Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus Top Questions

The best advice that a parent of a college-bound student can get is that it is up to the student to make decisions about college. Choosing a college and a major are two things that will affect that student for the rest of their life. A parent should not force a decision that will change what the student wants to do with their life. It is up to the student what they will contribute in this life.

The most important part of finding the right college is visiting campus and really immersing yourself in the culture and experience. A college can say many great things and present itself however it wishes to, however, a visit may reveal what a college is truly like and may help a student and parent feel the atmosphere. The impression you get by spending a weekend at a school is much more important than the number of people that graduate or the average income of undergraduates that leave the school that you're applying to.

A positive attitude and a willingness to work hard are all that is necessary to find the right college. The college is only as good as you make it. There is no need to put pressure on a student to get into the 'right' college, we put enough pressure on ourselves! Entering any university or college with an open mind is essential to your academic success. To make the most of college , learn from everyone- your neighbors, professors, and even friends. Studying abroad is a great thing to do as a student. More of the world is available to us now than ever before. Get a truly global education, go see the world. Don't be afraid to get involved. Don't be afraid to ask for that job as a research assistant or resident advisor, good things come to those who ask.

When looking for a college, first choose a school with a major you're interested in (or multiple majors in a field, if you're undecided). Choose your school based on location (whether you like the small college-town atmosphere or the big city), on social life (whether you think you could find a group of friends in that university), available activities (sports teams, if you're a fan of sports; recreational spaces and intramurals if you like to play sports; clubs based on your interests or perhaps your religion; fraternities and sororities if you think that might interest you). Also, make sure that the school you choose is at a high enough level to be challanging you; you don't want to end up with a degree that's worth less than the paper it's printed on. Once you get to college, make sure to make the most out of your college experience by going out to join clubs, attending sports events, and hanging out in the dining halls and quads. Another great way to make friends is to leave your dorm-room door open (in traditional dorms) whenever you're in your room, during your freshman year.

As an orientation leader on my campus, I am faced with parents so nervous about making all the right decisions all at once. The advice I find myself receiving the most words of appreciation for is that in real life, you can't make all the decisions for four years in one day. By the end of even the first semester of freshman year, most students have grown so much as individuals that what seemed right for them at the end of senior year of high school in terms of study abroad or extra-curricular activities is no longer interesting. So it is always best to pick a school that has enough students and options, that you feel confident will have the resources and facilities to explore the love of fencing you discover junior year or the Japanese classes you yearn to take after a summer trip with your family as a sophmore. And also not to be worried about making friends, instead focus your time on exactly what you want to cultivate in yourself, like a reading group or a club rugby team, and your friends be more natural than if you sought them out.

Take what you can get, you'll adjust to any small details but you can't make something out of nothing.

Do not try to get into a school simply because it is well-known or someone else wants you to go there. Choose a school that YOU feel most comfortable (in terms of school size, academic difficulty, etc.). It is your decision and no one elses. Picking a school that you feel is the best will result in higher success and happiness.

Campus tours are essential

When it comes to finding a college you not only need to search for a college that has the right type of program available for your major but also a college that you will be able to adjust to as far as the people and area the college is located in. Once you get to college a way to help yourself adjust is to get out and go to as many activities on campus that can help you meet new people who you aren't used to being around.

When students are finding the right college for themselves, they have to be realistic first. They need to realize what type of person they are both as a student and individual. Because by doing that, they will know how to improve themselves. It'll lead them to create goals for themselves. It's taking that first reality-check and sometimes, it may hurt, but you have to do it. It will be better knowing early rather than late. Never comform because what your parents tell you or your peers. Do what you think is the best, whether it is pursuing an Engineering degree rather than trying to do Medical school because your parents want you to. In the long, you will regret your decisions if you do not think for yourself. Your mind will be filled with "what if's". "What if I had gone to Engineering school and would I have better friends who fit with my interest?" College years and the friends you make there only come once. So always think for yourself. Finally, once you get into college, do not take your first semester of college lightly. Work hard because you will regret if you do not.