University of Maryland-College Park Top Questions

Research and do campus visits with your children and allow them to be on their own for a period of time during the stay. This give the child a better understanding of whether they want to be at that institution or not. Make sure the child does just as much if not more research as parents.

When considering a college consider more than just the campus facilities and the program you want. Look at everything, including surrounding area, transportation, off campus recreation, and weather. I transferred too my school, from Ithaca College. When I picked Ithaca I picked it because it had the best program. When I got there, it was freezing cold, and depressing and all the students drank like fish. It was horrible, and I wanted to kill myself before long. After two years in my own personal hell, I tranfered to Maryland. It's not a presiges as school, but I love it. It's big, and close to DC. There's ample opportunities to get involved. Anything you want to do you can find a group to do it with. I'm much happier here and as a result I'm getting a much better education. Once your actually in college...get involved. I know it's cliche but really. Even if you already have friends, make new ones. Don't stick to the same three people. Join a club. Now's the time to experiment! Do something wierd like scuba diving or ballroom dancing. Get comfortable in your own skin!

Make sure you get involved in activities right away. Otherwise people get overwhelmed by the large size of the campus and groups are a way to make it feel smaller

Make a general list of what you are looking for such as: Large school vs. small school, city or suburbs? Then research as much as possible. Do not have any expectations because schools that you might not even consider could end up being the best option for your child.

Parents and Students should do a lot of research on 5 things. First, the major concentration programs offered at the school, and how competitive they are. Second, Financial Aid and scholarships offered from the College. Third, the costs and availability of Housing arrangments, Transportation and Meal plans. Fouth, the availabily of jobs, research and internship opportunities through the School. And, finally what activities, clubs, and greek life are offered at the school and how to become active on campus.

Ask yourself one question: "What do I want to get out of my college experience?" This is, indeed, one question, but you should come up with several answers. You might say, "an impressive resume," or "lifelong friendships," or "spiritual fulfillment." You might even include smaller details like "the chance to watch exciting football games" or "the assurance of on-campus housing." Once you have listed your answers, you should decide which ones are most important to you. Ranking them in order of importance could be helpful. Is academic excellence a priority for your chosen college? Or is it a commitment to community service, or environmental activism? Is affordability an issue, and, if so, how important is it to your decision? Each school has its strengths and weaknesses in every one of those areas, even the little aspects. After researching a school, you can rank it according to your established criteria. Then, you can pick out a college that closely matches your ideals. While applying, and during your college experience, remember to stay focused on what is important to you. Don't get so caught up in the processes that you forget what college is all about - enriching YOUR life.

To Examine all the options before making a decision

An important issue for both parents and students is how much college costs. For families that are less financially stable, it is difficult to pay tuition and all the other expenses that come with living on your own. Going into debt at the age of seventeen is not the ideal situation for any student. Students must manage their money properly while at school and learn how to keep track of all expenses. It is important for parents to encourage their children to be financialy responsible because going to college can sometimes be overwhelming.

Make sure you visit multiple colleges so you can try to picture yourself on campus. Also, talk to students on campus that are not part of the orientation program.

I would do a lot of research on what school to attend. Sometimes you need to even think outside the box and really research go visit the school and talk to the students not hired to give the tour to get a real view of the college. Once you pick a college try to make the most of out the school by taking advantage of all of their resources and make lots of friends.

definately live on campus if you can.

Pick a large school; the more people, the more diverse of an experience that they will have. Plus, they will always be able to find friends and like-minded people. I feel like small schools don't have as many good professors and the new experiences available to students could be limited. But of course, small class sizes are always a plus. Also, don't be to strict on your kids drinking alcohol. That way, when they go to school, they don't go binge-drinking crazy. If drinking alcohol isn't glorified as a big deal to them, the appeal of binge-drinking will be lessened.

