University of Missouri-St Louis Top Questions

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to go away to school rather than stay close to the community and home that I grew up in. The college experience is meant to be your own and if you stay in the same place you've spent the last 18 years of your life, then you will not get an individual taste of what it means to be a college student. Whether being a "college student" means that you devote a lot of time to academic work or you spend a lot of time at the fraternity parties, you will make that experience your own if you go to a college outside of your community. The importance of the college experience lies in your ability to become your own person; I feel that you are more inclined to do this if you venture away from the comforts of home and challenge yourself with a new experience.

I would tell myself to stop worrying. College used to scare me to death. How different would the teachers be? Will I know anyone? How will I know where to go? UMSL answered all the questions quickly. Our teachers are really helpful and deserved to be noticed. They are really caring and really understanding. People are very diverse and friendly. It didn't take long to make friends at all; UMSL students all empathize with eachother. UMSL was an easy transition; not on my part but because they are so helpful and have a "get going" attitude.

Among the many lessons imparted centuries ago by the Jewish Sages is the axiom: "Woe is to the wicked man; woe is to his neighbor." If I could go back to my senior year in high school and give myself advice, I would "remind" myself that my friends would not be coming with me to college. After spending our formative years together and bonding through shared experiences, I had not ventured to imagine life without these stationary figures in my life. When I stepped foot into college, however, reality dawned that my friends and I had gone our separate ways. No longer did I see their familiar faces and revel in their positive influence?now I had to be discerning in surrounding myself with only good, positive neighbors. Friends are all-important. If you don't have them, life can be depressing and stunted. If you do have them, you face the risk of detrimental friendships. If I had the opportunity to go back in time, I would eliminate the social distress of my freshman year by reminding myself that acquiring good neighbors requires discernment and effort.

To parents, one of the best piece of advice I could give to them would to be excited for their teenager, and convey that excitement to them as they are navigating their way to finding the right college. College hunting can be overwhelming, scary, and isolating to a high school senior, and while it can be difficult for a parent to see their child leave home, it can be an unbelievable boost of confidence to have a parent be excited, and to help their teenager view their college search not as a struggle or hassle, but as an adventure! To freshman starting a whole new chapter, I would advise them to know that they will be overwhelmed, that it will maybe take longer for them to transition than they thought it would, and they might have to meet several people before they find the right group of friends, but to stick with it. As a Resident Assistant in my university, I have seen too many freshman give up after a week. The ones who keep putting themselves out there are the ones in the end who form a community of lifelong friends that make college feel like home.

The most important thing about finding the right college would have to be researching each college and looking for key elements that fit your learning style and social preferences. Everyone is different in what they want to get out of college life. In order to make the most of your college experience, I highly recommend spending at least one year living in a dorm setting. I would also suggest joining at least one club or fraternity/sorority. These are all things in which I missed out on. If I were able to go back and do it all over again these would be the things I would have changed about my college experience. College should be a very memorable time of your life. It is a time to create life-long friendships, as well as work towards the career of your dreams.

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Parents need to educate their children on the realities of what college is and the true cost of attending most colleges. This is something I wish my parents would have done. My parents helped me through the first year but then abruptly decided they could not. It was only then that I realized the difficulties of paying for college. Students need to learn to importance of saving, building an excellent credit history, and only borrowing what is absolutely necessary for their education. Parents need to teach their children that these loans will have to be paid back and it may not be so easy once you are done with school. Nothing in life is free.

When trying to find the right college, do not pick the one that offers the most money only because it offers you the most money. I started out going to a school that specialized only in pharmacy because they gave me the best financial aid package. When I realized I did not want to be a pharmacist I was stuck trying to find a new school and a new major. That is why it is also important to choose a school with a wide variety of majors if undecided when applying to universities. Once in school, I would advise that students participate as much as they can! It is a great way to make new friends and get new hobbies. Meeting new people at school events could mean finding classmates for a study group or finding a roommate that you can actually enjoy living with. Finally I would suggest that students meet with their advisors as early as possible to explore all options for their intended major and degree. It is important to know if you will need a graduate degree and what you will need to accomplish in order to obtain admission into a graduate program.

