California State University-Sacramento Top Questions

Do as much research for different colleges as you can. Make sure you have the right major so you're not constantly changing it. Talk with an advisor and never be afraid to ask for help. They're there to guide you in the right direction. Don't rely on others to help you financially; save up for tuition, because you never know when an emergency can happen.

My advise would be to look at all of the options that your college has to offer. Financial aid, scholarships, housing, etc. It really helps to know how you will pay for college and where you are going to live before you attend. This way you do not have to stress over any of that when you finally go to college. Also, education is very important but it is not the most important thing about picking a college to attend. The most important aspect of called is after college. What you plan on doing with your degree. Because the ultimate goal is to find a profession you will be proud of and happy with. Find a college that will help you toward this and you will be just fine.

Hands-on experience is your best tool when choosing the right college. I would suggest narrowing your choices based on the schools appearance, degrees offered, and housing, financial assistance, safety, and graduation rates. Then arranged a campus tour with the top five schools, observe a class in progress, attend a social event on campus and visit the surrounding of the outer school campus. Finally, based on all the above, decide which school is right for you based on your overall experiences that really left a great and happy lasting impression.

Parents: Take an active role in the college experience. They still need you, not just your money. They need you to write the check on time so they don't get disenrolled. They need you to fax in your tax documents on time for the fafsa application. They need you to ask about the classes they're taking and help them understand whether or not they're filling the requirements. It's difficult and the advisement department DOES NOT cut it. Students: Work. Get a 20 hour a week serving job where you can understand the value of a paycheck that is nowhere near the amount you feel you deserve. You will make friends, deal with annoying people that test your patience and develop social skills. You'll need those eventually, maybe even more than the overpriced education.

You have to start with academics - find colleges with a good academic record in your chosen subject area. If research is important to you, you can narrow down the choices to schools with strong research programs in your selected area. If you have no selected subject area yet then you can usually at least decide on arts versus sciences depending on your interests. Location and cost are next - do you want to attend school a rural or urban area, and what are the total costs and financial options. Other interests then come in - do you want marching band, football, etc. These are the main criteria you should use. If you have strong political viewpoints or beliefs you might look at the faculty to see if they are likely to be aligned or opposed to your views. Once you have applied the filters, you should visit your shortlist of schools to see which campus you prefer.

Don't let the money guide your decision. While I have no regrets about attending my school, there are still lingering "what ifs." What if I had just taken the loans to go elsewhere? Would I still be doing what I'm doing? Would I be more comfortable there? Would it really have been worth it to wait? These lingering questions can and will cause you to second guess yourself at incredibly awkward times - the middle of an exam, while out with friends, etc. If you have to take out loans to go to your number 1 choice, do it. You pay the money back after you graduate anyway, and it's an experience you cannot afford to miss out on. Even if another cheaper, closer alternative exists, it's just not worth the small nagging questions in the back of your head to take.

Apply early and often for scholarship monies. Also try to find a college that will cater to your needs. You need to make sure to visit the camous multiple time during the year to see the different environments that occur at the school. Dont just go during the orientation week when campus is usually closed and less busy. Apply early and often for scholarship monies.

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I advice that parents and students should have a slight idea of what major the students are interested. Therefore they can look up the right college that best teach that field or have a good reputation for that field. Fact is, certain university only offers certain fields and unversity that is not well known for a field will lack classes and staffs for that field. Perhaps classes are offerred once in while and this may slow down the students from graduating. So know your child if you are a parent. Know your interest if you are a student. Don't pay for nothing and be smart.

After living as a full-time student in college for two years, I feel that college should be used as a place for learning. When I say "learning," I do not mean "show up to class for four years to get a piece of paper." It's so sad to see students trying to get by with the mentality that "C's get degrees." It disgusts me. Their parents will have literally invested thousands of dollars for a shot at a good future for their son or daughter, and it sickens me to see those sons or daughters waste that money by showing up to class and fall asleep, wait until the end of the week to party, or cheat their way through an education. Make the most out of your college experience. Make the harder but more beneficial choice over the easier but depreciating choice. And do today what others won't so you could do tomorrow what others can't. Don't be normal. Ascend mediocrity when going to college and... do honestly good work.