Michigan State University Top Questions

The advice that I would give both parents and students about the finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is go to a school that makes you happy and that you enjoy. With finding the right college, go to the university for a visit. When you get there do not just walk around campus, visit the dorms, library and sit in on a class to get a feel for what the university is about. Also, talk to students who go there to get a true feel about the schools' academics and social life. As for making the best of your college experience, that is simple, get involved and have fun. When you get to campus in the fall, do not just sit in your room the whole time, get out and do something. It does not matter what it is, it could be joining a club, fraternity/sorority, or even just going to the football games. This is a great way to meet and make new friends. These are the best years of your life, so have fun. Study hard but keep a good balance between that and your social life.

Figure out what campus best meets their personality, career choice, and needs. Balance and time management to accomplish everything you woould like to do.

You need to find the right college for you and/or your child. There are so many different things that need to be taken into account - size of the campus, class size, opportunities to join clubs or research projects. Go visit the college AND the department you're thinking about joining. Ask every question that comes to mind, even come prepared with some. If possible, shadow a current student throughout the day. If you still love it, you'll love it for 4+ years.

In searching for an institution of higher learning, I would stress that parents and/or students search for an institution that best fits the students needs academically, socially, and culturally. As college generally lasts four years, students tend to form communities and interact with their cohort and professors on a daily basis. Information in regards to campus size, average class size, and experiential learning opportunities should be researched.

Check out the school before you accept, talk to students, look at the programs that are offered and don't pick a school because you like the colors or sports teams.

It's not enough to hear a good word about a college from a family friend or to look through a glossy brochure from the guidance counselor's office. You have to go to campus and the surrounding area and hang out. Visit the town surrounding the campus. Chill out in a local coffee shop and walk the streets downtown. Find out where the students hang out on weekends, where they go to study and where they shop. How do the locals feel about the student population? Visit the campus itself. Get a feel for the school by visiting on a weekday or an off-weekend and observe the most normal aspects of college life. What are students doing when there isn't a football game or some other spectacle going on? After all that, you've got to ask yourself, "Do I see myself here?" If you can picture yourself sitting in that coffee shop, cramming for an exam on a caffeine overload or you long to stroll across campus on a quiet Saturday with a friend from home and take in the sights, it's likely you've found your new home away from home.

I think that, first and foremost, students and parents should consider the area of study that the student wants to go into. After finding a school that will provide a good education for a desired field, then finances should be taken into account. A student should exhaust all means of helping fund their education; however, selecting a more affordable (i.e. public or in-state) college may be a wise move. Once at college, study hard, take your education and classes seriously, and don't take your classes/professors for granted. Also, make friends and attend social/college events. College can be the best time in a person's life; so each student should find a balance between academics and socializing. Most of all, enjoy college! I love it.

My best advice to future students would be to visit the college you think you want to go to. Talk to people, go to classes and see if you like what you see. You will know whether or not you click with a school pretty fast just by being on the campus. Once you get to college, make sure you look into every oppurtunity that is offered to you. You may not think something is worth your time but it could have a hidden advantage you didn't know about. You can spare five minutes of your time to make sure. Also get involved, there are 100s of clubs and groups. Its much easier to make friends and feel at home at a school once you get involved. Most importantly, study hard, your at school to learn and prepare for your future so make sure your doing that. Find a good place to study and set time aside each day to do that. Its alot harder to catch up than to stay on top of things, and you will be much less stressed out. Last but not least, have fun, college is the time of your life!

The advice I would give new college freshman is to take advantage of the activities your campus provides you with. Get involved by either joining a club, volunteering, or working. Not only will you be either making money or helping others, but it is important to meet people as early as possible. College is such an important time to make lifelong friendships and the best time to do this is as soon as you move onto campus. Let yourself go and get out and experience your new campus!

College is a defining period of young people's lives. The college you choose can change the direction of your life forever. It is crucial to know what to look for in a university before choosing one. A college's main purpose is the passing on and advancement of knowledge. The most important attribute to look for in a college is its academic strengths. Matching areas of study that you are interested in, to a college's strengths and what draws others to it will narrow your search, leaving the decision up to a few other factors. College is more than curriculum and studying. A major part is the environment and day to day life on campus. The school you choose becomes your home for the next four or more years, therefore it is integral to expose youself to the environment. Scheduling a midwinter tour will give you a more accurate perspective and idea of your future experience, and level off biased opinions of schools who's campuses you have seen in the warmer months. Taking these two factors into consideration will confine your search for what is right for you, and give you the most out of you decision.