University of Rochester Top Questions

Students should visit the college, sit in on a class, meet with a couple professors, and stay the night in a dorm at every college which they are seriously interested in attending. The size, location, and academic strengths of the college should cater to the student's personal preferences. A sad student is a poor student and a happy student tends to be more successful in school. Visting each school is important so that the student can get a feel of the dynamic of the campus. Asking questions is important. Are all the people outside or all in the library? Is there access to off-campus entertainment such as dining, outdoor activities, and music? Are students able to committ to a varsity team and still succeed academically? What kind of relationships do professors have with students? What opportunities does the college offer? The most important thing to remember is that the student is the customer and the school is running a business that is responsible for delivering a high quality education while also providing opportunities and lifestyles for maturing adults.

It's important to find the college that best fits what you want it to. There are plenty of schools out there that supply a range of ideals and curricula. You just have to find the one that best fits you. When you get to college be sure to make friends with everyone you meet including students, faculty, and other staff. Not only will you be happy with all the friends you've earned, but you will also benefit from those friends. Sometimes it's not what you know, but who you know that will allow you to get places. There are probably plenty of things to do on an average college campus, so get involved! If someone asks you if you want to join something give it a quick thought. If you think there is any possibility that you might want to do it, sign up, you have nothing to lose and you will probably have lots of fun and meet people. By far the most important thing to remember at college is, after you're done studying, remember that there's life outside of your dorm room and you just have to open the door to get there.

Make sure that you take this choice seriously cuz you're stuck wherever you want to go for 4 years. Take your time, and you'll know when you visit the school whether or not it's right for you. Just make sure it IS right for you. Dont worry so much about rankings but rather how it feels to you.

Go with your gut. Choose where your heart pulls you. Do not let distance or finances stand in the way. Sometimes, that means making a hard choice, but it will be worth it in the end. Explore. Colleges are full of options, both academically and extra-curricularly. Try new things and take the classes that interest you. Live! Make the most of your college career! Good luck!

My recommendation when looking for the 'right college' would be to keep in mind that every university will have its pros and cons, and as a corollary, no amount of campus tours or brochures or internet reviews can let anyone know how well he or she willl individually enjoy any university. The best you can do is honestly evaluate your circumstances (financial, academic and otherwise), decide what you most value and what you most want to get out of a university, find the schools you think best suit your interests, and apply. Once you're in university, keep in mind that barring extenuating circumstances, almost no decision is final. There are a lot of big decisions one has to make during college and one's plans going in are almost definitely not going to be the same as one's plans going out. Changing majors, transferring and sabbaticals are all options during your time at university, as someone who has taken advantage of all three, I advise people to utilize those options to explore. Perhaps the most important thing is that at the end of your senior year, you can graduate with minimal regrets.

Visti as many school as possible and find a school that just feels right.

I would definitely advice students to visit the colleges or universities they apply to. Visitation allows the student to see how they respond to the campus envirnoment, the aura and atmosphere, the general feeling of the students and faculty on campus. I would also highly recommend that they tour the housing and the dining areas, the libraries, the labs/studios. Also while on the visitation, the students should inquire about the classes offered, especially those in the field they are interested in. Ask about the extracurricular activities and campus social life as well. Basically, I'd recommend that in visiting the students make the effort to get as much a feel for the University as they can. And for parents as well, so that they will know where there children are. Understand what they will become involved in, and the like.

Make sure to research, research, research!!! You have to research a wide variety of schools to get a feel for what exactly you want out of your college experience and you should narrow your choices down by size, location, academics, financial aid, social life, etc. Over night visits are also very helpful because you get a true feel for the school without any parents around and you can actually talk to current students and get their real opinion of the school. I would recommend that high school students apply to their top 8 colleges (make sure to put them in categories of: below your standards, just meet your standards, and exceed your standards) so that you have the option of choosing the perfect school for you.

Even if a school looks good on paper, always go to campus and check it out if you can. Beyond any programs that a school can offer, the atmosphere of a campus can make or break a college experience. Each school has its own feel, and there were definitely some schools that I visited that I thought sounded good, but when I was walking around their campuses I couldn't picture myself being a part of it. They just didn't feel like home. As important as opportunities and programs are, if a school doesn't feel right, the student will probably be unhappy and it takes an incredibly dedicated student to overcome misery and still take advantage of the opportunities they went to the school for. College is often a student's first real chance to pursue their interests and is a time to explore new experiences and ideas, and make friends that could last a life-time. A college needs to feel like a second home and therein be a place that can foster growth and motivate a student to make the most of their time on campus.

If you can, visit the school. You will find out more how you will interact with the students. If you can spend the night. If you feel a school is too far out of your reach, apply anyway and show why the school will benifit from your impact on campus. Do not let yourself get tied down as well. My own philosophy is to detach yourself a little from your family. College lets you explore your own personality, and do not pass that up. Finding the place to express yourself fully is tough, but the search is worth the reward. In the end just do what seems right for you, its your life no one else's.

