Addressed on previous page regarding student parents.
Carlson School of Management
Do a lot of visits, make a list of criteria you want in a school: a certain academic program, a certain amount of students, the type of area the school is located in, social scene; these will help when comparing and deciding schools. Do what YOU want to do; don't let others influence your decision greatly because in the end, it's you that's attending the college, not your parents or your best friend or girlfriend or grandparent.
After taking the scenic route through college, I offer two pieces of advice to students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experiences: Set goals and take care of yourself. What do you want from college? A degree? A husband or wife? Friends? A job? Social justice? Be up front with yourself. This will help you find a school that fits you. Many goals are compatible but they add up quickly. How will you balance competing demands from classes, jobs, friends, and dating? Set goals that are specific and doable, and keep it simple. Take care of yourself. Good diet and regular exercise are key. So are routine, personal hygiene, and socializing. If you binge drink, do drugs, or have unsafe sex, at least know the risks beforehand. Ask for help when you need it. This is hard but essential. Keep talking to family, friends, teachers, counselors, and anyone else who can help you. Even if you have to go up to a stranger on the street, ask for help when you need it. Growing usually involves a wide range of thoughts, emotions, and experiences--use them to make the most of college and life!
Size doesnt matter and to never be intimidated by a large University. Ive been to both small private Universities and large public Universities and at a larger school you meet more people and get more diversity in your education.
visit the campus. feeling comfortable there is more important than the school's numbers. if you don't like the campus you will hate your time at the school and not get nearly enough out of it.
First, choose a college that fits you as an individual. Consider majors & minors, location, extracurricular activities available, and the potential for back-up plans. Once you have chosen a school, get involved. No matter where you decide to go, if you do not make an effort to become part of the college community, you will just watch others' lives go by without living your own. Your college experience is what you make of it, so find great friends, engage in exciting activities, travel, and make the memories you want to have.
I think the most important thing to focus on is that college should be a place where a student can see themselves for the next four years. There is a big difference in being nervous about attending a school and being comfortable about the choice you make. Parents are not going to be there very often so the choice should be up to the student and what is the best for him/her at the time. That is the whole point of college after all, students begin to learn what decisions can lead them to be successful. Try and think of the situations you encounter both frequently and rarely and see if there is an easy way to handle these events. There is nothing like running out of printer ink the night before a final paper is due. One of the best ideas from my parents was to fill a tub with all the little necessities: printer ink, paper, shampoo, stamps, batteries, my favorite eyeliner, gas giftcards, toothpaste, razors, etc. We refilled it together during summer break each year and it is just a connection to home knowing that your parents want you to have a good college experience!
It's all about the campus. The school you select ought to be a place from which you feel like you would actually benefit intellectually. There is no point to going to a "party school" -- you don't need to be attending college to party, you can do that for next-to-nothing out in the real world! Tuition is so incredibly expensive nowadays that students need to be as focused as possible on getting a proper education.
When trying to decide which college is right for you, make sure you tour the campus and have a chance to talk with a current student. I am a huge advocate for going with your gut; if it feels right and feels like a place you would enjoy being then chances are it will be. Also, remember that you will be living there for four years, so check out the area surrounding campus as well. As far as making the most of your college experience, get involved. The more you do and the more people you meet, the more fun college and life will be for you.
Whatever you choose, embrace it and get involved past jsut academics. You only go to college once.
Go on a college tour, speak with an academic advisor, and be open to new majors even if you think you're positive you know what you're going to major in. It will change!
In order to find the right college it is important to go visit the college. Parents, taking a school sponsored tour is a great way to get all of your questions answered and see where your kids will be spending the next four years. Students, I would recommend going on the school sponsored tour with your parents. If possible, try to spend time on campus without your parents. Try to interact with current students at the college to see what they have to say about it. I found one of the most helpful resources for exploring different colleges was taking to current students. Also, I found it was a great help to go on an even called "New Student Weekend." It was a student led weekend trip where new students could talk openly about any concerns/ask questions to students who had been at the school for at least a year or more.
I would advise parents to find a school that their child can explore multiple majors in. Your education is what you make of it, so most of the value of the college experience comes from the student, and usually stems from wisdom imparted by his or her parents. So, one's college experience lies less in the college, and more in the student and advice that he or she has been given by the most influential people in his or her life.
The process of finding the right college is like an up-side down triangle. At first, like the broad top of the triangle, be ready to explore. Pursue all the schools that interest you. After gathering general surface information, start focusing your options. Make a chart of your top 5-10 schools and rank them based on criteria that is important for you: majors that interest you; consider location, size, and cost; think about activties, sports, and clubs. The most important part: VISITING! On the college campus you get a feel for the school that you can't get online or from brochures. Once you've narrowed down your choices, apply to at least 3 schools. Dream big, but think smart. Have a "back-up" school. After ripping open that acceptance letter and dancing around with joy, it's SCHOLARSHIP time! Spend time looking for scholarships so you won't have to spend more money on tuition than you have to. When you're finally moved in remember: you can be alone when you're studying and sleeping, so GET INVOLVED! Invite new friends to hang out with and explore campus. Push yourself, have fun, and you'll do great.
