Virginia Commonwealth University Top Questions

Look at individual teachers in programs that you are interested in. I would make sure that you know that the area is somewhere that you would want to live. If you know what you want to major in then pick a school that has a good program for that major, not just a school that everyone has heard of.

College is an opportunity, nothing more, nothing less. When picking a college a potential student must understand this basic fact. No matter what they guarantee you, there is no guarantee in life. When picking a college do not go soley on statistics they throw at you about how many people get jobs vs. those who graduate because by the time you are done it won't be the same. When deciding on a college it is imperitive to visit the college and see that the student can see themselves there for the next 4 plus years. Every college is unique you have to pick a place that will challenge the student, but at the same time feel comfortable enough to make it the student's home. Don't pick college on statistics pick college on what is right for the student.

The best advice would be is to make your decision wisely, and be sure that the school is the one for you.

The environment where you learn in is a big factor in how you develop intectually and also as a person. College is about personal growth; so a nuturing, creative environment is better for a person than a sterile and bleak one. Find friends that support you, and each other, academically and emotionally outside of sororities and fraternities. Yes, worry about your grades and whether if you'll make it into med school or not, but it's very important to balance school out with your social life in order to maintain your sanity. Make good memories of college, because it takes you at your youthful prime.

Every student searching for the right college should first decide the type of experience one would like to have. Weather it be a traditional university, technical college, or community college. Each student should also decide which environment they would be more comfortable in such as urban or rural. Parents should prepare thier student's mindset for college because it is easy for all of the freedom to become a college student's downfall. Parents should push their children towards higher education from an early age so they can look forward to becoming a more well-rounded person as well as a professional later on in life. Even those students who don't think college is for them, should at least try one year at a community college or university to see if college would be a path that could help guide them in the direction they are trying to go in life. Students shouldn't let being undecided about a major stop them from attenting college either but rather figure it out when they get there. I believe college is one of the most learning filled experiences anyone can go through.

Now that I've had two years of college experience under my belt, I can surely say that college is an essential part of an individual's development into adulthood. With that said, I believe and hope that every parent would want their child to grow up with a strong desire to learn, an extraordinary desire to help those that need it and the ability to accept those that are different. I believe a college should be an agent in the adult development of an individual. If you can find a college that indirectly instills those values of acceptance in a person, then you have found the right place. A college where those of different socio-economic backgrounds, sexual orientations and differences of opinions are understood and not shunned. VCU is that place for me and I couldn't have picked a better choice. This is the best advice I could give anyone heading off to college and this is truly my wish for anyone who attends a university.

schoolis exactlywat you make, no more and no less. VCU is a wonderful school. It is full of a miriad of opportunities, but with out effort on your part it is a wasted opportunity.

Go with what feels right and definitely don't settle. For the price, you shouldn't have to settle. And when I say price, I'm not just talking finances. Your future and the person you will become hinge on this decision. This is the beginning of the rest of your life. If you already know what you want to do, this is your means to the end. If you're still searching for that special something in your life, that's fine. This is your springboard into the wonderful world of possibilities. This is an incredible opportunity that doesn't knock every day. Make the most of it.

Find the school that feels right; the program is what you are looking for, the professors are helpful, and the campus just feels like home. Research the professors and talk to current students, especially people enrolled in the program you are looking out. Make sure you have realistic expectations of the workload and the social life on campus- don't allow yourself to be dissapointed with what you didn't bother to find out.

In regards to finding the right college I think that is very tough. Most people think they find the right school for them, but after one semester they hate it. I think you definitely need to visit colleges first see if you like the campus and the area surrounding it. While you are on these campus tours try to talk to some of the students there to get their unbiased opinion. I think you should find some key aspects about your personality and try to find a school that best fits your needs. For me VCU was a perfect choice because the campus is in a city where it is very easy to get around and find things to do. I also realized that it had a lot of students like me that are culturally diverse, open minded, and liberal. In order to make the most out of your college experience I think you need to let your guard down and be open minded. Encourage yourself to get involved in things you like to do that way you meet people with similar interests! Also always make time for your school work and use school funded tutors to help you!

I knew what college I wanted to attend. Most likely, high school seniors know what college they want to attend. The problem is wanting to please everyone else. I was fortunate enough to have a number of advisors who cared enough about my future to tell me where they thought I should go to continue my education. Nobody thought I should have gone to Virginia Commonwealth University. Everyone had an opinion, but I had the courage to think that my opinion counted the most. Coming to VCU was the best decision I could have made. I currently maintain a 4.0, I am a student leader, and I have participated in two valuable internship experiences. I am an example of what can be accomplished when you stop letting people tell you what to do and start living the life you planned to live. Here is my advice to students: write down your goals, what you want out of college, and the environment you want to live in for the next four years. Look at all of your choices and chose the school that will accommodate those requirements. The rest will be history. Live the life you plan to live now.

