Arizona State University-Tempe Top Questions

As a Resident Assistant for incoming freshmen, and the fact that I have been a new student myself, I have seen the difficult process a student takes with transitioning. In my experience, I was a little over involved in high school. I was editor of an award winning yearbook, captain of the lacrosse and golf team, both of the groups were top five finalists in state. When I came to ASU, I was utterly overwhelmed. ASU has an attendance of 67,000 students. When I walked on campus, all of a sudden, I wasn't a golden student anymore; I was just a number. The best thing I did was to take on a HUGE university, was to make it small. I immediately made connections with my professors by going to their office hours. Out of the 400 students in my lecture class, I was one of six students to do so. I joined clubs and volunteered and from thereon settled into a social group. By doing this, and knowing people here and there, I didn't feel like such a number-I was involved and the people and faculty around me acknowledged this.

There are many different aspects of a college to consider before you apply for one. Location and financial resources should be top priority in your decision of which college to attend, because in the end you have to be able to get there and you have to be able to pay for it. Apply for scholarships, loans and grants early to ensure you will have at your disposal the financial means to attend the college of your choice when the time finally comes. Once you have your choices narrowed down to what you can afford, try doing some research on each college. Meet with high school advisors, check out each college's website, and if possible talk to alumni from each college. Above all, make sure the college you choose offers the degree program you are interested in. Research the school's rankings, including the percentage of freshmen who continue to attend each college after their first year there. This is a good way to find out what students think about their school. Finally, find out if the school has plenty of computers and other resources, and visit each campus to make sure you'll feel safe and comfortable there.

Figure out what you want to major in(or at least what general field), what kind of school you want(big ro small, public or private) read about a bunch on line then go visit them. when you're there, make friends with people in your major so you've got people with things in common so you don't get too distracted by other stuff

I would tell students not to take the college experance for granted. Try to enjoy every moment. Also do not slack on your work. It is much harder to catch up rather than just keeping pace and don't let your social life hurt your your acidemic life. For parents I would tell them to be patient with their children and do not put extra pressure on them to suceed.

I think the most important thing to consider before choosing a school is deciding what you would like out of your college experience besides academics. If you're most interested in a university where you'll be able to see all the Broadway shows and have access to professional sports, it would be best to consider larger schools in more metropolitan areas. However, if you prefer to spend Friday nights with some close friends at a neighborhood pizza restaurant, it may be more beneficial for you to consider smaller colleges in smaller areas. I think this decision alone will allow you to make the most of your college experience, because it will be geared more toward your individual tastes. It's also extremely important that you get involved in some way or another. I recommend getting involved with one to two clubs during your freshman year to make new friends. Take advantage of every opportunity you're provided to meet new people, because the friends you meet in college are extremely likely to become your life-long friends, and you'll miss out on all the great college experiences if you just hide out in your dorm room.

When picking a college, examine the institution from the perspective of your chosen field of study. Different programs of study at the same university can provide drastically different academic experiences. Talk to several students that are already in the program. Ask them about the faculty, resources, and hidden obstacles they and their friends have experienced. Many schools allow prospective students to shadow current students for a day. These one-on-one experiences are much more informative than the official school tours. Prospective students can experience the vibe of the school, participate in classes, and meet friends. If you have no clear idea of a program of study, look at cheaper schools that provide a wide range of studies. Get your general studies out of the way, and take introductory classes in several areas of study. Once you find a subject that interests you, continue to take classes in that program and talk to multiple advisors, students, and faculty from that area. Always find out which classes will transfer to other institutions. Success in college comes from maintaining good communication with your professors, completing your work in a timely manner, taking advantages of campus resources, and networking with your classmates.

The biggest advice I can give to finding the right college is to visit every college campus that you are considering. Sign up for a campus tour and actually tour the school. This will allow you to see the school as well as the student body. Once you decide on a school, be open to meeting new people and remember that it is going to be different then high school. Become as involve as you can...it will allow you to meet people and cut down on your homesicknes.

Don't worry about the college you pick. College is more important than the tuition cost or the name. The experiences and memories gained from college are once in a lifetime.

College. The best four years of your life. It is the place in which you will grow, learn, and develop who you will be for the rest of your life. They make it sound so easy- so effortless. The truth is, it's not easy- infact it may be one of the hardest things you will ever have to do. Until the age of 18, everything was so predictable, so comfortable. You had your friends, your parents, your own comfortable town. Everything is as it should be, until you're forced to throw that old life away and begin a completely new chapter in this completely different life. You are forced to leave home, make new friends, sit in classrooms the size of your highschool auditorium, and do well in school without someone telling you to do so. And you will! You will find the new you, and be so thankful you were forced into the unknown for it will soon become all you know. It is okay to remember the old life, even miss it a little- but be thankful for the new one, for as they say.. you will grow, learn, and you will develop. Enjoy the journey!

The first question you must ask yourself is: what are you passionate about? Instead of automatically going for the most prestigious schools or the school closest to home, consider what you're looking to get out of college. Programs available for your field of study should be a huge consideration; if you are undecided or want a large range of options and opportunities to explore, then a bigger university might be for you. You should also think about what extracurricular activities you want to pursue, how important arts and culture or sporting events are to you, and what kind of environment might be necessary to nurture your physical, spiritual, and mental health. Do take a good look at any school that offers you scholarships, because you may be surprised at what they have to offer (that's what happened to me)! Once you choose a school, jump into college life. Get to know your roommate ahead of time and attend orientations, football games, club meetings, etc. Try something you're curious about, and just be open to meeting new friends and getting involved. A good balance between social activities and schoolwork, combined with sufficient sleep and nutrition, will save you!