University of Minnesota-Duluth Top Questions

The secret to choosing the right college is not only take a campus tour, but to hang around campus. Watch how people interact and what they do for fun. The campus tour will show you the size of the school and what buildings there are. Sticking around campus will show you if you can relate to the students and the campus environment.

Make sure that you have plenty of choices when choosing a college. If you only have one college in mind, you may not be applying for the school that can really change your life. Also, I know that money can be a big factor, but if you feel as if you fit well into a college that may be more expensive, go for it anyway. There are always loans. To make the most of your experience, make sure you branch out socially. If the school offers a summer program to help you meet other freshmen, go for it. That's how I met most of my best friends. Also, don't be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and talk to the person you are sitting next to in class...they may become your new best friend.

My first piece of advice would be to explore several schools that you might want to attend. Don't judge a school right away, wait until you really get a lot of information about it. Don't chose a school just because the dorm rooms are nice. Yes you're going to spend a lot of time there, but most of it is going to be sleeping. Go to a school that has a lot of sports going on around campus. They are a great way to meet people and make lifelong friends. Select a school that you don't have many highschool friends going to. If you pick a school where you're going to know a lot of people from high school, you're going to end up just hanging out with them and not making a lot of new friends. Try really hard in school, you're paying for every credit you take. Be careful if you decide to use alcohol or drugs because universities are usually very strict on their substance policies and you have the potential to really disappoint a lot of people including yourself. Join as many clubs as you can to make friends.

I would advise to let your child choose the college they believe is right for them. It will pay off in the long run if they are at a college not at your expectations and passing, then them being in a college of your expectations and failing.

Visit the campus. There is no better way to get an idea for the campus culture than to actually go there. It will also give you an idea for how easy it will be to travel to and from campus. It's important to be able to make it home for holidays and family events, but it is also helpful to have a healthy distance from home. I found that living a few hours away helped me establish myself and learn to take responsibility while still having the comfort of knowing that if I really needed to go home, I could get there. The healthy distance is different for everyone. A really big issue for some people is the size of the campus. Smaller campuses sometimes feel more interconnected while larger campuses offer a more diverse population. Larger campuses also tend to offer a wider variety of majors, which I would reccommend to anyone who might be undecided. That way when you choose a major there is a greater chance that your college will offer the it. Otherwise, you would have to transfer and leave your new life behind.

Make sure you go to a college that not only has your degree but where you will be able to meet people easily. Maybe even go with a friend. College has been a difficult and lonely experience for me and I hope that others will remember to follow there dreams and do it with the people you love and care for. College can be a wonderful experience.

It's not about knowing what you want to do, it's about discovering who you want to be come.

Pick the school that you feel most comfortable at. Don't follow your friends or let anyone influence you into where you want to go to school. The school has to feel right for you. If you do not feel comfortable or like the school it will be very hard for you to learn and enjoy your college experience. It is a great time in your life and you should make the most of it.

Get involved on campus, with anything. Don't study till your eyes melt. DO YOUR HOMEWORK! Study with friends/classmates and avoid cramming its not effective.

I would say that ultimately where someone goes to college is up to the student that is attending. They need to know that where they are going is going to be right for them in terms of academics, social, physical, and living needs. Make good friends, have good times, and enjoy college to the fullest.