University of Connecticut Top Questions

Be sure to visit the campus while students are there and talk with the students. Sit in on a class in area of interest to you and meet directly with a faculty advisor in your chosen field of study. Give yourself time upon entering the college to meet people and make connections before committing to fraternities and sororities. Give yourself a full year in the college before deciding if it is the right fit for you. First semester is always difficult to adjust, don't react too quickly if it is feeling like it is not a good fit. If you are in a big university try to find a place to belong to that is smaller and more personal. Parents, encourage your child to be independent and make their own decisions!

I think that most students are so eager to leave home that they do not think of logical choices right in front of them. UCONN was not my first choice, but it ended up being the best decision I have ever made. If you are pressed financially, look for a college in-state, that is affordable and will also give you the college experience of meeting new people and living on your own. As for life on campus, making the most of it is easy--leave your dorm door open; people will pass by and stop on in and you'll meet some great friends that way. Go to involvement fairs and see what is out there. There are great clubs and jobs available on every campus. And lastly, a balance of a social AND academic life is crucial. You won't be successful without either. ..oh and parents...they'll be fine, you raised them well enough to make it this far...they'll find a way to make it. STAY POSITIVE!!

Be active and be open. You may wish to focus in certain areas which is wonderful, but please understand that college is here to open your mind and your options to a whole new world that you may have never considered before. Take chances you may not have before and try as many new things as possible. Meet as many different people as possible and get new ideas, opinions and courses of travel as you can.

Sometimes it can be difficult to be certain of what major you will ultimately pursue, so keep and open mind and try to look for a university that has a broad range of challenging programs. However, this advice might not be applicable if you are certain of what your career path will be. I would advocate keeping an open mind. Also, I think that prospective students should be careful when weighing different considerations in choosing a school. A nice city, a good sports team, US news and world reports rankings and other factors can be helpful in choosing a school, but ultimately I believe that the professors in the classrooms are the most important thing to consider. Do some research on the faculty -- what have they published? What can you find out about them? This is important because you will find good parties and interesting people no matter where you attend college, but the single thing that seperates a mediocre from a world-class education is what happens inside of the classroom.

I would advise students to strongly consider how the feel about being far away from home. This will help narrow down potential schools. I have found that many students who feel convinced that they will not be homesick at a school far from home, do get homesick, and transfer. I would also advise students to consider strongly if they are looking for a large or small school. I automatically assumed that I wanted a larger school, because I did not want college to resemble high school in any way. However, now I see that I may have had more academic success in a smaller school. 300-person lecture halls are somewhat overwhelming to me. Finally, I would encourage students to choose a school with a good amount of flexibility. Often, students enter college thinking they want to major in something, but then change their minds after taking several classes. A student should consider a college that offers majors in several of their interests, so that they may take a variety of classes.

Do your homework! Make sure you know what the college and campus has to offer. Research the school's academic goals, extracurricular activies, athletic reputation, or whatever interests you! Also, research the area the school is located in. Do you prefer the city? country? A large campus? Small campus? All of these things make a difference. Most importantly, make sure you visit! Take a tour of the campus and talk to some students if you can. Ask what they like about the school and their experiences...they are your best sources for information! Also, be sure to attend the orientation session of your school offers one. These sessions offer lots of helpful information in addition to what is most likely your first experiences on campus. Don't forget to follow your gut instinct. If it feels right, then go for it!

I would recommend that the parents take into consideration the cost of the school versus the education the student will received. The student should do the same. In wealthier areas, there is a lot of emphasis placed on the name of the school, however, in my experience attending the state school was the best decision I could have made. I looked at the price of my top choice school, and it would have been difficult, if not impossible, to ever pay off my debts. Now, however, I am learning and growing in a less money-based environment, and I could not be happier about my college experience. As for making the most of the college experience, I would tell the parents to allow their child to become an individual and let them go, and I would tell the student to have fun, but be rational as well, and work as hard as they will play.

When you are applying to college, a lot of people will tell you what you "should" do. You should go to a school with rigerous academics, you should challenge yourself, you should consider extracurriculars, and you should go somewhere with "a name" so that you can build the best resume possible. While all of this may be great advice, it's not always applicable to who you are as an individual. I think the most important aspect of college admissions that often goes overlooked is that you really just have to be yourself. Present yourself to potential colleges as who you truly are - don't pretend to be someone you're not just to "get them to like you," because they will admit/waitlist/reject the person you act as when they first meet you. If you present yourself genuinely and your dream school still rejects you, then it might not have been the place for you. Don't be narrow-minded in your selection, because there are always surprises. And finally, don't sacrifice your dreams or be afraid to think outside the box, because any college you go to will truly be the experience that you make it.

My best piece of advice is go to the school. Make sure you get an accurate idea of the campus, the size, the area, surrounding businesses, and how far it is to the closest grocery store, or shopping mall, stuff like that. And don't just listen to what the tour guides have to say, find some students to talk to. Also, carefully check out the reputation of the program you will be entering, because thats what will really help you get a job. Finally, look into the number and variety of student organizations. If the number is low, chances are the campus will be really boring, and there is a huge lack of student involvement. If there is a lot for you to do on the campus, chances are you will have things to do on the weekends and evenings, and the truth is, getting yourself involved is the biggest step towards making friends, and having a fulfilling college experience.

Most people should be able to be happy wherever they go. Decide what you want in a college, then narrow it down from there. When you get to college, immerse yourself in the classes and extracurriculars. There are plenty of amazing people out there, and amazing things to learn and do. Make the most of the resources you are offered. Study abroad, take an obscure class, try out a new club, write for the school paper. You may be surprised at what you'll find that sparks your interest. Don't be afraid to try new things, or to completely change your plans. College is preparation for the rest of your life. Don't allow yourself to leave with any questions of "what if?" If you wonder about something, check it out! Don't worry about what others will think of you. Follow your own path, and you'll be surprised how many people share your same passions. College is an excellent transition to independence, and a great place to discover who you really are.