University of California-San Diego Top Questions

I think its important to pick a school that is right for your field of study and your social interactions. Some schools make it easier to make friends, some schools don't facilitate being social (ie UCSD). However, keep in mind that college is your time to grow, and it shouldn't be easy, it should be hard. If its easy then you haven't learned anything, so choose a place that not only is appealing and has strong academics, but also the place that may challenge you to grow as a person.

Do your research on the different schools you are considering, and go visit them while school is in session so you can judge the school accurately. Get involved in the community around the college, and in activities at the college, clubs, internships, etc. Don't take too big of a load, just to finish school sooner, take your time and enjoy your college experience. Make sure you have enough time to study, and do well in school, but also make room in your schedule to have a social life, otherwise you'll burn out quickly, you'll become depressed, you won't enjoy college, and your grades will suffer. College is about learning and education. Education on your school studies, education on life, people, relationships, the environment, the world, politics, etc. Don't be afraid to learn it all. You'll be better for it, if you end up not just with a college degree after 4 years, but the knowledge to go out and contribute to the world in every possible way. You can't just have "book smarts" to get by in life, "street smarts" are also essential.

Finding the right college comes down to what major you are going into and how much financial aid that school is willing to provide to you. First research up on the colleges that have already accepted you or that you are planning to apply to. Find out if those colleges offer the major you want to pursue. Then, once you have that established, find the college that is both prestigious and affordable, or as I like to say, "the best bang for your buck." These are the major factors into which college you choose to continue your studies. However, don't forget about how you want your social life to be because many schools differ greatly in their involvement with the students' social lives.

I would advice making sure you know exactly what you would ultimately like to do for a career before attending a four year university. Otherwise, it is a waste of money going straight into a four year institute and paying the full tuition fee, and it may turn out that the school you attend is very unaccomodating to your career path. If you don't know what you would like to study I would very strongly advice starting in a community college, where you will get your general education and a sense of what you are good at and what you would like to continue studying. From there you can always transfer to a four year university after careful examination of what each school places emphasis on academically. Then make an educated decision on what school best suits your needs for your future.

You need to really check out the schools that you are applying to. If you want a party school, you know where to look. If you want an academic school, you know where to look. But if is difficult to find that balance. That balance is important for that college experience. Make sure to have fun in college, don't just study 24/7. Make friends that can be in your wedding and that you will talk to years down the road.

To know the truth about a college's quality of life, insider opinions are needed. However, as people become older and more culturalized, when asked a question like 'What do you think of your college?', they will usually regurgitate what they believe to be the appropriate response; thus, what a student tells you may actually go against their true thoughts. Therefore, the best way to discover how students truly feel about their college is to run a casual search online and scan the informal websites where students post their honest opinions, in addition to visiting the campuses. And of course, as a pre-requisite to making your potential college list, you should research the colleges' academic programs and financial aid opportunities. As for how to make the most of your college experience: 1. Do not enter college thinking you know exactly who you are and what you want to do with your life; keep an open mind regarding yourself, your future, and others. 2. Go out and interact with people. Learn from others, and make lasting friends. 3. Though the temptation is great, do not skip too many classes, and study consistently throughout the quarter. 4. Embrace every single day.

Visit all the campuses, and pick what FEELS right.

Two things, first remember undergrad is only a launching pad and there is plenty of time to get good grades if you try. I highly suggest shooting too impress because it only gets harder. Second, enjoy yourself! These will be the best years of your life for many years to come, until your settled down then some more awesome years can occur.

Visit the school and audit some classes.

It's easy, when looking at the piles and piles of brochures that come in the mail everyday, to be overwhelmed. But visiting campuses can really help you narrow the process. Visiting shows you how the colleges really are, not how they would like you to think they are. It also helps if you make a list of the things you value and are looking for before you leave. Once you are attending... well college is as much about the social experience as it is about the classes. If you are going somewhere completely new join clubs. Not only do you get free food out of them but they'll help you adjust to a new area and give you a support network to depend on. My biggest suggestion is to join groups/take classes outside of your comfort zone. Learn how to scuba or do kung-fu, usher at the theater, participate in a study, work with autistic children. This is your chance to figure out who you want to be, how can you do that if you're stuck doing all the things you've always done?

