University of New Hampshire-Main Campus Top Questions

I would recommend that both parents and students think about learning style and what environment would work best with that learning style. If a student prefers to learn in a smaller environment, a school with a large student population may not be the best fit. At the University of New Hampshire, many general education classes are taught in large lecture halls, while many classes specific to a major are taught in small classes with very attentive, helpful professors. This works well with my learning style, as I enjoy working as a team with classmates in lecture, but also appreciate the thoughtful discussions that take place in small classes between students and professors. The next piece of advice I would give parents and students is to find a college that inspires students to go above and beyond classroom learning. I know from experience that college is more than just reading and writing-- it's about hands on learning and taking the initiative to get to know the career you want. Look for a school that encourages students to seek internships and get involved in the community!

Visit, talk to people who attend the college you are interested in, think about weather conditions, social entertainment, academic prestige.

First off, to the students, do not go to a college just because your friends are going there. They may be able to provide some anxillary relief when surrounded by thousands of new faces, but otherwise your life there may not be what you would hope it to be. Be sure to participate in activities during your stay, for any extra beneficial tasks make both the time go faster, and make the time that you are spending there more rewarding. After my first year at school, I do regret not getting outside of my degree studies, as I feel I missed out on a lot of opportunity that I had wanted to receive in the first place. Finding the right college is impossible, as nothing out there can meet all of your dreams. If there was, it'd be impossible to afford and get into. It's all about choosing which college you would most like to study in. Going with your gut is most often the best advisable route. The worst possible thing to do is to create a giant list and be forced to pick through it more than once, for doubt manifests itself in long lists.

learn to adapt and just not be a little bitch about it

It is very important for the student to be the most involved in the college selection process. My mother was very hands on which was helpful but also made me feel overwhelmed at times. The student is the one who will be spending the next few years at the school, so they should be the one who makes the ultimate decision. After spending a few years in college, I realize that what I wanted in a school a few years ago does not reflect how I feel after living the college experience. Therefore, I highly recommend kids to spend a night or two at an actual college just to get a feel for how things actually work.

It's important for the student to make a list of what they want to get out of college, and as the visit/research schools, look for ones that fulfill your list. Don't be afraid to talk to people. If you have people who went to your High School and are going to Schools that you are looking at see if you can contact them to ask them questions then don't hold back! Don't listen to you're parents when they say "You're there for your education." You're not, you're here for an experience and you want it to be the best it can be. When you get to college, you have to put yourself out there as much as you can so that you can better yourself, academically, intellectually, and socially. In the end, you're in college to better yourself. You're only going to learn by doing. Talk to you're professors, join lots of orgs/intramurall sports, go to the different retreats the schools has. Take advantage of as much as you can. You're paying for it. You're money goes to funding all those extracurricular activities. DO IT!

Do college tours and make sure that you can picture yourself living there for four years. Don't pick a school just because it has a good program for what you want to do.

Just go with your heart. School is about learning about life, not just facts. The people you meet will be your friends for life. If you have a dream school you can find a way to get there.

Find a place that just suites you and your style. It all depends on how close you want to be to home or if u want to be far away from home. Then you have to consider the size of the college. One of my friends who is from up north couldn't handle being in a big college like mine since he is from a very rural town. So he transfered to a smaller college at teh end of the year. It's all a matter of how comfortable you feel and if your willing to push the boundaries on your comfort zone. Your going to need to push those boundaries in order to discover yourself and to truly experience the college experience.

Get comfortable where you live. Look into theme housing, if you're interested- go for it. Join a student organization and do not get sucked into the drinking culture. If anyone pressures you into, they aren't worth hanging around. Find out about diversity! It's there, but its hard for the diversity groups to reach everyone on campus. Reach for them, they'll return the favor. Get to know the people on your floor/in your dorm. You can make friends for life, don't freak out if you don't meet them right away, you will. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! GO TO CLASS!!!!

Look for a university with pride and responsiblity in its programs.

Look around and tour various schools. Do the research on the schools you're interested in. Ask questions.

Going to a college or university is a change and most students do not realize that. If you are moving away from your family this will be an adjustment. Also you will meet many people from diverse and different backrounds and you must be willing to accept. As you continue to explore a college or university you will learn that you will have less class time, but also the exams take a lot of outside studying. Also when moving into a dorm one may feel a little worried about their roommate but most are normal, and most colleges and universities will move you if you cannot live with your current roommate. The key to living with a roommate is communication and to be accepting, if these things do not work out you would just simply talk to a residential director and they will help you move to a new room. things to know: Be accepting, be ready to study out of class, DO NOT EVEN THINK OF PLAGERISM, and remember to have fun and focus on what you want to do with your life. Talk with your parents, and don't forget they are always there if you need them.

My best advice would be not to judge schools based on what you hear/read. Everyone has their own needs, and the only way to find out if you will be compatible with a school is to go and spend time on campus. For example, my school, UNH, has a strong reputation for being a party school, but me and most of the people I know spend our weekends skiing, cycling, rock climbing, hiking, dog sledding, ice climbing, kayaking and doing various other on and off campus activities. I spent two days on campus and sat in on two classes before making my final decision about going to UNH, and I feel that time gave me a true feel for the school.

Spend a weekend at the school if you can. Don't follow the tours - they only take you to the best parts of campus. Try to figure out what you want to do before you go to college.

