SUNY at Albany Top Questions

Make sure that their child knows what they want to study. Alot of people transfer to other schools because their major is not offered in SUNY Albany.

To be completely honest, Suny Albany was not my first choice. In fact, I didn't want to go here at all! I was looking for something smaller, more intimate and a "rich" school. However, because of the affordable tuition & housing, I had no other choice. I have found that coming here was the best decision I have ever made. My advice for parents & students would be to really look into a school before deciding. not only visit, but spend a weekend. Make friends and get a feel for the people that you will possibly be spending the next four years with and see where you fit in best. Thankfully, I was lucky and met friends I will keep for a lifetime. Remember, you only have one life to live, you only go through college once. I would be sure to get involved, party hard, and study harder. This way, you can have the best of both worlds. Not only have I made amazing memories with beautiful people but I have aquired knowledge that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Finding the right college can be an intense process. Students must have some sense of what career path they would like to take. If a student wants to explore the options available, any school may be acceptable; However selecting a school for party reasons can lead to trouble. When a student attends college it is imperative that they make the most of the expeience. This can be done in several way. One is getting involved in various groups while maintaining a good GPA. Further a healthy social life will make college one of the most rewarding experiences.

SUNY Albany is a big school. Most often I am asked about the drug/alcohol situation as well as if anybody cares about thier GPA. The answer: there is about 17,000 students who go here so of course you find alcohol and drugs, but if you buckle down and care about school, this is an EXCELLENT school. The research opportunities, facilities and pre-professional programs are great. Big school means lots of choices and opportunities.

I would give the advice of starting at a community college rather then a large four year university. This will not only help the student to adjust to college life but will also help to save money. Live at home if possible for atleast the first year. I made the mistake of moving onto campus which was a bit overwhelming and was often times loud and unpleasant. Try your best to make a slow transition from high school and keep the same friends if possible. Most importantly take advantage of the services provided by your college. Talk to your advisor and others that have attended the college. These people will be the most helpful for learning essential tips to get along at the college. In addtion, join at least one social group. This will foster relationships with a variety of people from diverse backgrounds. This is perhaps where you will learn the most during you college education.

Choosing a college can be nerve racking for both students and parents. When deciding whether a college it the right fit, you have to try on a bunch! Do not simply take the first school that accepts you, but check out as many schools as possible. In order to cut costs, a good idea might be to get together with a group of friends and visit a college with each friend's family. The attitude that you possess will probably be the deciding factor. Once you find your college, get involved. You have to see to believe how many interest groups, sororities, and fraternities that colleges have. Just about anything that you are interested in has a group on campus. If there is not one, you can start one. By participating in extra curricular activities, you are liable to make the most out of your college experience.

College is a place where you acquire your higher education but most important is a place that stimulates you mentally, physically and socially. It helps you become a well rounded person and prepares you for the real world. Therefore, when searching for a school you should look for an institution that have the academic program or career choice that you are interested in. You should also evalute the enviroment which the school is located, the size of the school. Ask your self will i be able to reach or exceed my potential in urban, suburban or rural school setting. Do i learn better within a small or large group. You should try to visit the college when classes are still in session so can get a clear understanding of the campus life and evalute the social life of the student and see if it fits your lifestyle. Ask about the different resource available to help incoming freshmen transition successfully into the school system. When you are at a school try to sit in one of the lectures to see student faculty ratio and interactions with each other. And parents should try not to let their feelings aid in the decision.

goood luck

Some factors you should consider when trying to select a college or University are the size. Does being one of thousands on a campus thrill you because of the potential for making many friends from all over? Or would you rather be walking on a campus with a thousand or less of students and to be able to know almost everyone you pass? You should also consider academic. Do you want a college or university that offers biology, physical therapy, an introduction to Piano, engineering? Universities offer students a wide range of classes, majors, and career opportunities. You should explore the various classes and majors that offered on the campus website. If you do not have a clue on what you wish to major in, a liberal arts education might be a good idea. At a liberal arts college or university, a student will take a broad range of subjects such as humanities, sciences

Look into the websites of all information packets that come in the mail. Also, make sure to go on several college visits -- just because a university looks good in a still picture on a website doesn't mean it'll be that great in person. Make sure that all important buildings are easily accessible, and try to learn if the overall atmosphere of the school meshes well with your personality type. Once you're in, one of the most important things you can do is find a way to budget your time (a large calander to write assignment due dates will end up being your best friend!) between your studies and social life. If you can master that, then you'll be well on your way to having a successful college career. Be patient, be strong, and HAVE FUN.