The best advice I could give to a student about finding the right college is to pick a college that you feel comfortable in, and go with your gut feelings, even if this means going somewhere where none of your friends are going. This is a time to be open to change. If you do this, you will have chosen the college that is the best environment to allow yourself to grow and mature, academically and as a person. As for parents, I would advise them to provide guidance for their kids, but not ultimately make the decision or try to persuade the child to go to a certain college. The ultimate decision should remain in the hands of the student.
Work hard and prepare yourself for a culture change from high school to college. Take the time to look for scholarships and grants!
When finding and deciding on the right college, I would look at a very large variety of schools, all over so you can have as much information as possible. Don't limit yourself to one city or state. If you know what you want to study, look at every school that has your desired program. Start looking early, even if you think it's too early, because before you know it, it's going to be too late. Let everything go, don't go somewhere because your friends are, or because your boyfriend or girlfriend is going to that school, choose for yourself. Make a list of the things that you want in a school, and find the one that best fits your description. Once you are at school, get to know as many people as you possibly can. If they don't end up being your friends, at least they'll be contacts you might later need. Get yourself out there, explore your campus and what it has to offer. Find yourself and what you want out of life. College is a good place to make mistakes, so don't be afraid of making them.
I would advise students to start researching college options early in their high school career to help them discover what will be a good fit for them. Students should look at multiple aspects of the colleges they are researching from academics to advising to extracurricular activities. Tours are helpful, but one experience on a campus should not be the deciding factor in determining if that school is the chosen one. Finally, students should start the application process early to help minimize stress. Spread out the tasks that need to be done and give yourself the time to write an essay that truly reflects who you are as a person and are striving to become. A student's college experience is as exciting and challenging as the student decides. College is about pushing your mind and your work ethic. It's also about making friends, participating in organizations that let you use your talents or express your thoughts and beliefs, and discovering what direction you want your life to head. College is where academic and career dreams begin to blossom, and it's important that all students know that the professors and advisors are there to help you achieve your goals.
"Bloom where you are planted!" Trite but it works well. Remember you, can not change everything about the institution . Playing musical colleges because you "love" the quaint campus, but hate the party environment in the dorms is often counter productive and ads years and dollars to the educational experience. Who you are as a freshman is going to change - that is the point of education - a larger campus with many choices will help facilitate your experiences and possibly assist you when you decide to change you major for the third time. Look for a college that will serve you as well in your senior year as it appears to do as a freshman.
Do as much research aboutthe schools as possible, and make sure to visit the campus and get a feel for it. You can't tell if a college is right for you if you have never been there to experience it.
First - try to figure out what size college fits you -- "the bigger - the better" isn't for everyone. Know if you like large crowds, a lot of people all the time, and a lot of choices and opportunites to try new things. Decide if it would bother you to take a shuttle to get to each class, that walking (especially in bad weather) is not an option. Do you want to be able to come home and visit during the semester? Think about what you want to do after college. You may not have the answer to any or all of these questions. But you may be able to narrow it down. Many students don't know what they want to do after college, so try to find a college that fits you - how you study, what you like. You may want a small college where you can walk to all of your classes, be able to talk to all of your professors face-to-face, or may want to go home every weekend. At least try to find a college that fits part of your life. The rest will fall into place. Changing majors is easier than changing colleges.
There are three things that are good to remember when choosing and going through the college experiance. First, do not get stressed out about getting into the most exclusive college. You want to find a school that has a strong program in your area of interest or that is generally well known, but don't feel like you have to get into an Ivy League school to get a decent job. You don't. Second, it is a very good idea to visit a campus before committing to it. Colleges may match your specifications on paper, but going to the school allows you to see what it is really like. A tour of the campus may be useful, but you should also explore on your own and talk to some students while you are there, since the tour will be biased. They are trying to sell the school, after all. Third, take advantage of the opportunities your college provides you. There are a lot more clubs, activities, resources, internships, volunteer opportunities, and field-related work options available than you may think. Don't wait until after you're an upperclassman to figure out what you enjoy professionally or personally.
Choose a college where course work and having fun can be balanced.
Go with what you think is a good fit, not what your parents want you to do. Don't go with the cheapest, either. Don't go with the school everyone is going to, either. Go with the school that has lots of opportunities to indulge your interests and passions. Make friends with everyone and anyone, including your advisor and professors. Don't let opportunities to try new things slip through your fingers. Do all the trainings you can, but don't over-commit to tons of student groups. Keep time for yourself and time for hanging out.
