the list however socialize and make yourself noticed but know the limits. Join clubs, sports or activities; it's one of the best ways to enjoy living in college and you meet new people often as well. For parents, support your child in everything and guide them through it all because there's nothing like having a home with caring and loving people that one can approach for advice or anything in times of being lost.

When looking for the right college you can not just take one thing into account, you need to make sure that you will not only be able to succeed and earn a good education but you must be comfortable with your surroundings andbe happy. The college experience is one of the most awkward, scary, exciting, and fun thing you experience in your life so make sure you pick the right place. Remember you are going to be spending most of your time there whether you are living there or just commuting so make sure the classes, campus, and the people work with who you are and who you want to be.

Preparation is the most important factor in choosing a college that is right for you. Indecisiveness can play a major role during this process. By answering simple questions like " Do you want to attend a small or large school?" or "How far from home would you like to be?" or " How expensive of a tuition can you afford?" will really help narrow your college choices. Dont focus on your major, if you already know what you want out of life thats great but at eighteen most people cannot predict what they will be doing in the next ten years. Also attending the college before your enrollment is really helpful. Once you get accepted you should plan a trip to visit the college to make sure you like the vibe of it. Unlike highschool you are able to pick the type of people you go to school with. Applying to colleges is an important decision, prepare yourself for it. Do the research and ask your parents for help, its alot easier to stay at one college than switch halfway through because you didnt do the intial research. And parents dont put too much stress on your kid, guide them dont push.

Pick a school that feels like the right fit.

I would advise students to decide what they want to do with their life and what they want to get out of their college experience when deciding where to attend school. Choose a school that is in a location you want, and offers all the opportunities you need. Be optimistic, open-minded and friendly, and you will make the most out of your college experience. Sometimes it can be difficult to balance school and a social life. College is a different and new experience. Find a balance by figuring out how to manage your school work and your new found freedom away from home and you will come out of college with a good experience, new friends, and a great education.

I had no idea what college I wanted to attend. I actually ended up picking five random state schools in the area, applied to them, visited two out of the four I was accepted to, and ended up choosing UAlbany because it was the furthest away. It is hard -- if not impossible -- to be sure one has the perfect school in mind. I think a lot of it is luck -- you just have to follow your gut and hope for the best. Luckily, UA turned out to be the perfect school for me. However, you can't leave finding the right college just up to the school; a lot of making the most of your college experience is putting yourself out there and getting involved on campus. If you put yourself out there, you will most definitely get something back.

Coming into your first year of college to me is really about the process of discovering yourself and figuring out what kind of career and goals you wish to acheive. So much about yourself is learned during the first year of school, so I believe that you should choose a college that emcompasses many areas in which you could or are interested in, one that will provide you with many opportunities for extracurricular activities, and one that you can truely picture yourself attending. The college experience is truely so much more than just academic. Learning to intereact socially with an diverse group of people, balancing your workload along with fun, and becoming an individual who can support yourself and feel comfortable in your own skin are just a few of the many things that come with your college choice. I honestly believe that anywhere you choose to go, if you have the right intentions and want to do well, you will. Taking advantage of everything an institution has to offer and having the right goals laid out in front of you will only lead you in the right direction. How you utilize your abilities defines your future.

Make sure to do as much research as possible to find the right school for you. College is not cheap and it determines your future so make sure you make the most of it.

It's always best to visit any of the colleges that the student plans on attending. You need to get a feel for the college and what it's about before making any decisions. If it's something you think the student would like to be a part of, after he or she has been accepted, it's a great idea for the student to get involved in the campus life such as joining a club or getting to know the people in his/her dorm area. Making friends is the key to surviving his/her first year of college, and they'll be the ones who live and learn with him/her during the college experience.

The advise i would give is, try to find a best fit for you. Go where you can afford to pay cost of attendance but can also recieve a great education at the same time. Meet new people and have fun becuase the years go fast , too fast!

When choosing a school it would be beneficial to speak with someone who already attends. Look into opportunities available to the students at each university. Financially there will be many surprising expenses throughout the years and one should be prepared to deal with that throughout college. Do not expect to be able to party every night of the week and be prepared to study hard and maintain a respectable GPA.

Pick a college based on your intended major, or majors, then from there decided based upon the make up of the school such as size, and location. Dont worry so much about the social life, all colleges have some sort of one, and you will always find what you want, and be able to stay away from the things you dont.

The advice i would give parents and students would be to look for a school that fits their personality. For example, if they are very outgoing and very social, SUNY Albany is a geat place for them. If they keep more to themselves they should look for perhaps a smaller school. Also i would suggest looking for a school that has classes the student wants to take. Knowing what you want to major in before you go to college is very much helpful in choosing which college you want to go to.

The advice I would give them is to search really hard while in high school especially because it will really help in the future.

The most valuable advice that I could give would be to never judge a book by its cover. When I first visited Albany, I was sure that it wasn't the school for me, just because it didn't "feel like home". Because of financial reasons, I was left with few choices and ultimately chose to attend Albany. I have just finished my freshman year, and I couldn't be happier with the choice that I made. When it comes to making the most out of the college experience, my advice would be to get as involved as possible. On almost every campus, there is something that attracts to everyone where you can make a difference and make tons of lifelong friends.

I think the best advice is to go and visit the college you want to go to, not only the school but, the area. Make sure you are cofortable where you go. Find out about class sizes and make sure you feel confortable with that as well. Always have your goal set out for yourself and if somthing doesn't work out as planned don't get discouraged, don't give up, you can turn things around. Don't be afraid to meet new people. College is a wonderful diviersity of all kinds of people. I think that will be one of the greatest things i will take away from college, the close bonds i have made with people and the things i have learned from them. Number one, Don't forget to have fun. (just not to much) There are wonderful memories you can find at college.

I think an important factor is the setting of your school and the facilities it doesn't hold and how to reach those facilities. You got to think about things like, god forbid, if you got extremely hurt and how far the emergency room is , what kind of transportation you use to get there, the cost of those things outside the campus. Another thing that I feel is important is that, you got to find a university where the information is relayed to you and easily acessible, understandable, because most universities usually have the opportunity there.