The University of Tennessee-Knoxville Top Questions

Visit a college you are interested in, early and often. If your student enjoys being outdoors, I do not advise a city setting big university, it can get somewhat depressing never seeing grass or trees. If your student is not very outgoing or social, I also would not reccomend a large school because it is so difficult to meet people and fall into a group. On the other hand, if your student is all about school spirit and is very extraverted, then a large school is perfect. Also, once choosing a school, joining some sort of club is vital to your student. Whether it be religous, academic, atheletic, greek, etc. a student must be surrounded by other students with similar interests in order to be happy with their social life. If a student is unhappy with their social life, their academic success will suffer.

When writing essays for college applications, encourage your child to focus on quality and not quantity. If your child does not know what he/she wants for major, leave the undecided option open- some colleges have great undecided programs. Always apply for scholarships from various sources. Keep in mind that friends can also help in adjusting to the college environment- but that the college environment is the place for making new friends that may be around for years.

To the parents: Try to emphasize and teach the children about fiscal responsibility. To the incoming students -- be open, but wary. (Perhaps careful is a better word.)

Visit all the colleges you can even if you don't think you would like to go there. You never know until you check it out. College is of course about learning but it is also about meeting people. Don't sit at home all the time, actually get out and do things.

Don't wait until the last minute to apply for college.

Absolutely visit the colleges you will be applying to. Everything you think you know may change once you visit a campus. Think realistically. Not just where you'll live freshmen year, but where after that? Are you picking a college just on the nightlife? Does the college you're thinking about have ANY social activities? If you're not happy socially, you won't be happy academically.

You should look for a college where you feel comfortable as well as safe. If you are in this kind of environment then you will be able to focus on learning and growing as an individual. Your school should expose you many things. Theses experiences will allow you to mature into an adult that is able to handle yourself in a wide variety of situations. You should take your academics seriously from the beginning because it is difficult to repair your GPA if you don't.

Find a place that is personal. Don't choose a school just because your best friend is going there. Look for a school that will expand your learning in the field you're most interested in.

Make sure you explore all of your choices before you choose a college. Some schools are not for everyone. In college, you need to be a outgoing person who is willing to meet new people and try diffrent things. You need to be social if you want to have a great college experience. For parents, I would say to try and let your children have time on their own and not try to go visit them every weekend or insist they come home.

Find a college that you feel comfortable at, if you are uncomfortable in the enviroment you choose to study in you will have a hard time not just suceeding in your classes but also suceeding in maintaining a social life. Unfortunatly what most prospective college student do not realize is that many times your social life is just as important as your academic life. In fact many time the two coincide. So when looking for a college get the feel of it, go to a college vist, and ask questions (a lot of questions). It would also be a good idea to look into the financial aid office at the schools you are scouting. Many schools have more comprehensive scholarship packets and a more helpful financial aid staff than others. Believe me when I say a good financial aid office is a vey important aspect of college choice.

I would suggest visiting at least 5 different colleges to get a feel for what kind of learning environment you like and don't like. You and your parents can discuss why or why not that certain college. If you know someone tat went to a college you are interested in, interview them and asked them what aspects they liked about it. Sit in on a typical class one day to see if you feel comfortable in a big lecture class or not. As for how to make the most of your college experience, make some lasting friendships. I found that if I spent my time out in the main courtyard where most people passed that I got to meet some of my best friends. Also stay ahead in class by going to class everyday and reading the material before hand. Go to the library and see what services they offer to make your life a bit easier. Always have an open mind with the people you meet, college is eye opening. Always get to know your professors it could it could help that B go to an A. Have confidence but ask for help if you need it

The best advice I can give parents is to make sure that the college fits the childs personality. There is nothing more wrong or meaningless then a student at a college that doesn't fulfill all the students needs...research as much as possible.

