University of Nebraska at Kearney Top Questions

My advice to both parents and students in finding the right college is to visit the campus. They need to familiarize themselves with the school. The student needs to feel it is a fun and comfortable place to be, and the parents need to feel it is a safe learning environment for their child where they can be successful. I would also tell the prospective students to have an idea of what they would like to study in school because that is crucial when selecting a school because some schools do not offer programs that they want. And lastly, to the parents, they should not be afraid to be involved in their child's school career either. My parents are still very active in my learning, which drives me to succeed.

Look around for at different colleges. If you see one that you think is the right fit, visit it. Take a tour, talk to some of the teachers in the major you are thinking of declaring. Get the feel for the campus and make sure if feels right for the parents and the child thinking of attending. There is nothing worse the choosing a college and figuring out half-way through the year that it is not a right fit at all for what you are looking for in a college experience. Also, go tour around the town the college is in. Figure out if its easy to navigate and also if it is big/small enough for you to feel comfortable driving around in and possibly living in once you reach upperclassmen status and want to live off campus. Basically, get to know the colleges of your choice the best you can before you make any descions. Weigh the pros and cons of each campus then you will be able to chose the college wisley.

As anyone would say, what are your interests? I really enjoy music and playing different instruments, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney was the best for a small, affordable, social, and focus based school that caught my eye. However, if you're not sure what to study, I personally would go to a small accredited community college in your area to get some general studies out of the way to buy you more time to think and discern what you want to do with your future. Once you find a school you like, a great way to get started is meeting new people, (if you're living in the dorms this is quite benneficial), get involved with different activities and student organizations, join a fraternity or sorority, and just have fun. But most importantly keep the focus on academics. Isn't that the reason why you're there? Trust me, there's nothing more important than keeping your grades up. I sometimes struggle with them, but I try hard, and do the best I can (as cliche as that sounds). I hope that you find what you're looking for, and Good Luck!!!

One very important aspect that isn't always considered among college choices is the size of the campus relative to the size of the city. When I started college, I was attending a huge campus in a big city, but I moved here and found out that I much preferred a small town with a small university. It's all about comfort when it comes to college because the student will be living there for four or more years, so they must be able to concentrate on studies, find a suitable part-time job, and have all of the necessities easily accessible. Social life, bars, clubs, fancy restaurants...all of that must be put aside. A beginning college student needs to stop and ask themselves, "Can I see myself living here after I graduate?" If the answer is yes, then that campus is appropriate and will provide a meaningful education and personal learning experience that the student can remember for the rest of their days, look back and say, "Yeah, I'd do it all again in a heartbeat."

Go on as many campus visits as it takes to find the one college that feels right to you. if you feel comfortable about the school you chose it makes your college experiance much better.

This is a great college to attend. It is a reasonably priced University with a great education. Everybody here seems to be kind and care about what happens to them. Being an Athlete here is an especially good experience.

I say this to parents and students. Pick the college by what feels right to you. If you go on five campus visits don't just pick the one that is closest to home or to where you friend is going to school or living. Instead pick the college that has what you feel is what you want, after all it is where you are going to be for the next four plus years of your life so make it what you want. Parents, please do no persuade your kids to live at home to save money. I know that by doing so will save thousands of dollars, but your child will never experience life in a residence hall or living with someone other than you. Residence halls are a great way to build social skills and also a good start at networking which may come in handy later in life. In addition, meet with some of the teachers in your field(if you have chose one yet) and feel them out. Maybe you won't even like them. Or maybe it could be the final decision in deciding between two schools.

Advise your children to pick the school that suits them and has their academic future at hand--remind them that general studies are there to help advance their knowledge about the world around them and more jobs are looking to hire those who do have a general education.

Do not make your decision too fast. This is a choice that you may depend upon for the rest of you life.

I would first tell them that they need to be very careful about how much their education would cost at the school. It is very important to attend a college that is affordable and offers the most grants or financial aid so that there is no need to get tied into private student loans. I would also tell them to interview the professors that they will be interacting with during their time at school so that they know what is expected of them as a student. Another very important point to consider is attending a college that is safe and promotes healthy living. You do not want to attend a school where drugs and alcohol are the center of student entertainment. Finally, I would speak to the career services center to find out what the ratio is of students who are able to obtain jobs after graduating.