Deciding on the right school can be a difficult task. One should review the colleges that desired major and make the final determination based on the cost, reputation, and helpfullness of the staff/faculty. The later can be evaluated by literally calling the financial aid department and the field of choice department preferably a couple of times to see if you can the same answer by friendly people. Knowing whether or not you can expect help in problems that arise or help finding an internship/job is very useful information and the answer should weigh in on the final pick. College should be fun, rewarding, and a learning experience. Just don't forget the hard work you do now will prepare you for your future career.

Research the school very well before applying to see if it fits well with the student that you are.

Try and figure out who you are as a person or just your personality and try to find a college that fits you. Don't roommate with a friend from high school.

Find a college that you the students would want, just because you come from a family of Harvard or other school's alumni you shouldn't go there unless it is the school you want. The college you choose will be like a second home to you for the next two, four or more years, you shouldn't dread going there. Also pick a school that has a program that you want, even if your parents want you to be a lawyer or doctor and you want to be an artist or archaeologist or something go to a school where you can learn what you want to do for your life you don't want to live a life you don't want but it would be nice if it has some classes for what your parent's want too so you can check the classes out, you might actually like them. Another very important thing to keep in mind is go to a school that you feel safe at, you don't want to be afraid everytime you need to go class or a study session or a social event.

Before deciding on the right college, you need to consider what the experience will be like in three or four years, when you are nearing towards graduation and getting ready to proceed into the working world. Will you be pleased with your choice, or will you have a long list of should-haves and regret? Time seems to race by after graduating high school, and then onto making that important college decision. A parents' input in their child's choice is helpful, indeed, but I think it is up to the student to consider what college can provide for them in the future, in terms of education, values, friendships, and jobs that they may be personally striving for. The college experience is essentially a cultural experience that needs to be imagined in it's culminating years, not just the first year. In doing so, the choice might be easier to make if you view college as getting you where you want in life.

Location matters. Getting out of your comfort zone is important for life, college offers that on a small dosage level

Finding the right college is very hard on students especially for parents, because they want the best for their kids. For parents it is good to keep in check with their children on what they want to study. They should give them a reality check on what waits for them for their future, but they don't need to be pressured from so early on on such decisions. What I am trying to say is that they need to make that decision (about their future) on their own; and they will through the university they attend, the students and especially the professors they interactwith, and ofcourse the campus they are surrrounded by. Students should decide on what college to attend based on what they should study , and not on which school has the best parties/bars to go to. Paying for any university can be very expensive so parents should explore scholarships and maybe even the option on working on campus. Students should make the most of their college experience by interacting with other students (mostly in class) because thats were friendspis start and also clubs/organizations/sports. Even though schoolwork can accumilate they should make some time to explore .

get to know the student population and their views because you will have to interact with them the duration of your education

If you want to gain an education and an amazing life experience then going to school away from home is more rewarding.

It is important that the individual feels comfortable in the school they plan to go to. The best option is to visit the college before making the final decision. Other questions that the parent/student should ask themselves is whether the is school affordable and does it offer a good education for the cost; does the student/individual work best in larger or smaller classrooms; does the school offer the social environment that the individual will thrive in ... meaning questioning the amount and variety of extracurricualr actitivities; and more importantly how much support will the individual receive from the school faculty and people in their surroundings. In order to make the most of the college experience, it is essential that the individual has the opportunity to try new things and have a diverse environment.

Choose a school that offers the areas you are interested in.

