University of San Diego Top Questions

Every college has its own unique personality with tons of benefits and rewards for those who attend. Society ranks colleges and tells us that those who get into the colleges in the top ten rankings are the smartest, most creative, and best leaders. But society does not know that every person is smart, creative, and strong. It does not matter the college you attend as much as the passion you feel towards going towards college. Do not cry at the rejections nor feel stupid for thinking you could ever get into college. Keep your head up high and understand that your talents were just not needed at that particular school. No matter what college you attend, the importance is that you take every opportunity to succeed in life and take full advantage of this life you have on earth. Do not be scared of the unknown, but embrace the risks you are taking and the adventure you are about to ride. College to some is just a small part of their overall future, but you can make it the best part of your future. Lastly, know that you are always more than enough for the world.

I would advise myself to work harder for a full-ride scholarship at the University I wanted and to stay true to myself.

I would not have a social life

Get involved.

Going to college is hard. It may be exactly what you expect, but it may blow you away. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Don't be afraid to be yourself. Try things. There are lots of people around you at college, and they all want friends, have problems, and want to be happy. Check out your teachers on ratemyprofessor.com before you commit to a class. Don't forget the people you loved before college; love is a sad thing to waste. Judge others only as you would want them to judge you. Don't spend too much time on facebook. Talk to your teachers because if they know who you are and who you aspire to be, they will be much more likely to help you. Share what you can with the people around you. Get involved; it's the best way to make friends. You've made it this far, and that's worth something. Respect yourself. Above all, open your mind, heart, and eyes to everything around you because you just never know where or when you'll find something you want to explore, someone you love, or something that you can help fix.

I would remind myself that everything happens for a reason, and that if something is meant to happen it will. Out of high school I attended a school in New York, and while I met some amazing people, that school was not my first choice, and I felt I could be happier elsewhere. I applied to a few schools for transfer, USD being one of them, in hopes of getting in to my dream school, and I was successful. I am currently at USD and I am absolutely in love with my experience here. However, had I not moved to New York, had I not taken that time to learn about myself and prove to myself and others that I was capable of overcoming obstacles and achieving regardless of the circumstances, I would not be the person I am today. In other words, New York helped me to discover myself, and I do not think that my experience would have been near as enriching or appreciated, had I not grown so much during my time in New York. It is important to learn from life, and to understand that everything happens in its own time.

I would tell myself to consider going to a less expensive university even if it meant I had to be closer to home. The amount of stress caused by having to worry about my finances detracts from my school work and makes it infinitely harder to concentrate. I would remind myself of my goals, my principles and my motivations and apply those more thoroughly to the experience i would have at whichever university I chose, as opposed to simply going to the school with the best reputation. I would also tell myself that this decision is not permanent, but it is important, and to make it with care, because although transferring is an option, it is not the preferred option your junior year of college. But the biggest thing I would like to tell myself if I could go back in time would be to go to a university that suits my personality and suits my needs, with students that not only represent one specific socio-economic class, and one where students of all sexual orientations, races, and religions are not only accepted but welcomed and embraced.

When I was at high school, I was probably too young to realize how important it was to succeed in college. I probably did not realize the importance of finding a suitable major and actually love it! If I could give myself an advice, I will probably just tell myself to not procastinate, because honestly, at high school, I was a pro at that, and when I started college, I realized thats not the smartest thing to do. If you get in the habit early in school, once you arrive at college you will be more than ready. For college, from my past experience I now start reading the material, even before the class starts just so I can be ''ahead of the game'' and not fall behind. As a senior in high school, i was not that aware of the stress in college, reading everyting in advance has helped me sleep more and even eat better. I consider myself a healthier college student with grades that keep getting better.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice I would tell myself to be more responsible and prepared. The college life is not simply about education and freedom, it about your future. When you enter college you will no longer be considered a little girl, you are considered an adult. Although this may sound nerve recking, you will also be exposed to a bigger and greater world. you will make friends from all over the world and teachers that wont know your name by memory. School will feel like an adventure and sometimes a long journey. Be prepared and brace yourself a vital and illuminating experience. Achieve, be successful, and most importantly never quit.

