University of Massachusetts-Amherst Top Questions

Join different clubs, always be open to people and take advantage of going out whenever you can. Finding the right college- go on lots of tours and see if you would fit in just by looking at the current students attending. Spend a night and go to a couple classes.

When looking for the apropriate college and trying to make the most out of your college experience, I would reccommend that the colleges that you choose to apply to offer the courses and majors that you are most interested in and are large enough that they offer the wide range of courses is necessary to excel in school and be competitive for jobs upon graduation. Also, you need to make sure that the schools you apply to are small enough that you get the anonymity level that you desire. The larger the school, the more chances you have to meet new people and make connections that could be valuable to you later in life. You should also look for a school that is in an area that has many easily accessible venues such as grocery stores, banks, and movie theatres. There should be an adequate public transportation system both on campus and in the surrounding towns so that bringing your own car is not necessary. A broad range of on campus jobs and organizations as well as intramurals will further enhance your college experience by providing a variety of relaxing and resume building activities around campus.

To students. College will be your home for the next four years of your life. Find a place that makes you smile every time you walk outside. My advice? If you don't feel comfortable wearing sweatpants to class at a given school... then it definitely isn't for you! Your roommate will become your brother/sister, or worst enemy - so choose wisely. Get OUTSIDE your comfort zone once you settle in. Experience things you've never experienced! Pull an all nighter talking about politics, sports, guys, girls, books, whatever with the people in your dorm- and then struggle through the next day of classes. Go to Greek events, eat something that scares you, explore the surrounding area. GO TO YOUR CLASSES. It is so tempting to stay in bed, but make sure you go. INTRODUCE yourself to the professor at the start of classes. They'll always take notice of you, and will be much easier to approach with any issues. Above all, enjoy every day more than the last. College is not only about getting an education, but about broadening horizons and becoming the best people we can. Good luck future freshmen! :-)

As a college-attending child, I watched my parents stress out about which school I would attend. If a parent has attended a particular college and is hoping for a legacy application for their child, try not to put that kind of pressure on your child. Choosing the right college for him/herself is a decision which is hard enough without the pressure of trying to satisfy a parent before satisfying themselves. As a student, I would advise an applicant to think about what is really important to them, both academically and personally. Take a tour offered by the school or by someone you know who goes there! This is very important because you get insight into the school that you will not get in the brochures. Think about what you may want to major in and make a list of your top five. More than likely, you will change your major at least once and don't be afraid to do so. Find something you're passionate about and pursue it. Do not choose a path to make someone other than yourself happy.

When deciding what college to attend there are many different factors to take into consideration. First, financial ability is a huge factor to take into consideration. Money is always a factor, don't let it be a stressful one. Secondly, students need to think about location. It is easier and less expensive to travel a short distance than buying a plane ticket to visit for the weekend. Students also need to take into consideration what kind of people they want to be surronded by and what their ideal size of campus would be. Attending college is a whole new experience and the last thing a student wants is to be lost and feel like they have nowehere to go. Students should look for colleges that are strong in their common interests. Students should look for the school that they can not only achieve academically but socially as well. A college students social life is very important and ultimately it can have the biggest impact on their academic success. I would advise students and parents to sit down and discuss what the ideal college would be and start with that. Students should have fun and for what is best for them.

If I had a nickel...Honestly, my best piece of advice would be to not worry so much. You get out of it what you put into it, and if fate leads you elsewhere, well then that's life, and you'll learn to deal. Each year, I see countless high school students burnt out of their minds fretting over the college process. The truth is, if you worked hard in high school and have a good head on your shoulders, you'll do well, and get into a place you like. Luck has little to do with it. If you wind up at a place that wasn't your top choice, then grieve, but don't get hung up. Eventually, you'll make it work, and if you don't then transfer. But, please be happy that you're privileged enough to continue your education. At any rate, college is incredibly flexible in so many ways with so many freedoms, and really there is so much you can do at any school if you want it enough. Don't forget to network, and most importantly, have fun. College really is one of the best times of your life.

