Boise State University Top Questions

Make sure they have their priorities straight.

Make sure it is a school you want to attend. Cause it will be home for 4-5 years or even more.

Finding the right college is hard, especially when you have no idea what you want to do with your life. I would suggest picking a college that has many opportunities for you to experiment with different majors and decide which one is best for you. To make the most of this experience, try a variety of classes that interest you. Once you find subjects that you can relate to, take more classes on that subject. For example, when I came to college, I had no idea what I wanted to be. I started out by taking different core classes. All the classes were interesting, but i ended up loving my Child Educational and Psychology class. The class was an intruduction to learning and teaching. It was after this class that i realized I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. My advice to students about making the most of their college career is to never give up. College can be very frustrating, but with persistance, determination, and a lot of patience, it can help you figure out what you want to do for the rest of your life and become successful doing what you love.

As far as choosing the right college I would make myself aware of the degrees available from the college. You don't have to know exactly what you want to study in college but just making sure that the college has lots of programs that interest you is important. I would tell students to make sure and get involved on- and off-campus, and don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone to meet new people. Of course you also have to consider the cost because being stressed about how you are going to pay for college can distract you from the real reason that you are in college, which is to get an education. Also, just remember that "what you don't know, you don't know" and, especially in college, you are responsible for finding the answers to your questions. There are always people on campus willing to give some guidance and help but it is your job to seek them out. Overall, if you work hard and just have fun with your college experience it will all fall into place.

Don't be afraid to ask all the questions you have and explore every college you have an interest in. There is no such thing as a bad or dumb question and it is impossible to pick the right school if you don't know enough about it. You may need to think about calling the admissions office and asking if you can sit in on a 100 level class or touring the campus as well as the surrounding area. Don't be afraid to ask if the campus is known as a party school or if the alcohol consumption is relatively low. It's also important to talk to the financial aid office and make sure that you will be able to afford to attend the school of your choice. They may know of scholarships or grants that you're elegible for that aren't necessarily well known.

Advice to give parents and prospective students looking for the right university is to make sure that university has a good reputation with the education and studies that student is wanting to study and is concerned about the student's future and experience at the university.

I don't know what college is going to be right for you so If I have any advice concerning picking your college I would say that you should start looking in advance so that you can plan for tuition, housing, and other costs. I started too late and now I'm stuck working nearly full-time and going to school full time simultaneously which has made the experience more difficult than it needs to be. The only other advice I would give would be on the academic level. Don't start college if you aren't committed to it. I see too many students taking classes that have no idea why they are taking them. These are also usually the students that get the worst grades and end up taking classes over and over again. Even though college is a great way to get ahead and seems like the next logical step after highschool if it doesn't mean anything to you personally it's a waste of your time and money. You have to take college seriously to do well.

Always ask questions!! Even if they do not seem that important still ask them.

College it very intimidating and can be very overwhelming. I would have to let the parents and the student of any future college know that for the parents it's time to let your children move on to bigger things and most importantly life. Don't worry if you don't hear from them every week, it's not like they don't love you anymore, but in all reality they are coming to the realization of how much you really did for them, and have most likely gained more appreciation for you. For the future student it's okay to have fun at college. It's not a race to see who can get in and out the fastest. It's meant to be fun and exciting but do remember why you are really there. Overall it will be great times. You'll then look back and see that college was some of your best times and that you made life time friends and connections, that's the way it should be. Finally Enjoy yourself, you're not grown up yet.

Make a choice that is financially smart, as well as academically smart. Don't decide what you want to major in too quickly, take a variety of classes and delve into a couple more advanced classes in the area(s) you are thinking of before you make your final decision. Don't be afraid to change if you decide it isn't what you really want, and don't feel forced to go one way or abandon what you really want to do just because of how much money you can make. If you love what you are doing, then you will find a way to make it work. Lastly, apply to more than one school and aim high by applying to one or two that you don't think you will be accepted into. You never know...