Oregon State University Top Questions

I knew my school was right for me the minute I stepped foot on campus. I feel that each student should go and see the school before that decide. I almost went to the wrong school for me. It took actually seeing campus to realize that I was not at home. My college career consisted of a healthy balance of fun activities and school work. You'll save yourself a lot of stress if you find your balance early.

One of the best pieces of advice that I ever recieved is that life has already begun. Too many people think that they are going through all of this to start their lives after college but really life is already here and we must make the most of it. It's really important to start off on the right foot and not just mess around, it is your money and time that you are investing so you need to take advantage of what your university has to offer. There is always so much going on, good and bad, you need to filter the things you want and don't want to do so that you can expand your horizons and really find who you are and what you are doing in life.

Be careful about your work load. Start off the school year taking between 12 and 13 credits during fall term; that gives you time to get into the swing of college life. Increase your course load winter term if need be. Just don't overburden yourself.

Motivation is the keystone to success. Students cannot rely on a college to pave a career path for them. Students must take accountability for their future; when they do, any college will act as an instrument toward fulfilling their career path. Success is not based upon which college an individual attends, it is based on what the student does while they are in attendance. If admittance to a certain private university is viewed as the determining factor for a student?s future, then that particular student is sure to falter. However, if a humble student starts their freshman year with the desire to grow intellectually, with an eye for the future, they will be appreciated by their professors, and they won?t spend their senior year trying to raise their grade point average in a frantic push for a graduate program. A motivated student turns in every assignment, goes to their professors with sincere questions, and utilizes the resources that each university provides. An unmotivated student, waits for counselors and professors to come to them with solutions, has a sense of entitlement for turning in late assignments, and blames their professor, school, and various associates for their failure.

To students and parents getting ready for college I would advise them to find a college that fits you. Find someplace you feel comfortable going to school, living and working. Find somewhere that you might want to get married and raise your family. If you end up settling for a college simply because of the location, or the price; in the end you may not be happy. College is the time in your life to take risks, make big changes and take big chances. Making the most of your college experience is more than just studying hard and earning good grades. It is finding a field of study that you are deeply passionate about, finding friends that you are also deeply passionate about, and trying new things. If something interests you- do it. Go for it; because you will never know unless you try. Do study hard and do earn good grades. But, make sure that when you graduate college you have graduated knowing that you did everything you could, and that you tried everything you had an opportunity to try.

All I can say about choosing the right college is to find a place that you could call home for 4 years. I toured a couple of reputable colleges and could not stand them. I personally discovered after touring the Universities of Washington and Oregon that I did not want to go to school in the city; I now go to Oregon State which is very much away from the city, which I love. Others find exactly the opposite I love OSU and have a lot of fun, but I think the most important thing is to remember why you are there. While my college is a place where there are parties EVERY night, it is important to balance the fun with the work. It is said that "you can retake a test but you can't relive a party", and I would say that this is poor advice. Stay on top of your school work to keep the stress down, and you will have a lot more fun in the long run. You CAN go out every night, but that does not mean you should.

one peice of advice i wish i had recieved as an incoming freshman is to use ALL the resources given to you. students pay tuition for a reason, that enables you to use various centers for math, reading, writing, science and many more. these are great tools that are ment to help you suceed in your college career. i would also encourage trying new things whenever the occasion arises. you meet so many people who will impact your life just by going to a organic growers club, or the rainbow continum (gay strait aliance).

The right college depends on what you are most interested in. Students need to find the niche and feel comfortable in their surroundings. There shouldn't be any pressure to choose a college based on the fact parents and grandparents have gone to that school. The right school is all about the experience you want to have. Go on a campus visit and follow your instinct.

The most important part of choosing the right college is expecting change. Over the first two years of college, you may find yourself to be a completely different person from when you finished high school. Taking this into consideration when choosing a college to attend is crucial. Don't just look for a college to attend because of your lifestyle in high school. Take a close look at your interests, and find a university that is diverse and offers everything that you love, and many things that you don't know much about, because in a couple years, you will find yourself doing things you never imagined you would be able to do. The most important part of maximizing your college experience is making new friends. One great way to do this is to live on campus. Although the dorms often have stricter rules than living on your own, you will meet amazing friends living there. I lived on campus for one year, and the people I live with two years later and my best friends are the people I met living on campus. Be outgoing, be friendly, be social, and love life.

My biggest tip would be to really just get into and involved with the school. Go to all of the awesome events, join a few clubs, take randomly cool classes, support school sports... you know? Go crazy for your school! Show some spirit. I know people say it over and over again, but it seriously is a great way to meet people and have a ton of fun. Work hard, play hard.