University of South Carolina-Columbia Top Questions

I think that the biggest piece of advice I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is while deciding on what college to attend to utilize all of their resources. Looking back on the process I went through on deciding what college I wanted to attend I feel like I took advantage of a lot of resources but there are so many out there that I had no idea about. There are lots of websites and organizations out there that are dedicated to making the college search easier for everyone involved and matching a student up with their right school. Although I have no regrets about the school that I chose I feel like my parents would have been a lot less worried and stressed out during the process of choosing a school had I taken advantage of the numerous resources available to me. These resources can also help the transition from high school to college easier and since the majority of them are free they should definitely be taken advantage of.

I would say that visiting colleges is a very important step in deciding where your child/you want to sepnd the next 4 yares of your life, and parents if your child gets to the campus and says they have a bad feeling or they juat aren't feelin it, let it go. It sounds strange but when you get to they right college they will know, and just because it isnt the same school doesnt mean it isnt going to be right for them. trust your kid they will know.

Make sure you research your potential colleges thoroughly before paying the money to apply to them. Make sure they really have what you want out of a college, whether it's research experiences, special programs or what have you. And if they don't, don't settle on going to a college that's not for you just because a family member is an alumnus there - go somehwere that's going to get you where you want to go. Also, be sure to research financial aid ahead of time if it's something you need to know about - you don't want to get blindsided with a small aid package if you can't afford the school.

I should start off saying that I'm positive that I made the correct decision in choosing the right college. The choice of where I wanted to go was overwhelming at first, but narrowing down the options wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. -First ask yourself: How far do I want to go away for school? Being homesick is not fun. Being less than 5 hours away is a good distance if wanting to come home for the weekends is something you'd want to do. If you want to be financially secure, an in-state college may be the best pick. Some out-of-state schools offer scholarships that can reduce the rate of tuition to an in-state rate. -Figure out which colleges offer classes and a degree in the field you want to study. -Find out what social activities are like and see what the campus looks like. Asking questions to professors or students attending a college is a good way to find out. If that's not enough, go visit the college! I've realized that what makes my college experience best is friends. Be sure to go out and make friends!

To the parent and students out there getting ready to begin the onerous task of appying to college, calm down. Yes, it is daunting, and it will affect the rest of your life, but regardless of how many schools you visit, how many applications you write, how well you plan, or how sure you are that you'll attend that one university, your school should pick you. Your future college should attract and fight for you. It should be that one school that captures your desire with its beauty, opportunities, academics, and campus life. No matter how much you feel like you are competing for them, they are competing for you, and that one place where you belong will eventually find you, and sway you to attend it with the qualites that you find attractive.

The best advice I can give to anyone seeking education, is choose the school with the best program and the rest will fall into place. Do not worry about money, because you can get loans, and your only in college once, make a great experience. Do your work and manage your time, while having a social life will help you in your classes and make you a happier student.