University of California-Irvine Top Questions

My advice to parents and/or students is to thoroughly research each potential college. Don't just look at the academic aspect of it. A certain college can look good to you but to others will think differently. Look for colleges that can give you the things that you are looking for. Parents should not worry about the financial aspect of college. College do provide some sort of financial assistance that can help greatly in paying for college.

First of all, start early!!!! Start when they start high school. Look into colleges and financial packages right away. Lots of scholarships on line can be applied for when your child is as young as 13 yrs old. Hire a private guidance counselor, who will help your child all through high school to select classes and activities that will look good on a resume. Resume, you ask? Absolutely. Especially if your child is interested in a private college, a resume of activities, volunteerism and classes will put your child a step above. GPA is not enough anymore. Schools are interested in what your child can bring, as well as what the college offers to help make a good fit. Activities do not all have to be school oriented. They can be church related or community related. Community related activities are especially attractive to colleges. Start a college fund as early as possible. Have your child work in the summer to contribute to this fund, making him a part of his own future, and teaching responsibility (also looks good on a resume!). I must stress that it is never too early to begin to prepare for college. Just do it.

As a college student, I find it is absolutely necessary for prospective students to consider all their options before choosing the right school. When I received my acceptance letters, I was unsure of what I wanted but after visiting the schools, I knew exactly what I wanted. College is what you make of it. There are no "party schools" or other classifications, it is only how you make your experience. Every school has different features but overall, they are all very similar. I suggest being open to anything and participating in different activities to see what your true interests are. No one can automatically say they know what they want or what will happen in college because the experience is different for everyone. Thus, I sugest visiting different campuses and seeing what you enjoy the most and remember, while college is for learning, one must also consider that they will be spending the next four years at that school.

I would make sure that your child feels comfortable at the campus and can see themselves walking around not only the school but to stores and shops off-campus. It is important that your child feels safe in possibly the first environment they will be in without supervision from a parent. It is also wise to consider that this campus may as well be located in the city your child will stay in after they graduate. As for the students, you should look for a college that you believe will challenge you to your highest potential and aid you in your journey from childhood to adulthood. This is where you will create lasting relationships with students and faculty alike. Make sure the school speaks to you on whatever level you hold most dear to yourself, weather it is religion, sports, academics or personality!

Go with your gut instinct!

The best college to attend is one that you think will not only put you on the best path for your career, but will also provide a positive life changing environment . Stay on top of your work but don't forget to plug yourself in to all the programs, groups and oppourtunities your school will provide. Don't be afraid to try out new things and experience cultures outside of your own; the more actively involved you are the more you will benefit from your school. Professors, as demanding as they may appear, are often more flexible than you would think; but make sure you try to get to know your professor on a personal level, not only do they appreciate the consideration but it might also open doors that were not available to you before. I can't stress enough how import it is to create a calender or schedule for yourself, you will be inundated with so many fun and stimulating experiences it can become easy to lose track of your workload. You only get to go to college once, so enjoy yourself and have fun.

College is an absolutely vital time in one's life and the decision of which to attend should not be taken lightly. One's choice of a college should not be focused primarily on academics, social life, location, finances, friends, or any other single area. The decision should be based upon a strong mix of all of these things. With a primary focus on what will help the future student to develop as an individual. College's primary goal should not be to educate one self but rather to prepare the individual for life as a self-supporting individual. This cannot be accomplished by having another four years of high school; one must press beyond high school and leave it behind. One must embrace independence and all of the costs associated with it if one truly hopes to reap the full benefits of college.

The best advice I can give parents is to be there for your children in a way that allows them to reach for you if they need you. Basically, kids who go to college need to spread their wings a bit, but they also need to know that they have someone to back them up while they make decisions that could impact the rest of their professional career. Ask them about their classes and let them know that you are available to discuss their academic choices. For students, the best advice I can give is to follow your heart. Study what you love and try to get an internship in college. You have the opportunity to do amazing things at school and you should take advantage of it. Take interesting classes, explore your campus, and learn as much as you can about the things that inspire you. Carpe Diem.

Students, have an open mind and think what you really want out of college. It is not always about ranking. Many other factors play into choosing a college. It really depends on what kind of personality you have and what you want. Think about everything, including academics, social life, clubs/organizations, know about the campus and the stuff surround it. Don't be obssessed over it though, it will just give you a hard time, especially during senior year. And no matter what, every college has its plus. Obviously it is smart to research college and see what you will really want, but generally, college is what you make of it. When going into college, have an open mind. Try new things. Even if you were active in high school. KEEP BEING ACTIVE! if you feel burned out maybe just wait out a quarter or two but being active opens up so many opportunities. You gain friends and networks and you tend to love your college much more. A lot of it is really mental. I gave my college a chance after first year, and this second year has been much better since I became more active.

study hard