University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Top Questions

Be open minded, consider all aspects of the school and what you may want to do. Don't be afraid of the larger schools, they have a lot to offer. Understand that the first year is the hardest and is designed to weed out and point you in the direction that meets your interests and abilities. Intro classes can be the hardest so don't get discouraged!

Really research every aspect of each college first before making a decision, and do not go somewhere just because your friends are. Really think about things that are important to you - class size, professor availability, the greek system, urban vs. rural, etc.

Ask yourself, "Are the benefits from attending more expensive college A worth X thousand dollars more than attending cheaper college B, which may not offer these benefits?" This question helped me deem that the few benefits offered by a private university were not worth the $20,000/year I would save by attending the University of Minnesota.

First, study well in high school so you will have plenty of options for college and scholarships. Second find a diverse college that can expand your boundaries, seriously consider studying abroad for any lenght of time and seriously pursue at least one foreign language. Finally, try your best to incorporate your insterests into your major because doing what you like is much more important than what others want you to do and any passionate person is bound to make a good living for him/herself.

My parents would say to find the college that will offer you the career choices that you will need to succeed and it also has to be affordable and close to home. Some students may say that you should go to a far away college and enjoy your college life there to the fullest until you graduate and actually start your life as a real member of society.

My advice that I would give to parents is once they get to college, it?s time to let go. You have to understand that they are their own person now and they should be the ones to guide their own lives. Your college student is the driver and you are the passenger. You are still going to be there to navigate your child but they are the ones who rule the road and their own life. My advice for students that are applying to colleges is that it truly is a stressful time. Relax and you?ll get through it everyone is in the same boat as you. When you finally get accepted into the school of your choice; remember that this is a brand new start, a new time to create yourself, to learn from mistakes, go off of the good choices you?ve made, call your parents, get involved and make new friends. If your school offers a greek system, join, it will be the best decision you make and will make the year go by faster than you think! Always remember, ?never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.?

enjoy college, work will be there when your done.

First of all, it is important to visit different campuses before you make your final decision. Different campuses can have very different atmospheres. For me, I knew immediately after stepping foot on campus that this was the place I wanted to spend the next four or five years. It was home. Once you make that final decision and arrive on the campus of your choosing, get out there and experience it! Most schools have tons of things, especially for freshman, to do in the first couple weeks especially. Get involved. Whether it's starting a new club or joining an already well-established group, being a part of something can make college a lot less overwhelming. (It's also great for networking for future job opportunities and looks great on resumes.) If your school has sports, go out to the games! Stay busy. The times when my calender was overflowing with assignments, meetings, appointments, interviews, and gatherings were among my most productive and successful. Most of all, enjoy yourself! You will learn more about yourself and the world during college than in any other time of your life. It's an amazing experience.