When looking for the right college, you should first make sure they have a good program for the field you are interested in. Secondly, you should look at the different programs and internships they offer for your field of interest. Next, you should consider the different extra curricular activities they offer that interest you such as sports, Greek life, and clubs. It is really great to be involved, so you should really take that into consideration. Also it is important to look at the housing that the school offers; on and off campus. In making the most of your college experience, my opinion is for students to study hard, be social, and get involved. It is very important to participate inside and outside of the classroom. Finally, introduce yourself to the professor. If you need help, ask for it. The Professors are there to help you, so take advantage of that.

Before accepting a college offer ask youself, what can this school offer me? Then ask yourself, what can I give to this school? The second question is most important. One of the most important things is for your name to be remember at a location where you no longer attend. Make a difference.

To find a college that is right for you, visit the school. If you get a bad feeling or are unsure, its most likely not the right one for you. When you find the college for you, it will be more than obvious, you will love the school, the atmosphere on campus and you will be able to see yourself going there.

When I was applying to college, I honestly had no idea what I was doing. The one point of advice I would give anyone applying to a new college is to visit the school while it is in session; this was the one thing that decided where I went to school. Once a student steps onto the grounds of "their" campus, they should feel a sense of comfort, something which is extremely important. As far as making the most of a college experience, the only way to go about this is to do exactly what it is: experience the college; take positive social opportunities, go outside of your normal social lines and find new, interesting people; you may be surprised how much vastly different people have in common. The main goal at college is yes, to make the most of the educational opportunities, but the other half of college is experiencing new things, having honest fun, and meeting new people which will help mold you as an individual; making you into the person you will grow to be as the years progress.

Most students are inundated with mail from various institutions after taking the SATs, but the best way to find schools is to meet with your advisor. A crucial next step is to tour campuses you are interested in. One thing that really helped me was to take notes about my likes and dislikes on each tour so I could reference them later. It is also important to choose a school with many different programs that interest you in case you change your mind, as it is easier to change majors than transfer schools. Many students tend to slack off after recieving acceptances, but it is important to keep your grades up, because it will keep your options open if you later decide to transfer. When you arrive, do not be afraid to introduce yourself to many different people. You may be surprised how much you have in common and the lasting friendships this simple step can lead to. As for parents, as important as encouraging your child to visit institutions is, it is just as important to let your teen make the decision for themself. If you are overly involved, they may not be happy , and could consequently resent you.

Find I college that feels right for you. Do not be biased by other peoples opinions. Try your hardest, make the most of yor opportunities, and make informed decisions.

You make the experiences not the school.

The best advice that I could give is to really do the research. Even if you don't know exactly what you want to do yet, find out about the college, see if you can afford it, learn about the location and VISIT THE CAMPUS! Visiting the campus is the best way to see if you will really click with a place. If you choose a school only on the basis of what you see on paper you might get a big shock when you arrive. You need to find out if you will be comfortable staying in whatever location you choose for four years. If you're not comfortable then you wont be able to adjust. Personally, I like big cities so that's where I chose to be. Some of my friends went to a small college out in the middle of nowhere and that's what fit them. You need to like where you are to fully get the college experience and a great education.

In order to find the right college and make the most out of your college experience, the student first needs to find out what their hobbies are and what activities they would like to participate in. This is the foundation for figuring out what type of school they want to attend. Using search engines online (Princetonreview.com, CollegeBoard.com) are a great way for students and parents to look at schools together. There are surveys that the student can submit according to their likes and dislikes to recieve a list of schools that are similar. An overall description of majors, tuition, requirements and activities are listed. Here the parent and student can discuss what schools are realistic. The student should also visit the school, ask questions and get an opinion from someone that attends that school. In the end, to get the best experience at the right school, choose the school that fits your personality the best.

While financial aid is a large determining factor, pay attention to classes offered within your major and make sure there are plentiful electives in which to chose from.

Find a place that makes you feel relaxed and at ease. Not being comfortable in the city where you will be living for at least 4 years is not a good thing and will not help enable academic success. Be happy with who you are and remember that there is always next semester to turn things around. One bad grade is not the end of the world. Embrace the change and just enjoy life.

