University of Kentucky Top Questions

I would tell myself to focus my freshman year and work on my studies, rather than worrying so much about my social life. I would also tell myself to apply for more scholarships because the financial burden is huge on my family because I am an out of state student. The final thing I would tell myself would be, you are going to have the time of your life, don't worry and look forward to your future, you are a star!

Do not get caught up in the social scene; school is about getting an education and not trying to "fit in" at all times. It is better to keep the same attitude that you had in high school, work now, play later if time permits. In addition, stay focused on the plan you have mapped out for yourself and do not let anyone have the ability to alter said plan. Third, get more involved on campus. You came in doing work for the "betterment" of your community, leave doing the same. Do not forget where you came from, roots are so important in order to not get lost on this large campus. God is the Head of everything you are trying to accomplish, make sure what you do will give Him the glory. All in all, have a good time in college but try not to go too crazy!

The most important part of the college selection process for me was seeing the campus. I would advise students to take a tour and even spend some time on campus so that they can get a feel for what life there is like. They will be living in the environment of the school for the next 4 years or more, so being able to enjoy it is very important. making sure that the college has a good program for your major is also important. You want to know how many and what kind of classes you will be required to take before you start out.

You have to be realistic. Based on your GPA and standardized test scores, you need to determine which schools are likely to accept you and those that may be a reach. You should look at schools not solely on their reputation, but more importantly which schools have the best programs for what you are ultimately interested in studying. If possible, in order to narrow down your choices of colleges to which you are going to apply, it is prudent to do a tour and an overnight stay at a college to truly get a feel for the college's atmosphere. Other things that may help you narrow down your list of colleges to which you apply are things like athletics, size, diversity, and student to professor ratio. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Fill out FAFSA. Once in college, it is obviously imperative that you study hard, attend class, and make new friends. In addition to doing these things, try new things. Learn from not only your teachers, but also from your classmates and friends. Get involved on campus, and you will most certainly have a much more fulfilling college experience than if you had not done so.

Don't second guess your instincts. Sometimes you just have a feeling that a certain college is the one for you. Listen to that feeling because it is probably correct. Once at college, try to get involved in something that interests you. By becoming involved, you will meet people that have the same interests as you that can become your study buddies and best friends. Make sure that you study more than you think you need to because college exams are much more difficult than high school exams. If you don't do as well as you anticipated on an exam, don't let it get you down too much. Try not to focus on it, but try to do better the next time. Enjoy college while you can. Live it up. Have a great time!

The first thing I would say to parents and students about finding the right college would be to take a tour of all the college campuses that he or she is interested in. The tour of the University of Kentucky is what had the most impact on my decision. I met other prospective students, current students, and got a feel for what the average college day was like. I got to witness the interaction between students. Coming from a town that does not have its own college, I wasn't really sure what a college campus looked like. I would also recommend getting information from as many schools as possible so that the student can see how schools are different from each other. Some schools don't have a particular field that the student may want to study so having information from several school helps to make the decision easier.

Make sure that you are well suited for the college. Make a few visits to the college during classes to get a feel for the student life there. Also make sure that the college you are planning to attend has a good department for your areas of interest, not only education wise but also clubs and activities.

If I were to give advice to parents I would tell them to have their son or daughter live off campus, here at the University of Kentucky there are a lot of social events going on throughout semesters and their child might get distracted by these events. I would say it would be best to have them stay off campus for this reason. For the kids I would say to be active at the campus, and have fun, but don?t get carried away. Always know how to balance partying and school work. All college kids need a social life and it is perfectly fine to party every once in a while but don?t go overboard. I have had many friends that have flunked out of 2 or, even 3 years of school just because they couldn't party responsibly. Also take advantage of the facilities on campus, such as the library and the gym. They are free and make college a lot more entertaining, and easier. But most of all have fun and go to class. These will be some of the best years of your life.

First and foremost, I would tell students not to just "settle" for a school because they know they can get accepted but to not be afraid of applying to other more challenging schools even if that means being rejected. The student needs to be certain that the college he/she is attending is one which will make him or her happy and feel the most at home, not just the one which the parents think is the best fit. Second, although it gets harped upon a lot student involvement is key for a successful college career, especially for incoming freshmen. Meeting new people and making new friends will make the adjustment to college life that much easier. Third, stay organized and do not stress out (as most incoming freshman will find out soon enough when they get their first taste of FINALS....dom dom dom). Students need to enjoy themselves and take advantage of all the things their college/university offers them because their first year will be over before they know it and then they will be in the same position I am, filling out a scholarship application in hopes of paying off some of that college tuition.

Go to every campus you are interested. Once you step on the right campus you'll know.