Definitely visit the college you're thinking about attending while school is in session. Every one has their own style and preferences and it's much easier to tell if you are right for the school if you actually go there and see what it's like first hand. Surveys and other research can be very helpful, but it's hard to get a feel for what the school is really like by just reading a bunch of statistics. If you go to the school, you can really see how people interact. It's one thing to visit a campus during an orientation or during a break when there's no one there, but it's something entirely different when there are students rushing to classes and hanging out in the quad. If a picture is worth a thousand words, then how much more valuable is it to actually see, hear, feel, and smell the environment that you will be living in for the next four (and possibly the most influential) years of your life?

I have a lot of friends who knew exactly what their dream school was and ended up hating it once they got there. Research different schools before setting your heart on just one school. Judge each school for what they can offer you, not on whether it has a big name or if your friends think it is "respectable" or not. Visit your top colleges and ask students there how they like it. Figure out the most important thing you want to get out of college, and which college can offer that to you. Be specific with what you want because you can fit into many different schools, but only a certain number of schools will fit you. Ultimately, get involved and meet as many people as you can when you first get to college. Start out with a broad range of interests and events to see which areas you are interested in pursuing. If you go in with the right mindset, determined to have a positive experience, then you definitely will.

Just relax and don't worry, everything works out in the end and you'll find a school that you're happy at. SAT scores don't matter after high school so don't sweat it too much!

Begin by looking for colleges in the region you want to attend, the size of school you wish to attend, and strong programs in areas of interest to you. U.S. News and World Report is a good place to start. Once you have a list, visit as many as possible, preferably when classes are in session, and see which ones fit you best. When you get to college, be outgoing. Remember that (hopefully) you chose a school which fits you best, so a large portion of the people there will share your interests. All the freshmen will be looking to make new friends, so be yourself and be social! Also, take advantage of the campus's services and extracurricular and social opportunities like discounts on concert or attraction tickets, recreation classes, etc. And of course, don't let your schoolwork fall behind. Academic probation, anywhere, is never fun or a good idea. Find a way to strike a balance between work and play that will keep you focused, eager, and having fun, and you will be successful.

visit the college and have a idea what your son or daughter want in a college education.

Apply to as many schools as possible and visit all of them to find the best match for you. Really look into what your school is known for and if that matches your personality and your goals. Sometimes schools that are well acclaimed in an area that you are interested in (pre-med, pre-law, etc.) are not necessarily the best choice because the competition at these schools will be much higher and stressful.

Visit the school prior to admission and talk to people who are currently attending and that have attended. Do not be afraid to become involved freshman year

Make a list of the 15 things most important to you about your future college and actually rate all your possibilities on each one to find the best fit.

I think listing the things that are important to you, like campus social life, closeness to home, majors, whatever, is a great way to start... and if its lacking in one of the areas there is usually some way that the school can make up for it. For example, my school has a reputation for not being very social, but if you join the right activities you can have a great social life. It really depends on what you want to get out of the experience.

Parents need to allow their children to pick where they want to go. College is the time where children go off on their own and really discover who they are. If parents don't let go they do a disservice to their children. To incoming students: College is a time to reinvent yourself and discover who you really are. College is also what you make of it. Try things you never thought you would, dare to be different and enjoy your life.

Really consider where you want to spend four years of your life and who you want to spend it with. You can find like-minded people and make friends anywhere, but it can be more difficult at some places.

