Appalachian State University Top Questions

Do not get wrapped up in to much your freshman year as it can hold you back from enjoyment the rest of your college career.

Ultimately there is no magic spell or perfect plan for finding the right college. You can find your perfect match in the strangest ways. You have to keep your eyes open but you'll know it when you find it. When I found the university that I'm now attending I was a freshman in high school who had just moved from Florida to North Carolina. I knew nothing about colleges in North Carolina and hadn't even begun to consider that step in my life yet. In October of my freshman year of high school I was with my marching band at a competition at Appalachian State University. I spent an entire day wandering around the campus with my friends. It was pouring down rain and about sixty degrees. We could all feel the water sloshing in our shoes (yes it does flood in the mountains!) and we were soaked to the core. It was miserable, wet and cold, but I fell in love with Appalachian's campus. Three years later the magic was still there on a snowy campus visit. I fell in love with the mountains and stayed for the education.

has your field of study or if unsure then be sure you are not limited ( i.e. a liberal arts school); study abroad opportunity; activities outside of school you would want to get involved with; is it a "suitcase" college; talk to students - at different levels ( and not just the ones giving the tours - stop someone on campus); transportation; financial assistance (inc job opportunities)...PARENTS: be involved with the decision making but in the end,let the student make the final decision where they want to go(too many of my friends were told what school as well as what career to pursue and it hasn't worked out) once at school GET INVOLVED ON CAMPUS,IN THE COMMUNITY AND FOCUS ON CLASSES - don't loose sight of why you are there!

There is an abundance of advice that could be given to parents and/or future college students regarding finding the right college and making the most of the entire college experience. However, I am not completely sold on the fact that there is one perfect college/university out there for each individual. I believe the most important aspect of the college experience is making the most out of the situations you are faced with. It's not about what school your at or what town you're in. It's about the relationships you create and the experiences you create for yourself. College is an experience that will remain with you for life. Make the most of it where ever you end up! The possibilities are endless as long as you engage with an open mind!

I think the most important part of finding a school is being comfortable. Students who are researching and visiting schools should immediately feel a sense of unity. More and more kids today aren't taking the steps to look at tschools, or decide what area they would like to go into. Having this uncertainty going into a school causes a high rate of turnover, making it hard for students ever to find acceptance and settling down to pursue their academic career. It is the parents responsibility to push their kids. Parents should make sure their kids research the schools, expecially the areas that prospective students dont consintrate on, things like financial aid, class sizes, availability of teachers, extra help, and part time jobs. Students should also look to their parents in those moments of doubt when at school. Every student goes through a point when they are unsure if they are majoring in what they want, if they should be at this certain school, or even homesickness. It is an active role that I would like to see more parents fill.

Finding the right college is definitley a hard task. Campus tours will never give you the real side of a college that you need to know about; such as the effect that the alumni have on the everyday life of students, or the availabilty of off campus housing or the actual taste of campus cuisine. However, you will be surprised to learn that not only is college a place of higher education, but it is the place that will most influence your long term goals in life. It's no mystery that over 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of undergraduates change their major at least once. I feel that in order to get a better grasp on the decision you will make, you should consult an underclassmen or graduate student who has spent a couple of years at the university and ask them for a brief synopsis of the school in question. Use the information gathered from campus tours, admission brochures, student interviews along with observations made by you of a typical day in the life of a student at that school and formulate a proper course of action as to whether or not this college fits you or that you fit the college.

Make sure it fits your child's personality. If your kid absolutely hates the country don't put him in a rural college like Appalachain. Make sure he stays close to things like cities and nightlife if thats what he's used to. Don't put what you desire on your kid. If he wants to go to community college let him go. If he wants to go to a university let him do that. Remember, college is college no matter where you go. It is compassion, ambition and dedication that get you through college and nothing else.

The key is to start early as possible. Check out acceditations,curriculums,and especially alumni,gather all the imformation you possibly can.When gathering this imformation,don't just gather from former students and alumni who chose the same major that you intend to take,but get input from every source you can possibly find,go to that college for an in person visitation check out the campus,its layout and its ease and comfort to commute,check teacher to student ratio, ethnic ratio,and anything else that may come into mind before making any final decision,for not only is this an educational investment,but an investment in your life experiences.

Make sure that your student feels comfortable and if they decide to transfer to another university or college, allow them to make that decisions and do not live through your student. Just because a school is expensive does not mean that it is a great value.

Find a location that you will like year around. Some students who come to Boone do not like the cold weather or the mountains and most of the year the area is either cold and there is mountains all around. Also consider your finances an important consideration. Aim for an in-state college or university, but if you find one that is out of state that you like then go for it. Never give up and aim for the sky. Finally, wants you decide what you want to do; do it, don't let anyone or anything stop you.