University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Top Questions

I would definitely advise them to visit the campus before making any final decision. Find out how culturally diverse the campus is and how large the classes are. Those two aspects play a huge role in a persons college experience. Make sure you have a good counselor that cares about you and your success as a college student. A counselor is a very great tool that every college student should utilize during their college experience and you want to make sure that he/she cares about your future just as much as you do.

Parents: Let your children make their own choice. I cannot emphasize this enough. College is not only where most students learn to buckle down, gain new skills and make friends that may follow them throughout their life, it is also where they hope to fit in, where they want to originate from, where they will eat, sleep and breathe for four years. This is not a choice you have the right to make, even if you are putting up the money for it. If your kids aren't ready to make informed, mature choices, allow them to learn from their mistakes. They're your kids, but they're adults now. Let go. Students: Do not choose something to get back at your parents. Don't go as far away from home as possible. Don't choose someplace because your friends are going there. Choose a place that looks/feels/sounds like YOU. Finances play a part in difficult decisions like these, but you can go wherever you want, do whatever you want, regardless. And do as MUCH AS YOU CAN. It really is true: you get what you put forth. Don't be lazy. Don't regret not being enough.

I would tell parents and students to look at a variety of different colleges while making their decision. Look at colleges big and small even if you think you would not normally like it. I have always been a shy person so at first, I said that the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities is too big and I would never find my place. But boy was I wrong. I met a great group of friends and absolutely love the campus and all it has to offer. So dont always go with your first instinct. Check out a number of school and tour them, but most of all on those tours ask questions! Becuase more than likely the tour guides would love to ask your questions because the love their school! And start looking and thinking early!

The most important piece of advice that I would give students about finding the right college and making the most out of the college experience is to have fun with the courses that you take. If students do not enjoy the courses for which they have registered, they are far less likely to stay motivated and to excel in them. When choosing a university I would also suggest, in addition to touring the campus, arranging a meeting with some of the faculty that belong to the department in which the student has enrolled. This provides an excellent opportunity to not only get to know your potential faculty members, but also to determine whether or not their personalities are geared toward making your educational experience at that school the best that it can possibly be.

I would advise students to apply to as many colleges as possible during high school, even when it seems to take forever, and all the applications are the same! After applying I definitely advise visiting all the schools that are of interest, because a school that sounds great a brochure may not actually fit your needs once you visit the campus. Making appointments or just dropping in to meet proffesors or coaches is very beneficial as well, as they have a certain perspective and great knowledge of the academic opportunities available on campus that students may not be aware of. For parents I would advise stepping back and letting your child take the reins in the application proccess, this is an important part of the start of his/her college career! Most of all I would suggest picking a college where, as a student, you feel the most comfortable! College can be a great experience if it is a place that fits all your needs, and trust me, that college is out there!

Look for colleges that offer a variety of options for experiences outside the classroom. Colleges that encourage students to become involved in the community and develop relationships between learning in the classroom and the outside world are programs that you want to look for and attend. Put yourself out there, volunteer and get involved. It will enhance your knowledge and understanding of the world and it will benefit you more than you know. My greatest experiences from college revolved around the learning I gained from volunteering and being involved in activities and clubs. Its easy to pass these things up and enjoy other aspects of college life, but you can do both and you will be happy in the long run for taking advantage of all the opportunities that colleges offer. Also, study abroad!!!! I can't say it enough, it is worth it!! You will regret it if you don't and I wish I would have done more of it! It is the best time in your life to pick up and live in another country for a short time!!! Take advantage and enjoy!

Finding the right college is a difficult process but can be done. The most important thing to remember is not to stress. Things will turn out well. One thing that can be done to make the process easier is finding a college that when you step onto the campus you immediately feel at home. If you feel at home and are comfortable, then finding friends, finishing assignments on time, and getting a high score on a midterm or final will come much easier. Once you have found that college, making the most of your experience is really up to you. If you get involved in an organization that supports something you are passionate about, that will lead you to others who have similar feelings; getting involved is key. Get to know the professors and your classmates and you will find people who want to help you succeed. They will not, however, come to you without any effort on your part. You have to be willing to be a good friend or student and they will be willing to be a good friend or teacher in return. Basically have fun, make smart choices, and the rest will come.

The most important thing about choosing a college is finding the school that fits the student best. It is crucial to find a school that best fits the student's learning style and offers the experiences that the student is looking for. College is the best place to achieve their independence. To make the most of the college it is important to get involved at the school, there are many ways to do this including numerous clubs and organizations as well as organized events. The most important thing is to decide what you want to get out of your college education and then find events, organizations and classes that provide those things.

Go to the college before hand for a visit so you can get a feel for what its like. Make sure you and your parents both like the college. It will be a much more rewarding experience if you both agree on where you are at.

Make sure students go on college tours and actually get a feel for what the school is like. Go during times when class is in-session and when the campus is full of the students, because that is what school will feel like. Some of my friends at different universities do not like where they attend school, and it is solely because they didn't get out there and tour many campuses. I toured at four different universities and twice at the University of Minnesota, which is where I now attend. This is the place where you are going to spend the next four years of your life, and college is such a big part of your life that it does make a difference where you have toured. You will make lifelong friends, study your major, and grow so much; it is completely necessary to have the correct feel of the university, because when it is the one for you, you'll know.