The advice that I would give to parents and/or students that are looking for the right fit in a college or university, would be to take their time looking and try to pick the institution that has the most to offer them academically and on a personal level. Making sure that the university or college has the program that the student is interested in is the first step and major key in the decision of where they want to attend. I would also encourage them to go in the direction of an institution where they feel comfortable being themselves and they feel comfortable around their peers and educators. It is very important to be at a college or university where you can be yourself and know that you are around supportive and friendly individuals. I would tell the parents to value their children's decisions in where they want to pursue their education. Overall, the decision should be one that is made as a family with the student being able to voice their opinions and concerns.

make sure you discuss the size of the university/college, what activities are available on the weekend.. how far you are away from home. the type of weather year round.. choice of local transportation

Take your time and make sure you are ready to be serious about going to a school otherwise you will not do well.

I believe that while looking for a college you should consider what you are interested in and what that school has available to help encourage your interests, how much financial aid you will receive from the school, how far (or how close) the school is from home and what kind of ratings the school has. You MUST visit the schools you are interested in/ want to attend! There is nothing like actually being on the campus. While you are visiting the school, ask a lot of questions. You could even think up some questions before you get there. The more information you have about a school the more prepared you will be to make this very important decision!

Make sure you look at all of your choices and don't settle for any one college just because it is popular. Make sure the college you end up going to has all of the things you are looking for in a college.

Finding the right college for YOU is critical in creating a future for yourself. Make sure you pick a college that meets of of YOUR needs and wants. Make the most of your college years and take oppurtunities as they come. There are wonderful oppurtunities offered to you as a college student and you have to determine which ones an help your future. Make the most of your college experience by making great friends. There'll be so many different, diverse people to befriend and you'll have new, exciting experiences with them; especially living on campus near or with them. One thing i learned was to ALWAYS follow what my mind told me to do first. You stay out of alot of trouble that way.. If you have a feeling that maybe you shouldnt go to that party, maybe you shouldn't. But college is a great experience that should be used to full extent. It's blessing to be there, so enjoy it :)

I would definately visit colleges that you are considering attending. This will help you get the feel for the campus atmosphere and what the people there are like. Remember that the most expensive college may not be the best for you. Research the program that you intend to go into for the colleges with the best reviews for that certain program. Once you choose your college, meet as many people on campus as possible. Most will help you tremendously. Get involved in campus activities. This will help you meet the people that are going to guide you through college. Make sure you take advantage of all campus resources. Work extremely hard and stick with it!

I would advise students to choose a school that best fits their needs going into college. One of the biggest mistakes a student can make is going to a school for the wrong reasons. Just because a particular school is right for one person does not mean it is right for another. Financial situations, programs offered by prospective schools and campus lifestyle are all considerations that should be taken into account. That said, college is a bridge from being a teenager to being an adult. It is arguably the most important four years of a person's life, making it a decision that should not be taken lightly. For parents, I would recommend helping your children out in the selection process, but ultimately leave the decision up to him or her. For those who need financial assistance, scholarships, grants and loans are things that should be looked into early if they are needed. The most important advice I can give, though, is to find a balance between your academics and your social life. College will be what you make of it, so jump in and enjoy the ride.

Get the most for your money.

Always go with the school that offers to help the most.

Getting involved and branching out to everyone in your university, students and professors, would be the best advice to give someone who is interested in making the most of their college education. Getting to know people and building a rapport can open doors to getting more financial assistance, possible employment, or longlasting friendship.

Talk to your high school counselors, they really know what they're talking about and will help out and answer any and all questions you may have for them. They can show you books, websites, and set up campus visits and advisor meetings.

Make sure you have an idea of what you're getting into. If not, mistakes can be expensive. Figure out or have an idea what you want to study before enrolling. Work hard, but don't forget to enteract with those around you. You'll learn more from others than you will in any classroom. Lastly, always have a plan. Know where you want to be by graduation and save $$$!!!

Don't jump at promising sums of money. Go with a school that fits your needs and has a similar on-campus culture to your own preferences.

Just follow your heart. Don't settle for anything. Settle for what you want to do!

The most important part of searching for and choosing the right college is to utilize every single source offered to you. This means you need to visit college websites where you can explore the academic majors offered, find out what types of financial aid are available, and get a feel for the college mission and purpose. Also, the student and his or her family should visit the college campus and surrounding areas. It is really impossible to understand the atmosphere of the college until you visit. Be bold and ask students how they like the college and inquire about extracurricular activities and social events that take place at the college. Last, take advantage of all the advisors at the campus. Ask to speak with an academic counselor, as well as a financial aid counselor. Advisors are the most valuable people on campus because they have the "inside information" and are willing to share it with you to make your college transition and experience more enjoyable.

