Michigan State University Top Questions

Make sure you know what school caters to your major, but I think the most important aspect of your decision should be based on fitting in with the culture of the school.

Making the most out of your college experience involves the parents and students. To be an effective student, students must have the support of their families and that includes more than financial support and care packages. Students need to know that their parents understand their trials and are there to assist them if needed, but parents also must give students room to grow into adulthood. Its about finding that perfect balance. College can be a very scary, lonely place without family. For students, come to college with an open mind, heart and spirit. Ask questions and seek answers to every question you've ever wondered. Don't be afraid and never back down. Search deep within yourself and never stray away from your goals. Making the most out of your college experience will depend on your expectations of it. Don't limit yourself! In finding the right college, strive to envision yourself on campus and being enveloped in its social strata. Research its financial aid office and monetary resources. Ask questions to students on campus when you visit. Attend programs of social groups you may be interested in and when you arrive STAY INVOLVED!

?Stop being afraid of making mistakes.? One of my best friends told me this halfway through my college career, and I really wish I would have taken hold of it earlier. College is full of new experiences that will shape the rest of your life. Some of these will inevitably be negative and brought on by yourself, but if you can remember that life is a learning process you will do well. Never be afraid to make mistakes because if you are bound by fear you may risk not living at all.

Wait until you're ready. Don't just jump in anxiously needing to get on with your life. Take things slow and step back to savor your life right now. If you're not sure whether you should go to college, or which college you should attend, then wait and see what happens. If you're really ready, then go ahead, but coming from someone who was still used to the fun lifestyle of high-school after he graduated I'm telling you you're not really ready yet. College takes a serious commitment and ambitious attitude. It's not like the movies where you party every waking second of your life. If you do that then you will fail, and college will mean nothing. Get something out of your life, and take a step back to savor the moment. Waiting wont hurt, and your life isn't going to go by any slower.

Do an overnight stay. Each dorm on campus has a very different flavor to it, and can be segregated by ethnicity.

Most importantly find a place where you feel comftorable, from the first few minutes on campus, trust your gut,. In the end that is what will steer you in the right path... Everyting else will fall into place. Utilize the fantastic recources the universities have to offer, ESPECIALLY the highly educated people called professors, they really want to help you learn & succeed.

For students trying to select a school, I would tell you to go visit the campus first before you make a desicion. This is because campus is where you will spend multiple hours of every day and if you are not happy with the campus, you won't be happy at the school. The second thing I would advise future students to do it go to an early orientation where you can tour facilities and meet some of the professors; just to be sure that they have a teaching style that would fit your needs. Finally, and possibly most importantly, study up on what majors the college has to offer. Read into where their programs rank and how long it takes to get into those programs. Sometimes a school you would never give two looks to has exactly what you need to succeed in college.

Go to a place for a variety of reasons that suit you best. Do not go only because your friends are going there (you will make new ones anyway and a lot of time you grow out of your old friends anyway) and don't go only because your parents went there. Pick a school that is reasonable for your needs, including financial aid, size of the campus and resources available that interest you. And most of all, do not forget that you are in college to earn a degree, it is possible to get sidetracked by all of the social activities available.

Don't just look at costs, and academics. Chances are whatever you want to study is available at many universities around the nation. Be sure to look at the area, the housing, the social life, the faculty and the academics. Make your decision based off of where your personality matches the best. Don't be discouraged if you don't have the recommended GPA or ACT/SAT scores. Apply anyway! Take risks, because when you succeed there will be nothing better in the world.

Talk to people who are already attending the school in y our major and area of interest.