Apply to every school you wish to get into. Even if you think it is out of reach, it never hurts to try (and don't forget about scholarships and financial aid!). Know that an expensive, out of state school may be right for you, but if you are just trying to leave home, a more financially acceptable school in-state may be a better choice. Visit the college and ASK QUESTIONS! The tour guide may not have all the answers but surely there is a current student walking by you can ask a quick question to. If you don't get into your dream school focus on another. Make the college you end up with your own. There are plenty of opportunities on campus and go out to find them. Have a good time but remember these are only four years of your life. It can make or break you and turn you into a successful career oriented person if study comes before play.

Sometimes, it all happens by accident. I wound up at my school by contracting food poisoning at a scholarship banquet.

Pick a school based on academics, not athletics or a relative's alma mater. Stay focused and maintain your grades. A 4.0 is not a necessity, but a 2.0 is not acceptable. Take classes that enrich your life while fulfilling academic requirements. Enjoy college, but go to college for the learning, not the party. Graduate!

When selecting a college, make sure the college best fits the environment you would thrive in. It should have programs and activities that would have a positive impact on your life.

Find a place that you feel like you can call home.

Finding a college that is right for you is a bit like pulling a lottery number out of a hat. I visited 15 colleges and attended two before i found the one that was right for me. Some people are lucky and get it on the first try but, like all things in life, it is a process that takes devoted time and energy. As long as you are willing to put forth the research and determination you will find a school that is right for you. Good Luck!

Based on my experiences, I would say that it is really important to choose a school for what it offers, besides the location. This means get out of the city you grew up in unless it provides a really really great opportunity. To make the most out of college I would strongly suggest getting involved. It is really not difficult. People are constantly posting information about interest meetings or handing out flyers. At ever college I have attended (all three of them), it was extremely easy to become involved. Also, go to class. It really is 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the academic work. Even if you go to class and find you do not have time to complete all of the assignments you will get better grades because the teacher will recognize that you are making an effort. Go to class.

Find somewhere that will challenge you both academically and as a person. Choose a school where you will feel compfortable and one that has many opportunities to get involved in activities. Be sure to choose somewhere that you will want to be an alumni from and that you will be glad to attend. Not all schools are meant for everyone but choose one where you can express yourself and live life to the fullest where you will meet lifelong friends and one that will prepare you for life in the real world.

First of all I would say pick a college that you will feel comfortable at. It does not matter where your parents/or other family members went, its about finding a place that you can grow and find yourself as a person. Pick a school carefully because the next four years of your life will depend on this college. Take your time and make the right choice. For parents trust your kids to make the right decision because it is about them, I know you are paying but your children's happiness should outweigh any costs. For students to make the most of the college experience I would say get involved. I can?t stress how important it is. You don't have to join every club, but find something that your interested in and make life-long friends but remember first and foremost the reason your at college is to get a quality education and no matter what, school work in the number 1 priority. Students who can balance schoolwork with the social will have a rewarding college experience.

Parents really need to let the college decision be made by the student. Parents will not be the ones living and attending the college that their student goes to. Parents are great resources for students as far as understanding financial responsibilities at the institution the student attends. But the it is really the responsibility of the student to make the most of whereever they attend. Get involved and meet new people. College is all about discovering yourself and that will never happen if you don't make yourself available!

When looking for a college, relax and look open-mindedly at several options. If you are worried about the distance, pick something within a three hour drive; overall, the adjustment is easier than you think. Once choosing and starting a college, GET INVOLVED. Try anything and everything that seems of interest to you until you find the best fit and still with it; be open to trying new things. At first, try not to go home too often, even if your school is "dead on the weekends;" this will really help with the adjustment proccess. Make sure that once classes start, go to class, read the books and be prepared. Doing this early on will really set the bar for your college experience and will help you feel more organized and less stressed. College is what you make it, you only get to do this once so make it a positive experience!

Visit as many places as you can. Sit in on classes if possible. Talk to people who are attending. Have a general idea of what you want to do before you go.