My advice would be to visit the schools during the semester to get a feel of what the campus is like normally. Another advice is to ask from several students about their experiences there. The collective gathering of their experience should be a good indicator of what the school is like there.

Choose a school based on two things: academics and atmosphere. The school of your choice needs to have the major you want, with possible minors your interested in and room to gow as a student. You want to find a program that is well established, well funded and well recognized in you field of study. Talk to students at that school in the major you're considering for thier honest opinions about its strengths and weaknesses. While you will spend a lot of time studying in college, you also want to be comfortable with where you are going to school. You don't want to be afraid to walk around campus at night or scared to speak about your opinions. You will need healthy activities to help relieve stress and make friends, to maintian a balance in your life. You also don't want to pick a school that is going to cost so much that you have to work two jobs, just to pay rent on an apartment you don't even like. When you find a school that meets your academic needs and you want to spend 4 years there- you know you've found the right one.

When I was trying to decide on a college to attend, I thought about the qualities of the environment that I wanted to surround myself in for the next four years of my life. I wanted to attend a large school in a city as I had grown up in a small town where I was constantly finding myself bored. Also, I wanted to go to a school with an excellent art program and with students that shared the same open-minded mentality as myself. The moment I visited VCU, all of my desires had been met and I knew that I had found home. My advice to others taking this step in their lives would not be on how to find to right school for them , because when you find it, you just know. Instead, my advice would be to simply be yourself; don't hold back any aspect of who you are as an individual. If you simply embrace who you are, then you will make the most of your college experiences and leave with no regrets.

I would say that it is practically impossible for a parent to know exactly what college experience is best for their child- the student needs to find themselves, and then find where they will be the most comfortable in a learning environment. The most important part of a college experience is probably experiencing the diversity of life for the first time. Students should be encouraged to explore foods they haven't tried, or to take a class that they were afraid to take, or make friends with people they hadn't considered talking to before. I feel like this is the beginning of the rest of your life, and you begin to construct yourself as a unique individual. It is important to remember how helpful this growth and change will help you for the rest of your life.

My advice would be to look beyond the price- look at what the college or university offers (extracurricular activities, values, diversity, etc). It's not only the education that will make your four years unforgettable, but it's going to be the people you meet and the activities you participate in.

Consider all you're options. Do not chose a school based on one thing you like but step back and look at all of the aspects of a school. One school may have a great athletic team but when the student is injured, will he/she like the school they are at? I came 5 hours from home to a school where I knew no one. I made the best out of my situation and became an All-CAA field hockey star. I was pushed out of my comfort zone and that has caused me to grow, and that is the whole reason for college, to learn and grow.

Remember that half of the college experience is not the books students read, or the lectures they listen to. It is about learning to make decisions, creating opinions, developing one's character, and realizing the impact that one has on the world and the relationships they develop. Choosing a school can be difficult, but do not over-stress about finding the "perfect" one. Most of college is what the student makes of it. Ultimately, it will be down to how hard the student works for success, and if they indulge in their curiosity of the subject he/she chooses to study. Also, few undergraduates realize that the "perfect" student does not exist. Be prepared to occassionally fail, and understand that one can always move past it. Instead, use failure as a guideline for the future. It is extremely damaging, and common, for students to try too hard. Choose a college that provides de-stressing activities, and enough time to experience live outside of the library. Also, do not be afraid of new experiences, and take any opportunity available. Such experiences can take a student much further than they could imagine. Most importantly, be proud and enjoy yourself.

College is one of the most valuable expierences in life, so you really have to choose the school that is right for you. From personal expeirence I have to say I had to fight my parents pretty hard to come to VCU. I knew it was the right choice for me and so in my mind it was well worth fighting for. After a year at this school I am the happiest I have ever been. From the parents perspective I understand how difficult it must be to let go and make sure they are doing what is the best thing. The thing to keep in mind is that it is the students life and to get the most out of college they must be happy with thier surroundings. The people who get the most out of the expierence are the ones which put the most into it.

Consider your long term goals... There are a number of excellent and expensive colleges. Shoot for the best school you can find that works for you. You should also realize that graduate school is more important, so save money in undergraduate school, so you can afford the nicer graduate school. If you network, try your best and a little bit more, you will get where you want and need to be. Finding what you want to do with your life should be your top priority. It will save you time, and money. Once you find out what you want to do, you should make sure that you progress towards that goal every day (even on the weekends).