I would tell myself that time management is key to success. I would also tell myself that finding scholarships early in the high school years is essential to having less debt after college. I would remind myself to continue with extracurricular activities and to focus on a couple rather than many. Most importantly I would remind myself that often the friends who pressure you, are not real friends. Lastly, I would remind myself that GPA in college continues to be important even though you dont need it to pass from "grade" level to the other like you would in high school.

Choose a college that you(student) would feel comfortable at. Depending on preferrred location, intended major/minor, financial status, selecting one school may be difficult. However, the most important aspect of a college experience is to receive high education while enjoying the time spent at school. College to most people is the best time of their lives. If you believe the college you will choose has the potential to offer a advantageous yet joyous experience, that is the college for you.

Students, you do not know what you are going to do with the rest of your life. Whether or not you think you're the exception to the rule, it will change. Parents, bear this in mind, and help your children decide on a college based on the overall experience and a variety of academic interests, and not just their major. Also, pick something within your financial realm; you do not want to have to transfer. Parents, help your children choose the best fit for them; not for you. You get to support your child, but you aren't the ones going to college.

The best thing to do when deciding on what college to attend is to go and visit it. Learn as much as you can about it. Do an overnight visit, talk to current students, talk to professors, and visit the surrounding area. This is somewhere you will be spending at least the next four years and you want to enjoy it and not be somehwere you'll be miserable. If you know what you're interested in studying, look into how the school's department is. Do they even have the major you are thinking about? If you do not know what you want to go into, look at the overall classes the school offers. Colleges have descriptions of their classes available to students and see if any sound interesting. Also look into the extracurricular activities available--clubs, greek life, internships, jobs, sports, etc. The research will pay off.

Finding the right college is about going where you'll know you'll be happy. I feel that too many people apply to the big-name schools for the name and just that. Those schools aren't a good fit for everyone. Although it may come with prestige, you have to ask yourself if it's somewhere you could spend the next four years. If the answer is yes, then go for it. If not, go somewhere else. Ultimately if you're not happy with where you are, it will be more difficult to succeed. I think that in order to make the most of the college experience, you must do. You can't let opportunities pass you. College is a time in your life where you can explore your interests. It doesn't have to be anything big. You should do something you're passionate about and makes you happy. Yes, academics are very important. One cannot forget that. But again, being happy with who you are, where you are, and what you are doing makes the college experience.

Visit the schools. Talk to current students, not just the admissions office.

I would say find a college that fits you and your style of learning, I know that SD was appealing to me because the location but also the size of the school gave me a better student/ teacher racio which made going to class a lot more important to me. I knew from the beginning of my college search that I would get lost in a big school, and so that elimiated a lot of choices for me. Also do not be afraid to visit each school a few times to make sure you can actually picture yourself thier. If you can't, don't worry about it you will find another college you love just as much. First semester is a big adjusting period so don't be hurt if you fail you first test or sleep through a class just find the source of the problem and see how you can fix it . Over all I love college and would give anything to be a freshman again. It truely has been the best part of my life thus far and I am so excited for these last two years, and am anxious to see where I end up!

Avoid focusing on the prestige of the colleges in question. Rather, your time would be much better spent trying to find those few schools where the student in question feels at home, where he/she senses the majesty of limitless opportunities awaiting within the school gates, where that same student can look around him and be both intrigued and welcomed by the students he sees on campus. However, if that one school or set of schools fail to make themselves known to the future scholar or athlete in question, don't be alarmed! Cliche as it sounds, the most important thing to remember is that college is what you make of it. Attending that dream school might make the process easier, but ultimately it comes down to the student to create their expectations and hopes into realities. Be proactive, make friends to help through the hard times and create the experiences that will be remembered for life, and remember to always keep an eye on the schooling side of college, I know that sometimes it's difficult! :-)

It is highly important to plan a college tour, and pay very close attention to how you feel when walking on campus. You should feel welcoming and comfortable if it is a fit. It?s important to research what majors are big focuses. Also once decided on a campus research if it?s possible to get ahead in credits or if they accept incoming received from AP or IB exams. Walking and visiting the city and getting a feel for it is also important. It?s important to consider what extra-curricular activities they offer-if interested. The quality of professors is also a good factor to look out for, all of the professor at my school have a PhD. It?s also important to note if the school sends professors out for research a lot because then that means a student teacher is the one that you will see most often. And it is also helpful to ask college advisors from your high school if they have any opinions on the schools your interested.