Visit all kinds of different colleges. It's hard to know if one school is what you really want, if you've only seen one type of school. Public, private, big,small; Each and every university is so different and caters to different kinds of students. Small schools give more individual attention, but sometimes they're harder to fit into. Big schools seem to find a place for everybody, but also make it easy to get lost in the crowd. It's about finding your niche and finding a school that fits you, even if its not what you originally wanted.

It must have everything you want in a school as if they were someone you will date because your're looing at a long commitment ahead. as far as getting the best of it learn ....Time management!

I would tell the student to write a list of qualities that are important to you and try to find colleges based off of that. To go where best fits you not what anyone else is saying whether its a parent or a friend because its your education. Also do alot of research on schools before you decide which school you want to be at. Go and tour as many schools as you can so you can get a feel for what you are looking for and what that college is like. The college application time is stressful but stick in there because it won't last forever. Also don't give up. If you don't get into the college that is your first choice then just keep going. Your education is what you make of it. To the parents I would just tell them to support your child no matter what because deciding what college they want to go to is a major thing in life. Just encourage them to not give up and do everything you can to make this experience go smoothly.

The right college is different for everyone. Throw out the rating books. The best college can't be found by a book. You need to decide what you want from a college, a city, the country, academics, research or involvement. Then find a college to match. Never make a decision based solely on money, you would be surprised what can happen after applications have been sent it. Scholarships and grants are more common than people think.

The advice I would give to parents and/or students, about finding the right college, is do not go in to it thinking that you are going to make a choice over night. It takes time to find a college that meets your needs, and fits your life style. You want to find a college that it going to work for you, and that your going to gain the most from. At times, it may seem frustrating, and you may want to say "the hell with college," all together, but don't give up. Have patience and faith that you will find a college that works for you. Once you find that college your experieces their will hopefully be the beginning of a bright future. Make the best of your college experiences, work hard, and pursue your dreams.

I would tell any prospective college students to visit as many campuses as possible. Try and make these campuses be as big of a variety as possible., and at each campus tyr and speak with many different students (do not limit yourself to just the tour guide, remember they are trying to sell their own school!!!) That way you can see first hand what campus life is like for a variety of people, maybe even someone who has your same goals and direction. Also, during your last year in highschool really try and find out who you are and who you want to be, that way it will be easier for you to spot which school can help you achieve your current and longterm aspirations for yourself.

"The Rules" of College 1. Choose the school that YOU want to go to, not the one your friends like, or the one your parents like. $50,000 worth of student loan debt later, you will appreciate having made your own choice. 2. Never, ever, for one second believe that the Professor is going to tell you everything you need to know. READ THE TEXTBOOK! Don't plan on getting all your information from sitting in lecture alone. 3. Do your homework, even if you're not gonna get "graded" on it. You are technically getting graded, and without doing a few of those practice algebra problems you WILL fail the oh-so-important test. 4. Call your parents once in awhile. They are paying for you to go to all of these frat parties you know, so at least give them a heads up every few months or years to let 'em know you're still making it to class! 5. Don't get homesick. You've moaned and complained all through your senior year about how you wanted to be on your own SOOOOO bad, and now you wanna come back? No way! Learn to love campus.

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I would advise parents and students to visit the school they plan on attending. Talk to the students about their experiences on campus. If the student knows what area he/she wants to study, it's important to talk to the students and faculty in that area . Once a student has chosen their school, my personal suggestion to them---after having not done this myself---would be to choose a college that is away from home, live on campus, in the dorms, be active with school, join a sorority or fraternity. The people you meet in college can be lifelong friends. When I first entered college in 1999, I chose a school in my home town. I was 30 minutes from my parents and was within my comfort zone. Because I did this, I don't believe I got a "full" college experience. My suggestion is to make the most out of college, not only academically but socially as well. Socialization is just as important as the academics.

First, identify exactly what you want from your college experience, be it price, convenience, prestige, etc. The right school is the key to academic success at this level in your education. Your major can be changed easily but transferring is a major hassle. Visit the campus multiple times in order to get a good impression of whether it suits you., and if you can relax there. You have to be comfortable with your university as well as it having the right program for you. The only thing I can say about the college experience is while the work never ends, college does. Take every opportunity in order to enrich your life and find out where your interests lie.