Attend all possible invitations the campus offers prior to entering the institution. By doing so a prospective student can learn about the university and talk enrolled students. This is the best way to get a feel for the campus, by actually being there, experiencing and judging the facilities for oneself. Furthermore, the student can stop by offices and classrooms on campus to gain an understanding of how life works. Preparing and visiting the institution early can facilitate finding the right college. Making the most out of your college experience comes easy. the campus buzzes with opportunities to work or participate in studies. Also, the office for student organizations is a great resource to use to get in touch with student groups. Finally, make sure you are always looking and hearing about new opportuntiies. Some chances to get involved may be through word of mouth.

Make sure that there are a wide variety of majors offered. I have to go back to school after getting a B.S. in Public Health to become a Registered Nurse. I wish Nursing was an offered major. I would also ask to see what kind of experience the child is looking to have from going to college--large university, less time and with professors, less individuality--small colleges, they will receive that indivuality and personal attention.

Don't be fearful of a large school. You will make it small. Don't think the dorms aren't good enough. They will be good enough. The friends you make there will mean everything, not the cleanliness of the bathroom. Be aware that you will gain weight. Use the gym -- you're paying for it. Apply for financial aid, no matter your income status. Join clubs, you'll make friends for life. Explore the area surrounding your college. Visit every school you apply to.

Sometimes you will feel overwhelmed by the amount of work you have to do, but if you just buckle down and stick with it, it'll be worth it in the end.

Find a college with multiple majors that interest you. Go to an orientation/campus tour and make friends with somebody in your group. There are plenty of potential friends there.

The best advice I can give prospective students is to first figure out exactly what you are expecting from your time at college. For me, I wanted to whole "experience". I wanted a big school, with a decent sports team to cheer for, a good social scene, and a good academic record. I wanted the campus to look like it does in movies and I wanted to be in a good location, both in relation to home and in the surrounding area. It is important to visit all the schools you are looking at because some of these things can't be read about in a book. Don't be afraid to rule out schools because they are in the middle of nowhere. If something like location is important to you, don't ignore it or you will regret it later. When you visit schools, don't worry about petty stuff like dorm rooms and meal plans - envision yourself as a student and think about what you want from your school. Go with your gut and don?t worry if another school offers you more money. Enjoy college now and you'll make that money back in no time.

Go to a college that makes you happy. Do not go to a school because your friends are attending or you are in a relationship. You will make new friends and your like will work out. If your relationship does not, you do not want to be at a school that you do not enjoy. Also, use college as a time to branch out and move wherever you want to go. Do not limit yourself to going to college in one specific area in the country.

Investigate well and vist. Don't be afraid to ask questions!

The most important advice I can give is to think only of one thing when choosing a college: "Is this a place where I can see myself being happy for the next few years?" Don't think about rankings. Don't think about where your friends are going. Don't think aboutthe fact that one of your dining hall chicken fingers was mostly breading. Because once you're there, and especially after you leave, these aren't things you'll think about again. It doesn't matter if your college is ranked #7 or #75-- what matters is challenging yourself and exceeding expectations. It doesn't matter if your friends aren't nearby, because you'll make new friends. (Not to mention visiting your friends at other colleges makes for a great road trip!) Most importantly, don't forget to experience as many things as possible. You will never regret trying something. While it may not seem like it now, your time in college goes by in a flash. Choose your school based on the opportunities it gives you to become a more complete and fulfilled person, and you will always look back on your years there with a smile.

Visit the colleges you are applying to. Look into the academic programs you are interested in. Talk to faculty and current students. Take into account the social climate of the campus and the surrounding area. Think about what size college you are interested in. College is so much more than classes, you have to make sure the campus community is what you want. When you're at school, make the most of the people you can meet and the experiences that are available. There are opportunities offered at school that you will never have again, use them.