The most important advice I would give to those looking to find the right college is make a list of the areas you are truly interested and try to find schools that have programs in those areas. Then decide what kind of college campus you would like to attend, if you came from a small community you might want to stick to small private schools or if you like having a relationship with your teachers then I would also suggest a smaller school. Don't always go for the bumber sticker pride schools. They are often too large and some classes will be taught by TA's not the professor. Once you get to college get to know your professors, they are your best chance of getting the jobs, internships, or advice that will help you obtain your career goals. Lastly, enjoy yourself at college find the right balance between school and play and your college career will be some of the best years of your life.

One piece of advice I would offer to prospective students would be to stay true to yourself. This seems easy, and like a silly piece of advice, but it is harder than you think. It is easy to loose yourself in the hundreds of colleges, each offering something different. This decision should be completely selfish. When making this life-impacting decision you should not have to give anything up. It may not seem like it, but there is a college out there that has everything you want. If they don?t have the sport you love, then don?t settle on that college. If they have the best dorms, but lack your favorite club, then don?t go there. You shouldn?t have to give up any aspect of your personal life during your decision.This is not a time to be swayed by your parent?s opinions, or your best friend?s, but it is a time you can be wholly selfish. You are the one that will live at and attend the school for the next four years of your life, this should be your choice and your choice only. Good luck, and stay focused on yourself!

Location, focus, available majors, classroom size. For me, I chose to go to school in San Diego becuase I am originally from Los Angeles. By going to San Diego, I was able to be close to my parents becuase they live an hour and a half away, yet at the same time I am far enough away that I am not obligated to see them all the time. It allows me personal freedom, space, and allows me to develop into a man in my own way. San Diego has perfect weather all year long and has many beaches, all things I wanted to enjoy year long. I also chose USD because it has a great liberal arts program as well as a phenominal business program. I also chose USD becuase it has small classroom sizes where it is easier to interact with classmates as well as the professors who make themselves available far more often then if they were lecturing in front of a auditorium sized class.

Finding the perfect college can be stressful. Since nothing is perfect, a student should pick a college that best fits their personality and needs. It is easy to get facts online about each school but actually visiting the school in person is what really tells you whether or not a school is for you. Many schools provide great tours where the tour guides are real students attending the college. The University of San Diego, in particular, has an overnight orientation where prospective students are allowed to spend the night in a dorm room with a current student. This is what drove me to choose USD. The people were great and I even got to sit in on a class to make sure I was comfortable! The school is a big part about creating a happy college experience but for the most part it is all about what the student makes of it. Students should be willing to become involved in clubs, fraternities/sororites, etc. This way you can make new friends and have the time of your life! College is an amazing, life-changing experience. Stay true to yourself and your needs so you never regret anything in the furture!

As I reflect back on my college experience, I cannot remember a single moment where I was sure of what I wanted to do. I was proactive in seeking oppurtunities that expanded my horizon and opened my eyes to different cultural and professional experiences. This was crucial in shaping not only my academic path, but also in motivating and driving my commitment to excel and succeed. For all parents and students searching for an institution that is right for them, I would encourage them to look for a school that is highly invloved in there local articstic and professional communities. The institutions that push their students to take advantage of study abroad programs, internships and on campus political clubs create an environment where the acedemics become real to the students and the maturity level in the classrooms reaches hieghts that far surpass those at other universities. In my years as a college student, I have obtained a California Investment license, opened a company in Costa Rica where I lived and worked for a year, and intern at a law office. All of these experiences fufilled my years at college and inspired me to attend law school.