Consider: interests (research schools that offer programs that excel in that area), the resources available for placement after graduation (or internships, etc., prior to), the availability of applicable extracurricular activities, an appropriate degree of academic difficulty, availability of financial resources (financial aid, jobs, etc. ), campus size to best benefit learning experience, importance of social makeup of school (diversity, religiosity, etc.), location and housing, etc. Once enrolled, prioritize; balance academics, extracurricular activities, and socializing. To do this, one must assess what they hope to get out of college and allocate time to each outlet appropriately. As a result of hoping for a future in law, necessitating lawschool acceptance, my main priority is academics and raising my 3.7 GPA to qualify for graduating summa cum laude. Reducing the burden of tuition would assist in my ability to focus, as less hours would have to be dedicated to work. Thanks! :)

Choose a college which will help you direct yourself to your career choice in the future.

My advice for prospective college students is to go someplace where you will be the most happy. It is definitely hard to get through a new school being dissatisfied with your surroundings, so do what you can to stay interested and occupied with things that you enjoy doing, and being happy with where you are. One thing is for sure, and that is being happy is how one can start their success- it's always easier that way. College is also a time for experience, so it is okay if you are confused about what field to study. First, you will learn about yourself, then later you will find what you want to do when you graduate and are ready to start your career. A school with many opportunities and available choices for you is ideal, because they are perfect for a young adult to share experiences, especially with other students just like yourself.

I've always said that if I could offer any piece of advice to freshman students it would be to go to office hours. Professors are always glad to see students outside of class and they remember that you came to their office. It might benefit your grade, and if it doesn't, at least it shows that you care about their class. Also, it's important to know your limits as far as your social life and how it affects your school work. If you don't, it can be easy to get caught up in doing this or that with your friends and neglecting things you have to do for yourself. You have to remember that in the end you are the only one looking out for your success at college.

Ask in depth questions about class size and class selection process for underclassmen. Ask if the underclassmen's choices for general education/core classes are limited due to majors or other factors. Ask about availability of tutors and involvement of academic advisors.

It is extremely important to do your research at home however you really get a feel for a school when you visit. Narrow your selection to a few top schools and plan to visit those schools. It is important to get a taste for the campus, student life, dorms, food, classrooms, libraries and extracurricular activities. Sit in on a lecture, then talk with students in the campus center. Most students are willing to give you the student perspective, good or bad, because they live it day to day. It is important to ask several students, remembering that it is their personal opinion. Students will be eager to talk about the social aspect of the school, information not in the handbook, which are important to know. Lastly, if a school that you were set on does not give you a good impression, go with your gut. It is important to find a right fit for you, and just because your parent or sibling went there doesn?t mean the school is right for you. Go where you feel comfortable and feel like you can grow as a student and person, because after all that is what college is really about.

put time into it....huge decision!!!!!

I would advice college students and their parents to analyze what they feel as ideal characteristics in their college of choice first before exploring specific options. It's best to perhaps make a list of these characteristics such as financial aid, location, housing, transportation, social activities available, and academic focus. It is important for the student to make an informed decision early as to what their academic focus will be before choosing the best school. Its smart to have a college that has career exploration programs and will help you obtain that job when school is done. Many colleges just care about getting paid and having you graduate then leave the career search up to you. It is extremely important to discuss funding options before hand as well to make sure the student does not get in over his/her head and have no job in that field on top of it. A college focused apredominately social life and no academics is no place for a serious student. These ideas should be discussed as early as the students start of senior year of high school and the application process started early to allow for the best shot at financial aid.