There is no such thing as the WRONG college. Every school can provide everything you're looking for, it may just be a little harder to find different pieces at different schools, but every school will have what you're looking for....they just might not advertise it all. Choose a school based on EDUCATION and LOCATION! You're choosing where you're going to live for four years, location is important. Take weather into account. Weather you dislike may have a greater impact on you than you think. Always try anything that remotely peaks your interest whether it's a random class, a recreational sport, a club, or even a job. You can always trim you're life down later, but fill it up as much as possible first! It's how you meet people, and it's how you find your niche. HAVE AN OPEN MIND AND BROADEN YOUR HORIZONS, and fill our life with the RIGHT people. Be careful who you let in and who you push out. GO TO YOUR PROFESSORS'/TA'S OFFICE HOURS!!!!!

Prospective students should know what their general interests are and choose a school that has major that embodies those interests. Going into a school as an undeclared major is not a good idea. Knowing what the student's interests are will better enable them to pursue a career that they will enjoy and it will facilitate their academic career.

Choose which college you believe will help you achieve your career goals. If you do not yet know what career you wish to pursue choose a school in which you believe will help you peak your interest in some field.

It is best to find the school that matches your personality. Every school has a certain feel to it, and it's very important to find the place that's most comfortable to you. So invest a lot of time into learning more about your prospective schools. Visit the campus and talk to students there. Don't worry too much about the prestige of the school. A degree is a degree, and it's better to be happy wherever you are, because you'll be spending several years of your life at whichever place you choose.

I think the main instrument for students and parents trying to find the right college is to make sure to visit the campus. For me sitting in on a few open classes, and interacting with some of the students was key. Students who end up unhappy at their campuses are usually the ones that go there for an academic or athletic reputation, or because of parental pressure. Without visiting a campus it is impossible to make an accurate decision. It is also vital for students to choose a campus suited to their academic needs. When there is a disparity between academic standards and personal goals going through classes can be extremely difficult. To maximize the college experience it is important for the incoming student to go out and socialize, as opposed to wait for people to come to them. I know at my campus one of the biggest problems is that the heavy focus on academics makes it easy for people to sit and study as opposed to try to make friends, and then they complain about the campus social life. On any campus, incoming students have to be willing to go out of their comfort zone to enjoy themselves.

Don't settle for where you think you should be, especially if it doesn't feel right. Visit the campuses you apply to. Before applications or after, it doesn't really matter. But see the campus. More often than not there will be one campus that just feels...right. Go there if at all possible, no questions asked. Maybe your friends are all going to a different school. Maybe this school is too far away. Or too close. But so what? This is going to be your home for the next three or four or five years. You need to feel comfortable. You need to want to be there. Don't settle for anything less.

Do what you want, not simply what the "next step" is. Have passions and follow them.

Visiting the campus is a great idea to get a feel of the community and people. Make sure the surrounding community/neighborhoods are appealing. Make sure te child's major is popular and well established at the particular school.

Even though I didn't not have much help from my parents, because they were inexperienced in this, what I believe helps finding the right college is going to tours, and just getting well informed about each campus of interest. It also help to have an idea of what the student wants to study, because that way the numbers of schools can be narrowed down even more.

All incoming college freshman and parents must keep in mind that anyone can succeed and enjoy their times at any university to any extent. Parents must emphasize priorities before any student is sent off to college or universities initiating the fact that not everyone succeeds, but every single student is capable in reaching their dreams. Students must overcome their fears and be prepared to enjoy and experience the term "reality". I believe college is essential in ways that it opens up all student's eyes to the adverse and thrilling realities of life; such as financial issues, social encounters, huge loads of pressure due to real world responsiblities and their career path. Students most also acknowledge the different experiences and programs that each university offers to their students. For examples, students may want to experience more abstract studies or may want to be involved in a deeper sense where hands on experience is more common. Whatever the preference, all students and parents should concentrate on the educational factors of the universities over social factors, because social success is created by the individual and not the campus in which the student is enrolled in.

Make sure to take as many campus tours as possible as early as your junior year in high school. It's important to get a feel for the school and to see what kind of environment you would fit in to most. Don't base your judgement solely on the academics, but for the people, opportunities, and activities the school can provide. Make sure you can envision yourself on that campus, getting involved for and on that campus, and that you can see yourself sporting some school pride and spirit.

In my experience, finding the right college is like choosing the direction you want to go in life. There are people who go to colleges simply because it is one of the best versus more legitimate reasons such the environment of the campus/city, social life, quality of education, and affordability. With a college name, you can definitely show that off, but what does a name define you as a person and who you are going to be? Although every school has its social-life perks, it is what you will get out of a college that matters. In every campus, there is always going to be great and diverse people. Therefore, you should aim for a campus that provides the best education that you will need to get where you want to go and is surrounded by an environment that introduces you to a new type of life. Always aim for more and for the different; without diversity and challenging experiences, there is no story to tell about your college life or an experience to reflect upon and enjoy. Aim for a life and a future that will keep you interested and benefit you in the long run.

The best way to find and choose which college is best for an overall great college experience is to pick a college that the student feels most comfortable at. Although academics is a vital factor to consider when choosing a college, social networking, availability of extra-curricular activities, organizations and community are all things to consider as well when choosing a college. It is true that some colleges excell more than others in certain areas of academics; however, it is also important to be able to experience interesting and new opportunities during the years in college. Since college is a time where most individuals figure out who they are and what they plan to do for the future, it is highly important for the individual to explore, or at least to be able to explore a variety of options (whether it be in majors, internships, jobs, studying abroad, etc) since the future is not always as definite as it is planned. Overall, even though parents are focused mainly on the academic prestige of the college, it is important to acknowledge the student's decision since college is ultimately a great and lasting experience for the student.

To find the right college, it might be best to consider the road less travelled; to challenge oneself in the process of chosing. What would be considered a "challenge" as far as picking a university goes naturally differes for everyone; for one, this may mean starting at community college then transferring to a better-known college, as opposed to taking the clear, straight four year route; for another, this may mean picking a college that is far away from their parents' home. It is important that one's choice for college will represent a challenge, an opportunity to better themselves. To make the best of their college experience, one should get involved--participate in clubs, go to campus events, go to off-campus events, and above all avoid spending their free time away from the company of others. Diversions such as Facebook may offer a certain comfort and entertainment, but not true friends. Clubs and campus activities are the best way to make friends, which will help you out not only in your undergraduate career, but later, through forming the basis of job networks.

I think it's important to remember that you WILL end up where you belong. Maybe not right away, but that's okay. Do your best to get into your dream school, but if you don't, please understand that there is a reason why. I didn't get into my first choice, but I could not be happier with my education and the friends I have made at UCSD. And if someone offered me a chance to go to UCLA (my original first choice), I wouldn't take it. I have an amazing job as an event planner (something I'm looking at for a career), and I'm involved in my college (John Muir). Create a strong friend system, get a job that is both stimulating and something you can balance, and don't be to hard on yourself when it comes to grades--you'll get there.

look at the position and remember that you got accepted into that school for a re, it doesn't happen out of luck you where choosen so try your best.

Start by researching what schools offer the things that will help you get to where you want. Next, take a visit to the school to check out the student life. Campus tours are always great but I would definetly try to talk to a student, besides the tour guide, about what its really like on campus. A regular student won't feel obligated to 'sell the school' and will give you an honest opinion. It would be even better to talk to someone who is in the major that you are considering to get a heads up on what your course load will be like. I would definitely suggest living on campus your first year. Its truly not a college campus without living on campus at some point, so you may want to visit the dorms while you are checking out the school. Check out the student organizations on campus as well. See if you can see yourself settling into any of them. Student orgs give you that connection with others on campus. Don't stress out too much when trying to find the right college because most likely you'll find your place wherever you end up...

Don't be too concerned about money. The important thing is to match your own interests and temperment to the colleges you apply to. If there's a particular industry or profession you want to work in, focus on colleges with training in and access to those fields. Above all, fearlessness is your friend.

Before deciding on a college, go to college open houses. That way, you get an idea of all the activities that go around on campus, meet staff and students. Go to different club meetings and see what you like, this is a good way to meet people in or outside of your major.

First of all, if your institution hosts an "Admit Day" (where they have a bunch of prospective freshman come check out the campus and things around it), they I strongly recommend you go to that as that will probably be the single most helpful thing to do. This way, you'll get a small sample of the scope of the campus, its surroundings, what kind of people are there, etc. Check out collegeboard.com to see admittance stats, gpa stats, ethic breakdown, and any other statistical information that might help you decide. For students, find out if you know anybody from that school and if you could talk to them as well as other students about their experiences there. If its at all possible, try to get to experience the social life at the school (knowing someone there would be extremely helpful) without your parents, as that will give you a pretty good barometer as well.

Making the right choices and taking advantage of opportunities are what makes the student responsible and confident. In college, the biggest mistake is rejecting those opportunities and failing to discover the full potential of themselves. In order to make the most of a student's experience in college, the student must become an active participant. Being an active participant does not mean to join all the clubs offered at the college, but instead to find that potential interest and passion for a specific area or field. Whether the student loves the intellectually stimulating atmosphere of debates or the scientific research of a new cancer diagnosis, he or she has the freedom to make the choice in deciding whether a certain college will suit his or her ability to go outside of the box. It is not the college itself that forms the student's behaviors and identity, but rather the student who finds his or her identity through lasting relationships and memories with friends, family, faculty and professors.

Visit the school beforehand, and think about living conditions and what the college has to offer. Apply to a variety of school!

The number one priority of college is furthering your education. Many students don't know what they want to do, so they should look at what resources each college offers. Look at the competiveness of the school to determine if the level of the education being offered will push one in the right direction, and check the variety of classes/majors to ensure the opportunities to discover one's interests can present themselves. Also, consider whether one learns better in a lecture hall seating +/- 300 people or a classroom with axproximately 40 students, because the professor to student ratio can have a significant impact one's learning abilities. To make the most of the college experience, leave the comfort zone and get involved. It's important to leave the library for awhile to meet different people, join clubs, and enjoy one's surroundings. Not only does balancing a social life and school help relieve stress, it allows people to discover themselves as individuals and develop relations with others, which are critical elements for the world beyond college life.

Prospective students should research as much about the different schools before they make a decision. and find out what majors are emphasized there. They should also visit the campus, if possible and talk to the students there. Also, it would be helpful if the prospective students sit in a lecture, just to see how the structure is like in the class. Do not choose a school just because it is prestigious. Make sure that you will be happy attending the school (you are going to be there for four or more years afterall!) and it fits all your criteria. Most importantly, be happy with your decision and don't regret!

Parents: Be ready for your child to experience new things and exhibit a little more independence than usual! They are finally "off on their own," so don't take it personal if they are more absorbed in their own lives at the moment. Just remember to continue being supportive of what they choose to do and always be there for them. Students: Unless you have always known what you have wanted to be ever since you were a kid (which most of us don't), you may not even be sure what collge you want to go to, and that's okay! A lot of students in college are undeclared as their majors and will switch it up many times before finding the right one, so don't stress out about it too much. When you actually get to college, I would advise you to get familiar with the resources on campus and TRY NEW THINGS! Join orgs/groups! Get involved! Way easier said than done, but it beats being a hermit in the dorms. This is the only time in your life where you will have such easy access to experiment with different career and activities. Take advantage!

Have fun. When you are applying do not limit yourself to what you think you want; Apply to a bunch of different types of schools and decide from there. When you get it remember that everything happens for a reason and you are supposed to end up there. Be open to trying new things, meeting new people, and having new experiences!

If your child is somewhat of a social butterfly and has no problem making friends and is very academically oriented, by all means. UCSD's classes have an upwards of 100 people in every lecture but discussions are only 10-15 people in size allowing for personal expression. The first three week is a laid back experience with lots of events going on then it gradually dies down as everyone prepares to catch up with work. If a student is not caught up with the course within the five first weeks, lose all hope of getting an A.

Visit the place and make the descision on your terms and no one elses.

Choose the place that feels like home the moment you step on campus.