Start dreaming about your ideal college and right down exactly what you want in a school. Then, begin visiting schools early and see how well they match up to your dream school. Then, begin searching out and applying for scholarships early so that even if your dream school is out of your family's price range, you can still make it happen for yourself. When you have finally decided which school you want to attend, be ready for lots of fun, friends, and excitement. Don't be afraid of being homesick, its natural and there are plenty of people at your school to help you. Don't be afraid to ask for help, we all need it at some point and that's what your professors and advisors and counselors are for. Enjoy every day! You'll meet lots of life-long friends and join new activities or continue old activities and you will soon find that your mind is full of knowledge of a range of subjects. College is where your life and your independence truly begin. Embrace and enjoy it.

To find the right college, I suggest going to visit the campus and really just going with your gut feelings. Observe the people on campus, their interactions, the facilities, and envision yourself on the campus. If you can see yourself there, and have a good feeling about it, then you probably will fit in. As soon as you step on a campus, you will get a feeling as to whether or not you will fit in and/or enjoy going there for the next 2-4 years. In terms of making the most out of your experience, simply get involved from the get go. As soon as you get on campus and start classes, start talking to people and seeing where you can get involved, whether a club, joining the Associated Students, looking into Greek Life, etc. The more you do to put yourself out there and get involved, the more you will feel a part of your campus community and will feel fulfilled by your college experience. I am in my fourth year of college, and it truly has been the best experience of my life because I took every opportunity presented to me and put myself out there.

GET INVOLVED, STAY INVOLVED, & BE PROACTIVE

Concentrate on the atmosphere you think you'll find yourself most comfortable in, but also consider future job prospects and their connections with and location to the school.

The most important thing to consider when choosing a college is the atmosphere. Second is the academics. If a student does not like the atmosphere at a particular school, they will be unhappy while they are attending that school. I think that it is absolutely crucial to visit the campus before committing to anything. While tours are helpful, I think that it is more important for the student to spend some time on campus, observing current students, in order for them to determine whether the school is the right fit for them. When I was deciding between two schools, I ultimately chose my current school, USD, because of the warmth I felt from both the faculty and the students while I was visiting the campus. I immediately knew that I would be happy attending USD, which is ultimately what should matter most. While I understand that not every student will immediately feel connected to a particular school, it is important for students to observe the student body and their daily lives and habits, in order to determine whether they would be happy attending that school, living a life like the students observed.

When searching for the right college, you need to ask yourself a few questions. First, why are you going to college? Are you going to college just to get a degree or are you going so that you can learn more about what you are interested in? If you just want a degree, then choose a large, state school. If you want to learn as much as possible, choose a small, private school. It will be worth the tuition, trust me. Visit a few colleges to get the feel of the atmosphere before you choose a specific one. Once in college, participate in campus-wide activities! You only have four years, so do as much as you can in those four years. Play a sport or join a club. Make sure to focus on your studies, but don't let your studies control your life. Always make time to do other things and get involved in the campus community.

Make sure you check out MANY different school so that you can get a feel for what kind of school you are looking for. Then, try to hone in on no more than 10 school and visit all of them. Make sure to keep a journal or write notes about the school because they will all get jumbled in your head. Next, try to do an overnight visit to the schools that you are seriously thinking about attending. Talk to the students and faculty at the schools that you may attend. Then, talk to friends and family and seriously think about what school you want to attend out of the ones that accepted you.

The best way to find the right college is to visit campus. No matter how much you know from information packets and the website, you will never really know about the school until you visit. The best way is to go on a tour, do a day visit or even an overnight visit and talk with some students. They will be able to give you an honest opinion about the school, without being employed by the school. The key to making the most of your college experiance is to get involved. I know everyone says that getting involved is the best way to get involved, but it really is. You will meet people in classes and make friends with the people you live with but you will form the best bonds with the cohesiveness of an orginization behind you. I love college, it is probably the hardest most stressful experiance I've had in my life so far, but it is so worth it. Try not to get too stressed out about the decision, because as long you make the desicion you feel is best it will all work out!

