Washington State University Top Questions

If you are only 99{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure of what you want to do in life, go to a large university. The large diversity of programs and students will provide enough opportunities for you to find exactly what to make of yourself and your career. I have always wanted to become a veterinarian, but I wasn't completely sure. So I attended WSU partly because it has a College of Veterinary Medicine, and partly because of its size. I am glad I made that decision. I am still heading down the path of Veterinary Medicine, but I've found other aspects of the life sciences that intrigue me. Small campuses are nice for students who are definate in what they want for a career and for those who can handle a small community. I personally do not want my neighbores to know my private life, and at a large university I only have to know my neighbores if I want to. Also, be careful with how far you go away from home. The distance can break the greatest of students if they are not well prepared. Other than that, I wish you the best of luck!

Students, no matter what school you choose to attend, do not ever let yourself become so involved in your studies that you forget to enjoy the abundance of opportunity that lies beyond the classroom. College is a balancing game where academics and responsibility are weighted against social ties and frivolous activities. To observe one without the other is a sure sign of disaster to come. Know that as you learn to tip these scales into equilibrium, there will be moments of tremendous triumph and horrendous failure. And it is the collection of all these moments that lay the foundation for your growth and prosperity. The expensive piece of paper that you earn at the end of your run signifies to the world that you have mastered the art of balance in spite of your fortunes and pitfalls. Bear these things in mind, and with no doubt in confidence, you may rest assured that your college experience will be a successful one.

I believe it's important to visit the colleges you're interested in and to talk to students currently going there. The website and statistics can only tell you so much; you need to see if you feel at home in that community. It's a great idea to go on a campus tour and talk to advisors in the programs you're interested in as well. Once you're in school, try to maintain a good balance of studying and social time with friends. Obviously, college is the place you'll meet many lifelong friends and possibly even the person you choose to marry. But you've always got to remember you're there to learn as well. If you've got to work, I recommend getting an on-campus job if possible, because normally on-campus employers are more flexible and understand student's lives. Most of all, I would say just get involved and find out what you love doing. Whether it's an academic club, student body, intramural sports or a religious or cultural group, find out what you enjoy and do it! It's a great way to meet people and round out your education.

Parents: Dont pressure your child into going to a college or getting a degree they don't want, just because you want them to have it. I know so many kids, including myself, who are so paranoid and anxious about failing that it becomes hard to succeed. Support your child and if they don't do well, cut them some slack. Chances are that the problem wasn't a lack of being prepared or doing the work. College is hard, if it wasn't everyone would have a degree. Students: Find your balance between your fun and your school work. It's fun to party and hang out with your friends but in the mean time theres always work to be done. Get things done before you go out so that you aren't getting swamped and overwhelmed when tests and deadlines come up. Writing a paper or cramming the night before a test are the best ways to do poorly. Finally, cut yourself some slack during your time in college. Im so uptight about trying to do well I smother myself and have become a perfectionist in a place where perfection doesnt exist.

I would tell them to visit each campus. You cannot attend a college without visiting it! When you get to the campus, get a tour of campus. Find out about the academic choices, as well as extracurricular choices. The most important thing about is your visit is that you feel comfortable on that campus. If you feel at home, then you know you were meant to go to that school.

I think students should visit their college choices more than once before deciding which college is right for them. I visited a school in Indiana and fell in love with it at once. I thought it was the perfect place, everyone was so nice and welcoming, but once I decided to attend school there I realized I didn't love it as much as before. I missed home and because of that didn't take advantage of the good things out there. I stayed in my dorm for the most part when I could have been out making the best of the situation. Now I attend Washington State University and absolutely love it! My dad went here and I remember when I was younger we would come to some of the football games and they were a blast. I should've remembered those visits when I was deciding on a college, but instead I wanted to go somewhere new and let's just say it didn't work out for the best :) Students should choose the place they absolutely love, not just 'like' because more than likely it's where you'll spend the next 4 years of your life!

Parents: I know that this is a very important time in your child's life. You want the best for your kid and are probably encouraging him to apply to hundreds of colleges, most of them top-ranked schools outside of your home state. Remember, though, to listen during this stressful yet important process. Your child may be incredibly gifted and you may feel inclined to convince him to major in something that will allow him to become a doctor or engineer. If he expresses interest in becoming a professional musician or artist, however, encourage him. You may have the next Vincent van Gogh on your hands. Students: Listen to thoughts that you push to the back of your head. Don't let social pressure influence where you choose to attend. Do you want to travel and serve your country? Talk with an army counselor and let the US government pay for your education. Are you an undecided major? Consider attending a community college for the first two years. You will save a lot of money in the long run. Above all, remember that this is YOUR life. The choice should be yours, and yours alone, in the end.