Choosing the right college is all about finding the school that is best suited to make your next four years the most enlightening, challenging, and fun that they can be. It is essential that you choose a college based on more than academics - investigate housing, food, facilities... As silly as those things may seem, they seriously effect the quality of your college experience. Remember, you are going to spend the next four years of your life at this school! Try to choose a one with as many qualities that you like as you possibly can. Be wary of sacrificing characteristics you like in order to go to a school with a better name. The name of the institution on your diploma really doesn't matter. What matters is what you achieve as an undergraduate, and you are far more likely to achieve greatness at a school you enjoy attending. And once you get to college, think of one word: balance. This is the key to a great experience. Party, play a sport, volunteer, study like mad, be lazy, but do all of these things in moderation. If you can do this, you are ready for the time of your life.

I would tell them that they need to follow their heart when it comes to picking out a school. I believe in order to follow your dreams or complete them, a person has to go with their feelings and gut instinct. I followed my heart when it came to coming to this school. I had dreams of becoming a professional baseball player and still do but most likely it won't happen so my second plan of action was to go to law school. This school provided me with both of those options because now I'm preparing to go to law school next fall term and I had the opportunity to play college baseball for four years. So whatever a student's dreams may be, that student should follow his passion because it will most likely make that student the happiest he/she could be.

Spend a day or two at the colleges you are considering and also consider the area around the campus. Be as engaged as you can, talk to professors and campus leaders, get involved, and explore your college community too.

Choose a college based on what you think of it, and not what everyone else says about it

The best advice that I can give is to make sure that the student is honest to himself. There are so many different colleges and different types of people in the world, which make the process of selecting a college difficult. While it's a good idea to scour all options available, someone will find their niche almost anyway. Select a school based on "feeling" when you visit or the quality of academics in terms of what type of classes you'll end up taking and the professors who teach them. Once arriving at college, the college experience is what you make of it. Get started in some club, any club, right away. That will help to engage you in a social atmosphere and connect you more closely to the inner-workings of the university. Pick classes that you are actually interested in; don't select them by difficulty, you're only cheating yourself if you do so. Last but not least, do all of your work. You're paying thousands of dollars each yeat to teach you valuable acedemic (and life) skills--don't pass it up!

I would advice students to pick colleges based on how well the school's profile matches their needs and wants. It is extremely important to look at what?s offered academically as well as the avenues available for academic fulfillment (ex. does the school have a rigorous core curriculum?). Class size as well as the professor to student ratio is very important, especially when it comes to introductory classes. A friendly, helpful, respectable faculty and student body is essential for students to feel academically and socially secure. And last but not least, closeness to home. No matter how great of a school a student attends, if the student is a family person, he/she will not enjoy his/her college experience if he/she is physically unable to go home at his/her leisure.

The name of the school does not matter. Choose a place that is the right size and has the kind of atmosphere that will best fit you. The most important thing about college is having the best learning experience, not just in terms of academics.

Find the right school: Visit the campus and do an overnight stay with a student. If you want to know how the weather is year round, ask a student (not your tour guide). For a true experience with campus food, don't go on a parent's or tour heavy weekend. Go without any adults on a regular weekday. Try the popular dining hall at lunch time. Thats the best way to experience the average food quality and service. Talk to professors and department staff in areas you're interested in. Browse the enrolled student areas of the school's website, check out course listings and ask about availibility and size of classes. Talk to coaches/ team members of sports and clubs you are interested in. Never pick a college based on the tution posted. Make the most of the experience: Join clubs and use them to make friends. Speak up in discussion classes. Talk to your professors during office hours, they are paid to help you and often volunteer info you would never learn otherwise. (academic, career/internship) Do internships. Balance work and play. Explore the surrounding area, ask upperclassmen where to go. Use the free career search services.

The college applicant should definitely visit the colleges through a visitation program and stay with a current student to really get a feel for the environment that they will be immersed for the next four years. Meet as many new people as you can within this time and make connections with everyone. By doing this you will understand whether the size of the school, the demographic of the students and the general air of the college is something that appeals to you. When attending school, a new student should remember that college is as described above, an experience. For most it will be the first time that they are away from home for an extended period of time and is an excellent opportunity for one to find out who they are. Most college campuses will have so many groups and events that can appeal to the most diverse set of interests and it will be really easy to find your niche. The key to really getting the most out of college is to make sure that you step out of that niche and put yourself in a position that will give you lasting and unique memories.

