Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Top Questions

The best advice that can be given to a student searching for the right college is to get out there and visit the colleges and decide what works best for you. The key to succeeding and making the most of your college experience is to learn time management skills. Learning to succesfully balance school work with your social life is the key to minimizing stress while at the same time having a fun and enjoyable experience. Once you learn to manage your time wisely, you can easily make it to most of the campus parties, football games, and other gatherings while still maintaining a decent GPA.

Be open. College was nothing like what i expected it to be (sitting on the quad in a group of people, discussing literature or some philosphical issue or even politics as another group of students play frisbee), and so i spent far more time that I care to admit trying to get over the fact that Georgia Tech was nothing like what i expected, then accepting that Georgia Tech was never going to be what I had wanted it to be. After that, it was a much more pleasant experience.

It helps if friends are attending!

Finding the right college can be difficult, but remember that the right one is out there. Determine what is most important to you, whether it be academics, the football team, or the social life. Then prioritize those important factors by weighing each one with a certain percentage. Research the schools to find which is a best match for you. Visiting the campus is sometimes what makes or breaks the college decision. A school may look great on paper, but it may not have the atmosphere you had hoped. You will only know if it is the best match if you do all the research you need to. Once you're done with the hard part of choosing the school, making the most of it is fun. There are always events to attend, but it is up to you to go to those events to maximize your fun. Find the clubs you want to join. Whatever your interest, there is bound to be a group just as excited about it as you. If not, be courageous and start one. The college experience is about discovering and developing yourself, but remember education is why you are in school.

Try to remember that college is four years of your life, not the rest of your life. Most people can make happiness anywhere they go and finding the 'perfect' school doesn't usually happen. College is about self discovery and coping in new situations. Do your research, but trust that the decision that feels right in your gut can and will work. And don't forget that if you are absolutely miserable (which is rare, but can happen anywhere you go), you still have the option to transfer.

Finding the right college is difficult and a lot of the time it can mean that you have to know what you want to major in first - photography majors aren't well-suited at technical institutes, just as engineering majors wouldn't do well at a liberal arts school (if they could find one that offered a degree in engineering). My best advice is to find a college that leaves a lot of avenues open, in case you change your mind. Make your choice based on desire to go to a particular school and academic strength of the school in question, not entirely on finances. As for making most of the college experience, understand that a lot of your classes aren't focused on teaching you specific content, rather - specific ways to think. Openly, analytically. Question your professors if you are confused and demand an answer! Most of all, take advantage of the resources college has to offer, be it internship opportunities, the vast wealth of information in the library, or just a solid social network of friends.

Finding the most appropriate college for a student is a rigorous task in itself, but researching the school's mission and knowing the school's predominent focus will assist one in choosing the best fitting school for a prospective student. Determining what the student wants to study before entering college can also bring specificity to what colleges to which they should apply. Also, making a visit to the schools that are in the realm of interest can also assist a student in making their final decision because the learning environment and atmosphere influences and tremendously impacts a student's experience in college. Being outgoing and taking advantage of resources to nurture and develop oneself will allow a student to make the most of the college experience. College is not the time to be socially reserved because great opportunities can pass a student by, in the blink of an eye. College is the time of finding balance between being responsible and boldly having fun, yet, it is a critical time to explore boundaries intellectually and push one's comfort envelop to its extents.

When I was searching for a school I looked for a place where I could hone in on my individual skills. Many colleges offer a variety choices. You need to ask yourself a few questions. What you want out of your college? What are your priorities? To the parent, do not pressure your child into a school that they have no desire to attend; forcing them will be unprofitable to both of you. Rather, work together on this decision; it can have a profound impact on you and your child?s future. To the student, you need to consider where you picture yourself being in a few years, after college. What will you have gained from this experience? Once you have decided what school you are going to attend, make the most of that school. First, keep your GPA up, this will help you get scholarships and excel in the academic environment. Second, make use of your professors; they are valuable connections. Many professors will even write letters of recommendation for you. Finally, network during college! Become a part-time intern at a firm that relates to your major. The columniation of these things will lead to a successful future.

In searching for the correct college, it is important that students visit the prospective campuses and develop a notion of the campus environment. Perhaps the most overlooked part of the college application process is that students analyze too much into rankings and underestimate the value of the campus setting and student body. An engineering school and a liberal arts school have completely different feels, as do city schools and campus town schools, big schools and small schools, etc. When advising students about finding the right college for them, one cannot emphasize enough the importance of the campus "feel", as college is much more than a place one goes to study for four years; the college becomes home and, just as when one shops for houses, an overall intuitive feeling of the house and the vibes emitted are just as important as the square footage, number of rooms, etc. Know whether the prospective school fits your personality type and whether there is a niche at the school in which you would feel comfortable. Assess the student body and coursework and choose the school that embraces the same ideals as you embrace. Having made the best decision, have no regrets!

First, research online to narrow down your choices, but you have to visit each school in person - attend a campus visit. Campuses have them year round. Also, be sure to stop random students while on your visit and ask them questions about the school - they'll be completely honest. When you find the right school, getting engaged in school will maximize your college experience. I am involved a good bit of organizations on campus, and I love Georgia Tech. I have made many connections for after graduation and I have learned so many leadership skills not available to learn in the classroom. My friends who are not engaged with the school are 180 degrees opposite - they cannot wait to graduate, and when they do very well may have a rough time finding a job. Most schools (especially Georgia Tech) give back to you a proportionate amiount of what you put in - many give you more in return than what you put in. So my advice in a nutshell is one, research and be candid with questioning students, and two, get involved! It will make your college experience 100x better!