Northern Michigan University Top Questions

I think the best advice I could give is to take yourself out of your comfort zone. Life is all about taking chances and making mistakes. College is the perfect opportunity for that because it?s full of a diverse group of people that come from all sorts of different backgrounds. Some of these people will have similar experiences and will be able to help give guidance and advice. Others will be just like you; looking for the opportunity to try something new and gain a different perspective. My advice is to take chances. This is the time to learn about who you are and where you want to go in life. Challenge yourself to go the extra mile, break barriers, and push limitations. So when looking for a school; look for a place that will combine current interests while allowing you the opportunity to grow into who you want to be.

To (nearly) quote the words of my university's president, I would first recommend that the chosen school be no closer than a six hour drive from the student's home. This distance promotes a student's participation in school functions while discouraging unnecessary trips home. I would also strongly advise parents to encourage their sons and daughters to attend smaller universities. The professor to student ratio is, in many cases, similar to that of a high school course and the resulting classroom environment is much more condusive to building relationships with both peers and instructors. Lastly, I would remind the student to not overlook something as basic as climate. Much of what defines a student's overall pleasure/displeasure of a school is determined by the activities done outside of school. Choose an environment that complements what you like to do!

Make a few college visits and make sure you talk to some students and some faculty. The best advice might not be given from someone the school has choosen to speak on their behalf. Ask an actual student that might be walking around, you will get to see how friendly they might be and what the school is really like. Also if you are not sure if you want to get away from your parents and home then you might want to consider going far enough that you aren't gonna want to drive home every weekend, but if you wanted to you could make the drive. If you know how you learn best, in small setting or big classrooms, then you should narrow down your choices that way, then choose places where you will be ok with the weather, and then choose from the schools crudentials and what you want out of a school. The best advice though would be to let the student choose, they are the one who will be there for a couple of years, and they have to make new friends, and learn their own way.

If your child likes the environment and a relaxed, up north campus pick NMU

Follow what YOU want to do, not what your family, friends or teachers pressure you into. What you choose to do in college is going to shape the rest of your life. Just because a friend encourages you to go to the same school, doesnt mean that it will be the right fit for you. Do research, talk to current student, and dont be afraid to travel far distances to places where you may not know anyone. I drove 6 hours to a college where i knew no one but when i attended orientation i made friends with a dozen people i am still close friends with 4 years later. It may be scary now but when you look back on graduation day you will be glad you took the plunge.

Don't be afraid to look at out of state options, or schools that aren't big or well-known. Sometimes a smaller school is a better fit for you.

You have to keep an open-mind and an open-heart about colleges and try not to have too many expectations. Standards and expectations are two different topics that a lot of students tend mix up in the process of going to college. Don't go to the college that you think is "prestigious" or will "look good on a resume," because anyone can do that. Look for a place that you know you will feel comfortable, happy and fulfilled. They really ar ethe best years of your life and it's never healthy to regret what you've done at the peak of your existence. Don't overlook overlook down on any university, community college or vocational school because they are special and unique in their own way. Education is what you make of it, not what name is stamped on the transcript. I urge you to stay positive if you don't get accepted, either...it wasn't meant to be and you will do well wherever you go. College is what you make of it, trust me...I know. Good luck and no one can make you feel any way you won't allow yourself to feel.

There are a few simple things to keep in mind when selecting a university. First always make sure that there will be many options for growth educationally and socially. Second be sure to find a university that has a high standard of excellence. Finally visit multiple schools so the student will have many refrences to make a well educated decision. The university does not make you but you make the university. The students past, present, and future are what a college is so do some research to find out where your student will really shine. Life is short and college is shorter so make the most of the best 4 years ever.

Ask students other than the tour guide questions you may have and what they like about the school. I have been asked by a touring family if they could see my room. It is sometimes nice to see how the rooms other than the example room they show you on tours looks like. If you know anyone at the school ask them to shadow for the day to get a real look at the classes and the campus.

First and foremost, take a tour of different campuses to find the one where you feel most comfortable. For many people, including myself, when I got to NMU's campus I just knew that it was the perfect school for me. Once you have enrolled in your perfect school, you need to find a balance between social life and academic life. If you focus too much on your academic life, you tend to get very stressed out and depressed, but if you spend too much time on your social life, your grades will begin to slip. Once you find a good medium, college becomes the fun expierience that it should be.