Columbus State University Top Questions

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The advice that I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experience is to pick the college based on their own preferences and not because of anybody else. The student is the one that has to attend the school and if they do it for any reason besides their own then they might regret it later on. In order to find the right college, you need to know what you're looking for. The parents and student should sit down together and make a list of what they want out of a college whether it be location, size, athletics, etc. Every school is different and this will help tremendously. To make the most out of your college experience, you should look to join clubs or extracurricular activities to meet new people. Enter college with an open mind about people because there are several kinds of people you will meet. Know what you like in a person and what you're trying to find and your college experience will be one to remember.

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look to the smaller Universities, they more often then not are more caring and it is more personal.

I think that it is important to visit the college you wish to attend a few times before deciding on attending in order to get a good feel for college life on that campus. Also, I think that students and parents should look at the majors and minors offered at that college closely to make sure there are enough programs and fields offered that interest the student because it is highly likely that they will switch majors more than once. It also would be a good idea to speak with alumi if possible to assess overall satisfaction with that college, and parents and students should make sure that there is a good career counseling center on campus because I have found mine to be extremely useful and helpful.

Get to know some of the life style and culture of the community as well as the towns security. know the landscape, and whether the student would enjoy the city or the mountains or whereever the college is setMake sure the programs of an area of interest are top notch and would fit what the student really wants to do in life. If very studious check out study areas, if social check out social events and meet the people to find if they are friendly, if athletic check out varsity sports or intramural opportunities. Once in college get to know what goes on around town and around campus. Plays, musicals, orchastras, art galleries, concerts, sporting events, campus life, greek life, intramurals, clubs, and more. Use or help out tutoring, go to the library, computer labs, gym, weight room, get an on campus job, and maybe just hang out with random fun students.

Do the research first. Find a college that better suits your child's needs, such as if there are any restaurants and grocery stores near by in walking distance, has the college has any problems with crimes in the past, financial aid, how big or how small are the class sizes, are there professors teaching the classes or are teacher assistance teaching, what are the graduation rates and/or the drop out rates, are there internships that my child can obtain in their particular field of study, wil the child be able to get in their field after they graduate, and will the professors be willing to help in almost any situation. Go visit the campus and see if the atmosphere fits the child. See if your child will get the quality education that you are paying for.

Follow your heart, no matter what the consequences.

Choosing the right college is tough. It is hard to know exactly what you are going to get because it takes time to get to know what a college is really about. The best thing to do is to have a good idea about few things. First, your area of study is the most important. Find a school which provides the programs you want or think you will want to study. Next find the right kind of social atmosphere you think you will most enjoy. For instance, if you want to go greek then you should find a school that has many greek organizations to choose from. If you enjoy a sport, attend a college that you can root for. It is also important to attend a college with people that you feel you have the most in common with. For example if you are a small town country person go to a school where you know you can plug in and if you want the big city atmosphere then choose a school like that. Finally, one of the most important things is to have a good room mate in mind. Poor room mates can turn a student off fast.

Make sure that you choose a school that you can be happy at for four years. Your university will be like a second home for you. If you feel that you don't fit in, or that the students/faculty/staff are not compatible with you, don't be afraid to look elsewhere. Remember that college is about personal growth as much as academic achievement. Choose a school that will challenge you and allow you the most opportunity to grow as a person. And once you are there, step up and step out! Turning that graduation tassel will be a commemoration of all those years you worked to get there, so make the most of them.