Some advice I would give to new students would be to get out and just try everything. Test out all of the clubs and try to get to know people. Not only could you find something you could really love, but you may make lifelong friends and get connections for after you graduate. Try to be as open as you can to new ideas, new people, and new places. I see some people who hole themselves up in their dorm room and play video games for all of their free time, and it makes me sad that these people aren't even trying to make friends and they seem to be putting all that energy into something that won't give back to them. I guess what I'm trying to say is to try to see what "college life" is all about. Try to make it the best years of your life.

For finding the right school it's very important to tour the campus. I can't stress that enough. I once was interestead in attending Randolph-Macon but, after the tour i realized the campus, and the school itself, was not for me. If you are looking for certain programs, if you want to know the nitty gritty details, DON'T be afraid to ask. Ask questions about anything and everything you want to know. Someone will either be able to answer you or they won't. And if no one can answer your questions I STRONGLY recomend rethinking your choices. As for making the most - don't be afraid to try new things. But, don't push yourself. There is nothing wrong with staying in your comofort level. Schools tend to offer you new chances and oppurtunities that help you to test the waters. Take advantage of them!

Don't let cost stop your child from attending the school that they want too. When it comes to college, its going to be the best next four or five years od your life, make the best of it because when its over its time to enter the real world.

Making the right choice in colleges first depends on the type of education the student wants to recieve. Research needs to be done about which schools provide courses of study in the student's interest group as well as what schools can accommodate any specific financial or learning needs. If the student has no desired course of study, then he/she should attend a community college to get general education classes out of the way before attending a more expensive school. After all these things are researched and decided, visit the schools the student is accepted to. Make a choice in school only after every school has been visited. Taking a tour of campus will make a big difference in the college choice. A school may sound good on paper and then be completely different in real life.

Research is key! Know what you want to get out of your college and what type of location best suits you and go from there.

Find the best professors. The ones that actually care.

Look at as many schools as possible. Take campus tours and visit the department you are most interested in applying too. Be prepared to face a lot of freedom and know that you will have to be responsible and place work before partying. If you're looking at a school with a city campus take a seminar on city living, how to protect yourself and what warning signs could indicate danger. Familiarize yourself with important buildings like the library, student commons, the campus police office, the gym, and student health. Call home often! :)

Spend the night there first. and explore EVERYTHING.

The best advice I would give parents and/or students for finding the right college would be to really research the universities they are interested in. Go to them and visit, through this they will be able to learn what kind of people attend there, what the atmosphere feels like on campus and if they would feel comfortable. They should also find a university that really supports and offers the best classes and programs for the students interests and major. Education is the main reason for college and it should be made sure that education is first in mind when choosing a university.

visit colleges and spend the night. spend at least a few days there, make sure that the campus isnt dead on the weekends. start planning your course loud early, as well as planning for your finances. take students loans, and don't live more than one year in the dorms.

When students leave for college, they enter a world that will mold them into the kind of adults they will be when they walk across the graduation stage. Choosing the right college is pivotal to one's future, yet it seems like such a large decision to make at merely eighteen years of age. The rule of thumb to choosing a college is simple: choose a school with a community that will engage you personally, socially, and academically. When visiting campuses, make certain to notice how the people and school make you feel; can you see yourself walking through those doors, can you see yourself as close friends with the people you meet? Look into the curricula for the majors you are applying to, and ask yourself if the classes sound intriguing enough to keep you excited throughout undergraduate school. Search for extracurricular activities before you begin school, because your individual growth comes from these activities as much as from academia. The people you meet in college will become a family away from home, and you have to be certain that the community at a school suits your lifestyle, to best foster that family relationship.

College is a place to enhance what you know about yourself, not a place to find yourself. If you wish to know what you SHOULD do go backpacking through Europe, hike the Appalachian Trail, interview with people who do what you think you would like to do. Do your research and figure out who you want to be before you go to college and they begin to make the decision for you. College is an expensive privalege, not a free gift. Treat it as such.

definately visit the campuses to see if you like city, suburban, or rural areas better. check out the surounding areas as well because remember you will be living here if not commuting. also make sure you have a little knowledge on the programs offered and the majors. you don't want to wnd up at a school that doesn't have what you want. my school, VCU, is one of the biggest schools in VA and has one of the best art schools in the nation. the art is partially why i am here, but also for the business.

Knowing what career you want to do fresh out of High School does not happen for many people in this day and age. Think of what you want, or what you can see yourself doing, and find a college that can offer an education towards that. If you have thought it over and still cannot decide, find a college that has the most available options, you never know what you may end up doing. But, most of all, remember that you do not have to stay in one career forever, so nothing is impossible.

don't go somewhere because of religious affiliation, party reputation, previous family attendence, etc. go somewhere because it's where you want to be to get the education you want to get.

Take the trip. See the school. Feel the energy. Looking at pictures and reading handouts and pamphlets will get you so far; calculating your GPA and SAT's and comparing them on school websites to the averages will get you farther, but the final, most important step in making your decision will be made when you're walking through the halls or streets across the campus. Something in you will ring true and no website or brochure will ever be able to replace the true essence of the school the way that being there does. Take the tour.

