California State University-Long Beach Top Questions

When looking for the right college, my advice would be to think about what you are really looking for out of a college. Think about location, school size, academics, affordability, diversity, etc. If you already know what field you want to study, perhaps you will want to look into schools that specialize more in that area. When you think about what you want out of a college, it makes the decision process a lot easier when narrowing down schools. Something I've learned is to always take advantage of opportunities that are offered. If you think college is too expensive and you could never afford it, pay attention to the financial aid offered to students. Many students I know are benefiting from grants, loans, or work study. There are tons of scholarships available. There are even programs that offer stipends as well as help you in the advancement in your field of study. When you do begin your college experience, my greatest advice is to get involved. There are so many activities and organizations to join and be a part of. When you are a part of something at your school, you are more likely to continue on and graduate.

The best advice that I could possibily offer would be that of really taking advantage of visiting prospective colleges, and really getting a feel for its atmosphere, and the type of students that are there. You don't want a campus with no warmth and unattached students - all that leads to is a disconnection with others, and could cause one to feel alone and depressed. Also, one must take into consideration the actual academia attending - are they academically fit and continuously challenged, or do they practice cheating techniques continuously and come to class intoxicated. Whatever you're looking for, knowing the university you are interested in helps you to be prepared for what the future will contain, and make it that much more enjoyable.

You have to know what you want in order to pick the best college for you. For me, I knew I wanted to go into education, so I made CSULB my first choice because they have a program for prospective educators to finish their credentials at the same time as their degrees. If you don't know what you want to be and can't base your campus choice on that, then at least have a rough idea of how much you'd like a campus. Visit the campuses you're interested in, the feel you get from the pictures online and from actually visiting are not the same. If you get a bad vibe, whether's it's the people or whatever, it's not for you. If you feel good about a certain campus, you'll be more likely to find yourself, your identity, at that campus.

They should look at the programs the school offers and definitely visit the campuses they are interested in. When you visit the campus you become somewhat aware of the environment. Once you're attending, really explore the campus and find out about the organizations that exist there. There is usually a lot of opportunities to get involved with you just need to decide what you would like to do. But don't forget about your schoolwork...that is the main reason one goes to college.

I believe the absolutely fundamental part for finding the college that is right for you is to figure out which schools are realistic in terms of being accepted, and then VISTING each school. The only way that you will know whether or not a school is right for you is by actually looking at the school itself, and seeing how you feel there. Any school can post pictures from their one pretty spot on campus to make the entire campus look beautiful, but until you see and experience it with your own eye you simply are making an assumption, and it can lead to either the best or worst college experience you will have.

Finding the right college and making the most out of an individual's college experience can be advised in numerous ways. There are two personal advice I would give to a parent and a college-bound student. Firstly, the environment. I found this a critical aspect of making the most out of my college experience and that definitely was a factor in choosing which colleges I would like to attend when I was applying to schools senior year of high schol. It definitely makes a difference when you have great facilities and great people for your interaction needs. People that you meet and befriend in college is probably the most influential and critical people you'll meet. You'll never know when a friend may refer you to a fantastic job one day after you graduate! And secondly, definitely a school that offers a great program for whatever major you are planning to study. Make the most out of your college education by considering these two factors in terms of finding a right college for you!

To find the right college, I would encourage parents and students to go to at least five different universities, community colleges, or technical/vocational schools to see which would be the best fit for the student. Not all students are ready for a four-year, and not all students know exactly what they want to study in college. This is why community colleges are good for some and why universities are good for others. For those students who know specifically what they want a career in, vocational schools may be the best choice. Regardless, really looking into a school and it's extracirricular activities that may be of interest to the student are imperative to making a good fit. As for making the most of the college experience, I would encourage all students to stay in on-campus dorms at least one year, participate in at least one extracirricular activity/club/association, try new things that they never thought they would try, and enjoy every single day of their college experience. College is a time for learning and growing, and all students should work hard at their academics for future success but also spend a lot of time having fun.

Parents and students need to be aware of the path that the student?s wishes to take. If they are set for their degree then by all means go to the school that provides that best. If not, then choose a school that will open up someone?s mind to new ideas and different careers. Also, financial aid and college tuition is quite important , so please that in mind. Most colleges will offer the same undergraduate courses so please do not strain the wallet when there are general education classes that do not cost a lot. Also, for parents that have disabled students, I would say to talk to the disabled student services and keep in contact. Everyone is quite nice but there are some services in different colleges better than others. This is my advice for incoming freshman and their parents.

I would suggest that to do well as an undergraduate, the most important thing is to attend class. College is different than high school in the fact that attendance is not always mandatory. Getting over the fact that your parents are not always making you go to class is the biggest factor that students probably have a hard time with. Once you have gotten in the habit of going to class the next thing to focus on is paying attention. Sit in the front of the class where you will be less likely distracted by peers. Taking notes is another thing that will help a student succeed, and this is easier if you are focused on the teacher, not friends. Finally, the student must avoid illegal drugs at all costs. Drugs are very prevalent in the college environment, but in order to succeed in college, the student must be able to not give in to peer pressure. To parents, I would suggest to stay involved with your child. Communicate with them on a regular basis, and keep them motivated. Having a parent to lean on is very benificial to a student who is entering a new world on their own.

Don't go to junior college first. If you do, know what university you are going to go to, and find out it's requirements ahead of time. Pick a major and just get it over with.