Make sue to pick a college that helps you with financial aid. Check the student/teacher ratio. The most important thing is to find out how good their academic advising is. Go to class. Write your essays ahead of time. Never miss a science lab.

Many people are afraid of applying to large universities for fear of "getting lost" in the crowd. I've found the best way to mitigate that is to take the honors level classes for one's particular major; especially if one is in a large major. These classes tend to be significantly smaller than their regular counter parts. In such an environment one forgets that one goes to a large university, there are significant changes for interaction with one?s professor as well as one?s fellow students. This interaction coupled with the relative difficultly of the class will almost force students to work together and become friends. Secondly on choosing the correct major for one's interest, I suggest perusing the nonfiction section of one?s local bookstore. Look for the section that finds most interesting and begin to take classes with will take one in that direction. This I found was the best way pick my major.

Apply to the colleges you want to go to, regardless of cost, location, or if you think you will be accepted or not. Be invoved on camups and off campus, make friends in classes, be friendly and accepting.

I would tell students to go look at as many schools as possible and get to know different people at each to get a real feeling of that campus and that atmosphere. It's important that what ever school a student chooses, is that it is like another home to that person, they feel comfortable, and that they really belong there. Once that student finds the school that makes them feel good and that they know they can succeed at, it is important that the student gets/makes the most out of their college experience. The student needs to get involved; go to sporting events, join clubs and activites, get to know other students around campus and hang out with people as much as you can. The idea is to be as emersed as possible that way when a student looks back they have no regrets and they won't be thinking about things that they wished that would have done. And while focusing on school work and academics it's important to have fun and enjoy this part of a person's life!

First off, know what you want to do (or at least what you can picture yourself doing). Then, look into what universities thrive in that field and why they do. Does the university have great research facilities? How about other factors like faculty or government involvement? Does the school fit your social preferences (recreation, sports, social life, community)? Can you see yourself living there for four or more years? If you can find a school that fits all of these needs, and an opportunity arises to attend that school, go with your gut; following your instinct can be the best decision you ever make for college.

Pick a college that provides plenty of opportunities to socialize and enjoy life outside of academic interests. It is difficult to do well in class if you hate life outside of it. The university's academic reputation is important but more important is the quality of life presented by the community in and around it. The best source to determine an institution's quality is likely the experiences of alumni. Find them and ask them what their impressions of the institutions are. If they enjoyed their life while they attended class chances are you will too. Also find out how easy it is to pursue your interests, academic or otherwise, outside of class. Clubs and other social groups can provide help in classes as well as opportunities to make good friends.

do a great job with school work because you GPA means everything inorder to get into allot of programs

As I am not a parent, I can not give any definetive advice other than help your child make the responsible decision. If your child is immature and frequently makes poor choices, consider that when helping select a school. The reason for this is because at every college your child will find a new world of drugs and alcohol. If they have never been exposed to the likes of such before than they are in for wild time of peer pressure and addiction. I have seen "good kids" do 180 degree turns and be dropped out and in rehab at the end of their first semester. For students, I would say choose the school which offers the best options for your degree. The education is why you go to school afterall! Location and your weather preference is also important. Consider the distance you will be from home because if you choose a school far away, there will be times when you go months without seeing friends and family. I have seen this cause depression in more than one classmate, myself included. Remember, if you find yourself unhappy, life is too short, make the move back to happiness.

My advice is to not focus on the "college experience." In the media today, going away to college is portrayed more as a time to cut loose rather than to buckle down and really focus on academia. Those who buy into this idea are short-changing themselves of a quality education. While it may feel good to relax, it is important to recognize your college years for what they are: an amazing opportunity to expand your mind, learn new things, and strengthen your knowledge base in your intended major and future career. Take any potential consequences into consideration. Choose your school based on what you want to do with your life, but don't be afraid to also explore other fields of academic interest. Think about your college experience in terms of educational and professional goals, rather than what fantasies are born from watching movies and late-night TV ads.

Find an atmosphere that your child feels most comfortable in. Make sure it is a school with much support from both administration as well as peers, because it can be a difficult transition to be away from home for the first time. Be supportive and actively involved in their learning for college and no matter how they do, be understanding and try to figure out what you can do to make the transition easier. As a parent, there is a need to let the chilid know that you are involved without becoming overbearing. Learn your boundaries and make sure that you know your relationship well enough with your child not to overstep any boundaries.

Go to campus tours and talk to advisors, professors and current students about any questions you have.