To students: Selecting the right college is all about weighing your priorities. Be sure to consider a school's location, prestige, currculum, cost, availaboility of social activities and organizations, and any other factors that are important to you. Be sure to visit the schools you are serious about before making your decision. Set up an interview to increase your chance of acceptance, financial aid, or just to learn more about the school. Be sure to consider the amount of stress you will be able to handle as some schools are much more difficult than others. Remember, find your balance. To parents: Encourage them to make the decision themselves while remaining supportive and involved in researching and visiting. Try not to put too much pressure on them, college is their independence and some people must learn through their own decisions. If they make the wrong choice there is always a way to reverse it. Don't become obsessed with the cost of college. If you can't afford to pay let them take out loans. Above all, be patient as they decide, and be willing to drive them to their top choices as visiting plays a major role in their decision.

Start early and before you're bombarded with flyers evaluate the characteristics you consider most important. There are a ton of schools and the only thing that really makes one better than another is how it satisfies those things on your list. At the same time remain flexible in your ideas and definitely visit the campus. Nothing really lets you know what being a student at the school is like without actually being a student, but being on campus lets you feel out the generaly comings and goings of student life.

My advice to future college students is to explore all the things you never thought you could do or that you would not be good at while in college. Do not be afraid to step outside the comfort zone and try new and exciting things. Also, get involved! Student leadership teaches you things you could never learn in the classroom. When looking for the right college, look for the one that will provide you with the most opportunities for future success. Never turn down a school you like because you think you cannot afford it! Chances are you will get the financial aid you need from school scholarships. No matter what, education is the most important asset to your future success. Therfore, you should take chances, make mistakes, but most importantly, love where you are and what you are doing!

stay overnight on a thursday and friday. that way you get to sit in on classes on friday and get a feel for the academic life, and see what nightlife is like on friday night.

My advice would be to really explore as much as possible. VISIT is a MUST! It really does help narrow down your choices. Get to know the students that attend the schools that you are interested in and see how similar you feel they are to you. Interact with the campus as much as possible before you say yes. I noticed that to be a huge factor because if you feel completely out of place, it is hard to succeed when you have a mind full of negativity with the people that surround you. Once you're in the school of your choice, go ahead and explore what that school has to offer. There may be something for you to join and joining a group or club or team really helps balance your life. Do your research with the courses offered. Your intended major really MAY NOT be the one you actually pursue, as your interests may change from one day to the other. Lastly, be real to yourself and do not try to change for others. You really do find out who you really are and who others are in college, so get ready!

A student can never know which college is the right one until he or she attends it. I had different expectations from the University of Rochester, but learned to adjust to the unexpected things. No college will feel right at first. It is all about learning to enjoy your environment and using your resources. Every college has something to give to a student. Of course it is important to go to a university or college that has a good program for your interest, but it will surprise you how much you can change after attending college. Your desired concentration can change within a year or even after taking just one class. Wherever you go, you will find something you like. You just have to explore and take everything the university or college offers you.

Make sure you do your HOMEWORK on all the key facets: academic standards (both for entry and what is expected to admitted students), undergraduate size, location of campus, when the campus was established, whether or not there's Greek life, average class size statistics, and availability/prestige of their study abroad program.

In regards to finding the right college you really need to sit down and make a list of what you want in a school. Things like location, size, programs offered, division, etc can make a big difference. After you have made your list you should really research your schools. Go to the book store and read all of the college books and not just the popular ones like the Princenton Review. Read the books that give you student perspectives because those are the books that will help you find out if you can fit in or not. Also be open to different things. Just because going to Yale has been your dream since your were 4 doesn't mean there aren't other options. The Colleges That Change Lives is a great book that with lots of colleges that you may have never considered otherwise. To make the most of a college experience just be open to new things. You have four years to study so don't let a great opportunity pass you by because you "have to study." Take classes that aren't your strengths and interact with people you may not have in highschool. Always have fun.

The most important part of picking a college is finding the right "feel." This goes beyond academics, varsity sports, campus housing or location. It is an extremely personal decision and often comes down to reasons difficult to explain to parents or teachers. However, the key to making this decision properly is always the same: knowledge. Find out as much as you can about each of your college choices, and once you know your top two or three, find out even more. Call their admissions offices and shoot the breeze for a while. Ask for any recent publications they might have lying around, a course catalog perhaps. Look out for programs that let you speak directly to students, even if they're tour guides. Visit the campus if you have a chance, attend a class, talk to students in their dorms and away from prying ears. Learn more, more, and more, and don't ever be satisfied with what you know. It might be that one extra little thing that finally helps you make the right choice.

It is crucial to know what kind of environment you are comfortable in. The campus atmosphere and the people whith which you live and work will inevitably affect your performance in school. Even if you do not know what your academic goals are before entering college, make sure that you feel inspired by the college that you choose to attend.

