Michigan State University Top Questions

Be your own person. Throughout my whole life I have always asked people what they think of me and what I should do with my career. I never took the time for a little self reflection. I personally knew where I wanted to go to school for my whole life, and that made the decision a lot easier. Knowing what you want to do and where you want to do it is the hardest part. Don't get caught up in the traps set up by your high school and don't try to live your life through others. I realized halfway through my freshman year that I had no idea what I wanted out of life, and took some time to figure it out. It was the best decision of my life. I knew I wanted to be in school, taking the time off made me realize how much I actually do enjoy learning. After figuring out the path I wanted to lead it was very easy to find people with similar interests and hobbies once I started looking. Don't get caught up in what other people want of you, take some time for yourself.

Finding the right college for yourself is a big step and you are really unsure of what college is the best for you until you experience it for yourself. Advice I would give is while you are still in high school make sure to visit the different college campus you are interested in. At Michigan State I am involved in a Day at State program that allows you to take a high school student around campus and to classes, which I feel is key because without the experience and research you will never know what the campus may offer. If you are unsure of what college you want to attend or even what your major may be, I suggest attending a Community College for a year or half semester to save money, get to know yourself better by maturing, and discovering what your interest are for your major. In order to get the most out of your college experience, I would suggest make friends in your dorm and get involved in anything you can! There are a lot of different activities and clubs advertised throughout the campus; you just have to make the effort to attend them.

I would suggest choosing a school that appeals to your acedemic taste as well your personal taste. Find a school that offers programs your interested in and also has a social setting you think you would enjoy. And, once your college career begins you should not be worried about changing your major/s becuase you chose the school based on that becuase part of college is learning what you actually enjoy and are good at and, your first major is simply another stepping stone in moving toward you future. Once school begins dont try so hard to make groups of friends, your true friends will find you if you simply be who you are.

Research and visit numerous colleges, both big and small sizes. Talk with advisors when you are determining colleges to ask questions, and try to stay overnight with a random student to get a feel for the student body. Get information about different majors you are interested in, and the different programs offered. Once you decide on your school, get involved in the dorms and in other extra curricular activities, get a part time job, and stay busy. This will enable you to make friends, make the campus smaller and more comfortable, and help you better balance your studies. Have both short term and long term goals to keep you on task, and reward yourself once you have achieved each goal. This will motivate you to continue and be more optimistic in your studies. Be a part of study groups, and do a study abroad program! This will encourage personal and academic growth, so you can get the most out of your college experience.

The advice I would offer a student on selecting the right college would be to not narrow down your research and applications to colleges that are only know for whatever it is that you think you want to major in. The norm for students, unfortunately, is that we change our major several times. So you're out of luck if you go to a nursing oriented college and it turns out that you're squimish around large quantities of blood. Go to a school with a variety of options for your plans B, C and D. As for making the most out of the college experience, I suggest you put yourself out there and get to know the different people around you. Take the time to have a social life and get to know your fellow students and faculty members. Making those life long connections that may help you get postitions later on and getting a peep at other individuals perspective of the world we live in is just as important as your academics. I believe that it's really the people you meet that enrich your life that makes the most of the college experience.

Go wherever life pulls you. It might make sense to save money at community college, but maybe you need to get out on your own to really start living. Don't get sucked into what other people seem to enjoy or need; remember that you are unique and you can (and should!) think for yourself ? don't become dependent on others for essential information. Don't hesitate to go outside of your comfort zone and try new things. Even though it might seem like repayment of loans is a lifetime away into the future, you should pay close attention to repayment terms and the like, and if you don't understand them seek clarification from other knowledgeable people. It's important to realize that as much as college is about getting to a destination (career etc), it's more like the final stage of the sheltered world in which we grow into people with defined senses of self. In other words, learn facts and processes and realism, but remember that you're more than a vessel for knowledge or a workforce puppet: Never stop learning about yourself and the things that your love the most.

Stay involved, even though I couldn't participate in very many on campus activities I still met a lot of new people through my off campus job. Also, make sure you have GOALS I didn't at first and it slowed me down a lot...its easier to pick classes and get good grades if you always keep those goals in mind.

For students it would be to go away to school if you get the opportunity. You really get a chance to see what kind of a person you are and grow a lot more than you would think by living away from home. Also, for parents and students go and visit a school, even by taking a day trip you will really be able to see whether or not you will like attending a particular school just by one visit. Don't decide on a school based on where your friends are going either.

Have fun, don't binge drink too much, and become a better person.

Students should pursue studies in a practical field in which they are passionate about while working together with parents in order to fund the education. They should weigh the pros and cons of the college and field of study. Students should seriously consider financial aid throughout college as it provides for a great opportunity to concentrate on being a full-time student and not have to worry about having a job to attend to. If you buckle down on your material and put in effort, college will pay off for you and everything will work out amazingly. Another thing to do in college is put yourself out there. There are many internship opportunities and chances to make connections with potential employers. Attend as many job fairs as possible and do atleast one study abroad during your time in college. The world is your oyster, you just have to go out and shuck it.