California State University-Channel Islands Top Questions

Find out what works best for you. Do you like big classrooms where you can get little to no attention from professors or do you want a smaller school with les people in your classes and more attention from your professors. Also, take in mind the distance from home. Detertime early on, if you want to be close to home or if you will do fine with being far from home. Also, pick a school that provides co-curricular activities that your passionate about so that you are able to make the most out of your college experience. Much of the learning is done outside the classroom.

When searching for the right college, it's best if you make a list of things that you want and things that you don't want at your future college. That way, as you are completing your research for different colleges, you can check off items from your list(s) and see which colleges have the most things that you want as well as the least things that you don't want. Then all you have to do is visit the remaining colleges and talk to students and faculty there, check out the dorms and cafe, see where the classrooms are, and then follow your 'gut instinct.' You'll know which college is the right college because it will FEEL 'right.' Once you are in college, the best way to make the most of it is to get involved! It is the easiest and most fun way to meet people and to learn new things. Join every club that sounds interesting, and then see where that path takes you--you'll be pleasantly surprised by how quickly you feel connected to your new college!

Make sure you find out what kind of students attend the school you are looking at and be sure it is an environment (in and around the school) that you will be comfortable living in.

Research a lot of colleges before you decide on one. Keep your options open and never be close minded. There is always room to change your mind, but keep in mind that you should choose a college that best fits you and your interests.

Make sure you know what is most important to you first. If you love the arts, look for an art school, if you love science, look for soemthing more technical. Even if you don't know what exact major you are interested in, having a direction can make headaches of being halfway through school without knowing what you're doing minimal. Visit schools, don't always be next to your parents, talk to other students, go to a party, figure out what campus life really can be like.

Look for something that truly feels like it fits you. A university should offer a well-rounded lifestyle to help create not only well-rounded students, but well-rounded people who are successful in life. Enjoy all aspects of the entire university environment. Check out every event, you may learn that you don't always enjoy them, but you will be opening yourself up to being involved and making new friends. A good portion of college is the social life, so learning how to create opportunities to be social opens doors throughout college life.

When selecting the right college for yourself you must think about a range of subjects. For one, very important subject, academics. What is the major that you want? Does this college give you everything you need? Now this could narrow it done quite a lot. However, you still need to look at what the cost of housing might be, is there a lot of students on campus, and if not do you want that? Think about who you are and how your personality might fit into the right school. Go to a tour and meet people that already attend there. If you just sit and talk with a current student they might help you realize wether this school is right for you. If that isn't enough, talk to a teacher and see what they have to say about the school. This would give you a great idea of how they teach and how you could learn. I would recomend these steps to find the perfect school for you.

College is where most young people find out who they are and/or who they want to become. This makes the decision-making process very crucial. Very often it is the student's first move away from home, which means the student needs to be able to feel comfortable, safe, and challenged in order to succeed. The time spent in college is typically a student's last run before they get shoved into the real world. I believe students should make their time in college as enjoyable as possible because before they know it they are walking the line with a diploma in hand. I recommend getting involved in clubs, sports, and possibly even a study abroad program to really take advantage of the education offered at their chosen college. Learning does not always take place in the classroom and I believe stepping outside of the classroom to further their education should be strongly encouraged.

My advice would be for the parents to allow their child to pick a couple of schools that THEY want to attend and then you and your child could do research on it and see if its the right one for them. Then maybe you can suggest also some schools that you might think your child would like. Also to get the most out of your college experience, you should get involved with as many fun activities on campus and especially live on campus. It's the best way to meet people and still get good grades : )

I went to four colleges and it wasn't until number four that I finally felt at home. My advice is this: GET INVOLVED. It's cliche, it's overrated, but it is so true. I'm certain I would have felt more accepted at my first three schools if I'd taken the time to join a club, a leadership organization, or Greek Life, if I'd taken the time to find a cause I was passionate about, or just go see the city. Let yourself admit you miss home, and acknowledge that you're bummed, but also know that if you go home every weekend and you don't try to make new friends, your experience will be miserable. I look at the amazing friends I made at my fourth school and I am so lucky to have them, but I also think about all of the others whose friendship I missed out on because I wasn't willing to make a new life at my first three schools. Don't be afraid to have fun and laugh. It's crazy and it can be stressful, but these four years are literally the best years of your life.