University of Cincinnati-Main Campus Top Questions

Make sure that your child enjoys every aspect of the college, don't just enjoy a few aspects of the college because if they do at some point they will be miserable. Get involved in an organization on campus so that you can devolve new relationships that will last a life time.

In order to pick the right college for your child, agree to visit a few colleges that you like and your child likes. Go visit the college and share what either of you like and don't like about a college. Make sure the academics is stressed very importantly because you want a college that is strong academically and is affordable. Also, find a college where there is plenty of things to do on the weekends so that your child can have fun too rather than partying all the time on the weekends. Find a college that has a strong security team so that your child is safe and a college that is not too big, or too small but the perfect size.

Go with your heart and make sure you visit the campus first.

My advice would be to just find a college that appeals to all aspects of who you are. Don't just choose a college based on an academic program, although that is important. Choose a college based on the area surrounding the campus, the people you've met already from campus, the faculty/advisors, and the campus itself. Finding the right fit is sometimes challenging. Learn what your interests are, if you are not yet sure, and find a college that can appease those interests. By choosing a college that covers as many aspects as possible will make for the best college experience because there will be less things the college is lacking, for you.

My advice to parents and students would be to do what feels right. Safety, is of course a huge issue, and all campuses and urban cities have their fair share of crime, but preparing yourself for the worst and hoping for the best is a great way to start off. Learning tactics to be safe is very important when starting a new chapter of your life in a new place. I started school undecided and UC had an amazing program in place called Learning Communities. This helped me find what I really wanted to do, while giving me, basically instant friends in our group of about 20. Other schools had similar programs but none like ours. These are things that I would look for in a school, guidance, helpful upperclassman, and of course a beautiful campus. Another inticment about UC, was the distance from home, about an hour. This has helped me adjust but feel safe as well. When I visited UC I had a gut feeling I would like it, although my parents were not happy about the location; But I went for it, and four years later I am happily starting my Masters in Social Work.

be open to a new and unfamiliar place. don't choose a place all your friends plan on going to. most of all, be happy and if youre not happy, you can always change!

Be careful that you are ready to make the financial investment you will be called upon to make once you enroll in college. Carefully consider going to a school that you can afford and/or offers the best financial award package. Once you arrive at school, ensure that you have solid money management skills. It will be very difficult for you to commit to your studies or participate in social and/or extracurricular activities if you have significant financial issues. Being able to have a little bit of extra money in your pockets frees your mind of unnecessary worries and allows you to focus on what you came to college to do: learn, grow, and have fun!

One of the greatest pieces of wisdom I can give parents and students when finding the right college, is to really get a feal of the atmosphere. The best thing you can do is plan your own trip, try and see that university how it really is, by not going on scheduled tours, and by understanding how a "normal" day really feels. Sure, cost and quality are important things when deciding where to further your education, but if you're not comfortable in the university's environment it's going to be difficult to put your nose to the grinder when you need to get the work done. You won't be at your highest level of performance, and your grades and health will suffer. So, in earnest, the greatest piece of advice I can give to parents and future students is, go off the beaten path. Spend a few days at your university, and try to blend in to the daily life. Be comfortable where you are, your nerves and your mind will thank you for it.

I would tell parents that they should find a college that they feel their child would be safe and get the best opportunity to gain a good degree. Also, let the student choose somewhere they are comfortable. If the student isn't comfortable, stress could be added to their already potential hectic school and social load. Students should not choose a school just for its popularity. Sure it would be more fun to be a place where sporting and other social events are exciting, but if the school provides too much of a distraction, the students grades could suffer. Also, don't be afraid to talk to people. The more friends you make, the more willing people there are to help you with what you need and the less alone you will feel.

I think so much of "choosing the right school" is actually how you react to school once you're in it. You can go to college anywhere and get a great education- it's all what you make of it. Visit the campus and see if you vibe with it. Tune out unimportant factors, like where all your friends or your significant other is going, and ask yourself if you can really see yourself walking around campus. Check out the activities and what people do on weekends. Going with your gut instinct usually works, and even if it turns out to be different than you expected, be flexible and open-minded. Choosing to participate in activities, going to class regularly and getting involved in a social scene is where the real college experience is, no matter what city or state you're in.