California State University-Fresno Top Questions

Choosing the right college is deminitely one of the most important choices that we face in our lives. I certainly believe that parents have as much things to think as students do. Parents have to take into consideration their budget and their new style of living when the student goes off for college. I believe that they both have to sit together and find a college that is the right size, the right distance, and the right price. A medium sized college is the perfect college because students get to interact more with their professors and with campus services. If the students ever need help a medium sized college will always be there to help more efficiently. The right distance also plays an important role when choosing a college. I personally believe that the support of the family is one of the most important key factors to succeed in college. That is why i believe that it is important to be close to home. The right price is probably one of the most important issues for the parents because they are going to invest their money into an education and sometimes that money is hard to obtain.

The advice that I would give to parents and student about finding the right college and having the most of the experience is to first sit down together and discuss what the parents and student are interested in for their college years. I think the biggest distension is going away or not. If a student feels that they are responsible enough to handle living away from their parents and have proven academic diligence, I would recommend going away. It gives the student a chance to experience other places and new people. A compromise to this is living on-campus while still in their town. These few years are a time to learn about subjects not available in high school and to meet new people. If money is an problem as it is with many students, I strongly encourage financial aid and applying for scholarships because college is a rare time where a student is old enough to learn and experience life and still have the luxury of not being tied down by a career or family.

When trying to decided on a college it is easy to get caught up in the hype of a school. Some schools are well known for their academic programs, and others are known for their athletics, but in the end the only thing that really matters is whether or not these colleges fit your personality. Deciding on a school can be one of the hardest decisions a student can make, but it is absolutely vital that you are the one making the decision. In order for you to really love your college, and get the most out of your college experience you have to make sure you fit into the school's lifestyle, and culture. So when you look at a school don't just accept the information they give to you. Talking to students or alumni of the school provides a great insight into the type of people that attend the college, and can be a real eye-opener. Perhaps most important is making sure that you can achieve what you want through the school. Find the programs you want to involve yourself in, and then find the schools that provide those, and never settle for a second choice.

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Going to college is a large step in the right direction for your life. If you do not get into the college that you want, your college experience can still be very fulfilling. Do not forget the possibile benefits of community colleges. They can help you become acquainted with the college environment while saving you money. You may also be more likely to get into the college you want, if you get good grades. Keep your options open and do not depress yourself by the large choice that will affect you for the rest of your life.

I would tell parents and/or students to look at ALL of the options. Make a list if it helps, and write the pros and cons for each school. Tuition may be a deciding factor, so look into financial aide, scholarships and loans. I think the most important thing I would stress is to keep an open mind.

Make sure to go visit the school while it is in session before you decide where to go. Once you choose a school, get involved.

Choose a college with a good reputation and surrounding area with good campus life and a undergrad program thats right for you!

Some bits of advice: 1) Visit colleges. You can only find out so much about a school from its website or the letters/marketing packages it sends you. If/when you go, take the standard tour but take some time to wander around campus and the area nearby to get the full picture. 2) Don't buy into all the college-related marketing. You don't need to go buy Target's entire "dorm essentials" collection. You can network and make meaningful connections without paying to be in some "academic" club that charges a couple hundred dollars a year to be a member. 3) Make friends with professors and/or faculty. You don't have to befriend everyone with a PhD, but it will help to be on a first-name basis when you need a letter of recommendation. 4) Get some numbers in class. In case your backpack happens to spontaneously combust with the syllabus for your Communications class inside, a phone call can bail you out. Most importantly, where you go to college is not as important as what you do when you're there. That goes for life too.

Visit the school, check out the dorm rooms and cafeteria