Northern Arizona University Top Questions

What should every freshman at Northern Arizona University know before they start?

Annie

Parents, you want your child to grow and to learn. When choosing a college with your child, keep in mind that there is so much more learned in school than academics. Make sure your child looks for a school that matches their interests, but also look for a school that blends with your child's distinct personality. You want to still know who your child is when holidays and weekends home arrive. To be sure, you will have a different child on your hands at the end of the first year of college, so keep interested even when this wonderful human bursting with a new adventure is far away. College is the time when suddenly all those lessons you tried to teach are suddenly learned. They forget to thank the ones who originally told them those things, but you can be their support and guide so that the lessons are fully learned and so that they can learn that all the advice you tried to give them in their high school years was sincere. Finally, they will see you as the viable part of their life that you have been all along.

Carrie

Some advice for finding the correct college is to see how the enviorment is as well as the class size .

Rebecca

Live on-campus your first year in a Freshman hall. It is so important for meeting people and feeling connected with your campus. If you work, try working on campus, they are usually much more understanding with student workloads and the time needed to study, not to mention it will connect you with the school more. If you are close to your family, go to school at least a few hours away, but not much further than that. STUDY ABROAD. Seriously important and life-changing. Even if you have to take out an extra loan, DO IT. Join intermural sports teams. Don't be afraid to live with people you don't know. Its one of the best ways to expand your cirlce of friends. If you meet someone who gushes about their school, consider going there, but make sure to ask what they love so much about it and what they are involved in. School is what you make it. You put in the effort to be a part of the community and enjoy, you will. If you sit by yourself in your dorm, you will hate it. Learn how to balance school, your social life and work.

Justin

The first piece of advice that I would give to prospective college students is to truly think about what kind of person they really are. This will allow students to think about the strengths and weaknesses of each school given their real personality, and not the kind of personality that they would like to have, which is how most people judge the kind of person that they are. The next piece of advice that I would give to students is to allow yourself to leave your comfort zone as soon as possible once you get to school, especially if you are living on campus. Meeting as many as people as you can at the beginning of your college career will make it much more enjoyable. The third piece of advice would be to go to all of your classes. It is much easier to study and succeed academically when you go to class. Going to class will also let you get as much as possible from your classes and you will retain a lot more information than if you simply study everything the night before a test.

Kandyce

It is important to select a college that you know you would be able balance your studies and social life. I think that many people choose colleges based on just fun or just academics but that shouldn't be that case all the time. Taking a visit to your ideal college would be a really good idea because it would give you the opportunity to see exactly what your'e getting yourself into. Also look for a college that offeres your interests. If you like cold weather, you probably wouldn;t choose a college that is in Arizona. Your choices would be limited to places up north because that would work with your interest. A good idea is thinking of a few possible majors, and choosing an accredited school that fits your choices. In order to make the best of your college experience you should stay positive and remember not to let the "little things" get to you.

Kimberly

My only advice is that when choosing a school, make sure it is where you belong. Don't make it a place that you are only going to because its prestigous, or because your friends are attending the same school. Make it a place that you can see yourself for the next four years. Make it a place where you feel instantly at home. If you don't love the college that you are attending, you are less likely to succeed. College is such a precious time, and the time you have in it, is limited. Don't waste an era of your life in a place that you don't find fitting.

Lucas

Finding a college that is perfect for you is quite difficult. You need to understand what makes a modern college campus. Ask about the faculty, professors and students. What is the social life is like? If the student can't make good friends that share the interests they enjoy. Ask about the classes and colleges. You really need to go into college knowing what you want your major to do. Declaring a major before college is extremely essential to picking the right college. Cause certain universities are known for being better with certain disciplines.

Matthew

Finding the right college might be different from person to person, but it is in these differences that futures are formed and lives created. One merely needs to look into themselves and ask what they want most out of the next four years of their lives and then concentrate on making that a reality. By the time you know this, you'll be able to pick a school related to your goals and ambitions. It is only through knowing yourself that you'll be able to know what you want out of life, and once that difficult question is deciphered, choosing a school becomes a piece of cake. Enjoying college life includes this time of self-searching, because it is here you are able to do what you fully appreciate without restriction. It is here you are able to fully experiment and understand what you want most out of life, so I encourage all to get out there, meet new people, and try new activities. Shed your high school shell and open up to the world around you, in order to fully embrace this new lifestyle, because once four years are up, you'll be wishing you had them back.

Patric

i would have to say you really need to find out what you want to do after college first. after that is done that you can really take a look at what college have what you want dagree wise along with the surrounding at the school that most fit your needs.

Dayne

College is what you make it. It's not about what school you get into or what you end up majoring in; it's what you learn about LIFE that's important. Parents: Don't make decisions for your children. Let them choose their schools. And once your children are away at college, let them be the ones to call you. Don't pester them. If they call you with complaints and problems, don't coddle them or solve the problems yourself. Encourage your child to be an adult and solve the problems on his or her own, and help them along the way. Students: There is no right college, and there is no right major. Visit all the schools that appeal to you, and go wherever feels "right" (after you get accepted, of course). Explore. Take classes that sound interesting, talk to people, and get involved. If there's something you want to do that your campus doesn't offer, do it anyway. Find other students who share your interests and start a club together. If you're unhappy with something, change it. College is what you make it, so make it what you want it to be.