Northeastern University Top Questions

Find the college that best fits not only your academic interests but also your social interests as well. It is very important to stay in touch with yourself and have fun while attending classes and going through a demanding work load. Get involved early with something that interests you (sports, different organizations, fraternity/ sorority life, etc.). Get help if you need it right away. People are always there to help you.

Take your time to truly know what school you want to attend to. I did not do that my senior year, and ended up at a school I disliked. If I had taken the time to look at schools, like Northeastern I may have applied here freshman year and had a different first college experience.

Remember: Colleges and Universities are businesses first. Don't worry about being accepted. You are shopping! Have fun, explore and decide what is important to you. No decision is irreversible.

I think I can better advise students. You really need to visit the school you are considering more than once. Talk to other students, attend a few classes and evaluate living arrangements. If you are not happy with the environment, you will not be a happy student. Comfortable will lead to better grades and performance.

When selecting a college, choose the college that fits you best. I'm going to be cliche and say that college is what you make it. If this means going to a state school over an Ivy because the state school is a better fit for you, that's okay. Choosing a place you know you'll flourish is the first step. Parents need to be supportive of their child's selection and trust they are making the right choice. Also, try to stray from the familiar. Going to school with high school friends? Maybe choose not to room with them. Even if you're assigned a roommate you don't particularly get along with, you are still going to be exposed to new ideas, perspectives, and you will learn a lot. Try things out of the ordinary. Studying abroad? Maybe choose a country that you know you would never visit on your own. Try joining a student group or taking an elective that you know little about. Although there are always going to be opportunities to try new things in life, college is one of the few times you will have so many opportunities at once. So take advantage.

Choose a school that possesses an unlimited amount of oppurtunities even if you do not know exactly what you would like to pursue. This is one the advantage points which helped me in my decision.

The college experience is defininetly about education first but it is also an amazing opportunity for life experience. You can learn something from absolutely everything in college, from your psychology proffessor: how exactly a nueron fires, to your crazy roomate: how not to turn all your socks pink. You can take college memories with you everywhere after graduation, even to places where your freshly printed degree, with all its pretty seals and signatures, doesnt give you a leg up. Don't take anything for granted in your college experience. Go in wanting to learn anything about everything and everything about anything wether it be rocket science or eating for a week on five dollars. It sounds like common sense but sometimes we have to be reminded that the little things mean just as much as the big picture. Take time to appreciate the smell right before it rains, the warmth of your favorite sweatshirt fresh out of the dryer, or the sound of someone practicing their guitar down the hall. College is a crash course in life (though according to my roomate all you need to survive is dental floss and vaseline) so make it a good run.

Know yourself and research schools carefully so that you can choose according to your needs/preferences. Identify academic and career interests in high school. If unsure of your major, choose a university that's well regarded rather than a college; it may save you from having to transfer. If you think you might need time off from college, plan for it. Spend break time gaining work experience, doing something you love, or trying something new. Be aware that many students transfer after their first semester, when they have a better idea of their needs. Have a financial plan for college. Parents, make sure your kids feel they can come to you about transitional/academic issues.Study what you love. Getting stellar grades in your first year can get you financial aid and academic recognition. Find good professors/departments, stick with them, and learn as much as you can! Get involved with extracurriculars! Study a language; study abroad. Build your resume early. Balance schoolwork, work, and play. Use an agenda.

Make sure you find good financial aid!

Choosing the right college is not only a big decision, but a big commitment. I am lucky enough to have attended a small, liberal arts college in a rural area, as well as a large university in an urban area. Therefore, the best advice I can give is this: follow your gut instinct about yourself. There are so many schools with so much to offer, from brand new dormitories and national rankings, to small class sizes and student involvement. So think about what you are naturally attracted to as an individual: do you prefer having a small, close group of friends? Or are you friends with practically everyone at your school? Are you comfortable speaking in a small class setting, or would you prefer to be a face in the crowd? And most important, can you handle time and stress management at a large school whose professors don't know you as well, or would you prefer a professor who handles their students on a "case by case" basis? I know it's a lot to think about, but don't be swayed by the admissions departments and all of their empty promises! Stick to what you know: yourself!