Do your research! Picking the right college for you should not be left up to a last minute decision. Consider what you might want to major in: Is it it a common major or is it a more specific one? Try and find out where you will attend graduate school as well. Making the most of your college experience is about finding a balance between academics and your social life. Don't take on to many clubs/activities and don't take more classes then you can handle either. Get enough hours so that you are a full-time student plus enough so that you can drop a class without worrying about losing your status as a full-time student. Pick clubs that hold a genuine interest for you. You can always experiment and add and drop clubs whenever you want, but overloading yourself can be disastrous.

tour the college and look into the degree program before deciding. Make sure it will fit your planned time in college and there are plenty of classes available to be able to finish your degree when you want.

Make sure you take every part of the college experience into account when considering where to go, and don't underestimate how much your personality will jive with the locale and people there. Classes are very important, but so are the university's and it's students views on things that are important to you, the availability of activities you are interested in, even the scenary surrounding where you will spend the next four years or so. Once your in, live it up! get as involved as you can ad as enthusiastic about learning as possible. The more positive your outlook on approaching new things, the more you will learn and therefore the better a person you will become.

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I would give the advice to LOOK, SEARCH and TALK IT OVER AND OVER AGAIN with their spouses as if this is the right choice for their children, in big campus children get lost sometimes and that is why there is a big number of drop outs.

Make sure you pick a college that is going to best suit you, the student, and not something that someone else wants you to attend. Enjoy every aspect of your college experience and try and get as much as you can out of it. Remember you are paying the fees for all the accomodations so take advantage of them and use them to your benefit. They are there to help you and can make you college experience so much easier.

There were so many things that came into my mind when I started applying to colleges. First, I decided that I wanted to stay close to home, because I knew I wouldn't be comfortable far away (which would probably affect my learning capabilities). Then I had to decide whether I wanted to go to a small college or a large university. I chose a large university. They are often close to cities, and I like the "liveliness" of a city. Next, I decided that I wanted to go to a school that had a good academic reputation. I wanted to go to a school that was really going to challenge me. Also, if you know what you want your major to be you need to talk to someone in that department and see if it is suitable for you. As far as your college experience goes, it's what you make of it. You can either party all the time and flunk out or you can have a healthy balance. That's probably the most important advice I could give an incoming freshman. You have to have your priorities straight. Sometimes its hard but its rewarding in the end.

Spend the first two years at a Jr. college close to home. This will allow for a smoother transition from highschool into university life. The classes are smaller, so the students get more one on one time with the teacher. The students are closer to home, so if problems arise their family is near enough to help them, while still allowing the students to begin to deal with adult issues on their own. Jr. colleges save money, and provide an opportuntiy to build an "educational resume" that makes it easier to get scholarships and be accepted into the university of their choice. Once the student has completed their time at the Jr. college they have developed the study habbits and social skills neccesary to succede in ther future educational carreer., they've been able to transition to the college life and are better able to balance school and social activities. This balance is essential for a positive college experience. Choice in universities is dependent on what field the student wishes to go into, but no matter the field, a Jr. college will be benificial in a students future success.

I would tell people to look for a place that you feel comfortable in and do not settle until you find the right fit. You will never be happy if it's not the right place for you and as a result you won't do well. Get to know your teachers and fellow students and look for organizations and a network of students to join so that you have a supportive environment. And above all just stay true to yourself and what you want and never allow anyone to convince you that you want something different or talk you into a path you're not sure you want.

analyze within yourself exactly the type of environment you are comfortable in. If you are not comfortable at school, then you won't do well. Class sizes are important as well.

Until I graduate from my college and receive the full benefit of my four years, I can't offer very much advice on how to achieve the best education. All that I can offer is that students choose somewhere that they will feel comfortable and adjust easily; somewhere that will put them on the path to success in both their career choice and the people they will meet. It's not about how far you can get away from home, or taking the easiest education. It's about knowing what you want to achieve, and proving that you are willing to work for it. Cost is large factor for both parents and students, as well, when choosing the right college. I think it should be the last item you consider, however. Without scholarship money, I would never be able to afford my books, let alone classes. Until you can pay for an education, just take out as many loans as you need, and then make sure that you succeed and find a solid career to pay them back.

