University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

It is crucial for a student not only to focus on finding the institution with the best academics, but also to enjoy the environment in which the institution is located in. It is important for a student to have a social life and enjoy where they go to school. College is not just about homework, reading, and tests. College is also about friendship, helping the community, and enjoying recreational activities.

I will never know how different my college experience would be at another university. Maybe this school was the wrong choice. I just don't know. However, I am making the most of the opportunities offerred here. I remember in high school stressing over getting into the top ranked school. But to be honest, its not the name of the school that makes a student successful. Many students fear their own success or have too many ghosts wrecking their will to enjoy college and do schoolwork. Employers and graduate schools won't look kindly on a failed out student from an Ivy school. For students looking for the right college to attend, I suggest you look for schools that are in a place you want to live and offer activities that you enjoy. You should look for schools that make it easy for you to make a social network that will keep you possitive and not shut away. Success in college is finding neutrality between burning out from studying and partying your way the hospital. First find what motivates you and can give you happiness. Then you can find that ballance to make the most out of your college experience.

Be sure to visit the campus before you make a decision. You don't know how important finding a college with the right atmosphere in, especially if you will be going far away from home. A college that feels friendly, welcome, cozy, and inviting will make your college years go a lot more smoother.

My advice to students is to do everything you can to interact with other students when you visit a potential college. Everyone who is drawn to a college has something in common, a certain story that they feel they can best convey with the education of the college of their choice. When considering a particular college, consider if the individuals you meet are the kinds of people that not only are interesting and stimulating, but are also the kinds of minds you want to surround yourself with to help tell your story. Fostering an environment that is both comfortable and challenging is a difficult equilibrium to come by, but these two criteria are necessities of the optimal college experience. To parents, try to understand this is the first major decision most adolescents make. It is a decision that may lead to irritability and conflict at home. The best course of action a parent can take is to step back and be ready to give advice only when it is sought from them. Be supportive regardless of the final decision- the right college isn't the most prestigious or practical, it's the one that feels like a new home.

College is a unique experience in every person's life. Sometimes finding the right college is not necessarily dependent on just the college but also how well you or your child adapts to an environment. Every student applies to many different colleges that they would like to attend and not every student will be accepted into every college they apply to so it is very important to apply to colleges and choose the colleges that have an environment that is comfortable for you or your child. Being comfortable in an environment is probably the biggest factor in enjoying the college experience. The next piece of advice is to be open. A student that is open to changing and adapting to their new college will better enjoy their experience. It can be disappointing when certain experiences are missing from a college but worrying over such things will get a student nowhere. Learning to experience new things and really go out there and experience everything to the highest degree will reward the student in a much healtier and better college experience.

Be yourself and don't be afriad to chase your passion when it comes to love, education, and money.

In order to find the right college, I think you really need to know what interests you. From there, you can make a list of schools that share your interest and are in a location that you love or would love to live in for some time. This list should be no more than 5 schools; for, when the time comes for applying to these school, not only will you save yourself time from applying elsewhere, but you'll also limit how much money you spend when applying. And if you don't know what interests you, then you should still research schools that are in a prime location. Because when you get there, you don't want to be somewhere where you don't like the weather. So really, when it comes to making the most of your college experience, the key is to be well-prepared.

When you're accepted into your potential colleges, make sure to visit because campuses are different than how they're presented in catalogs and pictures. Choose based on not only aesthetics, but whether or not you can see yourself spending the next 4 years at the given college or university. When you get to college, it is important to balance the your academic life with your social life. In college, it's also important to take risks, live in the now, and do things you'd never thought you do. This applies to both social and academic aspects of college. Take classes you never thought you'd take and make friends with people you normally wouldn't befriend. You'd be suprised about how much you end up liking something. Come to college with an open mind, and you will surely make the most of your college experience.

Visit the college and trust your instincts from the feeling you get when you step on that campus. Ask yourself if you really could see yourself spending the next four years there. Research student groups you may want to join, and get involved before it gets too late, especially when concerning honor societies and study abroad programs.

I know that it can be a difficult process when it comes time to decide which college is the right one to go to, but there are many ways in chich the process can be made easier and a more pleasant experience. To get started, one can talk to teachers, counselor or older friends that go to a prospective college. One can also research the college using one of many online resources to get an idea of what the college has to offer. After making a list of prospective colleges, arranging a trip to see the school is a great idea to get an idea of the environment and the people that are associated with that college. Once at college