Rutgers University-New Brunswick Top Questions

search around for colleges with programs that interest you and will help build your future career. While in college make time between studying to meet new people and take part in extracurricular activities

The competition of getting into college and going to the "perfect" school often clouds the judgements of parents and children. It is unnecessary to feel compelled to meet the expectations of others or simply go to the best school. It is much more important to find a school that is the best match for you individually, as a student. Parents must let go of their children and let them explore their options so students can find the best academic and social fit. Talking to students who attend the schools one is interested in is important because they are usually the most straight-forward and honest sources of information. They will let you know what they like and dislike and how their transition was from high school to college. Choosing a college should be a fairly personal choice that takes finances, academics, and social life into account.

Picking the right college can be an overwhelming and sometimes frustrating decision, but when it comes down to it, whatever you choose should be based on basic principles. These include location, tuition, as well as what you want to major in. There are plenty of good schools out there, so don't be devastated if you don't get into your first choice. Where ever you decide to attend, its ultimately the right choice for you. College can be a fun and enriching experience as long as you put the work in and set goals for the future.

Make friends at some of your top choice colleges. Their personal experience can be great advice for you.

The main goal for both parents and students is find a school with the most oppurtunities possible. You can go to a school thinking you will participate in one thing and somehow find something different. Trying new things makes your college experience so much more rewarding, being that it is a once in a lifetime oppurtunity. My advice is to look for a school that has infinite possibilities both academically and socially. In this way, whether you spread your roots down somewhere or not, there are still infinite other things to try and learn.

I would receommend to parents and students to research thouroughly. It is extremely important to visit all the colleges that the student is thinking about attending as well as looking into the size and availability of dorm housing. If at all possible I recommend that the student attend a class lecture in the area that they are thinking about studying, that way they can see how big the classes tend to be at that university. Once the student gets there, I recommend not rooming with friends from home, that way you can meet new people and create a larger social group then you would with already knowing your roommate. Also, attend meetings for clubs until you find the right club for you. Also, to make sure that the student keeps their priorities straight because it is easy to get inovolved with partying too much. Therefore I recommend putting time aside each day to study and particularly with people from that class, that way they can still make friends and focus on their school work. The most important sugession that I can make though is to make sure that the college they choose is the one that best suits their needs.

The best advice I can give parents and prospective students on finding the right college is to physically go to the campus and put yourself in the middle of the action. It is very important that you feel you will belong at whatever school you decide to attend. I would suggest visiting the school during the week and weekend to get a feel of the action on the campus. Do you want a busier campus? Do you want a campus that stays active on the weekends? The only way to know how the campus operates is to visit it and get a feel for the atmosphere. A great college experience differs for each individual. Many will find their best friends the first week of school while others will seek friends with common interests by joining clubs. Some will be more into the party and greek scene, while others will prefer to hang out with friends without alcohol. Whatever you find to be the most fun, find people who like the same things. Don't feel pressured to do things that you aren't into and get involved on campus to meet new people and have new experiences.

I wish someone had told me to not be to trusting in the beginning with people I make friends with. Freshmen are excited to be there and do a lot of crazy things just because they can. In the beginning everyone are friends and are constantly around eachother, by Novemberish this does change, so watch out and don't get sucked into peer pressure. In addition, make sure you are taking the right classes, ask more then one person. If you don't understand something ask again because your paying those people to eduacate you, so get your moneys worth. Finally prioritize your schedual, school always comes first, but college is also about having fun. Try your best to balence the two and you should have some great college years.

I think that parents and the students should visit each school they are interested in. I also believe they need to factor all financial costs., campus life, graduation rate, job-placement after schools, and how far the travel is from home.

The most important thing about finding the right college is finding your niche. I know it is a complicated one word answer. But you need to really get to the heart of it. Feel comfortable on campus, dissect class size, racial diversity, where to eat, what is nearby, remember you are spending 4 yrs here (at least). Don't just go for the one with the best parties or best Med program. Go for the one that makes you relaxed. What is the point of a great college, if you are not relaxed? Hypocritical to be honest. Don't be influenced by missing out on friends, etc. This is YOUR degree, YOUR four years, YOUR peace of mind, and most importantly, YOUR future.