University of Rhode Island Top Questions

Do your research!!!!!

It?s easy to narrow the college search by necessities such as price and major. Unfortunately, this doesn?t narrow the search quite enough. Since most students have never been away from home, it's difficult to know whether a small urban college or a large in-state university would be better. The best advice I could give students is exactly what they don?t want to hear: listen to your parents. They have been through college and often understand you better than they let on. Parents: listen to your children, even if they are not actually saying anything. Sometimes a child is embarrassed to admit a fear of leaving home, or feels obligated to go into a certain field despite lack of interest. Even if a child tries to hide these feelings, they are real and important. Once you begin school, get involved! Meet people in your dorm, your major, and an organization. Networking is important! Parents, make yourselves available but not invasive; your child graduated from high school and made it into college, and needs to mature into an adult. Don?t worry, on breaks you will be cleaning and feeding your child like he/she never left!

Make sure you can afford it.

I would advise students to visit as many schools as possible that have programs that they are interested in. I would schedule time to talk to admissions, financial aid and have a student-led tour of the campus. Think carefully about whether you want a large school, which may have very large classes, or a school which is smaller and more personal. Think about how far from home you REALLY want to be. Be careful not to "cut off your nose to spite your face" by not doing early admission if a school is high on your list. Good Luck!

Choose your school on how comfortable you feel there and how much you enjoy the enviroment. Then worry about if it has the right majors. You may be interested in one field but once you start studying the material, your opinion may change. Just make sure you are happy.

Get Involved!!!!!

Finding the right college for me was very difficult. At first I thought I wanted to be in a small school with small classrooms. I tried that out for a year and realized it wasn't what i wanted after all. I didn't look into all of my options at first, but it was time to make a smart decision. I found that larger schools have smaller classrooms, and maybe that was good for me. I would advise anyone looking for a school to search every possibility at each school and really think about what you want. You need to think about location, size, your learning habbits, what you can handle, and even more! This is not a decision you want to mess up. This is your future. It is important to weigh your options and know that you are making the best choice for you. Exploring your options only opens up new doors. Don't jump the gun and chose a school because of a major, or because a friend likes it there; everyone is different. You may find that what you thought you wanted is completely different from what you actually end up excelling in.

Most people tell me, "Find a school where you feel most comfortable in; you'll just know it when it feels right." To be quite frank, this statement is somewhat neutral. Honestly, I haven't been to my school's tour/information sessions. I was aware of URI since I already have spent most of my summers in Newport, RI but never really had the time to go to the tour/information sessions. The campus look shouldn't be the most important factor in determing a decision upon your school of choice. Yes, you will be living there, however, you are there to educate yourself and to make the most of your studies. I did however browse through the school's website to get more information of what I needed in order to fill some of my questions that weren't answered. Once I stepped foot at URI on my first day of school, I knew this was the right school for me, even without visiting it. Some people beg to differ my opinion, but this was the way I found myself to be successful and saved time and money upon deciding on your school.

I suggest that both students and parents do more outside research about the schools other than just the tours and what is prepared for them. Go to some of the activities, find a time to visit one of the games, talk to students in several different majors but especially the majors that you are pursuing. That should give a better idea of what you will be walking into as opposed to the scripted accolades that are given to prospective students. Also, don't do your interviews with your parents. Go out on your own to ask around. Go into the coffee houses and some of the larger hang out areas to find an array of students.

To find the right college a student should never go somewhere just because their boyfriend/girlfriend or friends are going there. College visits are always helpful, but the internet is just as good. Looking at all sorts of colleges allows a student to get a good idea of what kind of school they want to go to. Making the most of the college experience is easy, go to class, make friends, and have fun...but dont forget about homework!

Study hard.