It's okay if you are not sure what you want to do in the future, as long as you are motivated, you will find a gerneral direction for your future plans once you live in the college atmosphere. The question is then, is it worth all the money to just find a general direction? I suggest for those who are not sure what their future plans are is to go to an affordable school then transfer later into a school more suited to your needs. All schools are different and to really understand that you have to live on a college campus for awhile to know those differences for yourself. So put down your prestigious expensive college brochures and look around for an affordable college that has what you are interested in and is worth the wait to transfer into those more expensive college choices. Good hunting!

Always do your research online or ask the graduates who have been at the colleges to find out what is best and what is not.

Visit the campuses of all the schools that you are interested in. Compare the programs offered, that includes clubs, activities, sports, as well as the academic programs. Explore the area around the school because you or your son/daughter is not going to spend all of his or her time on campus. Once you get accepted to schools attend the one that suits your interests and will challenge you in many ways.

I recommend visiting several colleges and speaking with faculty and students regarding their experiences at each particular university. This will give students and parents a better idea of whether they have found the right fit or not educationally and otherwise.

Let the student choose.

GO VISIT THE COLLEGE WITH YOUR KIDS ..and make sure there are plenty of financial aid available

The best advice in choosing a school is knowing either what you want to do, or at least having options to discover a passion or interest while enrolled at a school. I have always been happy at UMass due to the professors being available, as well as other facets of the university. As to making the most of the college experience, one can always find a party if he or she wants to. It is just up to the student to know what is right for he or she and to make the right decision. I have found it best that I treat my education like a job - with very long hours. I start off my day at about 8 am every morning and I do not come back to the dormitory until about 7 pm at the earliest. I spend time not in class in the library just reading and trying to catch up on the curriculum. I found this works, so I am not swamped with work over the weekend and that is when I allow myself time to sleep for 13 hours, relax, or go to the friday night hockey game or party.

Do your research. There was a school that I really liked and got accepted to and I was ready to go there, but I decided to go take a look at the campus and it changed everything. The school was 9 hours away by car, and the town that it was located in was not what I was looking for. It was great academically, but it didn't fit my needs. If I hadn't gone to visit before choosing to go there, I would have been very unhappy. Also, apply early action (not early decision - unless you have your heart set on that school). That way, you'll know ahead of time if you have a school that you've gotten into and you can spend less time worrying about applications to the other schools. When you get accepted and pick a college, consider moving in a few days early - you'll get to know the campus and you'll meet people before the semester starts. And don't room with a friend - it can only lead to distaster. Focus on you school work but leave time for fun and you'll have a great time at college.

You're heart is racing, your palms are sweaty. You're looking at college brochures right? And you're completely lost! Is it better to attend a school with good dining services, big dorm rooms, or a ton of classes? Choosing the college for you may seem daunting, but here is some advice. First, think about the size of the school you want. Will you be overwhelmed by a campus of over 20,000 students? Do you want small classes and more intimate relationships with faculty? This can help narrow colleges down before getting into the smaller details. Also, keep in mind that while a campus may have a lot to offer, what if you want to get off campus? Do the schools you're looking at have bus services, nightlife close by, restaurants for when you're sick of cafeteria food? Don't forget these important aspects when choosing a college. Once in college, take charge or your own experience. Join a club, check out cool classes not in your major, form relationships with faculty for good recommendations and don't panic! College is supposed to be fun, so get out of your dorm room and have some fun!

Students should find the right environment for them and feel comfortable around their peers and professors. The environment in which a student will live is crucial to his/her success.

It really depends on your goals. If you are thinking about professional school, such as medical school or law school, go to the school that you think you could get the best possible GPA at, as I have found that most professional schools do not care where you went, they just care about the numbers (GPA, MCAT, LSAT, and so on). Actually, even the higher paying jobs care very much about your GPA and experience, so just consider your future. A 3.0 at Harvard may not get you as far as a 4.0 at a school with less of a name.

It's important to take those college tours and while you're on them don't be afraid to ask the students you bump into, not your tour guide, about their experience and what they like and don't like. Also, when you do go off to college be open minded and have fun. College is about learning about life, just as much as it is about doing well in your classes. Yeah, don't forget about your class work! Don't skip class either!

