The University of Texas at Austin Top Questions

The one thing I can say is go on college visits. Find out about the school and its' surroundings and see if it matches your liking. The second is picking a college that offers what you want to study in. That is very important, also check school scholarships that are offer during admission.

Pick a college in an area where you'd like to work. College will perhaps be your last chance to try everything you've been interested in doing before you have to settle down with work may that be traveling, partying, dating, theater or golf.

In order to find the right college for YOU, a person needs to first be sure of what exactly they are looking for. A lot of people make this mistake by not knowing what they want and invariably choose any "generally good" school, which can leave great dissatisfaction, simply because it is not the right mix in the environment for the student. The best advice I could give is something any new college student has heard a thousand times. VISIT the campus, stay there, with and WITHOUT your parents to get a feel for the environment and if possible, sit in on a few classes. Make a list and decide ahead of time what is most important for a school to have to benefit you and your success and when you visit make sure to compare them to that list. Once you are there, focus and study hard, but just generally try to enjoy every single moment at college, regardless of what you're doing. Try new things, but be smart about it, and savor every moment.

These four years will change your life in great ways if you first realize that the college experience is one to be experienced past the academics and past the 4.0 GPA. After you graduate and look for a job, your interviewer will want to know WHO you are. This means he's not only looking at your GPA and the prestigious courses taken--but he is also interested in knowing your experiences that reflected your passions and positive living. And even aside from finding a job, you will want to look back and see how college has made you a passionate, active, and well-discovered person. So my advice is to look for a college that not only offers a good education, but one that offers opportunites to serve a special community, to be apart of internships and job-related experiences, to be a part of a number of political, social, or religious movements, and to make friends that last forever. =)

Research. Compare your goals with what universities offer. Don't go to a school renowned for its engineering programs if you are a Liberal Arts major. Location is important too. Make sure you'll like where the school is located since you'll be living at least the next 4 years there. Location was a big factor for me and I have too many friends who ignore that factor and end up unhappy because of it.

Go out

It is not about what colors you will be wearing, or how great the sports teams are, but what you learn. I researched colleges that provided the field of study I was applying for and picked the best one. Also, cost should be a factor, but there are so many ways to pay for college. One just has to look for them.

Most of what led me to my decision was based on the education. It's important to find a program that is condusive to the student's educational needs. Once you've found the right program, it is likely that the other students in the program are compatible with one another. It is also important to make campus visits. Students need to understand the environment of each school they are applying to. This will allow them to really know which campus they will feel comfortable in. The culture of each school is also vastly different and prospective students should make a point to contact enrolled students and/or alumni to discover more about the entire experience. Most of all, students should approac college life with an open mind. Chances are, it will be like nothing they have experienced before and adjustments will be necessary. However, the experience of living on your own and learning from accomplished professors is life changing and priceless.

I would advice parents and students to visit the universities they are most interested in. College is after all what will motivate the student to succeed not only academically but at some point, professionally as well. This is what most matters, what the student can extract during their college experience, the motivation to excel in the professional sphere. It is not about achieving a high GPA or attending a school that can easily permit this, but rather about a school that can provide a deep change into the student's own perspective of life and himself. This is what will never change and the experience that colllege provides is what will never be forgotten. The numbers do not matter as much as all the lessons provided do. I advice parents and students to visit universites that are recognized, and not only that, but to visit them as well, and see for themselves if the recognition seems accurate. A simple visit and glance at a university community can reflect a million things. Provide the potential college student the opportunity to feel driven and inspired by a community, and when it happens, be sure that it is one worth getting involved with.

For parents, relax. Most colleges offer all the resources your child needs to succeed, and safety. Students, choose a school best suitable for you and your interests. You may go to school not knowing what your career plan is, but you have time to figure it out. As you progress, you learn what interests you most this is the best way to determine your career. Your first year may be the hardest, it just takes some time to get used to the environment. Don't get discouraged, it happens to a lot of us. Your high school teachers say "college is way different than high school," this is very true. College requires much more studying and taking advantage of any available resources, and your professors could care less if you come to class or not so that you will pass the class, it is up to you to take that responsibility to attend so that you may pass the class. Most classes do require attendance to pass. Last but not least, live a little, it helps, but of course know your limits. Too much partying, and not enough studying results in poor performance for most of us, trust me.