The University of Texas at Dallas Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Brenda

Visit it before attending it

Cory

Make sure it is a place you really want to be in everysense of the word. You need to be excited when you visit it and more excited when your done visiting it. Weigh in everything you think will matter to you in college.

Lori

I would visit any college you have in mind. They all look great in the stages photos on brochures. But you need to actually go to the campus, walk around, check out the classrooms to make sure it is a good fit for you.

Benjamin

Any college could be the right fit; the trick is to find a place where you will be sufficiently challenged and happy. Rather than getting too obsessed with faculty-student ratios and other statistics, try to imagine yourself at the campus, where you would be living. Ask random students that are attending the school what they think - just pull aside a stranger rather than asking those that are giving campus tours. Ultimately try not to stress out too much because any school has the potential to work for you.

Ofek

If your looking for a fun and easy time at college, UTD is not the right place for you, (UT). If your looking for being the best in your field, having a good reputation, being involved in the community, and working quite hard and having the sense of achievement and later on having fun as you rip the benefits of your labor, welcome to campus.

Hans

Go somewhere away from home, meet new people. Figure out at least a few general areas you wish to study and take some classes from each, just to see if you enjoy the classes or not. Talk to your professors about what careers are available to you after completing your degree, and ask them for general advice. Don't abandon your old friends, but do not cling to them either. If you spend all your time chatting online with your high school classmates you will regret not spending that time socializing with your new classmates and forming new friendships. Don't worry heavily initially about your major, most students don't know what they REALLY want when they first start off at college. Similarly, don't JUST take the core classes. Make sure you take at least a few specialized classes in your first two years so you can get a feel for what that particular major is like. Above all, be relaxed, take it easy, and have fun. Just make sure you attend all your classes and do a little work every day rather than cramming right before the test. Tests for various classes seem to come in groups.

Niki

The students should have more say in what college they would liek to attend after all they are the ones attending it

Aditi

Variety is key! It is very important to attend a college that gives you a wide variety of majors even if you already know what you want to do, because chances are you will end up changing your mind as you begin to discover all the possibilities available to you. To discover your true self, you need to expose yourself to a diverse and stimulating environment, with different types of people and opportunities to try new things.

Ryan

I would suggest to parents and students that no matter where you decide to go, make sure that it is balanced. Try not to find somewhere too heavily weighted in one area and not another, unless you are absolutely sure that is the area you want to pursue. Then, my next tip would be to find a campus with great employees, professors, and administrators. I have found that one of the most commonly stressful things for students is determining, not what to do in college, but what to do afterwards. If you have professors who really care, which is sometimes easier at smaller universities, then those professors will push you onward to something great. They will see where you are passionate and skilled, even when you may not see it yourself. In the minds of most, people college is a stepping stone to the "real world". It is. So choose wisely, so that you have great people showing you the way.

Nimie

Try your hardest, it's your money.

Christopher

make sure your priorities are set, find a school that reflects your personality in an area that reflects your interests, it is good if the research the school is doing or plans to do is in your area of interest, or it offers a variety in case you don't know where you want to go yet. make sure the professers are accessible, especially for upper level courses

Chris

?Never give up on your dream? is an encouraging bit of advice, but always make sure that your dream is what you think it is. I had a dream of being a psychologist when I entered college, but after a couple years of classes I realized the field simply wasn?t suited for me. I wasn?t sure how I could change my major so late in my academic career, and more importantly I had no idea what I should change it to. I had placed all my focus on psychology, so I never got a sense of what else the world had to offer. My advice to students is that when you find the answer to what you want to study in college, never treat it as a final, irrevocable destiny. It?s hard for a high school student to get an accurate idea of what his or her desired field consists of. Don?t ever end your search for the perfect career path once you get to college. Fill your electives with diverse fields, sit in on a variety of classes, find professors and students and question them about what it means to do what they do.

Blake

Visti the college you want to attend first.

Melody

I would definitely check out collegeboard.com because it allows you to compare the schools you're considering and gives you a great illustration of those schools. When considering a school, I belive you should consider what kind of things you really care about. For example, would you like to live in a dorm? Would you like to live on a large campus, or a small one? Would you like to live in a city or in a suburb? These are questions you should consider before making your choice. Finally, once you choose your school, you should consider how to schedule your classes based on the kind of person you are. If you're not a morning person, don't take an 8:30 class because I did that, and trust me, you probably won't be waking up to go to it much. Also, between your classes, you should plan study breaks so that you can have a break between your classes to do your homework. Finally, try to find something you love, and join an activity based on that in order to make some new friends.

dan

find a college that's focused on what you like to do. don't be afraid to go far away. do well on the SAT and get lots of scholarships. study what you're interested in.

Spencer

Visit as many places as posible and talk to students about their views of the school dont just let the visit be your judge. Some school can make their school seem like the place to be socially, academicially, and athletically when they really werent. Take your time do your research and find a school that fits your personality. Some school have very friendly social students, some tend to have withdrawn, quiet, students that are somewhat afraid of social confrontation. Just take your time and pray to be guided to the right place.