Very rarely will you find a college that is the "perfect fit". Try to independently asses aspects and programs that are important to you as a student and a person and search for these colleges. Do they need a chess club, a strong science program, good class ratio? Getting even a vague grasp on these will dramatically help with the process. Visting is also an important part. Take the tour and listen closely to what the guide says not about the buildings or history, but about their experience at the school. If possible try to eat on or near campus to get the feel of the area. If you already have an area of interest, try to contact some faculty members to ask them about the program or their research. Looking through a course catalog can also provide insight into what you can expect from that school. Most important to remember is that you will be influencing and shaping your school by being there, you can help make it become what you want it to be; so don't get too tied down by statistics. It's more a gut call than a calculation.

I would recomend visiting the campus of colleges the students are interested in attending. Students should also find out about orientation programs (and attend them!), and look into extra curricular activities. Getting involved in an extra curricular activity early freshman year is a great way to make friends and make a large campus seem smaller. Also, if you don't know exactly what major you plan on choosing, choose a school with a variety of prgrams. Many students change majors, so choosing a school where you can stay at that school if you change your major is important. Also consider the cost of the schools you want to attend against your future career goals. If you plan on being a teacher, paying back large loans will be difficult, so attending a less expensive school might be a better option.

As a current sophomore in college my best advice to parents and students looking at colleges is realize that there is generally not going to be a school that is perfect in all aspects. First find a school that offers your desired major as well as a few backup majors of your interest. Then look as what else the school offers that you may be interested in such as clubs, sports, events, and activities. Visit the school, take a tour and roam around, meet current students and try to imagine yourself there, if you feel comfortable and can imagine it then great. Do your research then look at a handful of schools too few: you may feel like you haven?t explored all possibilities, too many and you?ll feel overwhelmed and indecisive. Remember that wherever you end up you will be happy, the school/students shape you and you will find your niche. Don't think that a private school is better than a public school; college is what you make it so choose a school with lots of opportunity. Attitude is everything: be open minded, positive, goal oriented, and most of all excited.

Choosing a school wasn't exactly hard for me, I knew that UMass Amherst was right for me the first time I stepped on the campus. I feel that it's very important, in order to get the right view of the school, to go visit and take a tour. There are so many schools to choose from, it's very hard knowing which is the right for you. I think that it's important to know three factors: 1. The setting that you want to live in; rural, urban, on the beach, etc... 2. An interest in a major, to make sure the school offers demanding programs in areas of study that you are interested in. 3. A wide variety of extra curricular clubs and activities; I never knew I'd be into ballroom dancing until I joined a club on my campus! Everything else will just come naturally. When you go off to school, there are no immediate cliques, everyone is looking for friends. Also, don't worry about money, there are so many opportunities for scholarships (like this one!) that you can cover the costs if you really try. Good luck!

Find a college that is right for the student who know's what they want to do.

As I said in my graduation speech in May of 2007, life is what you make of it. Be open to new ideas and experiences. You think you know what you want in a college, but at age 18, you're still finding your own identity. Deciding on the institution you want is ruthless. My advice: go where the most money is given to you. If a school is paying you to attend, it means they see something in you and believe you will make a contribution there; other schools may not see your potential. Get past the name, status, and repuation of a college. In the end, it really doesn't matter where you go, it's what you do when you get there.

Find something to dorm in. It helps to really feel the college experience.

First of all, i believe a visit to campus, and an over night stay with students (if possible) is a great way to get a feel for the environment and feel of the school. It's also important for the student to get away from their parents for a bit of the visit and expierence the school for their own eyes. By doing this the student is able to deside if he/she will feel comfortable on their own while on campus. Another great idea is for the students to attend lots of orientation programs, like picnics, bingos, trips, ect. Although these activities are usually filled with corney get-to-know-you games, everyone's in the same boat, and it's a good way to emmerse yourself among your peers. Take risks, make new friends!

