Rutgers University-New Brunswick Top Questions

Recently I have found myself reflecting upon my university experiences in order to address my mother and fathers questions. My brother is a graduating senior at Middletown High School and has been experiencing the college decision and application process first hand. He has been turning to me for advice, seeing as I am a graduating senior at Rutgers University. I have recently recalled how uneducated and uncertain I was when I was in his position, completely unaware of what the "right" university referred to. Meal plans, class sizes, dorm rooms, student centers, lecture halls, course schedules, and education requirements...these words comprised a foreign language I had not been taught in high school. I explained to my brother that he should be looking for the school school that fits his own personal style. of academic interests, activities, volunteer services, course studies, and class sizes. He eventually narrowed his choices down to six schools and began visiting them immediately. Over the summer he found the perfect fit, a school with aeronotical studies with small classes, and a beautiful campus. Interestingly enough, as I finished my last final examination today, my brother received his letter of acceptance from his university of choice.

Pick a state school! you might be eager to get away but it is really worth itin what you will save over a private out of state school.

Be honest with your children about your opinions, but let the decision be theirs about college and future. Many parents mean well but end up hindering their children through pressure they place on them. Allow your child to really try to critically evaluate what's right for them based on the academics, the on-campus environment, size, etc., regardless of location. Encourage your child to reach as high as they can, knowing that tried at least once instead of regretting their decision to not pursue the dreams they've been working towards and for which they will continue to work for 4 years. Otherwise. it seems students become unhappy and feel trapped in a life they never wanted to live, and they realize too late than no matter where you are you should make the most of your opportunities. Instead they may end up wasting time dissapointed and feeling as though they can never truly succeed. I doubt that would make any parent happy. Provide them with a lasting foundation of support and honest advice and direction. Encouage them to learn not only through classwork, but through the opportunities available to them as well. They'll respect you for forever.

The advice that I would give to parents and students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to look at all of your options and not to have your mind set on one college. Parents and students often base their perception of a school on what others have told them. Consider what you may not have heard. When I was applying to schools I only submitted an application if the criteria I had set for the perfect college. I never bothered looking at the hundreds of other schools that didn't meet my criteria. At the end of the application process I had already my mind made up on one college. When I didn't get accepted to the school I had my mind on I was disappointed in the school I eventually chose. A year later I transferred and the college that I now attend I had never previously considered. This school is the perfect school for me and very different from the college I had wanted to attend a year earlier. College dorm rooms are only filled with students, because they love the school they're attending. Consider your options.

I would go see a college counselor outside of my highschool before I applied. I really had no idea what I was doing and I think I could have made a more mature decision. While at college I wish I had done more volunteer work and internships.

My main advice would be to not get heart-broken if you cannot attend your first-choice school, whether it's because of academic or financial reasons. I could not afford to go to school out of state, so I was forced to appease my parents and attend Rutgers. Although I was originally upset, I slowly began to learn and appreciate that it did not matter where I was. All that matters is whether or not you get involved and make your experience the best it could possibly be. By volunteering with various philathropic organizations, joing a sorority, and becoming a leader through the Rising Leadership institute and New Student Orientation, I have made friendships that will last a lifetime, created irreplaceable memories, and have grown so much as an individual since I started here as freshman. I have learned so much already and I love that I have the rest of my college years amd life to continue this journey of self-discovery and realize my full potential. I cannot imagine attending another university now--Rutgers is where I want to be, because I made it that way for myself. So, remember, the power is in your hands.

Consider what you enjoy doing, and what skills you enjoy cultivating. Then pick the school based on how their relevant departments would cater to your interests.

Stay focused and study!

My best advice would be to do a lot of thorough and involved research. There is a lot of information available about different colleges and it is essential that parents and students do everything possible to select the one that fits them best. Become informed about all of the details that matter most to you, but most importantly, that involve the path you are considering for your career, because that is what college is for: to prepare you for your career. Research should include but not be limited to: searching college websites, reading reviews, statistics, articles, etc. as well as visiting in person and asking current students as well as alumni for their opinions. Make sure the college offers exactly what you want and need! As for the college experience, I suggest becoming very familiar with your college's policies and resources. Be open-minded and social! The best thing you can do once on campus, is to become involved, meet new people. This will help you to learn more about your college, the campus(es), and other things you will need to know that will help you feel more stabilized and comfortable, thus enhancing your overall experience.

When deciding on which school to attend, education usually seems like the only thing to look at but a lot of different things make up a college experience. You have to find an environment that suits you including the campus layout, housing, dinning, classrooms, cultural diversity, recreational activities, school spirit, tutoring opportunities, professors, job opportunities, and climate. You also want to make sure that going home for break isn't too much of a hassle. If you don't have a major in mind, you should look at schools that offer many different areas of study so that you can get the exposure necessary to choose. Of course cost is a major consideration especially with prices skyrocketing. Remember, just because a school is expensive doesn't necessarily mean its better. Once you have your degree, where you got it isn't always important. The important thing is that you learned what you need to know and didn't suffer too much through it. Planning college life takes a lot of balancing between work and play. Any imbalance in either direction can be disasterous and its up to you to decide what kind of balance fits.