California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Top Questions

first you have to know and understand what you want to get out of college. of course everyone wants to get out there and meet new people and learn new things but frankly, you can get that anywhere if you put yourself out there. when finding a school, going to the town and campus would be a very good idea. knowing what your future enviornment could be can set the mood for your next few years. and when you are there, try to talk to a professor in your college. if you get a good vibe from them and you can see that they truely want to help you out then it might be a good choice for you. if they kind of brush you off and speed through the meeting then you know they are just there for their job and dont really care about their students. after you pick the college of your choice, make sure you put yourself out there. join clubs do activitie with neighbors pledge a frat in the begining just to try it and if you dont like it- at least you know you tried. that is what college is all. thank you

Apply to about ten colleges. Visit your top three.

Parents, don't make the decision for your child. Although you think you know better, they're becoming adults and need to make their own choices. It was under my parents' pressure to go to this school and I was thoroughly unhappy during my first quarter, because I knew I didn't fit in. Students, it's really important you visit the campus first to feel how comfortable you would be with people. Ultimately you will make lifelong friends, so you don't need to worry about going to the same school as your high school friends. First of all, don't be lazy! I don't mean just in schoolwork, but in your social life, go all out! I'm in my fourth year and I'm already dreading graduation because I'll be missing all the learning experiences: learning how to program, how to play king's cup, how to save the world.

I think one of the most important factors for choosing a school is often overlooked. It is the intangible factor, something that cannot be recorded or described and is unique from person to person. When you are walking the campus, think to yourself, "does this feel like a place I can see myself calling home?" Also, how comfortable do you feel on this campus? Personally, I was slightly intimidated by a few campuses; if I chose one of these, homesickness and anxiety would plague my freshman year transition and experience. Cal Poly had a real "homey" feel, and this really has made it easier to stay true myself and stay focused on my goals while meeting so many new people. Also, one piece of advice for college: do whatever makes YOU happy, while still pushing youself. You can always achieve more than you think you can, so believe in youself!

Visit the college. See if you can place yourself there. Look at the town or city. This is going to be your home for at least four years. Also, look at the programs offered at the school. Look at the school's reputation. When you get to the right college, you should try everything and just be open and welcome to meet new people. College is a huge buffet of oppurtunity, so don't limit yourself.

Visit any schools you are even THINKING about attending. While there, be sure to find out about financial aid and what kind of atmosphere the school provides when it comes to performing your school work. The reason i chose my school is because i enjoyed the environment. As a prospective visiting student, i felt like i already fit in. It is crucial that your school does not only excel in academics, but in extra-curriculars as well. What i mean by that, is that your school needs to have something available that fits you! This organization or club doesnt have to be one of the best in the nation, but it needs to have the facilities and tools available to help you become a succesful person. In a growing world where technical skills are becoming more advanced yet easily obtainable, it is vital that your school has the ability to transform you in the person YOU want to become for the upcoming adventure of the rest of your life.

Finding the right school is definitley difficult and stressful, but I think that it is important to remember that you will have a wonderful college experience at any school. College is what you make of it and you should choose a school you could see yourself fitting in. Don't base your decision on what other people might think or say, but on your gut feeling of what's going to be a good fit for you. Once you get to school, I think it's important to get involved in dorm life and make new friends. It's wonderful to keep ties to your friends from high school but don't let those interfere with new friendships. Take advantage of the area around your school and really explore all the fun things to do around you. On top of having fun, study hard! It's definitley an adjustment, but if you set aside time for play and work you'll find yourself in a happy rythm.

The most important thing is to not waste time and money. Instead of picking the college your in love with because of the campus or sports teams, its important to look at the fields of study. Try and narrow down what you are interested in, and look for schools with outstanding programs in those fields. When you've researched that, then its a good time to see the campus and such, and try to get a feel of the atmosphere, and see if you can picture attending there. Most likely you will be drawn to one, and more often then not, thats is the place for you.

I always tell parents that taking a trip to visit colleges your son or daughter is interested in is really important. You can't get a feel for the environment just looking at a website the way you can actually visiting the campus and town. Colleges want to sell themselves, so they'll paint the prettiest picture possible on the website and pamplets which might be misleading to the prospective student. I've learned that it's really important to figure out a study method that works for you early on in your college career. College courses give you a lot more freedom with your time, and don't babysit you the way you are in high school. Some students study in big chunks of time on certain days, some study in smaller chunks on more days. Some take lots of breaks during their periods of study, and some don't. What's worked the best for me and what most students do it Cal Poly is follow the "work hard, play hard" rule. Being a Poly student takes a lot of dedication, but our schools reputation and the prestige of a Cal Poly degree is well worth the effort.

Choose a school which is balanced with a good program for your major, a diverse student population, and plentiful extra-curricular activities. Don't only look at rankings but visit the school itself to see if it feels right for you.