University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth Top Questions

I woudl say that "the right college" has very little to do with the college itself. Rather it has more to do with the student. A college should fit the student and their personallity. Otherwise it won't matter at all whether the college in question is Harvard or the local community college. If the college does not fit the student, then the student will be miserable and will not perform and learn at their best. As for making the most of your college experience, it is all about balance. Don't spend all your time partying and neglect studies. On the other side of the same coin, don't spend all your time studying and become a hermit. Find a nice, comfortable balance between social life and school work that fits your schedule and personallity. If you can manage this, then you will have the most enjoyable four years of your life up to this point.

From my experience, public schools give just as good an education as private schools for far less money. Concentrate on the size of the school you'd like the most and the area you'd like to go into. Also, if you're not sure what you want to go into, see how flexible a school is for changing majors.

Find the place that feels right, that gives you that sense that you could make it your home. When you get there, try and look around after your tour and find things to do. Look up the area and make sure its a real college town with all the quirky little shops and locations that will let you get out and let loose after a long week of exams.

Visit as many schools as you can. Learning what things you dont like, and which you do like can be the major difference in choosing the schools that you actually really enjoy. Also, dont choose schools for any other reasons than your own (girl friends, family, etc). Many of people that i met at school who went there purly for girl or boy friends, have left and/or broken up with that girl or boy friend.

College in 200 words...impossible. College is an experience like no other. Picking which college is right for you is stressful; but if you put in the effort, the outcome will be great. When you're visiting colleges, take tours, look at the dorms, walk around the library, go to a class, and try the food! The biggest piece of advice I can give is to get opinions about the school from attending students. They can tell you information that admissions directors or tour guides wouldn't normally tell you. While at college, get your work done, and then have fun! As a current student, I can't tell you how many people choose to party every night and not do any work; they have already failed out of college. If you want to get a good job, you have to have good grades! This is your CAREER that you are studying for, so you need to make the most of it. Lastly, during college a student should try and get a job that relates to their major. Professors definitely recognize this, and it makes college a little easier if you learn while working in the real world!

Apply to a wide variety of schools, and make sure to visit them all to get a feel for each campus.

Get involved on your campus no matter where you go!

Go with your gut. No regrets.

Don't pick a college based on which of your friends go there. College is the time to branch out and find new friends. Just have fun and be yourself.

Look around at schools and make sure you really know what you are looking for in a school.

The best advice I can give to parents and students about finding the right college is to visit the campuses while class is in session. This is the absolute best way to really see how things are run and what you will experience. The parents should rely on the students instincts on which environments make them feel most comfortable, do not force them to go to a school because you prefer it.

Make sure when you looking for schools that you will absolutely love where your going. You want to find that one place where you actually what to go to school. College is a drastic change from high school and your attending college to futher your education but make sure its somewhere you want to learn at.

I would tell parents and students to try their best to relax through the process of deciding where to go to school. Sure, It's a stressful and scary procedure, but once you begin school it's nothing but a fun learning experience. I have learned a lot in my four years at college. I've grown to appreciate people for who they are, you really get to learn a diverse group of people as college is far more friendly than high school, if you ask me. You learn to work with other people, handle a heavy work load and just generally become a well rounded person. Students need to look at the various aspects of a school so that they can make the best decision possible for them. I would reccormend visiting the school, meeting with an advisor to weigh the pro's and con's of certain schools. Students should look at extracurricular activities as well so that they can find ways to spend their free time. There is a lot that one must take into consideration in their decision, but it's all worth it in the end when you graduate !

Anticipate your needs on all levels. After four years your will not want to look back and regret your progress, or lack there of, and attribute it to something you may have over looked while selecting a school. I am looking back on the last three years of college and I realize now that I needed to travel further away from my high school. Too many familiar faces provided a quick comfort zone that proved counter-productive in my interpersonel development. Had I anticipated this and travelled further from home I would have been forced to extend my social network, possibly opening layers of my character that have so far been unrealized. Also, "you are who you associate with". Never have I regretted meeting and socializing with any of my friends through the years, but there is something to be said for keeping a well diverse group of friends. The personal benefits will develop when you can cross analyze many points of view on the same topic. Considering a situation with a diverse range of individuals allows you to develop your own educated view point. Never limitting yourself to a single group will benefit all with your crosscultural view points.

I would say to let the student try to find what school they think is right for them before the parents interfer

College is important, it shapes the life you will lead and the path in which you will follow, picking the right college is crucial in being happy. I personally know that being out of place when you first begin in your freshman year can dramatically take a tole on the experience. Advice i would most definitely give any student or parent would to simply make a list of what you want out of college and visit these schools, see if they meet your criteria. A list might seem a little out there but it's what i did and i ended up opting to stay here at UMD instead of transferring to a larger school. Colleges are very different from one another, one may work for your bestfriend and not you, it's just about meeting your wants and needs out of college life. These next four years are where you will be 75{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of your time so being comfortable and happy is a major consideration to keep in mind. College is an amazing time in your life, you want to make sure every second of it is enjoyable.