It is important to not only look at the numbers when thinking about what college to attend. You should visit a college and try to get a first-person account of what the school is all about. This includes participating in a school visit and trying to meet students or faculty at a university. School visits allow you to see the what a school is really like instead of what a brochure may tell you.

look at programs that may interest students in teh future

It doesn't matter where you go. College is what you make of it. You can go to an Ivy League school, but if you don't take advantage of the opportunities outside the classroom--extracurriculars, developing relationships with professors, job experiences and research opportunities, etc.--you won't be as well off as the student who goes to a less prestigious school but takes advantage of all of the benefits the school has to offer. Join groups, attend special lectures, study abroad, go to the career center, and make friends in and outside your dorm and you will truly have a great college experience .

The ultimate advice I could give prospective students searching for the right college is simple: use your brain, follow your heart. Make sure you investigate and research potential schools and programs you are interested in, and make sure you visit campuses to see if the school is a good fit for you. A school that looks good on paper may not be the best fit for you in person. Also, make sure you check out a variety of different schools, from big universities to small liberal arts colleges to make sure you see the varieties of schools to make sure you are making a well informed decision.

To choose the best college, I would suggest that students visit several campuses and spend time with current students. All admissions officers will give you the best information about the school and try to get you to attend their school. They're not trying to help you make the best decision for yourself. Students will tell you truthfully what they like and dislike about a school and from that, you should be able to choose based on the things you desire out of a college. As far as maximizing the college experience, I would say stay focused, be openminded and stay true to who you are. Its easy to loose a sense of who you are, especially at a large school, if you dont have some sense of your personality and morals. College is for learning so make sure to spend enough time and effort on actual school work. Fit the extra stuff in around class and homework. Lastly, be openminded. You can learn alot about life and yourself from the people you will spend the next 4 years with. You can also discover new things to do and have tons of great new experiences.

Make sure that you visit each college before and after you apply. You may really like a school on paper, but your opinion can change dramatically once you see the school in person.

College is a major part of life. It can drastically shape who you become and what you will do with your life. Deciding where to attend is not something that should be rushed or taken lightly. The best thing you can do when picking a place is to not limit yourself by money or your grades. Look for places that seem to be the right size and that have the major you're interested in, and then go for it. Shoot for the moon, as they say, even if you miss, you'll land amongst the stars. Once you get to college, live life to the fullest. It really is the only time in your life when you'll be free of most responsibilities and living by no one's rules but your own. Join clubs, get involved, and be as outgoing as humanly possible. If you live by these rules, you're sure to make friends that will stick with you for the rest of your life. Try to learn as much as possible about as many things as possible, who know s when you'll be back to school? Most of all, have fun!

do not use/pay for a college counsler

Trying to decide what college to go to and figuring out what "you want to be when you grow up" is especially difficult for high school seniors. No one really knows what they are going to want to do with the rest of their life at 17 or 18, so it is important for parents to be supportive...take their student to college orientations, let them look out-of-state schools despite the costs. College is expensive no matter where you go, so both parents and students should research loans, scholarships and grants to help pay for college. Start early! Fill out your FASFA early and go through applications together, finding the funds to pay for college is a competative, complicated process. Applying and choosing colleges my senior year of high school was stressful and miserable. I fought with my parents and felt like I was supposed to know how to do everything on my own. I ended up settling for a school that I wasn't sure I really wanted to attend and I was miserable there for the first year. Starting early, being organized and having support is key. Finding a college should be fun and exciting.

Visit as many colleges as possible. Attend a college that supports YOUR ideas and fits YOUR personality. Be open minded to everyone and everything. Students and parents shouldn't overanalyze everything but always be intuitive.

Take your time, picking a school. Look into all types of financing options. Let the student choose what they want to major in.

We are so lucky to live in a country that offers us so many outstanding educational opportunities. Sure, some of these institutes specialize in specific areas of academia but they all offer an outstanding educational opportunity. When I was looking at schools, I read every informational packet available. While this helped, it was not the main deciding factor. The most helpful aspect for me was visiting and experiencing the college for myself. Every school looks good on paper and will offer you a great education, however finding the right college means finding an environment that works for you. Finding this fit is pretty difficult if you do not get to experience that environment yourself. The same can be said for making the most of your college experience. Every school offers countless activities and opportunities for you to experience. It is up to the individual to take advantage of these offerings and find those activities that he or she wants to participate in. And if your school does not offer an activity you want you will most likely be able to make it yourself. College is a great time because you learn about your future career as well as yourself.

