University of Massachusetts-Lowell Top Questions

I don't believe that you find the right college; I believe that you make it the right college.

Advice that I would give to parents or students about finding the right college would be; don't hold back. Go for what you want, and find a school that will suite your needs. Don't be pressured into going somewhere where someone else wants you to go, you should attend a college which you see is best for yourself. This is the first step in making the most of your college experience. Once in college, make sure you have a healthy balance between social life and academic life, and make sure you spend time doing the important things instead of becoming caught up in unimportant distractions. I would say, follow your heart and enjoy the ride.

Get the full experience. Live on campus and participate in club or sport activities. Never be afraid to take advice, from anyone.

If you or your son/daughter is not absolutely, one hundred percent sure about what program he or she wants to go into, then don't bother spending the extra money on a private school or institution. Go to a state school and let the student feel his or her way around the academic field first, and then decide on a major later. Many students I know have spent a lot of time and money working toward a degree that they later find is not their top choice. Also, when touring campuses, go with your gut. If you or your son/daughter feel at home on a certain campus, take that into consideration; your school of choice will become your new home, so why not pick the place where you feel most at home?

The best advise i would give to parents and students is to apply to about 6-7 schools, different from each other. Some that you know you have a very good chance to get accepted, something that you thing you might get accepted and some that you dont think you can get accepted. Also keep in mind the size of the school, location, class size, etc... Try to narrow it down to two or three. At this point you have to keep in mind how much financial aid you are getting from each school because it does play a big role at the end. You might end up choosing the one that is willing to give the best financial package or if that is not a big factor you can choose , the one that fits all your expectations. In my case, i had no idea what I wanted to do in school and i got accepted to a few schools of my choice, however I didn't get any finacial aid from the schools. I went to a state school to figure out what i wanted to do & in the proccess switch to another school once i figure it out.

Start looking EARLY. Be sure to factor in price (that's what made the final decision for me). Start in the FALL semester, and follow the basic curriculum layout. I started Spring Semester and missed out on ALL of the entering-freshman scholarships, and a LOT of Financial Aid for the first couple semesters. I'm not going to be able to graduate with most of the people I've made friends with because I'm a semester behind them all and class availability is going to make me a full year behind them by the time they graduate. Try to decide what major you want within your first year of college. The School itself lets you bounce around as you please, but only in the first year are all the courses the same for nearly all of the majors. After that, if you change majors, you may nearly have to start over again with all new prerequisites for all new courses, so take a GOOD look at what's ahead, and try your best to stick with your choice. Try to figure out what you REALLY want to do when you get OUT, and follow the closest path.

Start early. Have an idea of what you would like to do for a career. Then narrow down your search from there.

Ask people who go to the school, and visit the school yourself.

In order to find the right college you need to have an understanding of who you are, and what atmosphere will provide you with the most growth for your money. First decide on what size, how far you are willing to be from home, and which school will fit your budget, but also give you a satisfactory education. Once you pick which school to attend, there are a few things that will make the most out of your of your college experience. The number one thing to do is to get out of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to try new things or to listen to ideas that are foreign to you, this is what college is all about. You will learn so much out of the classroom by the experiences you choose to participate in and from the people that you encounter. Also make sure that you are involved, join a club, sport, or activity that interests you, this is where you will make friends of a lifetime. And last but not least make sure you get your coursework done, and that you are taking the correct classes to graduate on time.

High school seems to run by their own democracy. Students follow rules and regulations that appear contradictory to those outside of class. A common misconception of attending college is gaining the ultimate freedom by escaping home life. Do not take advantage of the new experience, but do enjoy and learn from it. Education can be enjoyed, not just a painstaking process. Initial reluctance holds many students back from either attending college or choosing the right college. You cannot expect everything to fall into place the moment you step foot on campus. Give yourself a chance to grow, expand, meet new people, and realize that a college education is an incredible priviledge. By no means should anyone feel that higher education is not fit for them, whether they believe their grades are inadequate, or have doubts due to social life. Orientation helps you weave into a new lifestyle., so you can find your social and academic niche. Parents and students alike must not be fooled by city and party life surrounding a campus. You should be focused on where you or your child will settle comfortably. When you are comfortable with your surroundings your mind is free to expand and grow.