University of Arkansas Top Questions

Put yourself out there; get involved with whatever you are interested in! There are tons of clubs to join whatever your academic affiliation is. Let people know you are there!

My advice would be to not take it too seriously. Do your best and do well, but don't think that your whole life rides on how you do. College will be over before you can blink anyway, so don't waste it by worrying. Just live your life and enjoy it to the fullest. By finding a balance between work and play in college, you will be better off for the rest of your life and more prepared for what is to come. The bottom line is, don't take it too seriously.

Make sure to diversify your options when applying to schools. Have a good proportion of dream schools, middle-ground schools, and safe schools. Be sure to check out what each of the schools typically offer when it comes to financial aid, because this will have the most bearing on where you get to go. Look into what each school's areas of study have to offer, and make sure that it will be able to accomodate your idea for a major. Check out what the core curriculum for the school , to make sure it lines up with your idea of a general education. Make sure that the school's credits are transferrable so that, should you switch schools, you can take your hard earned credits with you. Look into job opportunities in and around campus (this is helpful for students paying their way and those picking up extra cash). And also, if you're going to live on campus, do a little research on the different living environments. As a freshman, you might not have much say, but be sure to be informed with what little say you do have.

Think about what you want to do after you get out of college. You don't have to have a specialized degree to get a job most companies just want you to have a degree. Study something you enjoy and your experience will be much more fulfilling. Get involved with a group on campus, college life isn't all about being greek, there are many places to go and things to do. Explore the town your college is located in, find out if there are any parks or lakes around. Keep tabs on any concerts or shows the university puts on, usually there will be some good ones.

To make the most of every college experience you must become involved in campus politics, intramural activities, clubs, everything. The problem you run into with being involved in everything is managing time and your GPA. You want to live with or near friends or possible friends. The dormitories are great because they remove many responsibilities that would otherwise cause conflict. Look for a University that has a large enough campus that can provide most basic requirements (long cafeteria hours, proper study space in Student Unions or Library, a safe environment for you to walk around at night). You will stay up late, that is something you must understand (12am-5am). There are tricks to everything when you are in college. If you live in the dorm then leave your door open as much as possible, attend the Friday night activities that the school sponsors (volunteer if possible). Basically what I am trying to say in a finite amount of words is to get out and meet people, become active on and off-campus, try to get along (mainly with roommates), be careful, and research (everything from what not to do in a dorm to how you are suppose to study).

Study hard and also have a good social life.

Finding the right college depends on what you want your EXPERIENCE to be like. I chose Arkansas because it has a breath-taking campus, HUGE football & sports, and a predominant Greek system. These three things are what I think of when I think about college. It's very traditional and conservative, which I like too. I am from Dallas and am more liberal than a lot of people here, but it's the experience of the 'culture shock' that made me learn how to tolerate other kinds of people. And I think I taught them a thing or two also :-)

The important thing is that one is dedicated from the beginning. I learned that the hard way. High school was a breeze for me. After started college and approaching it in a similar fashion, I soon discovered that it would not be as easy. After not taking my classes seriously the first year, I received my first C ever. That was hard for me, knowing that I could easily have done better. A student searching for the right college needs to find something that they would love, something that they are truely interested in and something that they are willing to dedicate time to. College is not as easy as high school. One must dedicate time to it in order to be successful. That is a whole lot easier when you love what you are doing. So I would suggest making your desicion based off of what you want to do with your life and what school will most help you reach those goals. And then from the beginning, give it your all, dedicate yourself 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} to successfully completing what you have commited to for those next few years. You will be so much happier. Your future depends on it!

Consider the type of people who go to school at a college you're considering. Hendrix may have an excellent academic reputation, but if you don't drink, there will be very little for you to do recreationally. For this reaon, it is very important to visit the schools you are considering. In the case that no schools seem to be bursting with people who you would want to be around, remember that the larger the school, the more people there will be that you like, and the easier it is to avoid those you don't. Just be sure that you don't go to a school so large that it's impossible to get any attention from professors in academic matters.

If you do not know what career you want to work in after college, go find the college information for a large university on a website like FastWeb. Most division I schools should work for my suggestion. Using the website, find the list of majors for a large school and go down the list. If you do not know what career that major can go into, research it. After you decide on majors and/or careers that interest you, check local schools, instate schools, neighbor state schools, and any other schools that you may be interested in attending. With a major in mind, you can now research the schools online, through friends, and alumni that you may know.