Selecting the right college or university, at first, appears to be an extremely daunting and overwhelming project and decision to a high school senior and his or her family. However, this decision should not be nearly as "scary" as people make it out to be. Visiting different schools, interacting with students, attending campus tours is part of an exciting experience. High school students and families are getting sneak previews of what their life could be like just a few months in the future. It is important to vistit all different types of schools - large, small, private, public, city, rural, suburban, religious affiliated, non-demoninational. Cheking out every possible available opportunity will allow the prospective students to get a better idea of which environment will allow them to be the best student they can be. For me, filling out college applications seemed like the most time consuming aspect of the college application process. Once I had completed that serious aspect, I was overly excited to visit the schools in person. My campus tour at URI sold me to attend the school. I could see myself walking around the campus, and loving my new life. Take a chance.

Go with what feels right. make sure you feel comfortable at the school you are thinking of attending. Take a tour of all campuses you are considering. If you do not feel comfortable then the school is probably not right for you.

You will never know the right college until you've been to college for a couple of years. My advice is to do something that incorporates something you are passionate about, because it will come natural to you. To make the most of the college experience, spend half of your time learning and half of your time communicating.

It's important that a only goes as far away as you think they can handle. Choose a school with a lot of majors so if they decide to switch majors, they don't have to switch schools. Although some schools are expensive, sometimes it's worth the extra money.

Parents and students need to collaborate when deciding on the right college. For instance, parents are concerned with which school will offer their child the best education at the lowest cost. However, students may be more concerned with the extracurricular activities as well as the student life on campus. There must be a healthy balance between all of these aspects so that every individual involved in the process is pleased.

I would tell them that sometimes what you thought would be the best college for you sometimes isn't. It's ok to transfer. I know so many people who went to bigger schools in cities, and other urban schools and a lot of them transfered to my school. They thought that "The city life was for me," but sometimes you just need that in-between college where it's like home, but it's not. A lot of schools will give you this and some will say they do. Make sure to look and visit your schools. Talk to the students and teachers/advisors. Get a feel for what the school is really about. If you want to see school spirit, go to a basketball or football game. If you want a feel for the acdemics, go talk to the teachers. Just know that it's ok to realize that maybe your first choice wasn't your best choice. Credits will transfer over, and there are many scholarships to apply for. Just keep your chin up, have a sunny disposition and remember that you can only have a first experience once. Live it to the fullest while you can.

For most families today (including my own) I picked the University of Rhode Island because it was the best education I could get for the lowest cost. I was awarded the most financial aid here but still I need more money and have to work hard during the semester to pay for tuition. Parents and students also need to find out what the student is most interested in studying, if not, then the college social life can easily pull the student away from his/her studies. If you are interested in what you are studying then school becomes more fun and it is easier to learn.

Make sure that while you do your work, have a little time for fun. Don't let yourself get stressed out because then you will end up pulling all-nighters and not staying on top of things. College is a great experience and you should enjoy it while you are there.

Try to really get a feel for what life is like on the campus of the schools that you look at. Talk to actual students when you are there about their experiences, not just tour guides. This is the most important thing when choosing a school, since it will be your home for the next four years. Meeting people is paramount in making the most of your college experience. Many schools have well over 10,000 students!!! They are not all the same, and it is among them that you will likely find your most lasting friendships, so don't be afraid to meet as many new faces as you possibly can. You will meet people from all over the world and gain unbelievable insight into humanity. Get to know your professors as well. They like to know the impact they are having on their students. Some, you will not be a fan of. Others will change your life and the way you view it permanently and in wonderful ways. Most importantly, HAVE FUN!!! You only do this once and if you do it with open eyes, heart and mind, it will truly be the time of your life.

Find a place you feel comfertable and safe at. Make sure you want to go to the college for the right reasons and not just to be away from home.

DOnt worry too much

Finding the right college is a lot harder than it looks. I have been at the same school for almost two years and now have decided to look for some place else because I thought I would be happier than I am. Money was a huge factor for choosing my school and if i really tried harder, I probably could have gone to my dream school instead of settling. Finding the right college is all about perspective, are you a city person or a rural person? What makes you happiest in the world? can you still access this where you're going? Try to make sure there are programs and courses that will make you happy. While college is about new experiences, adapting is really hard and can't always be successful.

make sure the school has everything to offer for your major.

Talk to people with in the major you are going into. Also think long and hard about everything: distance, cost, future cost, finacial aid, etc. As for the college experience, join clubs and make friends, they keep you sane.

know the school well before choosing to attend it

Don't forget that college is an ever changing experience. Your work load changes, your social group changes, your major might change, but most importantly YOU change. College is an experience that everyone should have. Making the "right" college choice doesn't need to happen in the first year. You are allowed to move as many times as you want. This experience flies by, so don't take one second for granted.

Make no concessions in your search for a college. For example, if you live on the East coast and apply to a school in California, go see it! Don't assume that "It's too expensive just to go visit considering I don't even know if I'm going there." Do you know how expensive your college tuition will be? A plane ticket to any college campus is well worth it. Don't ever pick a collge based on geographic proximity to a boyfriend or girlfriend. Don't stay in state becuase he or she is still in high school, or if they didnt get into college. If its for real he/she will be ok with you going to college far away. It truly is just like high school in some aspects; you have the opportunity to join a sports team as a freshman again, explore your interest in various clubs, and it is a chance to explore your interests with a much broader class selection than high school also. With this in mind, it is not a bad idea to pick a school with a diverse extracurricular program - even if you know what you want to do.

I think a lot of research is necessary before deciding on which college to attend. There are many factors that should go into the process such as: campus size, degrees, climate, diversity, location, availability of extracurricular activities, on campus housing, dining and meal plans. I think it is also best to tour the school once you get in and if you know someone who goes to school there, definitely take advantage and just follow them around the school to get a feel for what the campus atmosphere is like and also what weekend life is like. To make the most of the college experience I think people should get involved in things they are interested, be open to making friends and meeting a variety of different people, and developing professional relationships with professors.

The college experience should be fun and exciting. It will be a collection of memories that you'll remember forever. Put in adequate time to research the schools that you may be interested in. Check out the campuses and everything that they have to offer. Be sure to choose a school that you'll feel comfortale at and look forward to spending the next four years at. Don't think that the more expensive a school is, the better the education; this is definately not true. Many state universities offer excellent programs at a great in-state tuiton rate. Overall, go into the college experience with an open mind and be prepared for everything that comes your way. It is an opportunity not only to learn, but to also meet many new friends and have the best time of your life!

The advice that I would give students looking for the right college is to go visit the schools that you are interested in and actually talk to the students at the university and not just the person giving the tour. Try to imagine yourself there and if it feels right to you. Once you go and visit each school, some of the schools will feel right and some won't. If you don't like it once you are enrolled, you can always transfer and you will know what you like and don't like then and what will work for you.

College is what you make of it. You can go to the best college in the country and have a miserable time or go to the worst college and have the best time. You define college!

Just go with your gut. When you visit a school and you have good feelings about it then go for it.

The advice that I would give to parents and students on finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to base each decision upon the students wants and needs. The student should think about what he /she likes and wants to do in their life. They should take advantage of academic advisors well before they reach the school. Schedule an appointment either in person or by phone to discuss each major and career opportunities available to them. Once you have all the information, then make a decision about your major. Also, befriend students that already attend the college. There are great tools like facebook, which allows students to connect. Ask them to be completely honest. Ask more than one student. Students are great tools to help decide if a school is for you. Finally, do not attend a school solely for financial purposes. Sometimes the extra money you spend on your education is well worth it. Take advantage of the schools by being invovled, making connections, and developing relationships with students and professors. They are a great assests. The most important advice I can give, find who you are and share it with the world.

Find a college that has a high rate of employment after graduation and a strong alumni base. Also, find a college where you feel comfortable at and realize as an incoming freshman, that everyone is in the same position as you , so you're not alone.

Find a school that has the social and campus setting that you like. Don't resign yourself to a small-town school if you think you will thrive in a city setting.

I would recommend that they really do a full amount of research and not rush into any decisions.

Find a college that fits your needs not only educationally but geographically. Focus on what you really want to do with your life because once you graduate you will work the rest of your life doing a job you will hopefully be pationate about. If you try to fulfill your needs with an education that may bring you to a field that pays more but not really your passion, think of the life you will have with that unfulfilled want.

I would say to make sure you find out how big or small of a college you would like to feel comfortable in, know which majors and classes you're interested in are available at that college, what kind of atmosphere you like to work in friendly or to yourself, the area your college will be located- cities-small town-etc., you should make sure you have housing on campus or off, you should make sure you have health insurance at school, you should check out school organizations or activities you would like to be involved in while in college, and you should also check out getting a job on or off campus.

dont make a decision until you go through an orientation, tour, or anything similar..get a real feel for what the place is like in person, DO NOT rely on just brochures or advertising

Find a school that is the right size for your child. If your child is outgoing send them to a large school. If they are quiet send them to a smaller school. Finding a school where your child can be comfortable is key. Otherwise, the student will never learn if they are uncomfortable or feeling like an outcast. Put the child in their correct setting and they will feel at home and feel like they are where they are suppose to be and learning will begin.

Get financial aid early!!!

My advice is short and consise, if you're look for a place that is friendly, yet adheres to academic standards. A place that has professors you can talk to but who won't skew the lines between teacher and friend. A good school offers a variety of school and community active clubs and activities, has a well-lit campus, off-campus transportation, a security, police and fire force, and has very good if not great places to study, research and go for extra help. Its important to go to the colleges or universities before you accept the invitation to go to the school. Make sure if you can't afford the school there are alot of employment oppurtunities close to the school. If there are any student enrichment classes at the school as a freshman take advantage of them. Remember school and studying are important but you won't get through the experience without the help of some really good friends, mentors, or professors.

Make sure when choosing the right school that is it somewhere that YOU want to go, not somewere that your parents or friends want you to go. In the long run its where your going to spend 4 years of your life, preparing you for the rest of life. So, you want this to be a place that you will come to love not a place that you are going to hate because you followed your friends there or allowed you parents to chose were you would attend school.

college is a time to push your boundries, so i suggest getting away from home, but make sure you can get back. also try to find a school that has lots of extracurriculars and exchange programs. you want someplace that will offer you as much as you can fit into your scheduale for the next 4 years. and check out the student body, and if the people you meet don't seem like they would be your friend, then guess what, you're probably not going to like the rest of the population. and talk to someone in a fraturnity or sorority and ask them where they spend their weekend. if they say off campus are you prepared to get youself off campus on the weekends and is that something you want to have to worry about? and the bigger the university the more you're going to have to put in to it to get out. always ask about the dean, and gauge what they don't say. because students equate the dean with the direction the school is going. last but not least, always i mean always! check out the dorm's'!

Be sure to visit the college, walk around, and most importantly ask questions; of teachers, professors, and even students.

I would tell them you have no clue until you try it. You can always transfer but at least keep an open mind.

Always go to the college of your choise, not your parents, and go when you know you are ready and sure of what you want to do with your future. As for your college experience, make friends along the way, attend lots of functions, and always think before you do things.

The advice i would give to parents/students trying to find the right college is the name of a school isn't everything, sometimes a big campus life style may not be for someone or the other way around. take trips to colleges that you are applying to and take a tour, make sure you like the enivorment , classes, and the people at the college. Most of all make sure in college that you stay focus but have fun too because college may be some of the best times of your life. You will meet people that will forever be in your life or you may realize that one day that going to college was the best idea you made in your life.

While in the process of finding the right college parents and students shouldn't have to worry about whether or not it is too expensive. Students are going to want to be somewhere that makes them happy. If they are at a school that makes them miserable then their schoolwork won't be to their fullest potential. It is definitely a good idea to visit schools before you apply to them. If you can see yourself being there and making friends there then totally apply there, worry about the money later. Check out all the minor details of the school to make sure they would fit into your lifestyle. Be picky about the schools. Apply for as many scholarships as you can and do extremely well in school to earn other scholarships.