Tours sometimes just aren't enough, you should try to spend a weekend or atleast a night on the campus to get a feel. If the collge is based around sororities and fraternities, they are most likely a little bitchy to be honest with you. The smaller the scool. te smaller your class size will be, and the better the chance for you to get to know your professor and get a good academic experience. I would also check to see what the living situation is at the school. If after freshman year everyone moves off campus, then it will be dead on the weekends and probably wont have much to offer in terms of food and activities. Look at how diverse the campus is, diversity definatly tells you how a lot of students may feel regarding minorities and white supremacy, if this is an important issue to you. Also, location is key!! If you are in the middle of no where your kid will be at keg parties etc. Big town= bars.

Make sure that they school you choose has the classes you need based on your major. And pick a major that you think you will be able to find a job that you will be happy with. Pick the school that you think is the best place for you mind to develop and flourish.

My best advice is research the college. Ask yourself what kind of person are you. Are you a city or country person? Do you want a change in surroundings? Are you ready to be far away from family/home? These questions will help you decide the location of your future home. Now, if possible, stay near the college for a couple of days. Decide if the surrounding community is right for you. Then, picture yourself sitting under that tree in the middle of campus, can you imagine it? Try talking with current students attending the college. Ask them all sorts of questions about the life on and off campus. Current students should know the university and its surroundings the best, not the school's website. You must also look at your financial situation. Characteristically the college may be perfect but fiancially you may struggle. Once a college is chosen you may still feel as though you hadn't chosen the RIGHT school. However, once the semester has begun, you will feel a sense of belonging and freedom. Then everything should start to fall into place and that's when you know that the college you chose is the one.

I would suggest that you think seriously about what you expect from your college career. You need to be aware of your hopes and expectations. Doing so will, hopefully, ensure that you will not be disappointed by your choice of college. Perhaps most importantly, you also need to consider under what conditions you are best able to learn. You also need to consider the social environment of the school. You also need to think about the social atmosphere that you will be most comfortable in. Lastly, you need to think about how far you are willing to be from your families. For parents, you need to seriously consider how the tuition situation will affect your family. Parents also need to remember that your child's time at university is one of the most important of their life. For the first time, they are living on their own, making new friends from all over the country, thinking more seriously, trying to decide what they want to do with their lives, and generally discovering the kind of person that they want to become. It is imperative that you allow this process to happen and to try to be as supportive as possible.

I don't believe there is such thing as the right college for a person. What makes an experience good is what you do with it. The school I chose was wrong for me in many ways, but because I was in a less-comfortable situation, I was able to get more out of my college experience. My advice to prospective students and their parents is to disown the idea of a perfect fit because it may not exist and instead consider the basics. I know very well that there are many factors beyond the basics that make this choice more difficult. I believe it is better to choose a school on whatever criteria you feel is most important, such as location, academics, or social life than it is to be dishonest with yourself about your priorities. At the end of college, what will you want to remember? I think this question often puts this difficult decision into perspective. In the end, a college becomes a good fit for you if you are honest with yourself, and if you begin the journey knowing that in just 4 short years, you will be left with the memories you created.

Parents, I advise you to visit some of the schools withthe children so you can get a feel for the college you want you child to attend. Attend an event on campus. Speak with some of the professors. Students, speak with the students that attend the school. Make a list of questions that answer the lifestyle and education you want to receive. College has been the greatest gift to me thus far but only because I really put the time and effort into searching for it. You must be dedicated. Work hard. Life and college are about the choices you make and you can only go as far as you believe in yourself and future.

The college experience I have learned so far is something I will apply for the rest of my life. I encourage parents and students to go and visit so they can see the campus it pretty much speaks for its self.

I think when you first enter college you need to go to as many events and mixers as possible and be open to everybody and everything. That is how you will find out who you are and find friends to last you a lifetime.

You must always go with you inside feeling when deciding on a college. The prospective student will instantly know if this campus is right for them. Academics should be the focal point on decision making and the teacher to student ratio. You must feel this place can be your home for the next four years thus it is wise to make a conscious choice.