College, like life, is what you make of it. Where you go is not nearly as important as what you do when you get there. However, to ensure that there are opportunities to do what you want after you arrive, pick a school that matches your personality and interests. Read as much as you can about student and academic life--and try to get past the barrage of statistics. Talk to current students as much as possible. If you are focused on academics and want a vibrant intellectual life, seek out school where students frequently have intellectual arguments and discussions outside of class. If you get excited about extracurricular activities, ask students if there are many students groups, and if it's easy to start new ones. If spending time in a coffee shop with a book or a friend is your ideal Saturday night, avoid schools where wild partying is the norm. If you aren't sure what you want to study, pick a school that offers many different majors. Once you get there, jump in with both feet and never look back. You will have the time of your life.

Think about how much debt you'll be in vs. how much your career will pay you.

I would definitely advise parents not to pressure their children to tour more than three schools in their college search- I think that looking at ten schools myself, I am able to say that it was really far too many... and quite overwhelming, to say the least! I was told that the college a student gets into can and will eventually become the school that they always really wanted in the end, and I find that to be a beautiful truth that I myself encountered in coming to the University of Rochester. I think also that parents should really encourage their child to explore where their curiosities take them, and not place so much emphasis on being practical in what one studies. People my age are pressured to grow up far too fast for my tastes, and are often steered away from taking courses that challenge the way they've always been taught to think about themselves and the world in which they live. Learning how to think critically about our world is paramount in our college education, and I think that there will always be enough time to find a career in years down the road.

Make sure they really do good in school. Personally the first year is going to look like you don't really need to do as much work because you got into the school. No, stay 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} focused. One key in my college life is money, try to save money now and keep in good contact with your money offices on campus and do try to build and wonderful bond with counselors, they do have miracles up there sleves. Oh yes, GOOD LUCK!

The "college experience" is an extremely subjective term that I rarely use anymore. Back when I was in high school, to me the "college experience" included going to football games, huge lectures, frat parties, and just a lot of drinking . Before I graduated from high school, I decided exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I want to be a professional opera singer. Now, I attend one of the top music schools in the world and am at the top of my class. I work very hard and learn a great deal of new information every day. So, my idea of the "college experience" changed drastically. I've never actually done any of the things I used the think this experience included. When you are looking at colleges, you first have to decide what you want to get out of it. Because, you make the experience. It is whatever you decide you want it to be. If you have your list of goals and you find a college that meets a lot of or all of them, you've found the perfect fit. It is quite different for everyone. There is no cookie-cutter answer to this.

The best advice that I could would be for the student to really follow their gut feeling when comming to a school. I chose the school I am attending because it was the best school that I applied too, however my gut told me I would be happier at another school. Now a year has gone by and for that entire first year I was miserable. The food was terrible, the classes were incredibly hard, and I did not like any of the people I met. I considered transferring many times throughout the year, but figured it would be easier to just stick to my school and get through it. I always wonder if I would be happier at the school I almost chose. I would also advise to take the first year and explore different majors. Don't just jump into a major expecting to like it. It may not be for you. I made that mistake and ended up hating all of my classes. I have since found a new major and enjoy it, but my first try was not right for me. Just go with your gut and you'll be fine.

Do your homework, find out what colleges fit what you expect college to be and are strong in fields you want to major in. After that go visit them.

Location, quality, and tuition are all very important, but when making your decision, go for the college that has the best facilities to enrich your career goals. For example, if you are interested in research, find a school that has access to good on and off campus labs and is known for undegrad research. Also, despite pricey tuition bills, if its the right school for you, go for it. There are options such as financial aid, and grants but if those don't work out don't quit on the school. Take out loans and defer till after graduation because it pays to invest in your education.

I would want the students to personally know what they want without opinions from their parents (which may override what they want to do, even though that didn't happen to me). I would hope that students and parents would be open and on the same page for what type of school to look for. Don't be concerned about getting in- go for it! Try it! Be concerned about truly representing who you are on the application they give you. They are giving you their focus, their time, and a wonderful opportunity. Remember- they aren't there you see you fail; they want to help you succeed!

I looked at over 30 colleges when applying; all of different rank, location and concentrations. Though not my first choice Rochester has been a perfect fit. It offered what classes I wanted to take. There is a good balance between class work, outside work, and social life. I remember the first time i walked onto campus it just felt right-might be corny to say-but you have to able to envision yourself there. Do an overnight trip and really get to know some of the other students, staff and faculty because they are the factors that make the difference, not the weather.

I would advice students and parents to do alot of research about the college. I think it's important to go visit the campus and get a field of campus life. Furthermore, I think it would be a good idea to learn about the different academic departments and its professors. When you first begin to choose classes take a diverse amount of courses to see discover what truly interests you. When on campus become active in different organizations you may like and feel you can make a difference in.

Make sure you know what kind of school you want. Students, try to take any advice your parents give you because they want the best for you. Parents, respect their decision because they are not kids anymore, also, let them make their own mistakes. Just give them your support and give them some space, if they really want to go to school is because they know better.