University of Massachusetts-Lowell Top Questions

Go with your gut. It's hard to transfer once you get into a school, so make sure you like your school. Don't think about the money at first, because there are always ways to get the money (financial aid, scholarships, etc). Also, pick a school with your major. It's hard to find something you love and want to do with the rest of your life, so if you have an idea already, run wih it. It'll definitely help in the end.

To find the right college you have to have an idea of what you want. Not necessarily about what you want ot do but how you want to live. You are going to a place where your going to live for four years. If you don't like it then don't go there because you'll hate it. Parents should gave most of the choosing power to students, but they need to consider costs. They shouldn't over spend and they absoulutely should not go bankrupt over college. Education from any school is always about the effort that the students are willing to put in. that being said don't rule out solely on the basis of cost. Start looking into all forms of financial aid and start looking now. There are some really great oppertunities for free money out there and the early bird gets the worm. Most importantly find a place that everyone can be comfortable with so that the college transition and subsequent experience can be enjoyed by both the students and the parents. And Good Luck.

The best advise that I would give parents and upcoming college freshmen would be to strive to gain entry to the best school possible. I would also advise the student not to base his or her decision on factors such as party life or dorm size but rather the accedemic reputation of each institution. Finally and most importantly, i would advise the student to keep up with their work wile getting involved with as many programs as possible in order to meet people and network themselves as individuals.

The advice I would give parents would be to let there son/daughter pick the school. The parents need to just support there son/daughter to what school they want to go to. Parents still can set the bounderys but the students should pick the school. For the students I would advice them to come up with there major befor heading off to school that way they know what to focus on and can get the right classes. Also I would tell the student looking at colleges to pick the school that has some activitys that they would like to get involved in that way they can get involved around the campus and build relationships/freiends ships. This would be the advice I would give a student or parent lookin in to schools.

Make sure to look into whichever city your child is attending because some cities are extremely dangerous!

Advice that I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be, research! Research the schools in your prospects, and find out as much as you can. In doing so, you will be able to more precisely match your interests and personality with the school you will attend. Be sure that you like the school size, setting, courses, professors, credentials, and more. Also, be sure that your school is affordable for you. Ask some current students what it is like to attend that certain university, because they know best what is in store for you. Ask them how they like the school, and if it is fulfilling their educational needs. My final word of advice would be to go for what you want. Don't let peer pressure or the pressure to attend an elite college distract you from choosing the school that you want to attend. It's your life, and the college you choose has a lot to do with setting your future paths.

What I feel is most important in the college decision process is determining what kind of learning environment the student is most comfortable in, and then matching the school to fit that description. My own experience was that I first went to a very large university (over 25,000 students,) and felt like I wasn't getting the attention I needed from the faculty. I then looked at a much smaller college, and decided that it wouldn't give me the right balance between assistance and self-motivation. When I found UMass Lowell, that balance was there, and it has made a difference in the quality of my work effort, and therefore in my academic achievement. I believe that a thoughtful dialogue between parent and student can make the college decision process easier and increase the student's chances of long-term success in college.

I would recommend that they first consider a variety of schools and compare their differnt options. Once they figure out where they want to go, they can then figure out financially how they will pay for the college. This is a crucial part of the college experience. One of the most common problems is money. I strongly recommend that students begin applying for scholarships as soon as possible, even if they are still in high school. It is possible to go to college without paying if they get enough scholarship assistance. This will set them up for a great future, a future where the students won't have to start off their post-college careers paying back lots of loans.

For parents, it is important to support your childrens' decisions no matter what major or school they choose. Without the support of their parents student find it difficult to continue their education. For students, it is very important to do something you enjoy because classes do get very difficult and without dedication and determination it is nearly impossible to find the will to carry on. Study hard, but make time for fun also balance between the two is key. When choosing the right college, financial aid, atmosphere and academic programs are the most important.

Take your time, look at every college you may be interested in. And don't fear the application process, apply even if you aren't sure because you should never have any regrets about not applying or have any "what-if's" in your mind. Talk to everyone, you never know who could become your friend. And if you want to live there do it! It's the best part of the college experience. College is an amazing experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything.