University of Maine Top Questions

dont waste your youth. your only young once.

Choose a school with good academics, a lot of activies, and one where someone can feel comfortable. Also, one does not just go to school and learn. Be open-minded, get out there and try new things. Do not be afraid of what life will be to you.

look at evey college you can. even if you dont think you want to go there look anyway. its the easiest way to weed stuff out and see what you really want! for undergrads state schools are best, instate tuition baby! almost everyone will have to go to grad school, and no one really cares where you went undergrad

As an upperclassman, I would give advice to students based on what I learned during my first two years in college. I would encourage underclassmen to live on a campus for at least one year. Making the adjustment can be difficult, but living with three hundred people in one building, it is amazing how many people you fit in with. I would also encourage students to not forget what he or she came to college for. With all of the social opportunities at the University of Maine, it can be very difficult to remain focused on school work. Find time for yourself, but also for your studies. Along with this, facebook has become the newest way for college students to meet. Choose what pictures and personal information you post wisely; these could be the photographs and personal information that your future employer may be looking at. With this being said, have fun, stay safe, and remain focused on your studies. Afterall, you came to college to get an education so that you can eventually get a "real" job!

Just get out there and have fun. Say Yes to things, be conciencious about your decisions, and realize that you have this small period of times to make you academic and social goals come, so get moving.

Write down the qualities you want in a college and visit and see if schools have your preffered traits. Also join greek life... but not just any frat or sorority. shop around. some are much better then others.

College is the start of a lifetime. It's very important to find placement in the proper college for ones career. To do this, know that knowledge is power. When finding a college, shop about. Know what your options are. Use resourses such as the internet and high school guidance councilor. They will help students find colleges that are congruent with the students desired career path, personal skills, and financial position. When I was a senior in high school I became good friends with my guidance counciler. Even as a sophmore in college, she is helping me to this day. I found myself financially strained for this coming semester, and when I told her my situation, she jumped to help me by finding other scholarships and writing a letter of recommendation. Keep in mind what it is you want to get out of your college experience. Some things to look for are: a friendly campus, up to date facilities, on and off campus housing, extra-cirricular activites available, and of course if it can fulfill ones educational goals. When you get to college, enjoy it and make it worth while. Socially but most importantly scholastically.

Don't waste money at private universities.... public universities often have more research/government funding and offer a more valueable education.

Make sure you start looking early for schools and scholarships. Also, apply for early admission and use all a college search engine to find schools that fit you.

When I was looking to apply to college, I did not put much thought into it. I applied to only one school, the University of Maine, for several reasons. First off, I was 99 percent sure that UMO would accept me, and I did not have confidence in myself to believe I could get accepted into a more prestigous school, despite the fact that I did excellent academically in highschool. My second reason was that the college was close to my hometown, and I did not feel that I was ready to live far away. Also, I had visited the school several times, as my sister attended it for a year while I was still in highschool. Everything worked out for me, because I love the school. However, I would recommend that parents and students not limit their options; have faith in your abilities, and be honest with yourself about what you think you can handle. It might be helpful to list the pros and cons of different kinds of school- big vs. small, local vs. national, community vs. university- and so on. When choosing a college, you should really do some soul searching. Afterall, its a major life decision.

I would really encourage students and parents to sit down together and clearly determine exactly how they are going to pay for college before they actually enroll. There needs to be clear communication between students and parents, especially if the parents are paying. It is important that parents get very involved in the college process. Of particular importance is the FAFSA - students and parents need to take the time to figure it out together. Also, they should both have a full understanding of how much school will cost them minus the difference of financial aid. Words can't really express how crucial it is to figure out how to pay for college. It is getting more difficult these days to pay for it and I feel as though many parents aren't as involved in their children's education as they should be. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would definitely take the time to educate my parents on what is going on, rather than excluding them from the process since they don't pay for anything. Without education and involvement, parents cannot fully appreciate the huge investment they are making for their children!

Having been in college for 3 years now, from what I have experienced, the most important advice I would give would be to do your research. Researching the price of the school, the courses offered, the funding and the campus are important, but also, researching the majors available and what those could lead to is also very important, I feel if moreprospective college students focused on seeing what interests them as a career and then seeing what school has the program to best fit their goals, there would be less indesciiveness regarding such a huge decision in a persons life.

The most important part of finding the right college is spending some time on the campus before enrolling. You don't really get a feel for the atmosphere on an hour long campus tour. Tours are like publicity stunts; you are only going to hear exaggerated truths. Go around and ask students what they like most/least about the school, what the food is like, and how the residence halls are. Current students will give you the honest answer that you are looking for because they have nothing to lose.

DON'T BE AFRAID TO SWITCH IF YOU ARE UNHAPPY! Chosing a college is not a permanent affair. Ivy league schools are not all they're cracked up to be. Don't feel pressured to stick with a major. The most important thing to remember is that this is your life, and you only get one shot at it. do what is going to make you happy in the long run.

My advice is: try not to worry about the money. My college experience has been tainted because I chose the second-choice school that offered me an education for slightly cheaper. Getting into school, and seeing my financial need increase while my aid decreases has been severely disappointing. I often wonder if I my first choice school could have been cheaper. Go to the school that makes you excited, where the quality of the institution and your future peers can be seen wherever you go on campus. Don't just read the websites and compare class descriptions; go explore. See you future professors, study lounges, dorm rooms, and laboratories. Try to loose your parents for a while and really immerse yourself. Then as you leave, gauge how drawn you are to going back. Remember that feeling because when you get your award information in the mail the tendency is to compare numbers and measure superficial qualities of the school. Base your decision off which school you felt most content with and which school you think will help you grow the most. Do no settle for second best, and make sure your decision is your own.

Don't be concerned about the cost. There are ways to ease that pain. Find a school that you feel at home when you're on campus. To make the most of the experience surround yourself with genuine people who are interested in some of the things you enjoy but also have their own interests, don't be pressured to do things you KNOW you don't like, but be open to new experinces and new ideas and be willing to try at least ONE new thing a semester.

Make sure you visit the colleges you are interested, and take tours.

For students, it is important to recognize how much class participation and discussion means to you in terms of your overall ability to retain the information you are being taught. If it is very important, you should definitely choose a school which is small in size. If it is not important than choosing a large school is great, as long as the expectation is 95{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} lecture with very little class participation.

The advice I would give parents and/or students about finding the right college would be to do research and find out what schools are good in the area of study you are looking into. You want to have the best education that is available to you so you can strive and be successful when you graduate. You want to be prepared the best way possible. On making the most of your college experience I would have to say be involved in your school in any way you can, whether it be a sport, club, volunteering or student goverment. Any way that you can give to the college and be involved will open a lot of opportunities for you; making friends, scholarship opportunities, a chance to grow, and having the chance to make a difference in your school and in your own life. Enjoy the time you have in school and be involved in your education. College is a time for personal growth and expanding your education. So pick the school that will be academically best for you and that will also allow you to have a good social life.

Finding the right school is a difficult process. If loans are going to be taken out for your college experience it is important to try and find the best deal for the money. With our economy many schools are just too expensive. Attending college is one of the best opportunities and times of ones life. Pick a location that you have always wanted to go to. To make your college experience worthwhile one must get involved with campus activities. The busier you are the better your experience will be. I wish I had gotten more involved my freshman and sophomore year. There are so many different opportunities that you most likely will not be able to do again. TAKE ADVANTAGE! Something that sounds clich? but important is to focus on your school work. When one graduates they want to feel that they did the best that they possibly could. Remember to be friendly and open. The only thing more important than your grades are the friends you will make on your journey. Cherish them. They will be there much longer than you college adventure.

Go for the one that costs low and has the program that best fits your needs.

When looking at colleges to attend, the best advice that I would give is to take your time in finding a great college fit of your choice and evalute what it is that you want. Make sure that the school is in an enviroment that best suits you and you will feel comfortable in.

I would advise students and parents to research colleges far in advance. Finding the right college can be hard, so go and get a tour of the colleges you're interesed in and do your homework. Make sure you are going to be happy at the college you choose. Compare prices, class sizes, and talk to alumni or even current students about how they feel about it. If you get a bad vibe, then look elsewhere.

Visit a lot of schools. Look for schools with the general career that you are interested in and talk to as many people from that school. Look at the surrounding activities, this is important to help relieve stress and gain the most from your college experience. Just keep your mind open to different types of schools and not just a single school that you have been thinking about your while life.

I would say reasearching would be there best bet. Make sure you look at what different colleges have to offer and chose which college offers the majors/classes that you need for your future career plans. Don't worry about finances, there is always aid available. Your best bet is to find something you love doing, and find a college that provides the courses and environment that fits.

To find the right college, you have to be able to strike a balance between what you want, weighing out the pros and cons of each school. No one college is going to be completely perfect, so by visiting the schools, doing research, figuring out what you want in a school (including what program you are interested in), and talking with your parents (especially about financial aid!), you will be able to get a good idea of what school is going to work for you. Also, keep in mind that if you decide to attend a certain college and, upon going, realize that it's not the one for you, there's nothing wrong with transfering! To make the most of college, stay focused on academics, talk with your professors, and get involved in campus. You're most likely only going to be an undergraduate this once, and it's like no other time in your life--do as much as you can while still mainaining a healthy and happy environment and lifestyle!

Tour as many colleges as possible.

An extensive search is the best way to find the right school for you; the more places you visit, the better feel you'll get for what kind of place is right for you. Once you get to that school you've chosen, jump right in. Don't stay in your room, don't only hang out with your one or two roommates, join clubs, sports teams, ect. Get out there!

Use your resources: Guidance Counselors, College Board, Websites that help you choose the best fit for you. Spend time visiting those places you might be interested in, you would be surprised the amount of discrepancy between pictures on a school's website and the actual campus experience. Talk to students, the members of a large community like a University always have the inside knowledge and opinions that will help you better understand what life is like at a college. When making the best of your college experience; the key is balance. There are so many things going on, you must juggle the academics, social life, sports, extracurriculars and even find time to do laundry. If you can find a good harmonious balance between these things, your experience will be amazing.

The most important advice I can give is to plan way ahead of time. Account for all of your financial needs, tuition is not where the costs end. Visit as many schools as you can before you decide on where you want to go. Try to meet and talk with both professors and students withing the major you want to take or are most interested in. Its really important that your are aware of the environment that you will spend then next 4 years in. And lastly, the most important advice I have, choose a school for you, not the money, your parents or your friends. It has to be your choice. oh, and don't plan on transferring, go to the right school the first time. Transferring schools is the hardest thing I've ever done. It was very hard to transition and to fit in in a new school.

Go to the campus and ask questions, then go with your instincts.

I would tell students to really make a wise decision when choosing their major. I know a lot of people that just don't like school, plain and simple, and it is because there major does not interest them. They just want to get there degree and get out. If you choose something that you are passionate about, you will really get your money's worth and love every minute of it. I am so in love with my major (Computer Science) that I like to squeeze every last drop out of the classes I take and can't wait to sign up for next semester's new and exciting courses. After all, learning is the whole reason you are here, not just for a degree. Choose a course of study that you know you won't regret.

For students and parents I would offer two different sets of advice. Students, do not limit your choice of a college by evaluating its reputation with your own self-esteem. At the same time, do not discredit public and community colleges. Different environments are for different people, and in the right one you can flourish. When you come into college, do not waste your time here. Focus on your studies but allow yourself to indulge in the opportunities college provides you. Talk to your professors, even outside of your major. You never know what doors that can open for you! Don?t worry too much about the future, you?ll find what major and path you want to take. Parents, do not be alarmed when you get that first call around midterm season filled with tears and doubts. Keep on encouraging your children to make choices for themselves, whether that choice is on what classes to take, if they should switch majors or studying abroad, or even what activity to participate in. Make no mistake; your opinions do still matter. Do not worry too much if your child doesn?t find their spot immediately. I am sure they will.

I think when you look at where to go for college, you need to find a place that appeals to you both academically and visually. I found that the school I am currently attending is very beautiful and it also has a very good engineering program in which I am enrolled. I think you also need to look at the kind of community it forms. Most of my friends I have met here and live in close proximity to. All in all, I think you need to find a school that you think you will enjoy. The key to doing a good job at school is enjoying what you are doing.

It is very important to decide the ideal population size of the desired school. The community feeling of each school rests largely on how many students attend. Figure out whether the student wants to know most of his or her classmates, or whether the student wants a little more anonymity. Also remember that a school's prestigious reputation will only go so far. A degree is a degree, and the school name has very little effect on life once a stable career has been established. That being said, do not base the majority of the decision on the school name alone, because it will not guarantee success either in school or in a job search. It is far more important to determine where the student will feel the most comfortable, and be able to balance a positive social life. These last two criteria are of the utmost importance because they will ultimately decide how well the student succeeds in college. For if the student has a positive outlook on his or her life during those four years, it is much more likely that the positive feelings will transfer into his or her academic work. A happy student will succeed.

Make a list of the qualities you think you would and wouldn't like to see in your University and then try to narrow it down to the top 5-10 most important. Don't be afraid to visit your potential campuses and view them with a critical eye, after all, this is where you'll be spending a lot of time and money and the start of your future is the result of these years. Be sure to look into what majors your potential schools have to offer, especially if you're unsure as to what you want to do with your life. Having a wide variety can open your eyes to things you never thought of before. Check into how much financial aid the school offers to make sure the whole burden wont be placed on you and your family. Look into campus regulations/qualifications, such as: are freshman allowed cars, how safe is the campus, what extracurricular activities do they offer. Being thorough may take time in the present but will pay off in the future. Trust me. Overall, have fun with this experience- it's exciting, you're starting up a whole new chapter!

Students should bring along their parents to look at prospective schools. The student should make a tangible list of things he or she is looking for in a college, and things they want to avoid. Parents also have a say, but ultimately, the decision belongs to the student. Take a walk inside the buildings where classes are held, and get a feel for them. If anything, (aside from fear of the unknown), makes the student uncomfortable, keep looking. College needs to be a comfortable place, and a second home. If possible, meet some of the teachers the student may have the first year of classes. If there are extracurricular activites the student enjoys, make sure the school has those. Activities and hobbies are a great way to reduce stress, so the student should look for convenient places to perform them. In the end, trust your gut feeling. If the student doesn't feel at home on the campus, or the lecture halls seem too large and daunting, continue on your search. Finding the right college is all about finding the right fit.

Plan on doing a lot of research on your own when looking at colleges. Apply to more than one college and try to look into a major you really think you would like. Research it on line or enter college without a major and try to decide as soon as you can on a major so you maybe won't have to spend more years in college than you planed because you keep changing your mind. Get exposed to all of the majors you can so you can pick the right one for you and ask your advisor for help if you just can't seem to decide on your own. Also listen to family advise but remember that you need to make the final decision about your future. Try your best to make the right choice according to your interest and not just how much money you will make in certain career choices. You may make more money but not be very happy. Happiness is most important thing to consider in your choice of the college and the career .

Determining the right college is simply choosing the right one that best fit a students needs. I really believe choosing a college depends on the student as well. If the student wants to live close to home, then the student should go to a college that is close to home. If a student wants to get away from it all, then they should a college that best interests them according to location, costs, and especially degree. Parents have to realize that some students just want to go out there and try to find themselves, and if that means being 3,000 miles away or right up the street, then that's the way it goes. A degree is very important in deciding a college, but students may realize that the passion they once had for a career may change once entering college. I think the most important thing a student can do is to grow, find themselves, and that way they can find what and how they want to impact the economy for the rest of their lives. I think finding yourself is the most important.

My advice would be to look at several schools and make sure to talk to a current student who is not the tour guide. Get to know what the school is really like from students not from those trying to recurit you. Also, and probably the most important, if you're not sure who you are or what you want do yourself a favor and do NOT pick a major and do NOT go to the most difficult school you get into. Unless you are very interested in academics only go undeclared for a semester or two and get to know college. I promise you that you will change and learn something new about yourself which will then help you figure out what you want to be. If you jump in too far then you won't be as successful as you would like to be allow yourself to be young and have fun and then be a serious student.

My best advice that i can give is do what your heart tell you to do. Dont go to college because your parents want you to or your best friend or boyfriend are also gonig to that college. Apply where you will be the most confident and comfortable student. Go where you can suceed in life. However, when thinking through all the things that i have said make sure you consider the money. If you cant afford it your not gonig to enjoy it. Everyday you stress over the fact that if i dont get good grades then theres no way im going to be able to pay off my lones in future. To suceed in the future you may need to go to graduate school, so go to cheap undergraduate school and then find graduate school of your dreams. The last thing i should say is enjoy ,because somethings that happen in college no matter where you are, you will never forget it.

The advice that I would give parents in helping their children pick the school that is right for them is bringing them to the campus and taking a tour and walking around. Once I visited the school and walked around the campus I felt right at home. Your child will know which school is right for them so listen to what they have to say you want them to be at a place that they feel safe and happy. As for getting the most out of your college experience I would check out different clubs whether they be sports, greek life, non greeklife. By getting involved in the community around you really makes you feel as you are apart of your school not to mention it is a great way to meet new people. I was draged down to rush by my roomate and I had no intentions on being in greeklife but here I am going to live in a soriety house this year and loving it. I think that by taking risks and getting involved in as many things as possible is the best way to fully enjoy your college experience I know that I am.

It's really important to know yourself rather than getting caught up in all that is offered to you. Also, visiting the campus is really important, then you truly know what you are getting into.

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The best advice I could give is to study a field that the student is truly interested in. Going to college and earning a degree is a lot of work and if the student is not enjoying what he/she is doing, then it is not worth the effort. Parents should realize that students should study what they enjoy, not necessarily what they want them to study. In the long run, the students will be happier and enjoy what they are doing as a career. College is also a time in one's life to branch out and xperience new things. Other than the classes a student needs to take for his/her major, he/she should take a class or two out of pure interest. I am double majoring in mathematics and secondary education and I took a drawing class just to break up my schedule and give me something else to do. I highly enjoy math, that is why I am studying it; however, the drawing class really helped me take my mind off of other things and made me think from a different perspective. College should be an enjoyable experience that every student would want to remember.

To look at several schools that have the area of study that they want to major in. also to look at what the campus has to offer in that field and what it has for extra curriculars. Talk to students (other than the ones doing the tours) Ask them what they like about the school and what type of things goes on during the weekends and such. go to the carrier center and look to see how many jb posting and info they have a vailible this will tell you how active the school is on how they place their students

Don't be pushy with your child about looking at schools that you think is right for them. Make sure they pick a variety of schools in different areas of the country and narrow down from there, based on the child's preference. The child should start to research difference fields of study so they can have a general idea of what they want to study when they start school. Make sure the child is financially stable to attend university. Not being financialy prepared can add stress for both the child and parents, causing tensions between you and your child, and your overall ability to enjoy these 4 years. Your child should be open minded and try to get themselves involved within the campus, students admire other students that are confident and outgoing. When it comes to partyng in college...let your child make their own social decisions in the months prior to go to college to allow them to make good and bad decisions while you are still around to help them. I believe the child should be experienced at least a little bit in different areas to prevent first time problems in college.

Finding the right college is a very difficult process., but if you know what you like and don't like the choice will be much easier. Make sure to do in depth research about the schools you are interested in and if possible visit them. The best way to know if you will feel comfortable at a school is to walk around the campus and talk to people who attend the school. Apply to as many schools as you want just make sure that you are willing to attend any of them if it comes down to it. Another important aspect of looking for the right college is making sure you have a way to pay for it. Begin looking for loans and scholarships early. Try to get as much money as possible. Having to constantly worry about tuition costs and room and board can stress you out and distract you from your grades, which is the most important aspect of going to college. Never get discouraged when something doesn't play out the way you planned, just keep moving forward and focus on what you want to accomplish in life.