University of Vermont Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Alexis

I would go together and visit every single one. It's okay if your child wants to be close to home, I am and I feel like I'm 100 miles away. Leave the choice up to your student they are the ones who are going to have the experience!

karina

when deciding what schools to apply to, make sure you visit each choice, and try to get a sense of what your life would be like if you attended that school. college is one of the greatest, most opportunity-filled times of life, and in order to make the most of it, you must be willing to try new things and be open to new situations and experiences. college is not just about the academics, but its about you and your development as an individual, so make the most of it by taking chances and learning what life is all about.

Taylor

As far as choosing a college, that is a difficult matter to fully understand when in the throes of the application process. I can only offer my own experiance as guidence:. I did not ever feel a real desire to enroll at UVM, or any one school for that matter. I ended up applying to 15 different schools and was actually somewhat fickle about my final decision. Though I might have done better to become matriculated eslwhere, I stand by my past rationale: when uncertain about where you want to go exactly, it makes sense to over-apply, paying the extra 50 dollars here and there, so that you keep your options open. Better to have open doors than burned bridges I always say. Making the most of the college experience? Well that is very much a personal matter. I can speak most definitiely in regards to academics. If you know your major going into school, do that. If not use the first two years to sample various classes in different fields and also fufill your general requirements if you have them.

Nicole

Choosing the right college is one of the toughest decisions of your life. The College you choose will be your home for four plus years. You are not only making the decision of what you want to study or the area you want to live in. You are deciding on who will be your new family. This decisions, therefore, should not be taken lightly. It is up to you, the student, to make that choice. Nothing else should matter but your happiness. If you are unhappywith your choice, transfer. Financial aid may seem daunting and the distance might seem far, but this is the time to take these risks, to delve into that adulthood once and for all. The College experience is an education in itself. You learn so much more from the experience than you will in the classroom. Making the most of that experience should be your main priority. Take the classes that interest YOU. Get involved. Try new things. Embrace your individuality. Even Study Abroad.There is no other time in your life that it will be more exceptable to take risks than in college. If you don't then you are wasting your time and money.

Margaret

Advice that I would give to parents or students about finding the right college and making the most out of their experience is to just pick that college that feels right for you, pick the college that you can see yourself at for the next four years. To make the most out of your experience you should do as many things as possible, meet as many people and take advantage of eveything that is offered to you and really value your time at school because it goes by so fast.

Julianna

There is plenty of advice that I would give to parents and students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience. There is one piece of advice that I feel is the most important. That is the suggestion that the student must remain true to their self. When selecting a college or university, it is extremely important to take a tour of the campus, or at least a digital tour if traval prevents the student from visiting the campus. Feeling an inate sense of belonging is key to living and working as a student in any location. Accademic statistics and catelogues are also important, but I do not believe that a student can succeed in a place where they do not feel at home. Comfort in the university or college will feul the possitive energy and drive that any student needs to do well in their accademic life and social life on campus. Chosing an institution that 'feels right' was the best descision that I have made so far. Being around people who share my values and accdemic goals help me to succeed, and will do so for any student who chooses the 'right fit'.

Hannah

Any college is as good as you make of it. You can get a great education anywhere. Pick a college where you feel comfortable in the set environment . And most importlantly make sure the college offers fun activties and clubs to get you through the week so your not just doing homework!

Monica

Parents: Trust your kids and support them in their passions. students: Be yourself, work hard, socialize, make good decisions, love life.

Kyle

be open minded and optimistic, be very organized in the application process, its way more difficult than it needs to be, but you can do it.

Justine

I would recommend to choose a college not based on name or reputation, but whether or not it fits you and your individual personality. Does it have the right aesthetic? Do you like the programs it offers? Do its values match your own? Making the most of a college experience isn't about doing as many extracurriculars as you can or making a ton of friends; it's about finding people that you connect with on deep levels; it's about loving your academic subjects and loving the process of learning; it's about being inspired by your professors; it's about finding your passion; it's about becoming a wiser, more responsible, and more conscious individual, both in terms of yourself and the wider world. Making the most of your college experience means pursuing whatever interests you and inspires you, and only you. There is no "criteria" that one must follow; you and your aspirations are what will make the most of your college experience.

Kaitlin

When choosing the right university it is easy to get caught up in reputation and guidebooks. While these considerations are well founded, it is necessary to go beyond the overall prestigious ranking of a university and focus on finding a school that really fits the individual. Parents: aid your child in finding a school that fits into your familyWhen choosing the right university it is easy to get caught up in reputation and guidebooks. While these considerations are well founded, it is necessary to go beyond the overall prestigious ranking of a university and focus on finding a school that really fits the individual. Parents: aid your child in finding a school that fits into your family?s social and economic situation without trying to relive your youth through your child. This pressure can be overwhelming and cause a student to make the wrong decision. Students: visit schools and go with your gut. Don?t force yourself into a situation that you will regret based on social/parental pressures. Do what feels right? you?d be surprised how well instincts can guide you.