If you're going to need to go back to school for a liberal education, such as psycology or sociology DON'T choose an expensive private college if you can't afford it. I have friends who are in $93,000 debt and can't do much with their degree. Make sure you can find a place that will help bring the jobs to you because it's hard to find a job when you don't have connections. Get involed in school and have fun. Don't work too much and enjoy your college days. Find a place where you're comfortable and if you're a big family person don't go too far away because you will want to come home often. School is uncofortable until the end of October and you'll want to give up but just stick through it and you'll be proud and thankful you did.
Base your decision on your inner desires and personal feelings. Pick a place where you feel like you will thrive and not be held down at all. Once you are there, don't hold back. Do as much or as little as you need to feel like you are being true to yourself. Don't be afraid to meet anyone new that can give you a new perspective on life, as this is an opportunity to grow and expand your mind. Stay in touch with those who have helped you along the way, and learn more about yourself by finding how you respond to the world around you (both internally and externally). Blow off steam when you have it, and work your hardest when you feel most motivated. Keep in mind that everyone is different and everyone is the same, depending on how you look at it. Let yourself learn, broaden, unwind, and have a great time whenever possible.
See if it is possible to sit in on some classes to see how material is presented and how the professors treat their students. Spend significant time on campus both day and at night. Check into safety procedures used on campus. Also, outside of cost and reputation, it is very important when doing your research to speak with some students who are students in your intended major. See what their exierience has been. Don't just rely on student ambassadors or program administrators and advisors - talk directly to the professors and the student body. This will give you a very clear idea of what to expect.
One of the best ways to see a college and experience college life, is to schedule a campus visit/tour. When I was a junior in high school, I attended my first information session for the College of Liberal Arts at the Twin Cities campus at the University of Minnesota. The session was limited to about 30 people so there was alot ot attention given to perspective students and parents and we had plenty of time to ask our questions. We even were able to visit dorms and talk to students about their experiences living on campus. After this campus visit, I visited the Duluth campus of the University of Minnesota. The Duluth campus is a small town college feel compared to the UofM- Twin Cities and I knew after a few hours, I preferred the bigger campus. One of the biggest considerations when choosing a college is what size campus. I knew I liked to feel of a big campus and I knew watching Big 10 sports competitions would be an added bonus.
In picking the right school you just have to follow your heart. College is the next step in the evolution of your life. Your faith will guide you in the right decision, wither it is the right school or not. You will adapt, and overcome. This is only the next stage in the journey of life. If the college your heart lead you to believe was the right one, and was not.. you will only evolve again with a stronger understanding of yourself and the path you must take. Transferring schools is only one of the options when the route you thought was right is leading you the wrong way. Being active and involved in campus spirit and co-curricular is endless to your own desire. Make the most moment and oppertunity you get. Attend every informational meeting of a group or organization that you have even the slightest thought about joining. Get to know and experience everything you can, open yourself to any and everything. That is my advice. You are about to be in college, love the times and make the best of it. Do not hold back, and experience all the world has to offer you. -McKenzie_Kane
When searching for a college it can be a long and timely process. The first thing you need to consider is if you have a major in mind or not. If you do then that narrows your search down to schools that have a good program in that field. If you are unsure at this point, choose a school with a good general course/liberal education, this will help you not only save money but get a good idea of whats out there. Pay attention to enrollment and class sizes. Some schools have small, large, or a mixture. Make sure you are choosing a school where you will feel comfortable to participate in the classroom. Oncampus/offcampus living is also important. If you are new to the area, doing your first year while living in the dorms is a great experience, you meet friends, and perhaps will live off campus with them the following year. The most important thing is pay attention to your gut feeling. If it the school "doesn't feel right" while your touring, keep looking. There are so many schools you want to find the best one for you.
Decide in advance WHERE you want to go , because the region and type of school (small private vs large state) makes a huge difference to the type of people who go to that school. If you want different kinds of people, more open minded etc, look towards the east coast. If you are used to a homely sort of atmosphere look to the Midwest and so on and so forth. Also, do not make your decision entirely based on your major beause the changes that you will change your mind through the course of the year are pretty high. Do not choose a school because your friends is going to one, try and go to a different school from your high school friends as this will help you grow as a person. Do not try to stay close to home unless you have to. You grow more as a person if you live far away from your family, and it gives you a sort of independence that you wouldn't have if you lived 40 miles away form your house.
I would say that college really is what you make of it. Any school can be great for any person. Don't choose a school based on its reputation or even first impression. Listen to people that you really trust. Also, don't be afraid to go to the same school as your high school friends. It may ba nice to have a familiar face around! A lot of kids think they have to get as far away from friends and family as possible, but that often backfires. You will be happy on campus if you put in a effort to make new friends and join some groups/clubs/teams, but still stay connected to you life before college. It's all about finding that balance so you don't lose yourself in the process. Lastly, the most important advice is to not get behind in your reading--I guarantee you will never catch up!