Life is meaningless without passion. If we are passionate about the things we strive for, all of the hardships and struggles become secondary to the things we love. Students, before starting on your first application take time to really dig deep within yourself and discover your passion in life. Whether it be business, science, or creating masterpieces of art; you will never be truly happy unless your passion is apart of your academic experience or life after college. Seek out schools that care about you as a future leader and not as a number. Seek out schools that will support your passion in life. Parents, it is up to you to support your child with their choices. Rest assured that you have done your job in raising your child to be the best he or she can be. Have faith in their abilities and trust their values. In life every sunrise is a new opportunity to change and follow your dreams. Remeber to love every second of the college experience because we arent promised tomorrow.

How can I speak about the glories of college without concentrating on the cliches I heard as a prospective college student? I would advise a high school student to explore different types of schools. It is the only way to know whether you would enjoy the resources of a large school or the close kint community of a smaller one. If at all possible be open-minded when choosing a school. I wish that I had actively looked at every other school that I applied to. I could quote Tom Petty and tell prospective students to enjoy the perks of the college social life and the memories that will undoubtedly be made but I feel that that advice is not completely accurate. While I could praise the perks of any Greek system, I think it would be better to generalize that statement and simply say get involved. I cannot stress the importance of actually LIVING while you're in college. The best way to do that is to gain new experiences, meet new people and take advantage of everything your school has to offer. And since my parents are paying for me to learn...GO TO CLASS!!

When it comes to selecting the right college or university, the student is the key. Your interests will play a big part in where you will be comfortbale learning and growing as a person. You will be picking a home away from home, so the people that you surround yourself with at college will play a giant role in how much you like where you choose. So, make a visit to the colleges of your choice and get a good feel for the kind of people you will be around on a daily basis. When you find the right place you will know. You will feel comfortable staying there and you will fit in with no trouble at all. Make sure you have picked a good schedule of classes for your first semester that you will enjoy taking to make the transition easier. There's nothing worse than taking a really hard and boring schedule in your first semester to get you started on the wrong foot. Also, make sure you have a good amount of extra curricular activities lined up. They really help you to solidfy your schedule and help you manage your time wisely. Good Luck!

In order to find the right college, I believe its more about the environment of the school than anything else. If you want to make the most of your college experience you need to be in an enviroment in which you can find people who care more about getting to know others and getting through the hardships as a team rather than on their own. In some schools, when there is a lot of competition, everyone is on their own and it makes it very hard for some to succeed because they do not have the support and help of others. Although some students find themselves doing better on their own with more competition, therefore when chosing a school I believe this is the most important factor to take into consideration and help you succeed in your college career.

dont be soo involved in your kids lives....let them live a little.

Be yourself.

Do not limit yourself. Remember that anything in life that is worth anything is a great deal of work. Coming to a large college seemed intimidating for me having a graduating class of 365 at my high school. However it is probably one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Do not be afraid to go elsewhere than your friends. You will be glad you did. My friends from high school and I have still remained incredibly close. However it is incredible how close I have become to my college friends. Lastly do not be afraid to talk to your professors they are there to teach you. In particular I find a lot of my peers tend to hold their questions when the greater extent of the lecture hall is thinking the same thing.

To really pick the right college you need to understand yourself. The college that you choose should not only have an excellent education program that can spark your interest but also have a social outlet the helps you relax. Everone should visit as many schools as possible because each one has its own set of nuances that make it unique. No matter the program you choose, you will need an outlet to take your mind off work. These activities also help develop you as an individual but also broaden your horizons. Visit your schools and stay true to yourself.