Emily

Getting accepted into the perfect college seems to be a lifelong quest these days. Parents work at preparing their children from a young age with educational videos, books and toys and only the best preschools. This heroic pursuit for greatness continues with numerous tutors, sports teams, musical instruments, volunteer groups and impossibly high GPAs; an equation for becoming a well-rounded citizen and student. Can a degree from an Ivy League school really accurately measure one?s success in life? I suppose this depends on the definition of success. For me, being successful is a measure of happiness and the ability to get the most out of life, rather than bragging rights that come from prestigious schools and high paying jobs. The ?quest for the perfect school? becomes an all-encompassing obsession for many high school students. The fact of the matter is that nothing?s perfect. A college experience can be anything that you want it to be, all that is needed is a positive attitude and the drive to succeed.

caroline

Do not get too hung up on finding the perfect match and deciding what you want to do before you get there. If you already know what you want to do, great! If not, try to chose a place with a lot of opportunity and experience as much as you can in and out of the classroom!

Drew

The size of the school is important to consider. Also, the location is very key. I ended up in a school that I didn't like because the town it was in was deserted and boring. Also, consider the administration as you will be dealing with them quite often. It is not a good feeling when you have problems with the administration because they control your education.

Rylan

Let the kids pick their school. Also, sometimes your last choice becomes your first because you realize you have no idea what you want. Most of the time it will work out in the end, you can always transfer, so try and do good in the beginning. You can party a lot and still do well.

Calandra

Find a place where you feel comfortable being yourself.

Colleen

Go where you like.

Emily

Student's Don't let your parents push you to hard into going to college... This is what you want, not what they want!

Maryl

Explore different colleges in different areas of the country. Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Look at what academic programs, athletics, clubs, and other activities the school offers. Take a campus tour and chat with people who go to the school and get to know the town.

Oliver

Be sure to take college tours and pick a school that is stereotypically what you are looking for. Chances are, whatever you hear about a school is true.

Amber

College is a huge deal! Many would say that it really isn't, that it is just part of getting older. However, only a small percentage of people across the country actually have the opportunity to go to college. As one of those lucky individuals I believe that finding what is right for you is very important. Everyone is different. We all have different learning styles, sleeping schedules, eating habits, study skills. Colleges may be looking for anyone, but you need to look for a college that you will be able to call home for 4 years. It is the place you learn foundational life skills that you will base the rest of your life on including people and study skills, living habits and even how to have a healthy relationship be it with or without sex. Your college choice should be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} your own. I was told in my most recent nursing course that pain is individual. College is individual. Just be smart about it. You wouldn't be going to college if you weren't. ;)

Kirsten

When deciding on the perfect school, you must visit it first. The atmosphere on campus makes a considerable difference. If you can't decide between schools that offer an equal amount of what you're looking for, then walking around the school grounds observing the buildings and the environment can help you out. Go ahead and take a guided tour throughout the school. Pay attention to the interest the tour guide seems to have in the school they're showing you. One other important part to deciding the right school is to take a look at the city it's in. Students might easily get bored of the same activities on campus all the time, and having something to do away from school every once in a while is always a good thing too. Lastly, unless positively certain of what you want to do with your life, choose a school that has a wide variety of classes, because chances are, you'll find many classes that you'd never think you'd take that end up being quite interesting. You'll be glad it was offered.

Jesse

Choosing the right college can be a daunting task, but it doesn't have to be. For me, the choice became clear when looking at the atmosphere of the college and the surrounding community. Burlington and more specifically the University of Vermont provides an exciting and safe opportunity for students to achieve their academic goals and equally important, explore their own beliefs and individuality. Academia success is just the beginning of what the University of Vermont represents. UVM creates and sculpts each student into future leaders of our generation emphasizing, individuality, education, and success in all aspects of life. UVM provides the environment for students to achieve their goals and pursue their dreams by enabling them with knowledge. For me it was establishing lasting friendships with not only fellow students, but professors as well. Through those relationships I have grown into the man I am today, inspired to bring about change and goodness to everyone. As I did, you can do the same by following your heart. There are many great schools throughout the world, but follow your heart, your dreams, and let nothing or no one get in the way of becoming the person you want to be! GOODLUCK!!!

Matthew

Make sure the area in which the school is located is a good fit for the student, I have seen many kids feel out of place because of a new area and not been able to be the student that they are capapble of.

Pippi

There is always the option to transfer, so don't feel like you are tied down to only one school. If you're unhappy, change.

Autumn

Visit the school of interest and if there is anything that you feel is not right about the school don't ignore it go with your gut.