My advice would simply be go with your gut. Don't only think about what kind of degree or how much money it costs because in the end, if it is the school you want, then it is meant for you and you can find a way to get what you want out of it. Don't tag along with your best friend, follow in your big brothers footsteps, or attend your mothers alma matter just so you can be a legacy in her sorority. The kids that get the most our of college do what is right for them. It is a time of discovery and some may think that they don't know what is best for them, but in the end it is you and only you that controls your life, the school you go to, the friends you make, the clubs/activities you join, and ultimately how you look back at your college experience. College is about having the experience of a life time and the first step to making it that is to make it all about you.

I would suggest first of all, that as prospective students use your own judgement and not that of your parents as parents are often times biased by where they went, or wish they had went etc. I then would advise that you do your research on the school itself, and also the campus and the town surrounding or near the campus as you will be spending a lot of time there. Take into consideration reviews from past students as they have no reason to lie so often times their opinions and/or experiences should be valued. Also be sure the school offers the best program in relation to your potential career path. Some schools are very limited in what is offered so be sure you read all the fine print before commiting. Once attending the school of your choice, I feel the best advice I can give is to do all the assigned reading. That is where students, myself included, skimp the most. But if you do the required reading, even though it seems like a lot at the time, not only will you succeed in the class but you will have all that knowledge to take with you.

Do your research on your school and apply for scholarships early. Also, don't be afraid to take chances whether it be socially, educationally, or anything else. College is about learning who you are and figuring out what you want to do in life, so don't forget to dream big and learn as much as you can inside and outside the classroom.

Finding the right college can be a hard process. It is difficult to see what the environment is like if you have never been there to experience it. My advice, first and foremost, would be to go visit the campus that you are interested in. If it is possible, visit a friend that goes to that college and spend time with them there; go to some classes and get a feel for what the experience will be like for you. Next, I would suggest looking into further details about what educational area the particular college is known for. If you are looking at becoming a doctor, you need to find a school that has a great medical school and so forth. There is no use wasting your time at a college that has no prestige in that area. As for the actual college experience, my advice would be to take it one step at a time. Have fun when you get the chance,don't freak about every little thing, and always do your best in and out of the classroom.

Go with your gut and with your friends/relatives suggestions. Don't go with the more pretigious choice just because you think you should. There's never a good excuse for pushing yourself to the limit academically if you aren't going to get a chance to enjoy it. Go to the place that you think you will find others who "get" you. As far as prestige, it really doesn't matter where you get your undergrad degree.

Don't room with someone you know your first semester. Be outgoing, meet new people. Go on campus visits several times throughout the year to see what its like at various times

Most important for a student to feel like it can be his/her second home. Let your children to stay in school for couple days and live the college experience by their own eyes... Attend some classes and meet people. It definitely will help!!

As for finding the right college, aim for the one that has the best program in whatever field you're hoping to go into. If you don't have any idea, which is totally fine, just about any state school would be a good way to start, you can always transfer. Don't go to a school just because that's where your friends are going. It is nice to get to go to school with them, but a new experience away from what you're familiar with is a good way to branch out, meet new people, and find out a little bit more about yourself. As far as making the most out of college, do the work I guess, but this is the last chance you get before you're out in the real world. Get involved with stuff, try new things, study abroad, go to all the home games, go out and party, live.

Tuition cost (staying in state)

Choosing the right college is a complicated process. I?m no expert, but I will share with you what I?ve learned from my experiences. First off, lay down the basics before you start looking, or else you will feel overwhelmed. Get an idea of what you want to study, where the school should be, what outside activities you want available, and how much you can pay. Then comes the fun part; researching schools. I suggest collegeboard.com, and talking to your school counselor and parents to get advice. Everyone wants to get into the ?right? school, and I recommend that you think about which ones have the best programs you need and the most idealistic location. You should, if possible, also visit the campus and get a ?feel? of what the school feels like. Some schools are more comfortable than others. Once you get in, I strongly advise to be as friendly as possible the first few weeks. This is when everyone else is also looking for friends, something that disappears after the first semester. Friends are what makes and breaks college. The good ones can help you be involved and study, the two most important things in college.

Even though a university is competitive in terms of students, it doesnt necessarily mean that it will help in the long run. Sometimes it is nice to find a college that is a little more relaxed, because it gives the student the opportunity to really focus on what he or she is studying. A semi-relaxed atmosphere is also very helpful if he or she can't decide on a field of study, because it gives them the opportunity to discover many different schools.

The advice that I would give to students about finding the right college and making the most of their experience are; 1. Dont turn to your parents to decide which college is for you, trust in yourself 2. Pick the college that best fits your needs such as class sizes, learning centers, and oppertunities. Keep the cost in mind too. 3. Check out the colleges that your interested in before you make a final choice, take a parent 4. Arive early to settle into your new lifestyle and find your classes before your supposed to be there! 5. Look at your time at college as a chapter of your life and take in as many new experiences as possibe 6. Get invovled! 7. Look at life as it was going to be your last day on earth, everyday, you will appriciate it so much more! 8. Get to know your classmates and professors 9. Keep in touch with mom and dad My advice to the parents are; 1. Trust your children, they are going through a major time in their life, they will learn from their triumphs and mistakes 2. Let them decide which colleges they want to look into

Accreditation is important as well as offering the right classes for the desired degree/career.