To find the right college involves a lot of considerations. Location, number of students per lecture, and also, the availabilities of clubs or organizations on campus. If you have a good location, then safety wouldn't be a big worry. Also, good location allows one to experience the town/city life. The number of students per lecture allows one to engage to their professors more in depth. The professors will be able to talk to you about their concerns, and also your concern to the class. Lastly, being in organizations allows the student to experience the true college life. Being a college student isn't all about being a good student, it's also about what you have put out to your college, to the society while you're in college, and what you have earned to yourself.

You should pick a college that is orientated towards success and not just getting the most money out of you. There are colleges that want to bring in as many people as they can, while there are others that truly care about the students that they already have, and want to make them the best that they can be. Find out what degree you want and look for a college that has a good reputation for that particular program. If you like smaller class sizes, look for a college that has small class sizes. You should also make sure that whatever college you want to attend is acredited and has classes that will easily transfer elsewhere if needed. Colleges should adapt to you more than you should have to adapt to them.

In finding the right college, you must look at beyond the academic life of an incoming student. Sure academics are important, and are surely one of the reasons why people attend college, but since so much of your life is non-academic, look beyond just academic lifestyles. Getting involved on campus is a great thing and there probably are college or university organizations that provide a link to various different interests on campus with like-minded people. Getting involved really helps one grow in college as a well rounded and developed individual. However, do NOT get so involved that your life revolves around different social interactions that happen, because while fun, they are not the reason you are atttending college. While your college years should be spent wisely, do not forget to have fun. There should be equal effort put into having fun, and being a good student. Later on in life, it will truly pay off to be able to balance different aspects of life out. While different schools may have different prestige levels, all schools are schools, and all should teach regardless. Look for the best college for you!

Go where your heart leads you. You don't need the biggest or popular university to study at, go where you can find a home. Get involved on campus, no matter what it is, you will meet awesome people and it will change your life forever. Most importantly be yourself and stay true to you are!

Don't worry about your study or learning habits before attending college. Those attributes are easily aquired as you start your classes and obtain an undergraduates degree. Spend your time working as hard as yopur can to find grants and scholarships. In the long run it will really pay off. Trust me.

Concentrate on academics the most. All the other activites are hype and not make a diffeence in your life.

First of all, let's define how to find the right college, then secondly how to make the most of the college experience. Finding the right college means a lot. It could be based on different aspects. I personally choosed UMSL because i can afford it and also because it is not that far away from home. I really like the diversity of students on campus. So i would definitely say that finding the right college means finding a college that most satisfies or meets your expectations of a regular college. It may not satisfy all of them but it has to meets most of them. And so after you find the right college, you know you are going to have a lot of fun. Making the most of the college experience can range from being an active student on-campus and off-campus to having a successful school year. First, being an active student means getting involved in activities on and off-campus because you are paying for it . Enjoy all the stuff, the college puts out there for students. Second, maintaining a good GPA and an outstanding attendance will make your college experience easy, fun and a souvenir.

Make sure to visit each campus before making a decision. Don't be afraid to talk with actual students and ask them how they feel about the college campus and campus life. Make a list of things you're looking for in a college and remember to check it off if the college fits what you're looking for.

The best advice would be to choose wisely and make and educated decision, don't just go somewhere just because it's where your friends from high school are going. Go where you want to go.

Make sure you visit each college you're thinking of attending. Talk to students around the campus to see what they think about the school. Ask if it's possible to sit in on a General Education course within your major; for example, if you're a Nursing major, ask to sit in on a Human Biology class. It will be very easy to see what the expectations are within the college, and you can a feel for the way a professor teaches in that school. Visit the Student Life Office to ask about the organizations available to students. Getting involved in an organizations will help you make new friends. If the campus offers Greek Life, take a few minutes to speak with the Greek Advisor and get some information on the campus's sororities and fraternities. Greek organizations offer events that could help you make new friends and assist you in getting good grades. Living on campus allows new students to meet with upperclassmen before school starts; they are a great tool to find your way around campus for the first few weeks of school and knowing the ones within your major can help you academically.

When picking a college make sure you look at all the details. The school size, majors that the student is leaning towards, cost, and the campus life. If you can find a campus that meet most of your expectations then the student should be able to have a pleasant time and do their best on their school work.

Research and visit the schools you are interested in, really find out how helpful the proffessors and staff are. The only person who is going to know that the university is right for you, is you.

When choosing a university look at prices along with your other decisions. Once you start your attendence get involved with different organizations. Involvement will help you network on the best courses and later may even get you the best job in your field.