To any student considering college, I strongly caution going to school at all until you have a purpose for going. As I observe those around me, I am able to distinguish clearly those students who are driven towards a goal, and those who are listless in the word of academia. Yes, people with no vision often get *somewhere*, but I propose that it is not where you get, but also how you get there which matters. Dealing with the various pressures of the college atmosphere is hard enough as it is, but without a goal in mind, it is more than likly that you will find yourself waylaid with drama, academic issues, and depression than those with a clear cut path. This is not to say that you need your whole life planned out, but that you have a general idea where you want to go. If you can't answer the question "where do I see myself in five years?", then you should not be in college. As for finding the right college, look first for a college which has a good roster of alumni and good professors, and look second for setting. Success is mental, failure is physical.

visit every single campus that you can! talk to students there, ask away. just make a small or long list of things you want to be included in your college experience, and as you visit different campuses, check them off your list, wherever you feel most comfortable, that's your school. remember that you can always transfer if you are unhappy, it is not the end of the world. go to suny albany!

Look at every college campus that you are applying to, do not go by pictures, there is a certain sense students can get by standing on the campus. Schedule tours during a weekday if possible, that way the campus is alive with students who should/will be more than happy to answer questions. Try to talk to someone who is part of the department of studies that the student is interested in, determine whether, one, the student can do the classes required, and if the person that they talk to is interested and excited about their research topic, this way the student knows if the department is good enough for what they want. If the student likes the campus, go back a few times in different times throughout the year, basically the college search should start junior year, or at least the visiting, because college campuses have different feelings at different times of the year, if more than one trip is not feasibly, talk to a student, not necessarily the tour guide, because the tour guides job is to sell the school, ask a random student about the campus at different times to get a less biased point of view.

Go visit the college/university and talk to the students their.

College is all about getting a little bit of everything. It's an opportunity to experience a vareity of things that you might not have been able to in high school. Be yourself and get involved in whatever you enjoy but never forget about your studies. Work hard, but play hard too--employeers like to see rounded individuals who went outside the classroom to get a complete education. The classroom can teach you skills but it is really the extra activities available in college that define your education. They're the lab portion of school--the practical use of all the skills and knowledge you learned in the classroom. Meet as many people as you can and build a network of connections that will empower you once you graduate. College should be the best time of your life and it will be, providing you invest the time making the most of it.

Don't be afraid to try new things. Don't start a serious relationship freshman year. Visit campuses and choose the one where you feel most at home. Take a variety of classes. Every school has bad dining halls. Make friends. Don't work too much, but make sure you get a part-time job. Internships, internships, internships. Learn how to write a good resume. Learn how to interview/act at companies properly. Don't badmouth your school to employers. Take advantage of campus feedback systems. Go to office hours. Go to at least one sports game. Study. Stop procrastinating. Visit the library, but not too much. Have fun!!

Find the college that feels right when you visit. If it doesn't work out you can always transfer to a better school. There is no perfect school, but there are quite a few good ones.

Finding colleges is easy, finding the right one is not. Start looking early and give yourself plenty of time. Make a list of things to look at such as the athletic department, the weather, the cost, the avalability of jobs, or diversity on campus. Knowing what you want out of a school and finding the school that provides that is the easiest way to pick a school. When you get to college, DO STUFF! Never in your life will you have the change to try so many new things and have so many amazing experiences. Try something new at least once a semster, try out for the play, join the slasa club, or maybe take a class in something you always found intresting but wasn't in your major.

My advice to students that are looking to find the right college and make the most of teh experience would be to visit the campus beore hand see if it is a place where you could see yourself spending lots of time there. Talk to students who attend the college you are considering to get a second hand opinion, althought keep in mid everyone is different. As a student make sure the schoool has a well developed curriculum in teh field your interested in, and what check what resources are available to you to advance your carreer once your done with schooling. Never hesitate to ask questions, whetehr to advisors or alumni thats always helpful. Above all make sure the schools goals and practices are things you can relate to. Lastly keep in mind when your starting your freshman year, that everyone is going through the same thing, your not alone. Just because you feel lonely or miss home dont go home all the time try to particpate as much as you can with others it will help you grow as a person.

check out the 4 year graduation rate, the success of the graduates later on in life. check out the activities that the student that are there take part in. check on how much the students there drink (there are anonymous surveys about drinking and drug use.) you would not want your children to be around drugs and alcohol. peer pressure is real and is alive and well.