Ashlee

I would tell them to find out the qualities that they like about there current school and look for some of those same great qualities at the schools that you are looking at.

amani

Find what career suits you best, then research universities that best accomodate your choice in major. Then check costs and housing options, followed by accessibility to grocery stores, restaurants, drug stores, parks, etc. Find a university that suits you; don't make yourself suit your university.

Kathryn

I would strongly advise students to visit various campuses and speak to students who are currently attending the university. There are many things, such as the focus of the students or the aura of the student housing, that can't be understood from simply looking at the stats or reading blurbs. Visit the dorms, sit in on a few classes, and hang out for a while in the student union and study areas. That should give you the best idea of what the school is all about.

Tina

Make friends - they may help in the future. Have fun - life is short and you're only young once. Be brave - take chances and make mistakes. It's okay. It's college.

Patrick

Make a list of things you are looking for in a college, like dorms or apartments, big city or small town, large classes or small, greek life, college sports, other organizations that you are interested in, etc and see which of the places you were accepted too meets the most of your wants and needs. Also, parents dont force your children to pick a certain school, they will be happier in the end if they choose it themselves.. Students, dont totally disregard your parents opinions, but in the end the final decision is yours.

Steven

Because the college experience nowadays is more focused upon having fun and getting drunk, you may want to find a university that is quite the opposite. A university with a great freshman program that is very involving is best because it provides the friendships that will get a student through the rest of their 4 years in college. But also remember that the university also has to put a lot of emphasis on academics and studying. Observe the typical university student there and see how often they study versus play. This ratio should never go below 1:1. One very important factor that one should consider is the success rate in which graduates of the university are able to find jobs. A university that not only has a high rate of graduates who find jobs, but also actively supports this is a definite plus.

Alexis

Personally, I would advise any new student to get into a school you actually want to attend. High School supposidly attempts to prepare you for the work you will be doing and the challenges you will face in college. but I didn't find this to be true at all, unfortunatly. I felt very overwhelmed when I first came to college because the work and classes are nothing like high school. You have to be a responsible enough a person to actually go to class. Some professors may take attendence but they can't force you to go. You are paying for classes and books so take advantage of that and don't squander it away by not attending class or reading the text. The most important advice I can give to an incoming student is not to get carried away with being in college. Stay focused and work hard because if you get to involved with drinking and a social life your grades will suffer. Being social and meeting new people is part of going to college but not the primary reason you are there. I wish any students going into college, and their parents, the best of luck.

Laura

When looking for a college, don't just apply to the places everyone else is applying to. Branch out, look at smaller schools. They can offer a more cohesive feel than a larger college might and they don't necessarily try to "weed out" students during their freshman year. The best advice I can think of is once you get to college, get involved. Join some sort of organization; student government, a club, fraternity or sorority. Most colleges have something for everyone and if they don't have what you're interested in, chances are there is opportunity to create your own organization. By getting involved, you gain a whole new group of friends and for those coming from out of the area, this can be invaluable to adjusting in college. An involved student is more likely to care about staying at the school they've chosen since they have found a place to fit in. I originally wanted to go to a larger school, but after joining a sorority as a freshman, the thought of transferring hasn't even crossed my mind for the past three years.

Rebecca

I would tell the family first and formost to apply early; waiting too long narrows your's choices significantly. Also, do your homework. Go online to the university websites that your interested in to see if they provide your desired degree. Look at the faculty reviews, sample degree plans, ammenities provided, parking costs, offered tutoring services and take into consideration what the school is best known for. In other words, don't go to an arts school if you are pre-med. Look at transferable credits if you started at a two year univeristy. It is so important that you know if your hours will transfer properly. If you have an interest in sports or any other recreational activity, look to see if the campus has events or services that would keep your involved. But the best piece of advice I could give is go in with a game plan. Look up a sample degree and chart out your four (or five) year plan by the hour. You'd probably be suprised how many people take unnecessary classes and at the last minute try to make it up in order to graduate on time. This equals less stress. : )

Jonathan

On a campus tour, during an actual day of class, pulling aside a group of students selected at random and ask their opinon on the school and the life surrounding it.

BABAJIDE

when it comes to choosing the right college, simply go with the on that suits you the most. There are alot of schools out there too chose from. Things to consider are, their educational standards, cost of living, location, commute...e.t.c. what they have to offer. At the same time, try to be open-minded about every school, because you never know until you actually start going. Using myself as an example, University of Texas at Dallas wasn't were i actually planned on going too. But it was the only school that offered my major in the United States. It's first accredited school in the U.S. to offer B.S. in Telecommunication Engineering. For me, it was either U.T.D or Canada. But after coming here, I adapted to its surroundings, and kept an open-mind about everything. So, now am a junior, majoring in Telecommunication Engineering. And am loving it to the fullest.