When choosing an undergraduate college, one of the most important things to remember is what you want to get out of the experience. Are you going to college because you know what you want to do with your life and what degrees are necessary to accomplish that goal, or are you going to college because, well, everyone else is doing it? No matter what size college you want to attend, there really is something out there for everyone. If you know exactly what you want out of a college, look at options throughout the country to find the one or two that fit your exact wants and needs. However, if you're just going to college because it's the logical next step in life for you, it's what you had always assumed you would do, or you simply don't feel like entering the workforce yet, it may be best to choose a larger school with both a broad sampling of possible majors and concentrations and a good advising sector. That way, you can easily explore all the possibilities for your future without spending too much time or money. Good luck!

find out the best and the worst about the school you wish to attend. You never know it all but you should get the jests of the campus mood when you first stop on campus.

Definitely be aware of the career choice that you really want to pursue and stick with. Try to focus on the general electives needed during the freshman and sophomore years--by doing this, if you are having trouble adjusting to the college life, it will be easier to do the upper-level intense classes while you are accustomed to the university and your study habits during junior and senior year. Remember that academics are extremely important to your college career, but remember to have fun too. Enjoy it. It is literally, the best time of your life.

The best advise I would give to parents and students who are trying to find the right college is to trust your intuition. You can collect and compare other people's advice, experiences and as much information about a school as you want. However, the reality is that you could be happy at more than one school. The experience you will have there will be what you make of it. So honestly, trust your intuition. It really will lead you where you need to be.

Be yourself. Don't follow high-school friends, you'll make more lasting friendships at college. Just remember to keep your interests in mind and the objective goal. Have fun, but GO TO CLASS!

Make sure you pick the school thats right for you both socially and educationally

Make sure you do a lot of research and visit the college ahead of time.

Apply to many different schools! Then take tours if possible at them all! Talk to your parents and students of the colleges to find out what they all think about it!

Talk to students who are currently enrolled.

In order to find the right college for a student, they must begin the "college search" process early. It is never too early to start looking for a college to attend. If you start early, it gives you a chance to research and plan. Luckily, my high school automatically puts this process into their 11th grade curriculum. Otherwise, I probably would not be at this institution. To make the most out of your college experience, you should get inVOLved!! Being involved does not only look good to potential career employers, but it also gives you a chance to meet new kinds of people and to network! I am sure Abraham Lincoln would not have become president when he did if he had not gotten involved and met people.

I would advise parents to begin saving for college early. My parents did not save enough, and because I attended a private school for high school, coupled with the fact that my brother has special needs as a student, I was not able to attend the best colleges that I was accepted to. I would also advise parents to be open with their children about how much they can afford for college so a student can do educated research about what schools interest him/her the most. I think that campus visits and overnight stays are critical in finding a feel for a campus. These visits need to take place on a regular weekend and not just a big football or party weekend. I also think that it is important for students to get involved early and find their niche at their new school. I was lucky enough to get involved early and have made some very good friends as a result. Most of all have fun, because the college experience is one that when looked back upon will be the best times of ones life.

I strongly believe that choosing the right college is the most important decision of a young person's life. I suggest visiting several different universities and seeing which one fits you the best. There is an academic atmosphere about every university, you just have to find the one that fits you and your goals the best. Students should really put themselves out there and be open to experience new things to make the most out of their college experience. They should get to know their surroundings and visit local spots. I also think getting involved in campus activites is the best thing any student can do for themselves and their future. It looks so good on resumes and it is a great way to meet new people that you have something in common with.

I would apply to any college you're interested in, then choose between the ones you get accepted to. Don't make rash decisions and value other people's opinions on your choice.

I would say look at all of the extra curriculars open to make sure their are groups that you can associate yourself with. Try to narrow down your academic goals and or majors so you can make sure you go to the right school.

Visit many colleges