My advice to students is to participate in extracircular activities .I strongly recommend that you ask for help when you need it, take part in class discussions because that is what makes going to class interesting! Speak your opinion but respect other people's opinions. Keep in mind that college is different than high school! You will not have teachers forcing you to go to class or do your work,its up to you to keep yourself on track. Do not feel insecure when your not getting straight A's like you use to, college is suppose to be challenging! Just work hard and do your best. My only adive to parents is to be supportive of their student in any way they can.

Before choosing a college make sure you go through all their financial awards. Do not assume that the unversity will give you more than what you see in your financial award. Also, consider the size of a typical class as well as the housing options and prices. Research their financial aid center and find out how helpful they are. Make sure your selected college offers what you want to study. Go over their general education requirements and how easy they make it to transfer summer credits from junior colleges.

You should know whether you want a BIG capmus, small private campus. Decide if sports are important, if big class sizes matter, weather year round is important... Decide if you are going to live on campus or off capmus and see if they offer reasonable lodging for each. Know about the facilities for your major. Does the school focus atention on your field of study... Just ome important questions.

In terms of find the right college, my principal suggestion would making sure whether or not you want your school to encourage your faith or religion, or if you don't have one, then a school which is indifferent to religious matters. I am a Christian and I went to a Catholic university. I found that religious affiliation was indeed a very beneficial aspect of my school choice; I liked having the option of bringing faith issues and theogical discussion into the classroom without fear of being discouraged from doing so. There was no requirement at USD to be affiliated with any specific religion, nor was religious teaching infused into the material. However, I believe the required theology courses were extremely important to expanding students' cultural and academic horizens, no matter their belief system, and crucial to a holistic understanding of other subjects in history, political science, literature, etc. Participating in as many extraccuriculars as you can aside, my one piece of advice for making the most of your college experience is to participate in study abroad if your school offers it. Studying in Florence, Italy was one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in my life.

Whatever colleges you look at, whatever programs you are interested in, just remember that you can always can colleges, if you do not feel comfortable, you can also change your area of study, if you are not comfortable with the subject, but you probably will not always find a way to pay for college. I recommend that to all incoming college students that if you want to attend any college, private or public, make sure to findout what ways are available so you can pay for tuition, books, food, and housing. While there are several factors that go in to the college decision, make sure that whatever school you choose that you can (a) afford the tuition or (b) position yourself so that you can pay tuition each semester through financial aid, work study, loan or other means. A financial-aid tip: Check and see if you have or know a family member or relative works at the university of interest or a related university. Some universities have financial aid programs or are apart of a group of institutions that allow each relatives of university workers to earn one college degree at the cost of paying taxes on the tuition.

For parents, make sure that the campus is right for your kids because nothing is worst than an investment where the person your investing in does not want to be a part of it. Students unless you are 100 million percent sure the school you want to go to is IT for you, take a tour because nothing says "I can make it here" more than actually being there!

Take AP classes in highschool to prepare for the college work load and save money by passing the AP test and getting credits transferred.

Anywhere you end up, you can make the most of it. What you get out of college is what you put into it. So live it up while you are there and don't let the small things hold you back from what YOU want to do.

I chose the university I wanted to attend by visiting the campus. You cannot truly know whether or not you are a fit for a campus, until you step foot on the grounds and experience the atmosphere. That's how I fell in love with my university. Also, don't be afraid of loving a college your friends aren't interested in. It's so much fun to branch out! In addition, be realistic about your financial situation and have a plan of attack for aquiring financial aid. It will make the whole process of paying for college easier.

I suggest that students visit colleges before committing. I visited the University of San Diego and instantly fell in love with the academic environment and the people I encountered. The tour of the campus was vital for my decision to attend my current school, and it is a decision I would never change. I know that tours can be tedious and a bit redundant, however, I find them important because they allow the students to get a feel for the environment they could be living in. My second piece of advise is to simply trust your instincts. I was wait-listed for the University of San Diego at first, so I went to school in New York my first year. When I applied for transfer, I had a choice between two schools, and my instincts are what I ultimately acted on, and I have never been happier. I knew in my heart that I needed to be in San Diego, and while no one tried to convince me of antything, I think that those close to me understood that I belonged in San Diego. My instincts have yet to fail me, so i think they are important to act on.