Joe

College is all about the experience. A person could attend the most expensive college in the world and recieve a fantastic education, but without a good overall social experience, that education could be for nothing. For future students: Only you can make the right decision. Choosing a college is one of the first you will make on your own, so follow your instincts. If you are in doubt, visit a few. If you like the overall atmostphere of the campus, then attend. If not, there is nothing wrong with finding another. College is supposed to be difficult, but also enjoyable. Whether you enjoy or not, remember that it is your decision whether you stay or leave, and there is nothing wrong with either.

Catherine

Make sure that college is right for you. With soaring costs, its not necessarily a good idea to go straight into college after high school, especially if you don't know what you want to do. Community colleges and technical schools are great for getting a start in life if you are less than academically inclined. If you do go to college: participate in some sort of club or extracurricular activity. This is a great opportunity to meet people who have similar interests to you, which can help form study groups, or just to make friends. If you can, talk to your professors, they're normally very open to it and can offer wonderful advice to you about school and the outside working world.

Geovany

Parents should be very supportive and helpgul to the students that are looking for a college to go to. They should consider what the student wants and what would be best for them. Students should choose a college that they will like staying at for 4 years. They should take advantage of the experience they get there and try new things.

Harold

When choosing a college it is an experience from which most would not be prepared for coming from high school. If you can, go somewhere where you have some friends from high school that would be attending the same school you would want to attend. Also think about the availibility of aid on campus, as well as job openings as well as chances for career advancement through work study, or co-op's. Also, you want to plan ahead finanically, and leave room for problems, many times you will be unprepared for things that might happen while on campus, like car repair, or a laptop suddenly breaks on you (of which the car twice and the laptop once happened to me). Also, go out and meet new friends, study with them or hang out in your student union or even in your on campus housing. Also, walk everywhere, and plan for time to make it to class, so that you can speak with your professors and network with them. By doing this you make yourself known, and potentially open up the doors for your future. Also, invest in an umbrella, nothing is worse than being soaked while going to class.

anderson

the parents and student should visit a list of colleges that the student is interested in together. then narrow the list down and the student should take a tour without the parent through the school so that way they can exprerience it alone.

Jordon

When it comes to selecting the right college and making the most of the "college experience" you should keep one thing in mind: most universities teach the same material! Visit a university you like, sit in on a class or two, and see what you think. If it's to your liking, good. Now you can look at the important part: the surrounding environment. Are the students happy? Is there a good community around the campus? Will you enjoy the living situations that are provided? These are the things that will difer most from campus to campus, and are also what factor most heavily into your enjoyment of the "college experience."

Jeff

The number one thing I can tell students is to be open minded.

Ivana

Go visit the college first and talk to real people on campus and ask them their opinions and research the value of the education you can get out of that school, what options are available compared to other alternative schools; do not be fooled by what the school marketing department can conjure up to attract students.

Neena

Have a pretty firm idea of what you want to do after college. Your college experience is less stressful when you are not figuring out what to do with your life.

Julianne

MAke sure to choose a college that best suits your needs. Look at location, class size, academic reputation, research opportunities, and career networks available through your university. Moderation is also key, remeber to work hard in college, but have fun too. College is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience so many things. Be open-minded and willing to try new things. Don't be a number in the crowd either, college gives you the opportunity to make a name for yourself so don't be hesitant and paint the town red!

Casey

First of all, don't limit yourself. Research the schools online and narrow it down to the 3 or so that you think would fit you the best. If you like big cities don't move out to some no-man's town. Then go with your family and visit the school. For me, I visited one school and right away knew it wasn't for me.. I just didn't fit in there. Once you pick your favorite, just make sure you have everything set up. It is way too stressful to move away and not have everything set up for you when you get there.

Michelle

Finding the right college, means choosing the one that offers the studies you want to take. Making sure that you can attend the best possible college for you intended studies, to maximize your success. There will always be financial assistance available, so the cost of attendance, should only play a small part on choosing the right college. Make the most of the college experience, by making new friends and taking in the college enviornment.

Sonia

That it honestly doesn't matter where you go to college. Brand names aren't important. Sure, a degree from Harvard sounds better than a state school, but in the end it's up to YOU. How you play your cards is important. Parents freak out, take tours, and take out loans to send their child to school. It's not worth it. Save it for grad school, or traveling- go to the school that fits your finances the best.

Brenda

The student has to find a school that fits them and reflects their ideology, thoughts, and personality.

Danielle

Don't go in set on what you want to do- explore options, especially in the first couple of years. Parents- let your child grow up. Don't force them into certain activities or career paths.

Stacey

I would just tell them to be themselves when visiting the schools, and really find out what is important. If a huge party life is what you're expecting, with a well rounded education, then you might was to pick a school with more social events. Another thing to consider is sports. When I went to College Station to visit A&M, I was too distracted by all of the sproting events and parties. I just wanted to get the most out of my education without having so many social activities. They are good every once and a while, but everytime there is a football or baseball game, it gets a little crazy in that town. I would just say to make sure you know what you want and not let anyone tell you differently. Not even parents. Students know themselves and know what conditions they can handle and still maintain a good education.