Its fairly simple to answer this question. To all parents and students alike who are facing the possibilty of going to college. Be very careful, especially if your income is not at a very high level. This is a big process that can ultimelty help decide your future. Make sure to explore every single financial situation and choose wisely which one best suits your family. Talk to any financial advisors and make it a point to pay bills on time. Regarding grades and schoolwork, do not choose a major simply to have one. If you do not know what your life calling is, then simply choose undecided. It is not the end of the world since you will have plenty of time to decide later on in your college career. When you do get accepted into college, make sure that the school you are deciding on best fits you and you alone. When you do get into college, make as many friends as possible. Form study groups and attend study sessions while also keeping in contact with your professors. Lastly, just like anything in life, have fun doing whatever you do.

Apply to a variety of colleges, and don't let money stop you from going where you really want to go.

Visit each campus; it's housing, cafeterias, classrooms and town and make sure the whole package appeals to you.

Big schools offer students the ability to figure out what they want to do with their lives. Don't be intimidated by the size of a school because students can easily find ways to make it seem smaller (through friendships, clubs, etc).

If I could be completely honest, do not make your decision as to which college you will be attending because of a boyfriend or girlfriend. Also, being a student athlete I've learned how important time management actually is. Take advantage of on-campus advising, tutors, career services, professor's office hours, etc. Don't be afraid to communicate with your professors, advisors, coaches (if you end up playing a sport). As far as finding the right college, really try and visit as many campuses as you can. It's nice to get a feel of being on campus and getting to see what it's all about.

Make alot of visits and take a lot of tours.

Visiting the school will be the ultimate factor. A school may look great on paper, but the visit will determine where you'd like to go. Look for schools on collegeboard.com that have things you're interested; size, majors, social life, location, etc., and then visit them all. If you aren't happy at the school, the statistics in the books don't mean anything. Research, then act on it. I personally should have visited more schools to get a better idea of things, because, though I love my school now, visiting others in colee has opened my eyes to how different every school really is, down to the simple things, like dorms, food, and sports. Atmosphere is key in developing as an adult. You can never visit too many schools.

Visit the campus. See a dorm room, explore the surrounding area, attend a class if you can; see if you can picture yourself there. Talk to current student about their experience there: ask about their relationship with professors and the administration, and ask about what most students do for fun. Try to get a feel for the "culture" of the university; what are the students interested in, what is the general attitude, how motivated are they, to what do they aspire? Generally, a big school a wider variety of opportunities, but requires a student to take more initiative. Take advantage of all the things college life has to offer! Try things you've never tried, take classes that interest you. TALK TO YOUR PROFESSORS, develop a relationship with them - let them know who you are, and make a good impression on them.

Do plenty of research and don't restrict yourself to what everyone else is going to. I'm one of four people from my high school that I know of that even applied here at UMass, but I love it here. In high school, I got big-time pressure to stay in state or go to a school close by, but I went against the curve and went across the country and I could not be happier. Find something that fits your needs, regardless of location.

First, I would say follow your instincts. You also need to do your research; if you can't go to the school to explore, find everything you can on the environment, the level of education, the social structure, etc. Once you've found the school that's right for you and you get there as a freshman, emerse yourself as much as you can. Take advantage of general education courses by finding things that really interest you. Get involved in clubs, or really involved in one club that means a lot to you. Savor every moment, soak in as much knowledge as you can and don't forget to have some fun.

Talk to students outsideof the ones giving the tours, visit the facilities on campus, get a feel for the campus. Don't get sucked into the system once you're there- this is your education.

The only way to know if a college is right for you is to go there and experience it. Sit in on a class, walk through the campus, do whatever it takes to get a feel for the place. You are going to be there twenty-four hours a day seven days a week so you should make sure it is somewhere you are going to be comfortable and happy. Being on your own for the first time can be overwhelming but as long as you make friends who you can relate with and talk to you will be fine. If you are having trouble making friends join a club, take up a sport, or even just start a study group. College is a time for you to figure out who you really are, make sure you do.

Look for a good social environment, and look for how accessible things are around the campus.