I beleave you should look at 3 or 4 colleges and make sure you talk to your high school guidence councelor about your choices.They are a great help.Make sure you make an affordable choice so there is less pressure on money.Make sure there is a back up major in case the major you picked doesnt work out.Apply for scholarships great help.Take placement test at the college you pick early on to allow plenty of time to work on any defficiancies you may have. Do this before you enter college.You should take a generel education coarse at a community college in your senior high school to get an exposure to college life. Make sure your course will transfer to the college of your choice.

I would tell parents and students to go visit the school more than once before you decide. You can't decide if you like a school because of how it looks online or through pictures or from word of mouth. The school will have a total differnt feel to you. It is something that you need to experience first hand. I would say, go in, walk around the halls, get a feel for the students and the professors. Most importantly, watch and observe. Drive around and look at the dorms becuase your living situation could make it or break it. College will be the best times of your life and it gives you a chance to start fresh and express who you are and meet life long friends. Take advantage of everything that is offered, take in all the surroundings and learn as much as you can.

Let the student go wherever he feels comfortable, these could be the most exciting 4 years of his or her life so they should be where they want to be.

If your child is creative or different, don't send them here.

Find a college not for its prestige but for a place that you can feel at home. It should be academically challenging and offer classes that you may want to try. In order to make the most of your college experience, study hard and get good grades. You'll be disappointed if you waste your time drinking and fooling around and not get the education that you went there for. You'll only have yourself to blame if you can't get a good job after college because your grades weren't good enough. A lot of students make this mistake and they pay for it. You should put time aside for fun activities, such as going out to eat or going to the movies with friends. You should be able to enjoy yourself in college, but having a good time is not why you're paying to attend.

I would tell students to visit all the colleges that they are interested in. You won't be able to tell if you like it if you dont visit it and actually experience it.

Visit the campus while school is in session. Sit in on classes. Talk to the students. Making sure you are happy while at school is the most important thing you can do. You don't want to wind up paying a lot of money for college to be anything but the most fun and engaging experience of your life.

Try to choose a school you could see yourself at for 4 years. Switching schools is usually not a good choice because you lose your academic standing among your peers and it makes it more difficult to make friends who could eventually help you study or learn about subjects that are difficult to you. Try to pick a school that won't have you paying student loans until you are eighty either because any college education is still a great education.

When it comes to selecting a school a student must select a college based on what they see as fulfilling their needs and wants. The best advice I would give a student, looking for that perfect fit, is to visit all potential universities during the school day to observe the students walking to and from class in order to see if they would mesh well with the campus community. Visiting a school on the weekends does not clue a student into the personality of the school. Once one has chosen a school and enrolled, the best way to make the most of college is to get involved. As an orientation leader at my school I always tell new students that in order to find people that are most like them they need to get out and get involved with a club or organization that interest them. When you join a club or organization you will meet people that share your interest and are in a way like you. These new friends become your core group and with them you will achieve the reality of a well rounded and exciting college experience.

Take a long time deciding which college or university your son or daughter would like to attend. Start their college process by their sophomore or junior year of high school. Let them explore and visit as many schools as they like. Over-night stays are a good way to get a feel for the community life of the campus. It also gives them a sense of independence, pride and excitement for college. One other suggestion or necessity is to get a job and start saving for college because almost every student runs out of money the first week.

To the parents, I would say push your kids to go to the best school of their choice. Students are young, but they are not dumb so let them make the choice. To the students, make sure you get involved in some sort of club or activity on campus. Every campus has parties and you'll have a great social life, but getting involved will really make you well rounded. You'll also meet new people outside of your new social circle and it will open you to so many more opportunities.

Picking a college is not like picking out a car at a dealership. Although you do tend to relate the pros and cons this is not the only thing that a college choice should be solely about. A college or university should be unique to the individual student. A place where the student feels comfortable and most of all feels like he fits. My choice of college is suiting for my own particular needs and I am happy with the choice because it is one I made.

When choosing a college or university, students and parents need to do their homework. They need to research different schools as well as visit the schools. When visiting a school, try to take a tour through buildings where classes are being held. If possible, ask to sit in on a class that relates to what the student is interested in studying. Also, try to talk to students and professors and see what they like and dislke about the school. Once students have made the decison about where they would like to attend school, check out the surrounding towns. See what's in the area for recreation. Also check with the school for a calender of events or a list of suggested attractions in the area.

I would encourage students to take into consideration their parents feelings, it isnt just a big step for you, they are sending their baby out into the world. Join a club or a sport immediately, it will introduce you to lots of new people and give you something to do; dorms can get really old fast when you arent doing anything. When selecting a room avoid a single, having a room mate is a vital way to meet people. School is what you make it, you can join sports and clubs and get into all the activities the school offers, or you can sit in your dorm alone and float by in classes. Let college make an impression on you. It dosent matter what school you choose if you dont intend on getting involved. There will be parties at every school, there will be drama, hook ups and break ups, but focus on the education the school offeres because that is the main goal of your next four years, the rest is what you make it. Believe in yourself and dont loose what you stand for and you will graduate with confidence and an education that will get you somewhere.

