University of California-San Diego Top Questions

Choose the university or college that you feel will make you most happy, because I believe that you will end up where you're supposed to end up, ragardless of what school name shows up on your degree.

To the parents, the only advice I would give would be to guide your child to the school that is best tailored to both his/her academic and intellectual capabilities (meaning, a challenging school that will allow even further development), as well as a school that accentuates his/her social background. It is a joint decision between the parent and child, a decision that ultimately rests solely with the child. Students need to understand the exact scope of universities and understand how that can factor into their social and academic lives. Smaller schools might allow for more intimate relationships and a smaller classroom ratio, but the student might find a larger school with greater social opportunities to be a better fit for him/her. For the student, the most important thing is to find a school that satisfies both the mind and the heart, something that will allow for a greater development for both and not just one over the other.

The main advice that i would give parents would be to become very involved with their children's choices of colleges. Also to make sure they visit the campus before making decisions. Take campus tours and ask many questions. Dont forget to support your child in whatever decision they make, lots of support is needed to secure well being of the student. I give this advice because my parents weren't involved at all with my college process and I really needed the support and protection of a parent. Students, my advice is to focus on your studies more than the people around you. Once you have secured your academic standing you can go out and meet people, dont wait until your GPA is too low that you become depressed and start questioning your decisions in going to that school. Its a new and different environment, establish yourself before expanding yourself. Happy hunting!!!

Visit the college and make sure you know what you're getting into. Every college is different and you need to find the one that fits you the best.

College is all about goals. Finding a college, attending college, post-graduate studies and a career all involve some sort of goals. For students: make a list of things that you want to do in college and things you might want to do after college. Take that list and focus on the most important one or two features of the list and pick a school that you think has the best fit for those priorities. You will end up realizing all of your other priorities at any college you attend, just make it a goal. College's are all flexible to new ideas so anything that they lack they will often support if you make it your goal to develop a program in ballroom dancing or ultimate frisbee. For parents: do your reasearch as well. Think about what you want for your child and guide them to a school that satisfies both your child's top choices and fits with what you think your child wants (and honestly what they can handle). Don't send your child to a school that does not accomodate their basic needs, and they will flourish in their new academic environment.

Before deciding where to attend college, I believe that the student should have at least some idea of what he or she wants to major in, or have a career goal. Different schools have different academic strengths so a students choice in major should affect his or her choice in school. Plus, having direction and a goal in mind is necessary to make the most out of the college experience. If a student is unclear on what he or she wants to do after college, there is nothing wrong with taking time off from school to get work experience and explore personal interests. Going to college just because it seems like the thing to do after high school is a waste of time and money. It would be better to take time off to formulate a clear goal than it would be to attend college and study a subject that doesn't truly interest the student just for the sake of getting a degree. Once the college and major have been chosen it is important to join extracurricular activities, meet people, and have fun. The college experience should be about growing personally as well as academically.

Many students have an idea of what college they want to attend. Visiting each prospective campus is important to gain an idea of what college life there will be like. If unable to visit a campus, then most college websites have virtual tours online. Getting information from current students, professors and staff may help parents and students gain an impression about each school and help them decide which is best. When it all comes down to choosing the right college, the most important thing is financial aid, distance, and the student's personality. Each college has its' merits and flaws. From the past two years of college, I realized that it's not the college you attend that will determine your college experience, but what you make out of it. If you want a crazy sociable college experience, then you have to go out there and make the effort to be the social butterfly and find attractions yourself. Even the dullest and boringest college can give a student an ideal college experience. If a student wants to make the most out of college, then she/he has to take action and pursue what kind of experience they want.

live on campus first year

EXPLORE! Take trips to the colleges!! Ask alumni questions! Find current students while touring campus and bombard them with questions. Usually you hear about things that you would from students that actually attend the college from a website or a campus tour. Explore the websites of the school, taking note of organization, presentation, and the majors offered by each college. Research heavily on the majors the college offers and what other extracurricular activities are available. Make sure the school is in an area that the student would enjoy living in for four years! Get involved, be outgoing, focus on school, but have fun!

Research what classes the school offers and ask students who go there what it's like, workload, acitivty-wise and socially. Get involved with extra-curriculars, make friends and network with people in your class to form study groups. Make good relationships with your professors and study as much as you can!