I would tell students and parents to "go with your gut" when it comes to deciding where to go to college. It always seems like one school stands out for certain reasons whether it be proximity, cost, etc. As long as you attend that school with an open mind and a willingness to meet and befriend new people, you will learn to love it. Don't fret too much. You'll be just fine.
It's all personal opinion - if you're comfortable living where the campus is at, you'll like the school.
Vist all of them you might want to go to. Go to the one that feels "right" to you and you can afford.
I think the best advice I can give you when choosing would be to visit the school. And most importantly, visist the school when classes are in session. That will give you the best look at what the atmosphere will be like. Also, the best way to find the right school is to think of what is most important and least important to you in a school and write it down. That way when you get information about a school you can look through it and compare it with what you said you wanted. This is the best way to narrow it down and find the best fit. Also it's always good to ask people what they think of the school. See if you can find someone who goes there and ask some questions. Get some real opinions...
I would say that the best college advice is just to go with what choices are right for the student. Go into college with an open mind because the experiences there will change your outlook on life. It is there that people really figure out what they want to do with their life through the oppurtunities and experiences they encounter. When picking classes you should pick a good variety and even some that are out there and not in your major because those are the ones that might spark some hidden interest. If there is something that you are truely passionate about and love to do that should be your major. If you don't like the classes you have to take or you just simply are not good at them, then your major is probably not right for you. As you move up the classes only get harder, so choose what you love and have a great experience discovering who you are and who you strive to be in college!
There are not many colleges that have a 4 year degree in wildlife like I am. I would like to have gone to a private school but found that the private schools do not offer this type of degree. Look at the degree field you want to go into and research the school. It would be annoying if you picked a school and it did not offer what you wanted to study.
The best things in life are not things at all and your education is something that is unreplaceable. So take your time and do not rush into an education, but rather let it develop as you learn and grow.
Be open minded, consider all aspects of the school and what you may want to do. Don't be afraid of the larger schools, they have a lot to offer. Understand that the first year is the hardest and is designed to weed out and point you in the direction that meets your interests and abilities. Intro classes can be the hardest so don't get discouraged!
Really research every aspect of each college first before making a decision, and do not go somewhere just because your friends are. Really think about things that are important to you - class size, professor availability, the greek system, urban vs. rural, etc.
Ask yourself, "Are the benefits from attending more expensive college A worth X thousand dollars more than attending cheaper college B, which may not offer these benefits?" This question helped me deem that the few benefits offered by a private university were not worth the $20,000/year I would save by attending the University of Minnesota.
First, study well in high school so you will have plenty of options for college and scholarships. Second find a diverse college that can expand your boundaries, seriously consider studying abroad for any lenght of time and seriously pursue at least one foreign language. Finally, try your best to incorporate your insterests into your major because doing what you like is much more important than what others want you to do and any passionate person is bound to make a good living for him/herself.
My parents would say to find the college that will offer you the career choices that you will need to succeed and it also has to be affordable and close to home. Some students may say that you should go to a far away college and enjoy your college life there to the fullest until you graduate and actually start your life as a real member of society.
My advice that I would give to parents is once they get to college, it?s time to let go. You have to understand that they are their own person now and they should be the ones to guide their own lives. Your college student is the driver and you are the passenger. You are still going to be there to navigate your child but they are the ones who rule the road and their own life. My advice for students that are applying to colleges is that it truly is a stressful time. Relax and you?ll get through it everyone is in the same boat as you. When you finally get accepted into the school of your choice; remember that this is a brand new start, a new time to create yourself, to learn from mistakes, go off of the good choices you?ve made, call your parents, get involved and make new friends. If your school offers a greek system, join, it will be the best decision you make and will make the year go by faster than you think! Always remember, ?never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.?
enjoy college, work will be there when your done.
First of all, it is important to visit different campuses before you make your final decision. Different campuses can have very different atmospheres. For me, I knew immediately after stepping foot on campus that this was the place I wanted to spend the next four or five years. It was home. Once you make that final decision and arrive on the campus of your choosing, get out there and experience it! Most schools have tons of things, especially for freshman, to do in the first couple weeks especially. Get involved. Whether it's starting a new club or joining an already well-established group, being a part of something can make college a lot less overwhelming. (It's also great for networking for future job opportunities and looks great on resumes.) If your school has sports, go out to the games! Stay busy. The times when my calender was overflowing with assignments, meetings, appointments, interviews, and gatherings were among my most productive and successful. Most of all, enjoy yourself! You will learn more about yourself and the world during college than in any other time of your life. It's an amazing experience.
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