Michigan State University Top Questions

If I gave advice to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience, I would tell them to visit campuses, because as crazy and irrational as it sounds, success in college and post-college is not all about the education. WHAT!? This is so true. It is also about being comfortable in your surroundings including : weather, social environment, traffic, transportation, housing, safety and virtually everything else that impacts how we live our lives from day to day. Some college environments just don't feel like home and that is not a feeling you want to have when you are going to be there for awhile. If you are comfortable in your environment you will know how to react to, and succeed in it. The student possesses what is necessary to be successful, and the school they attend is only a tool to help and guide them. The quality of a college education and the success that follows is up to the student, but do not be miserable for the years you are there by making sure you know how you will react to your surroundings.

Research the insitution you're considering. Check out every aspect of it from finanicial aid , to housing, to size, to awards. Make sure its the right place for the student based on career interests. Visit the school before excepting and tour, including the dorms and classrooms.

Make sure the college suits the individual needs of the student and his/her major. Also make sure to enjoy the most out of college as you possibly can, socially, and educationally, because after college our adult life officially begins.

Go to a college that won't overwhelm you. You don't want to go to a school where you can get lost in the mix because of there being so many people. Stay in state because it makes tuition much more affordable. The rising tuition rates each year are making college very expensive. Parents, help your child out financially as best you can because it is very hard to fund our way through school. Students, you need to make sure that you balance your work and class load accordingly. Your in college to earn a degree not fail out because your job is too demanding. Lastly, parents need to be involved in the process of applying. Your child needs some help and encouragement. College can be scarey and there are many peer pressures to give into. Staying involved will prevent anything bad from happening.

First, choose a college that offers the major you are interested in. I would also tell students to visit the campuses that they are interested in and take a tour. Lastly, I would tell students to look for attributes that they are interested in and to not go to a college just because all of your friends are. College is about meeting new people and you need go somewhere that will be best for you, not your friends! As far as making the most out of your college experience, I would tell students to just try to be as outgoing as possible and try new things whenever offered the opportunity. When it comes to parents, my advice would be to not put too much pressure on your child to attend a certain school. When parents put a lot of pressure on their child to attend a certain school, the child sometimes ends up going somewhere they have no interest in being at, which overall is not going to make the parent or child happy. In summary, do what is going to make you happy and remember that you only have 4 years of college, so enjoy it while it lasts!

Make sure that the college you choose isn't only known for one or two programs. Most students decide to change their major during their first two years of college, as did I. Often the change of major is very different, too. Also make sure to get involved in social clubs and programs. Even if you think you're too busy with school to join a club, you're not. It teaches you how to better manage your time and you tend to make sure you get things done before your meetings or such. It also allows you to meet tons of new people and make friends that will last a lifetime. Choose carefully and don't forget to have fun!

I believe, that the most important thing for a prospective college student to decide first is if he/she want to be part of a large campus or one with a smaller population. A large campus would mean having a core group of friends and meet people randomly but may never see them again, and a smaller sized campus would be one where relationships are more personal, and having many friends in the same class wouldnt be unusual. This one question will narrow your search down a whole lot by "throwing out" big ten universities, or smaller private schools depending on which one you choose. The second piece of advice I'd give is to make sure students and families visit the campus' the student is thinking about applying to. A campus that feels comfortable and easily adaptable is most likely a better fit for a student than a campus they visit that "feels strange" or is too different to adapt to.

the right college is usually not the college with the most expensive tuition or the best program in the world. the best college is usually the ones that the students will fit right in and feel most comfortable with. and friendly environment is a good learning environment, if the student felt left out, doesn't matter what college he/she is in, they are not going to make the most of their college experience, and the experience will be horrible, a happy student is going be successful both in college and later on the job.

From the time your child is born involve them in everything to feel out what they like the best keep them involved in academics and good sportmenship if they have group activities, school activities, they are less likely to get- involved in distuctive habiats.

Relax and enjoy your time you will never have it happen again and once you choose that college enjoy your time there you only are the once.