I would recommend finding a college that is cost effective, looks enjoyable, and works with you. Changing your major is a common thing, so finding a college that has multiple choices that you would enjoy is a huge plus. To make the most of your college career keep a positive attitude, study hard, and look for opportunities to work together with other students. This will increase your chances of a very successful college experience. Be sure to get involved in intramural sports and clubs, making the more friends and learning to network pays off in the long run. These are all important things I would recommend to incoming parents and or students in finding the right college and having the best college experience.

Don't wait til the last minute to be involved in your school. Don't assume that a college in the city would be more fun.

The advice I would give to partents and/or students about choosing the right college is to do a lot of research before applying. Learn how the school does academically. Does it best fit your needs for a college? Visiting different campuses is also a good way to help you decide. The way you feel when you step out of that car and onto campus for the first time. When you see the community, students, the beauty of campus. You might just end up getting that special feeling inside that tells you that, "This is where I want to go to college!" Overall though, the advice I would give is just follow what your heart tells you, and also what you want to do with your education. Don't let a reputation of a school hold you back. I know that at my school, I was hesitant about attending after hearing about the school's reputatuion. Yet I was mistaken and have come to love my school more than anywhere else I could have ended up going. All schools have a reputation, but you dont have to follow that reputation. I believe I made the right choice attending Washington State.

College is something you'll carry with you for your whole life. There's the friends you make, the education you receive, the experiences that play out before you, and these are the sort of things that one such as yourself should never take lightly. When you're looking for a college, the college that's just right for you, go with the one that gives you the best feeling. You know the one-- the feeling that the place you're seeing is magical, enchanting. Everything in it may not be perfect, but it's certainly the sort of place you'd want to spend a large portion of your time learning and experiencing. If you look at a campus and it says to you, "If you give us money, we'll give you a degree," that's the sort of feeling to shy away from. If, however, the campus smiles back at you and says, "Oh, hey there. You must be new around here. Hope you enjoy your stay," that, my friend, is the spirit that makes a college a great one.

Visiting the school before deciding is a must. A student can feel and picture themselves immediately at the school if they are supposed to be there. Also, finalizing the financial aspects is important so that the student does not have to make decisions half way through their four years about how they will continue to pay. The price of tuition is continuily rising so make sure there is plenty of money for the required fees and some left over for the student to be comfortable and not strapped for cash. Overall, the most important for the student to do is to be involved with as many activities as possible because it will open more doors and allow for bigger and better opportunities after college. Remember to have fun because college is the first step to the rest of the students life.

The most important thing is to visit the colleges before deciding which one you will attend. That will give you a really good idea of how the campus feels, how friendly the people are, and if you like it or not. Preferably, try to go during the actual academic year because going during the summer is not a clear enough indication of what the school will be like normally. I also suggest sitting in a college class to witness an example of a professor's teaching skills. Most colleges allow this as long as you let them know in advance and are not disruptive. Another thing that really helped me was to make a checklist once visiting the campuses of the schools I got accepted to. Make columns for the positives and negatives. If the cons outweigh the pros, the school isn't for you. Make sure you do not go with that school solely based on the cost. Keep in mind too the area surrounding the school. If you are used to being able to go shopping or out every weekend, you will want to end up on a campus next to or in a city.

Finding the right school can be difficult, but very possible. To find the right college you need to find out what you are interested in and what type of environment you like to be in. From whether you like close nit communities or are open to large groups of people. If you are already sure of what you want to study you might try focusing on schools that are good in that field, and if you still have no idea what you want to study then try a school that has a wide variety of options.

First of all, choose a city/town that is a setting you know you like and could live with everyday. The setting of your university can play a big role in your overall attitude of your higher education. Secondly, join as many clubs/activities as you can manage because it will give you lifelong friendships, great networking resources and experiences you will never forget. On your first day of class every semester, go up and introduce yourself to your professor- this will create a relationship that will not only help you you in that certain class, but just might help you in the future as well. Remember to keep an open-mind, you'll always be able to find someone to relate to and go to sports events or other activities hosted by the campus. You will have a blast. Lastly, try new things, even if it's not related to your major or outside of your group of friends- college is where you truly discover who you really are and what kind of person you want to be. Embrace it (not in the negative aspect) and enjoy every minute of it because it goes fast.