University of Oregon Top Questions

Visit the college before you decide!

Choose based on cost, reputation, and quallity of faculty. It is best to have a general idea of what you want to study before you apply.

Choosing a college is always a difficult experience. But for the parents, encourage yourself to understand that sometimes the "statistics" describing a school may not always be the best way to choose a school for your son or daughter. Be sure to do as many campus visits as possible. Let them go far from home, but not TOO far. I promise, they will be homesick within the first month and a half, so there is no need to pressure them to come home. To the students, college is NOT about partying. It is about self discovery, and obtaining a purpose for your being here on this planet. Some never learn this, and some learn all to quickly. But either way, enter this experience with an open mind, because you may come out a completely different person. Hopefully, it is for the better. =]

To find the right college you need to visit the campuses when there are people around. See the environment that fits you best. By looking around and asking questions about the school you can feel if it is right for you. Of course you need to take into account if the school has your desired major and best program for you.

Very simply put, college is an experience that must be enjoyed through a balance of academic focus, social activities, and community support. Without this balance, one will find that any college, regardless of its prowess, will bring forth a disheartening experience which lacks in preparation for the outside world.

I believe that both parents and students should keep in mind that no matter what college they attend, it is up to the student to make the best of it. Sometimes you get into the college of your dreams and it turns out not being exactly as you imagened. Sometimes, you get into the college that was your second choice and it becomes one of the best things to ever happen to you. Remember that the best part of being of a college is having the chance to make your dreams come true no matter what college you attended. Make lots of friends and memories. College is very important and you can't afford to waste it on parties and constant outside activities, but you are also allowed to enjoy yourself and not stress over every little thing. It's important to find a balance. If you can get balance in college, you're sure to be able to have balance in life. Work hard but don't let that ruin your life. Have fun but remember that you cannot mess up your acedemics. They are both equally important to the health of your life both in college and out.

College is the experience of a lifetime. Not only does it play an important role in shaping your future as the building blocks of your career, it will bring friends and relationships that may last the rest of your life. So take your time when deciding which college to attend, it is a big choice that requires a lot of thought. Many schools specialize in specific fields you may be interested in, this in one key way to help determine which school may be best for you. Visit the campus of the favorite choices and get a feel for the atmosphere of the school, the people, and the community around you. Keep in mind the need to balance work and play never forgetting academics should be first but do make time for some fun or relaxation. Look for the school which not only interests you the most, but gives you the greatest oppurtunity for success. Your college years may very well be the most enriching and fullfilling years of your life, it is what you make of it. It doesnt matter who or what your are when you start, its what you have become when you have finished.

Visit the campus and go to orientation/information tours.

First off, start early! Do not wait until your senior year to begin thinking about college. Compare all of your prospective colleges' pros and cons. Go out there and visit all of your possible choices! A college might look perfect on paper, but could feel completely wrong in person. It is all about how you feel when you go and visit the colleges. Go with your gut instinct with how you feel at each one. Try and see if you can actually picture yourself at each college. If a certain college does not seem just right, don't settle for it. Once you enroll in a college and start school, do not be afraid to meet people! This is a fresh start. Be outgoing. Be friendly. Join clubs. Make new friends and keep in touch with your friends from back home. Also, really stay on top of your schoolwork in your first term. It is sometimes difficult to stay focused in the excitement of a new setting and a new life, but the schoolwork is so much more difficult than highschool work and it is much too easy to fall behind.

Talk to a current student whose interests run along the same lines as yours and see how happy they are with the academics, social life and other aspects of the school that are important. Don't just talk to other applicants or admissions counselors. Getting real and relevant information is very, very important.