In order to ensure a happy college experience there has to be research involved. Visit the school and ask a lot of questions. There are plenty of ways to gather information about the school you are going to attend. If the applicant is lazy about the choice, then it could cause problems in the future. College is a big deal and something to take very seriously.

I would advise the student to take some time and really try to determine what is most important to them in terms of what they are looking for out of a college experience. Choose a university that meets your top three or four criteria. I suggest going into college with a plan, once you know where you are trying it's a lot easier to find the way. Enjoy the college lifestyle but make sure you keep in mind that you are in college to earn a degree, and to gain skills and knowledge that will help you down the road. sometimes you need to just say no to your friends. Oh yea, about friends, try to find a group of friends whose goals parallel your own. This is very important, if both you and your friends are totally focussed on making the Dean's list, your friends likely won't give you a hard time over choosing to stay in and study rather than go out on a Wednesday night. Always use your head, and do not put yourself into potentially dangerous situations.

Don't join for all of the wrong reasons. You need to be happy with where you are going. And parents, yes this is a stressful time for you too, but remember your child is at a crossroad trying to figure out where he or she wants to go with the rest of his or her life, it's a big deal. Remember that!

Make sure your son or daughter is happy with the choice. The worst thing you can do is choose a school based fully on the financial benefits. There is always financial aid. Also, allow them to be themselves. Do not hover over them, for that will make them want to go against your wishes even more. Also, have your child get involved in some aspect, be it a club or a fraternity or sorority. Let them make their mistakes, because if they are wise and you feel that you have taught them well, then they will learn from what they have done and correct it.

Look for a school where there will be students who have similar interests to you- not just a school that has an expensive name

I would say that parents and students should chose a school with a wide area of majors in case there is a need to change his or her mind later in school. Also, I believe that future students should decide what size of a school they are interested in before they pledge to attend a certain university. I would also suggest that future students pick schools that are close but not too far from family, it is nice to get away and still be close at the same time. The area the school is located in is also important, because it affects students' emotions through the surroundings and weather of a particular school.

be yourself

Although it is hard to find financial aid and the price of college is such a burden these days, attend a college that you want to attend to make you feel comfortable and happy. Don't get stuck in the rut of choosing the cheapest college and being miserable for four yearsl

When I looked at colleges the one thing I looked at was location. Do you want to stay close to home, or go as far away as possible, do you want the city or rural area, etc. The size was very important to me also. I wanted a school that wasn't too big or too small, and UMASS Dartmouth is just right. Another thing to look at is the student-to-teacher ratio. Smaller classes are better because there is more one-on-one interaction with the teachers. And its always a big help to pick a school that has your major if you already know what you want to do before starting. Choose a school that has a good reputation for what you're majoring in. Choosing UMASS Dartmouth was the best decision I 've made. College is supposed to be the best years of your life and so far it has. You just have to make the most of it. College isn't exactly easy, you just have to try your hardest and have fun. You have to be able to balance your academics with your social life.

Students: Choose the college that YOU want to go to, not your family, or your friends. This is the next big part of your life and only you have the power to decide where it will take you!

Making the most of the college experience is not something that can be done based solely upon the experiences of other. Every person has their own unique interests. So the best advice to be given is to simply look really hard at who YOU are as a person and what YOU'RE looking for in a college. Not what a college has for you, or what a benefit this college will be to you, but how are you going to cope with being here? If you love the city, choosing a college in the boonies will not satisfy your need for an urban environment. If technology is your forte' avoid looking into schools that focus in art. All of this is basic common sense, but finding a college that is right for you is more about finding that "fit". It doesn't sound like much on paper, but upon arriving at a school most people can just tell weather or not it will work for them. So visit your colleges of choice and be sure to talk to some of the people there, not just the tour guides, they are paid to sell the school. Good Luck.

The only advice I can give future college students is to really look into each school they apply to and also do their homework on what major their thinking of doing. Don?t judge a school on its appearance or the tuition cost. Some of the best schools are the ones most people over look.

One: visit the campus. Do you feel comfortable on that campus? Do you like the classrooms? Do you like the cafeteria and dorms? Do you like the quad, if there is one? Two: keep your major and the availability of other majors in mind. Does your top school offer your major? How good is the department? And if you decide you want to choose your major, how easy would that be? Three: know how much the school offers in terms of financial aid and scholarships. Price shouldn't have to keep you back, but that isn't always the reality of the matter. Four: it is important to keep in mind the way classes are set up. Do you like big lecture classes, or more one-on-one time? Do you like just taking notes, or doing hands on labs and research? Five: Would you have a strong social network on campus? Would you have a group of friends to turn to if you needed to? Or would you feel isolated and alienated? College is a great time for social growth as well as academic growth. College should be an exciting time in life. Keep that in mind.

It really comes down to how hard the student is planning on working as to how good of an education they will recieve. If the courses wanted are offered and the person is willing to work as hard as they can to learn as much as they can, then any school is as good as any other.

Always go visit and wander around and ask the students there whats up.