University of California-Berkeley Top Questions

Learning is a proactive process. In order to succeed in selecting the right college and making the most of your college experience, you have to probe yourself and the material you learn. Find out where your weaknesses, strengths, and interests lie, and be prepared to shatter certain dreams in order to reach new aspirations. People often say to choose the college that best suits your interests and personality, but I believe that the best college will push you out of your comfort zone so that you can discover your passions and build character. Don't be intimidated; take control of your college experience by taking initiative. Surround yourself with ambitious and dynamic people, and you will find yourself lifted by them. Don't be afraid to ask controversial questions or to utilize the resources available at your school. Be persistent and think critically in your endeavors, and success will likely follow. Intellect and knowledge will take you far in life, but courage and responsibility will help you make the most of it. Don't waste a moment of those precious years; college isn't just about gaining the skills and experience necessary for your carreer--discover yourself along the way!

Don't focus too much on the major because it's likely that you will change it several times. Go somewhere that will challenge you and encourage you to grow, refine your character and reflect upon both who you are as a person and how you interact with society and the world. College is more of a contained lab experiment where you can safely test your boundaries and show to the world that you can think analytically and work hard, rather than show that you have a particularly vocational skill.

I don't think that the prestige or exclusivity of a college matters one bit. Make sure you're getting a good education by all means, but don't neglect the social aspect of the college experience. Since you'll be around these people for four long years, you might want to think over the size of the campus and general disposition of the students. If you can't stand them, what's the point of spending all that money to be there?

Take a tour of the school that you are interested in; a school maybe look good on paper but its setting may not necessarily suit you. Take advantage of the overnight stay program at the school of it is possible. Lastly, be open minded, don't worry if a school may be too costly or to far away, apply anyway and if that is the school you are meant to be at, things will work out.

Choose the school that your heart yearns for the most. Your instincts are telling you that its the right school for you. But even before letting your heart choose your dream college, be sure to visit the school at least once if not twice to make sure your heart is making the right decision! Your decision in choosing the right college will determine 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of how successful your college career is going to be. The rest is what you make of it plus or minus the hard work that you put in during those undergraduate years.

When applying for colleges I had been told that wherever I would be accepted, that college would be the colllege for me. Now having completed a year and a half of school, I can truly say that I am glad to attend the college I am attending now. When picking a college, never listen to any rumors about any college. Instead investigate for yourself; go visit campuses, ask currently attending students about college life and academics, even check out insider's guides to your colleges. If I had listened to rumors when choosing colleges, I would have never gone to the college I attend today. You may have heard that college is the best time of your life, however you shouldn't treat it as such. True, you may have unlimited freedom, but you must ask yourself what you want out of college. Go ahead, have fun, go to a few parties, make new friends, but always keep you priorities in order, use your head, and study hard. With this in mind, you can do well in college and have a great time in the process.

Don't go into college thinking it's what you've seen in the movie or what you've been told. Just expereince it for yourself and make judgements based on that. You'll be fine- don't worry everyone is scared. Oh and wear shoes in the dorm showers.

Dont give up on getting into a university, because even if it might not have been your ideal choice, you will learn to adapt to the school you do get into. Follow your heart when it comes to making decisions about school, what major you want to choose, and which friends you want to hang out with. Dont let anyone else decide for you. Try new things! You will be surprised at how much you can discover when you allow yourself to step outside of your comfort zone and take risks beyond what you thought yourself capabale of. College is a great place to challenge yourself for the first time outside of high school so if possible, go somewhere that is different from what you are used to. Whether it be different weather, a new environment, the people, anything. Also, please go with an open mind. Nothing is worse than going somewhere new with a narrow mind. You can try anything here, just as long as you learn from it.

Most important of all is to keep your eye on the prize. You are there for an education that will lead to a J-O-B, so at least 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of what you do in college should be geared towards this goal. There are many opportunities you should indulge in, but above all, remember to get good grades, because they count for the best jobs and grad school, and to intern, intern, intern! As competitive as the global economy is getting, lofty knowledge and a paper that says you can read and write do not make the cut anymore. Nothing makes you a stronger candidate than a strong academic record and experience. But of course, do not forget to have fun and travel abroad if you can. It does not always fit in with the number one objective, but as far as life goes, you will never forget the experience! Good luck with your endeavors!

do research, visit the schools, talk to people, know what you want or have an idea