In order to find the right college for someone, that person needs to realize what they want to get out of the whole college experience. The academics are very important, because that is what your paying for, but your also paying for the whole experience. What I mean by this, is that college is a time to grow and mature into an adult. I have found through my own experience that its not only what you learn in the classroom that prepares you for the "real world" after college, but also all of the interactions and experiences that you have throughout your college years that truly prepare you for life after school. So with that that said, I would say that the major things that an incoming college student needs to look for in schools, is 1)if it has a major that that student is interested in, 2) Location of the school, if the schools surrounding area has other places that interest the student to help get away from the class room from time to time and 3) the environment of the school, this includes size and reputation, which can effect the life style of that student.

Make sure both the parents and students agree on the college of choice. Parents shouldn't have to force their child to go to a school they don't like because of financial reasons. Make sure the student applies to a school that he/she likes and is within the financial range of the parents.

I would tell the parents and students that are looking to make the most of their college experience, that it is really important and crucial to visit the schools you are considering. When you visit the schools you think you want to apply to, it gives you a feel for how the campus, you can see how the students act and behave, and get an idea of how comfortable you feel being there. Not only are the academic and social reputations of the schools important, but visiting them and making sure that you can see yourself going there is the most important factor of all. Once you have a list of schools to apply to, visiting those schools can help you really narrow your list and see where you actually think you want to attend.

On finding the right school: I was very unsure what school I wanted to attend, but once I saw UNH in person, I knew that it was where I wanted to be. You have to go visit any schools that you're seriously considering going to because if you walk around and can't picture yourself eating in the dining hall or having to take classes in that building then you know that there's one out there that's just calling your name. On making the most of the experience: I joined a sorority the first semsester I was at school. Now, I know that sororities aren't for everyone, but the main thing to do is to get involved in something that you're passionate about. If your heart and soul isn't into whatever your doing, go until you find something that makes you feel like you belong.

Make sure you feel comfortable with the enviroment at the school you choose. The worst thing is feeling completely lost when you get to college and your parents drive away. Its important for your school to feel like home otherwise it will be very difficult to focus on your studies.

I would say that in order to find your "perfect fit", you really need to visit the college while school is in session. Looking at the shiny brochure is all well and good to see the best photo opportunities, but if you visit you can get a real up-close view of the total environment, not just the picturesque skyline but also the attitudes of the people. On a visit to one particular university back when I was applying, I was struck by the beauty of the place, but the students' attitudes were a turn-off. It made me realize that my happiness as a student wouldn't just rely on tree-lined streets and top-notch profs, but also on the friendliness my classmates. I ended up at a university that gave me all of that (and at a much cheaper price - another major determiner, despite what your counselors might say. As for "making the most" out of college, I would say to remember that this is the most free you'll ever be in your adult life, so go ahead and join those crazy clubs whose names intrigue you. Just don't overdo it. Sleep is sometimes good.

It is essential that you visit the school. Stay overnight so that you can visit the campus at several different times of day. Sit in on a required freshman class and a class in your intended major. Ask lots of questions and don't feel stupid about asking them! Ask who teaches the classes--are the courses taught by faculty or grad students, or both? Go with and without your parents. Visit the dorms and ask lots of questions there. Try to stay away from a structured tour. They are fine to an extent, but if you want the real 411 you are going to have to ask questions of various students and faculty--on your own. Ask where you will most likely be living (which residence hall) and if living on campus is required or optional. Most importantly, get all the costs including fees--not just tuition. Ask financial aid what your award will be. Often there is some wiggle room, especially if you haven't accepted yet and you are being courted by different schools. Ask yourself, "Can I picture myself living here for the next four years?" Listen to your gut. Talk to your parents and goodluck!

I would advise students and parents to tour a school long before the application process. Too often students choose schools based on other's reviews, rather than their own personal research (secondary information). I would recommend thinking through your whole college career, not just where you are going right after high school. I am most disappointed that I didn't look into the classes offered at my particular college within my school, and also disappointed that double-majoring is so difficult and expensive. Friends of mine attend colleges that are more open to double-majoring, interning, etc. I feel as though my school is an advocate for itself, rather than the student (i.e, money). I would have preferred a private school because in-state schools tend to be a glorified version of their state's public high school system and in turn are cliquey (a result of everybody already knowing one another). I would also recommend transferring immediatly if you are at all unhappy: it may seem intimidating but it will be better in the long run!

Make sure you always visit the places you're considering and parents, let the students deiced for themselves which would be a best fit for them. They're the ones who will be living there for 4 years! To make the most of your experience, live on campus in the dorms Freshmen year. Those you meet Freshmen year will constantly resurface and stay with you the rest of college. Get an internship. Study abroad. Go out, but study hard. Go to lecutres and any other events the campus offers.

For parents and/or students who are looking for the 'right' college, my advice to them is that there is no perfect school for anyone. I believe there are a variety of colleges for a reason. All of them essentially offer the same thing - an education, activities, a chance to learn and grow on your own. However, I would tell future students not to get too hung up on finding that 'right' college because each one will give you the same thing - a degree. In the end, it's up to the student to ultimately determine if they've chosen the right school for them. There could be many, however, the student knows which school(s) is right for them in the end. In general terms, I would say that college is a wonderful yet trying experience to endure and go through. In my first years, I experienced some very difficult times and would recommend that students seek the help and resources from their school. There are always people out there to help you, it's just a matter of asking for it. Students, choose the school that you think can offer you the most for the best price.