University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Top Questions

Choose your locations widely. Stay in the dorms, its an important experience, especially for networking and meeting new people. Be involved on campus. Party wisely; learn to balance a fun social life with good study habits. Stay on top of things and dont get behind. College is a blast so you've got to make the most out of it!

My biggest piece of advice would be to visit the schools you are applying too and see which ones feel right. It sounds kind of corny but when you find the right school you will know. The students should be willing to try different types of school and don't make the decision based on money. If you apply for enough scholarships and financial aid you can make it work. The biggest thing I would suggest as far as making the most of a college experience would be to get involved. There are countless groups and clubs that want to get to know new people and it is a great way to meet people that have similar interests in the prospective students. Don't be afraid, there is nothing to lose.

I'm going to go off on an unorganized tangent with the answer to this question. Parents, be honest with your child when it comes to being able to afford college so they aren't disappointed and worried about affording a college that they're accepted too. Students study, study, study; don't wait til after partying or hanging with friends to do your homework. Parents and students make sure to take a tour of schools that the child is accepted too in order to get a quick feeling of the size and nature of the school, so the student finds the school they feel most comfortable. Also make sure the student, as well as the parent, stays on top of deadlines and completes them as well in advance as possible, such as housing applications so the student is guranteed "satisfactory" housing. Finally, the parents and students need to keep in touch on a regular basis by phone or email so the students have a support system at home. By doing so when the student comes home for breaks they'll feel like they've never left in a way. Students stay focused on your education, not on partying.

make friends, be open minded

College is a huge life change. The most important factors that I believe will determine your happiness at a university is size, location, and opportunities that are provided. First of all you need to choose whether you will be more comfortable at a large university where you are forced to be very independent and seek out any help you might need or if you would prefer a small school where the focus is more on students. You have to remember that large schools may have more resources but you will have to work harder to find them. The location is important because although running far away from home seems like a good idea when you have been living under your parents? roof for 18 years, having them within driving distance will help with the anxiety of first leaving home as well as providing a source for food and spending money when times get hard. Finally you want to consider what services the school will provide for you. Many school guarantee on campus jobs, internships, and post-graduation job placement help. What you want from your campus should determine which college you choose.

I would make sure you're positive that you want to attend a big (or small) school. You have to decide if a small community is what you want or if you're happy just being a face in the crowd.

Always visit the school, you have to check the vibe of a school. When you finally choose the school, don't be afraid to go somewhere else if the experience doesn't work. But give it a try, trust your self and your instincts. College will shape your future, trust your past to send you in the right direction.

Find a place that fits. Sometimes, the best thing may be to take 2 years at a Community College to get a feel for classes, complete your generals, and then move on to a larger school. You save money and end up being better-prepared!

For the Students, find a college that when you step foot on campus, you fall in love. That you take pride in where you go to school, get involved in everything you can, study abroad!! Get to know new people and your professors, volunteer, and even though it seems like you have all this extra time to have fun, make sure to stay caught up in studying because the exams are harder than you think they are and procrastination will make you pay, BIG TIME! Parents, its a hard thing letting go of your child, but they will have a blast and will never forget you. So don't worry and help them along, because they will need it.

When choosing a college, I would encourage students to take an inventory of what they want out of a college. They shou;d decide whether they like a big or small campus, whether they want to live on or off campus, and what kinds of programs they want to be involved in. I would encourage then to visit the campus, becuase then you get a really good feel for what it is going to be like when you go there.