Do not base your college choice in your personal relationships at the time. Do not worry about how much it costs to attend, you're going to be working for the rest of your life, and college is the last time of your life to really enjoy yourself. The atmosphere of a school is extremely important, make sure you can be yourself and that there is room for personal growth. Also, don't be afraid to keep in mind the possibility of transferring after a semester or two. Make sure to look outside of the campus, and into the town setting. This is extremely important for possible jobs and social development. The college search is hard, but do take it seriously, because it will be your home for four years. All campuses may seems like potential candidates at first, but trust me, when you find the perfect campus, you'll immediately know. My advice: that's really the only proof you need to know that's where you should be.

I would say that one of the most important things about deciding on the right school, is visiting them first. When you visit a college, you can get a real feel for what life is like there. Don't just go on a tour. If you're really interested in a college find someone you know who goes there, and ask if you can stay a day or two with them. You can go to class, and see all the parts of campus that they don't show you on the tours. And you can see dorm rooms that aren't cleaned out four tours. You get to see the student side of the college, instead of just the image that they try to get across in tours. And since you're going to be a student, you want to find out all these things before you go to a college, walk out of the car, and discover that you hate it. So, definently visit the schools you're interested in before you accept anwhere. It is a lot cheaper to pay $40 dollars on gas or $100 dollars on a plane ticket, than $40,000 on the wrong school.

make sure you know exactly what you want in a school before choosing one

Find a proffessor who you really click with. Stay connected with them for the duration fo your college career.

I've always been told, "it is what you make it" and I always had thought that was a silly thing to say, and than I went to college. You have to find something constuctive to do when your not doing work. At a place like Umass it could be anything, but you have to put a little effort in and you'll end up getting alot out of it! Finding the right school takes work and paitents. Start early, take your time and do your research, before you start spending all that money, make sure its the right place for you. And, if you don't like it or are misarble, do something different!

In order to find the right college a person needs to find a college that has their passion. A university with a team or club that involves your intrests will make college an amazing experience for you. Join activities and put yourself out there. Trying new things and meeting new and interesting people is the best part of the college experience.

The advice I would give about finding the college that is right for you, is do your research about each and every school that you are applying to. Go and visit the campus, you may like what it looks like online but pictures don't always accurately depict what the campus actually looks like. Go online and see what courses are offered and just take an hour and brouse the webesite. See what activities are offered and if they are things you might be interested in doing yourself. See what different ways you can make your mark on the campus, the more clubs and activities open to the students the easier it is to make yourself known and succeed in the school. Yes, finally, take into account the price. Schools are pricey and the applications can be pricey also, but remember that this is your future and it is hard to put a price on the way you want your future to turn out. If you think that one of the more expensive schools is for you, then go for it, because how can you put a price tag on your future?

Students: don't think so much about what your parents want, or where they want you to go. This experience is about you, and where you want to go. Also, don't stress too much about schoolwork, as long as you try, it will work out. Have a little fun. Parents: this experience is about them. Let them go out into the world and make mistakes and learn from them. Its okay if they screw up sometimes, becuase that is what college is all aout. It gives kids a place to become adults without being totally cut off. If you are always breathing down their neck, than there is no way that they can make mistakes on their own. Bring them up right, and they will make good choices, and learn from the bad ones.

Find a school that has a lot to offer to a lot of different types of people. Sometimes kids know what they want, or think they know what they want when choosing a college or university but it makes a difference to give them room to change their minds and explore options they never even thought were possible.

One piece of advice I would give all parents and students about finding the right college is to make sure they visit and tour the campus of the school they wish to go to. Every college campus has a different atmosphere and surrounding environment, so they want to make sure that they find the one that's just right for them. The student should imagine what their life would be like if they attended, and whether it is really what they want. Parents also want to make sure that the environment isn't too wild for their high school graduate. The ideal school choice for both parties would be one that meets both of their needs and wants half-way.

I would tell them that it is a definite advantage if they go tour the campus first instead of just picking a random school. Teenagers need to find a college that works with them, that's not too big but also not too small.