Boise State University Top Questions

High school is just the beginning of a wonderful and amazing new life. College gives you the opportunity to meet new people, try new things and ultimately realize your true potential. Attending college also allows you to leave home and truly establish yourself as a responsible adult, living in a drastically changing world. Although it can be disheartening in the beginning, the transition from high school to college is eye opening and absolutely necessary to your furtherment as both a student and a person. The only way to truly realize your potential is to attend college and push yourself to your limits, college gives you the opoortunity to explore new worlds and do things you would otherwise never have the opportunity to do.

Be prepared, there are a lot more to college then a few simple majors and classes to enroll in. Sure, you might go in thinking that you want to be a Psychology Major, but have you ever considered Exercise Science or Multi-Ethnic studies or Early Childhood Studies? Prepare yourself to have your childhood dreams stomped on because that Engineering degree is going to be a lot more math and science than you ever want to handle and that Psychology degree does not mean you can become a Counselor after you're done. How many years is it to become a doctor? This college step is not the last step in your life, and depending on which major you choose, you may not be done with your education until you are bleeding essays and tests. But with this said, have fun. Don't stress. You have a lot of time to figure out your education and life pathway. You need to get involved, meet people, don't be afraid to ask the professors for help, and just try to understand what your classes are talking about. Do this, and college will be fly by.

For the parents: I know that it can be really hard to see your child go off into a world were you can no longer proctect them like you once could. But help them and incourage them. They need it more that you think. For the students: Take advantage of your opportunities. Meet new people, take in new experiences, new foods and ways of living. Get involved and be active. Its a very inspiring atmosphere to be in. Everyone belives they can change the world. And many do, in there own little ways.

Finding the right college should be very important to a new student, but it shouldn't be the end of the world if the student ends up picking a college that isn't their top choice. Students and parents need to remember that transferring is always an option if a school doesn't fit as well as a student thought it would. Also, just because a school isn't your top choice, if it feels like someplace you want to be -- go for it! Opportunities await at every school no matter the location or price. I feel that it's really important for students to live on campus to make the most of their college experience. There are things on campus that one will experience that he or she won't get by living at home or off-campus. Make the most out of your late teens/early twenties while you can! It's a few years that one will never get back, and the experience isn't the same when you're 30!

Not only look at a campus environment but also look around the city to find attractions that suit your lifestyle.

Find a nice balance between the school of your dreams and the affordable local school you know of. Chances are, you can get a great start to your education at a close, inexpensive school and then pursue more advanced studies at a more prestigious school later. Make sure you live on or near the campus, as this is the only way to get the true college experience! You meet more people, have more access to the school's activities, and have a room right near your classes. Study hard, because scholarships are far more lucrative than most jobs out there and will pay off down the road.

When looking at colleges it is important to visit the colleges the student is most interested in. I found college visits very helpful. When on a visit or a campus tour the information provided is helpful but what is important is the feel of the campus for the student. A student will know after some time spent on campus if that college is right for him or her. After the desired colleges are choosen and the student is accepted then the school's information provied for the family on the campus tours will come in handy. It is important for the student to choose the campus he or she feels most fitting and will porvide the most oppertunities. The first semester is difficult socially for many. Many students become involved with greek life with in the frst year. I do not recommend this. Most times students choose greek life as a method of guaranteed friends. I would recommend a student to go through his or her first year before becoming involved in greek life. Then if greek life is till desried proper research into the organizations foundation would be helpful in choosing a house most fitting.

My advice for students is to evaluate yourself. Take the time to decide what YOU want out of your college experience. Only you can decide what you truly want. Sit down and consider all of your options and decide your criteria that will help you make your decision. Make your decision based on what your personal likes and dislikes are in regards to school size, class size, campus activity and other similar things. Once you start attending school, make the most of your experience. Get involved on campus and make your academics your #1 priority. Have fun along the way!!

The main thing I would tell students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to find someplace that you can be involved with something you love. You have to feel a connection to your school and take part in a club or organization that allows you to express your diversity and grow. It should be a place that embraces you and who you want to become and it should envelope you in an enviroment that supports learning and expanding your horizons. You should never feel out of place or like you're different and when you find the right school I think you will know. It will just feel right and you'll realize that it's where you want to be to grow into the adult that you are destined to become.

Celebrate your success of graduating high school, but then get ready to work. When you go to college, you are putting yourself into an environment that will shape who you will become. The best advise I can give is these steps. First, determine what you want to gain from your college experience, whether it be a great career, an outlet to express your talents and abilites, or simply a change in surroundings. Once you've established this, use tools such as the internet to seek schools that excel in the critera that you've determined priorty. When narrowing down schools, take into consideration cost. Once you've limited it down to the final few schools, it's very important to take a campus tour. Talk to students, sit in on lectures, and look at housing. Really get a feel for the environment; this is where you'll be while you're becoming you! Once you've picked your school, you've got to prepare for the upcoming semester. Be sure to enroll, find an academic adviser, and choose your classes wisely. Make sure to apply for as many scholarships as possible. Work hard, but remember to enjoy this transitional time.