Oklahoma City University Top Questions

If I could give potential incoming college students/parents advice, I would say carefully choose the schools they apply to, and invest in college visits. It is obviously a big decision, and there are factors about a college that a student may not consider until arrive. Of course the field of study is the most important, but smaller factors like the dorms, cafeteria, and general atmosphere of the campus can seriously effect the experience. Once students arrive at college, I would tell them to seize every opportunity. There are opportunities to network once you enter college, even as a freshman, and they are just as important as schoolwork and exams. To me, school isn't all about the grades, it is about discovering what direction you want your life to take. If you don't seize opportunities outside the classroom, you could miss out on something that could change your life and what you want to do with it. Be open to new experiences and don't be exclusive. Staying in a bubble with people of your same major and interests might be easy and comfortable, but you can learn about the world and yourself if you break that bubble.

Utilize all your resources and check all your options before making a decision. Be as actively involved as possible.

Start early.

It is important to know what you ant to go to shool for. It is important that the student finds a school where he/she will feel comfortable on campus and with the surrounding area. When in school, students should make the best of their experience by being apart of the activilies around them. It is important that parents emotionally, and spiritually support the student and allow the student to find themselve. This is a time for change in a young person's life and the parents should repect that and allow the student to find out who they are and know that their parents will be there for them to support them. College is a new life and new culture, the student should be willing to get out and be apart of the campus life and enjoy there time with studying and life away from studying.

Go visit the college and get a feel for the campus and how campus life is. One of the most important things at college is to feel comfortable in the envirement. Also, talk to students other than the ones that the college presents to you so you can get the real story of what goes on on campus.

Be sure to stay focused and not get caught up in everything going on around you. It is important to have a good social life, but you will never make where you want in life being lazy. Stay on top of what you need to do, and make sure you finish on time. So get up, and get back to work!

When choosing the right college for you it is important to know the size of the school you are comfortable with and how far away from home you want to be. These two things can help students and parents make a general decision on what kind of school is best and in what location. Some other things that are important to consider when choosing a college are the area around the campus ( if there are restaurants, grocery stores, and entertainment close by), the availability and cost of on-campus housing, and the kind of interaction between people on campus. The best advice I can give is to visit a college more than once before making a decision. This allows you to interact with students on campus and decide if they are the people you would want to be around every day. When it comes to making the most of the college experience my advice is to join as many student organizations as possible. This is the best way to make friends who share your interests, and good friends are the key to a fun and well-balanced college experience. Always Choose friends who are supportive of your goals and ambitions.

Find where you can express yourself and be you, but also a place that will help make you the person you want to be. Make the most of every experience so that you don't miss an oportunity.

When choosing which college or university to attend, one must take into consideration the following criteria: degree options, financial commitment, prestige, and campus life. The best way to further explain these criteria is through my personal experience. In 2005, my mother and I conducted a nation-wide search of college dance programs. At first I wanted to double major in Dance and Business, but then I discovered my dream degree: Oklahoma City University?s Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Management. Next we decided if OCU was a reasonable financial option. OCU was pricier than we'd hoped, but never underestimate the power of high SAT/ACT scores, scholarships, and Student Loan programs. Once discovered, OCU appeared everywhere! OCU?s dance and arts management graduates are known worldwide for their technique and professionalism. I had to become a part of it. After visiting OCU I was hooked. I loved the small class sizes, friendly atmosphere, and numerous student organizations. Campus life was exactly what I wanted: fun without being a distraction from my main purpose, my education. Therefore these criteria can help one choose the college that best suits oneself, resulting in the perfect match and ultimate college experience.

Visits are very important, but more important for the student than the parent. The student needs to feel comfortable with the campus, and the parent needs to respect the student's choice even if they feel it's not right. Visiting a campus and touring/speaking with administrators/faculty/staff is critical.