Finding the college that is right fit is one of the most difficult things a student will ever do. It is important to remember to keep an open mind at all times; leave all preconceived notions and bias aside. It's easy to be swayed by friends and family. However, in order to learn what's best for you, visit as many colleges as possible. Explore colleges of different sizes, in different locations, and with different specialties. Keep in mind that college is one of the few times in your life that you'll have an oppertunity to llive wherever you want. No matter what most say, money is important. You may want to go to graduate school or law school after college, both of which are expensive. Keep this in mind while you try to decide if it's worth it to go to a school that you will need to loans in order to attend. My advice would be to find a school that is affordable without sacrificing what is important to you-- whether it is location, academics, or resources. Most importantly, follow your gut and don't second guess yourself; you know what's best for you.

The best advice I would give to students and parents is always visit the campus prior to living there. It is fairly easy to know how rigorous the academics are with a little research, but that is only half of student life. The other half is the social life. Be sure that there is an active student life on campus; this will help your child stay involved on campus where there is no alcohol or drugs available. Furthermore, it is very pertinent what size of campus is suitable. Some students love large campuses such as myself, where there is always something to do, while some students love small campuses where they feel more comfortable and less overwhelmed. The most important thing is to have fun, but study hard because nothing will be fun if there is a low GPA haunting you.

I think that it is very important to consider the opportunities that a school offers. A smaller school may seem more friendly, but often they present fewer classes, fewer activities and there are fewer connections to meet and friends to make. College is about both growing up and getting a job. A place where you can learn to be independant and responsible for yourself and have all the opportunities possible to get the kind of job that you would like is the ideal place for you. In order to get the full college experience, you need to get involved: join some clubs and teams and make friends in your dorm. A religious group is often a good place to start as they tend to be very welcoming and a place to meet some friends and get connected.

In order to pick the right college and have the best experience, it is vital to start early. They suggest starting in your junior year but your sophmore year gives you more time to research and visit places. From my personal experience, I never visited a college until the day I walked on to the University of Maryland as a transfer student from a community college. I wish I could have visited colleges to find one that felt right. I am enjoying my time at school but being able to pick one by seeing the campus might have made the experience much better.

My advice would be to really research what you want your career field to be. Certain colleges specialize in certain fields. My school has the best Criminal Justice Program in the nation as well as being one of the Top 25 public schools in the nation so I lucked out, but I know some people that weren't that lucky. I did my research before I applied and I knew that UMD College Park would be the best fit for me. I would also say to parents to be financially realistic about college. The economy is not what it use to be, and college can become a burden if your not financially conscious about what's going on in your life, you could face a hardship. All in all, college is a wonderful experience inside and out and there is money available to attend school but both the parents and student must be diligent in their efforts to apply to the school and get the most out of it.

The only Problem with UMCP is too big. If you hate ignorance, it's hard to get attention because there are more than 20,000 students on the same campus. There are so many activities going on but most of students should work very hard all semester long or your GPA will fall into a critical situation. If you commute and have a part time job out of campus, you may not have time to make many friends and hang out with them. Your professors could be friendly and helpful but that depends on your major.

Pick a school that allows you to grow. You should be attending a college that allows you to become the person you want to be. It does not matter what your peers titled you in high school or the plans your parents made for your future career since before you were born, college is for you. It is a place to, yes, gain an education that will be the foundation for your career, however, it is also the perfect breeding ground for you to gain life experiences. The right college is the institution that will foster your growth as a human being. While quality professors and alumni networking should be important factors in the decision, you cannot and will not have the optimum college experience without extra-cirricular activities. Be sure the schools you look at have provide opportunities for students to interact outside the classroom, perhapse even outside the country. Be it athletics, religious groups, community service or any other interest you may have, make sure the school you choose to attend fosters your passion and allows you to have hands on experience. Anywhere that allows you to grow in knowlege, confidence and passon is the right choice.

If you know what college you want to get into, fight for it. It's worth it. I fought to go to my first choice, and I love it here.