Please make sure that you take the time to really check out the prospective schools for yourself, because what is right for someone else might not be right for you!

Make sure you're not forcing your child into college. If that seems to be the case, let it be a small school maybe a community college. You don't want your child to be miserable or to waste the money.

Make sure you visit and spend time on the campus so that you can get a feel for where you might be spending a lot of time over the next 4 years

If you know your direction, choose the college that can help you follow that course best. If you're still undecided, choose the college that has the resources to help you decide your direction. To make the most of your experience, DON'T BE AFRAID TO MAKE FRIENDS!! College can be a lonely place and friends can help you maximize this experience.

DO visit the college. DO get on campus housing your first year. DO drink responsibly. DO be responsible. DO follow your intuition DO NOT start smoking because your social life is mundane, go meet someone new instead. DO NOT break the rules, campus police and administrators will be less forgiving than your parents. PARENTS PLEASE give your child more responsiblity before they move out. controlling parents tend to have children that just go bonkers with their newfound freedom and get into alot of trouble.

Visit the college, examine what the people are like, and get actual opinions from students who attend the school. They have the best insight because they are the ones who go there. Be very hands-on when you take your tours and even make a list of your likes/dislikes about that institution.It can come in handy when you are making a final decision on where you want to go. Definitely find out about financial-aid not only from a counselors perspective, but from a students point of view as well. Oh and if you have time tour the area because you want to be in a place that encompasses all your interests and be able to get around effortlessly.

First and foremost make sure they offer the fields of study that interest you and if you're transferring make sure that they take all your credits. Also get to know the advisors and professors prior to attending and meet some of the students and ask questions. That hard ones such as how satisfied are you here ,why and why not. What does this school have to offer that you didn't know about? How much funding are they receiving if any. What's the success rate vs. dropout and how many find job placement within a specific time frame. Also check out their technology, how new is it and is the school expanding, if so will it benefit you? Is the school giving back to the community? And lastly have FUN! College gives you that "real world hands on experience," but with a safety net. So if you should falter you won't be ruined and marred before you go out into the real world. Take as much as you can from the experiences; good, bad, funny, and sad and savour them but most importantly learn. It's not only a time to grow academically but also independently!

Look for a college that suits not only the program you wish to pursue but also a campus that makes you feel comfortable. Ask important questions from students such as their stress level and how satisfied they are with the college. Tour the departments and school and try to meet as many faculty as possible to gain an idea how they interact with the students. Also, if possible, attend some social events to see if you would be comfortable outside the classroom. Find out how many and what resources are available to help students. And look at a few campuses before deciding on a school.

Make sure your visit the schools you are thinking about and take tours at the school (dont be afraid to ask questions). As a student make you sure a completely satified with the school the school you choose dont just pick it because that is where your friends are going to be make sure the school suits you and makes you happy.

Parents and prospective students should visit any campus they are considering. They should do an official guided tour, but also walk around the campus themselves and get a feel for what the campus is really like, not just how it presents itself. Financial aid can play an important role in selecting a school, so make sure to contact the financial aid office prior to choosing the right place for you or your student. Talk to current students to find out the hidden details and fun parts of the university. Once the student is at the college/university, study hard. Make friends, join organizations, but make sure that your focus is on your school work. Don't overwhelm yourself with too many activities. And, most importantly, never be afraid to ask your professor or advisor for help. They want to help, and are always impressed when a student takes the time to approach them and ask for help. They'll never steer you wrong, and it never hurts to know a faculty member for recommendations.

If I could advise parents and/or students about finding the right college I would say that their choices should be narrowed down to the schools that would best prepare you for the field that you want to enter after graduation. Once you get into school one of the main things that you have to remember is to be social and get out and meet as many people as possible. This will not only help you to build a good social life but it will also turn out to be a good thing when you need extra help in a class or it you need to get a study group together.

Make tons of school visits, and spend more than a day there. When you are at the school find out how the people at the school like it, and look around for extra curricular activities that you might be interested in.

Make sure the college has what you want. VCU wasn't known as the best school in my highschool but it is the top art and advertising school and that's what I wanted. Don't listen to other people and make you own decsions.

Being very brief and concise, I must say that It doesnt really matter as much what school you go to unless you really have to be part of a unique program that the Univeristy offers. Academic stregth of the the institution shoud be the main focus. Other than that social, cultural and other factors should matter to a certain extent. Do not make a decision that you will regret four years later. Choosing a school, is like choosing a highway that will take you a destination. What matters more is the final destination rather than the travelling expirieince itself. Ofcourse the more comfortable the ride is to you on the highway the more satisfied you will be.