University of Houston Top Questions

Go with your heart. If you walk on to a campus and something does not feel right then don't go there. If you walk on the campus and you feel like you have to go here then go. By just wanting to be there will make your college experience that much better.

My advice to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to take time with your child during their eleventh grade year or sooner to start looking at what they might want to major in and what college would be best to provide that education needed to be successful and that would be affordable. Once you have decided on the major even if you have to change it later, you have something to start working on. Next, start looking for scholarships, grants, and loans. This is a long process and very tedious. Some require essays and applications. Sit down and think about the question or theme of the essay and begin to draft what you want to say. Once you have started this process, you can know where you stand with your major, after application, what school have excepted you, and hopefully how much financial aid you have so that you can make the most of the college or university experience. If you have a positive attitude and willingness to work hard and accomplish what you set out to do, there's no reason you won't be very successful.

When it comes to picking the right university or college, it always helps to attend orientation. This gives you the opportunity to see the students that attend the school and also a chance get a feel for the size of the school and possibly the classes. Orientation also allows both students and parents to view on campus housing as well as off. During the orientation tour, you might learn about historic facts about the school as well as which building are which. Also either before or after the orientation, you as a student can get help with which classes should be taken freshman year and a four year plan can be mapped out. If nothing more can be gotten from the orientation, at least you will be able to meet other incoming freshman who like you will also feel somewhat lost the first day. The best advice though to be taken seriously if one wants to meet others on campus the first year would be to become involved socially on campus, wether it be with the Student Government, Homecoming Committee, school newspaper, or the Greek life.

If I was to start all over with my college career, I would change many things. I have alot of pointers to inform parents and/or students to make most of their college experience. First and foremost choose a University that you would like to go to, not friends or family, they could have an impact on your decision. Next, If you wanted to join a sorority or fraternity, you should pledge your freshman or sophomore year. Before the first day of class, go to the academic advisor and talk to them about what classes to take what year. It is better to plan what classes to take over the four-year window, because it is very easy to fall behind and there are a lot of deadlines to keep up with throug out the your whole academic career. Also, I suggest to take advantage of all the tutoring that a student might need. The library, the computers, etc. are there to help the students with their studies and since the students and parents are paying for all those expenses, we should use that to the best of our ability. For a very effective study session, study at the library.

When looking for colleges, actually go and search them out. You will know if it is the right college for you by the atmosphere. You will feel like you belong and will want to be there. Also, never pass up schools that are close to family, because many times you find that the school where you belong is right in your hometown. When making the most of your college experience, have limits. Oftentimes we get carried away with so much freedom that we don't set any limits. Set your goals each semester and use these goals to place a limit on how much free time you will actually have. In the short run, it might seem no fun to skip the party and study, but the only thing that really matters in college is how it affects you in the long run. That's why you are there, is it not?

I would advise students to think about what kind of experience they want out of college other than just their classes. The type of university you go to affects a lot of your oppurtunities depending on your major, so a political science major interested in active political groups will have trouble at a commuter school like UH. Cost of the institution is an important factor in the decision, but keep in mind the balance of what you are getting for the cost of what you are getting.

It is essential to research all your options when choosing a college to attend. Consider all factors: location, cost, environment, academics, housing, etc... Do your homework and make the decision right for you. Its your future so take control and make it yours. :)

Forget about social stigmas, what you hear from your friends, and traditional wisdom about things The single most important thing in finding YOUR college and having a good college experience is to do everything YOURSELF. Go visit the college, take advantage of your visit days to find out what the college is really like, not what the student recruiter sees it as. Do your own research in the universities looking at the things you find important. When you finally get to college, throw out all of your assumptions. Meet a new person everyday, find out about how they live and what they believe. Join as many interesting organizations and events as your time permits and work like you care about the cause. Explore the campus and beyond. It's your home now, get comfortable with everything about it. Eat at every restaraunt, take a walk down every street, and take a nap in every cozy alcove you find. The thing about exploration is that there is actually a point to the entire thing. In searching out all these things that are the best that you can you find, you forge your own best college experience.

Depending on the future student's likes and dislikes, I would look closesly at the social aspects among students. College seems to be easier when the ability to make friends is available. I would also take a look at the professors teaching at the college and determine the job placement among graduates of the school.

Instead of looking at the brochures and websites, speak to students who actually attend the university. SPeak to students that have personalities similar to yours because there's just so much one could do by choosing the "right" school. At the end of the day, your college experience is what you make it. Also talk to students about what interests you have and if you can identify with the school.