University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

Think about the kind of environment you want, whether it is an urban or rural setting, as well as the size of the campus. The focus of the campus, as well as its political views may also influence your decision. Finding a college that fits your political views, your environmental concerns, as well as your academic needs is very important. A larger college may have more diversity in its views and can help broaden your horizons, but may also be intimidating as a high school graduate. Being in a college that requires rigorous effort on the part of the student may help some to stay motivated, but may also be intimidating to some. It is important to keep all of these different factors in mind when choosing the college for you.

Visit your potential college choices. Especially if you are really looking at only one or two majors. Getting a feel for what the faculty/staff will be like can and should really influence your decision. Brochures can tell you a lot, but they can't tell you how the students dress or act - what the general vibe of the campus is. And since it will most likely be your home for the next for years, you'll feel much better and be more productive if you are in an environment that you understand and feel comfortable in. You can do so many things as a student! Especially in terms of research for your career, your interests, your life! People are usually very open to talking to someone who says they are a "student" - you don't want anything from them other than their expertise and experience, and they probably wish that they had had someone like themselves to talk to when they were figuring out what they wanted to do! So try to open up and really pursue anything that might be of interest to you - because this is the best time of your life to do that. :)

When deciding where you want to further your education, be sure to visit the campus first. Take a tour and try and sit in on a lecture. I can not stress the importance of making sure that you feel comfortable in the place where you will spend the next four, or even more, years; the place where you will mature and discover who you really are and what you hope to accomplish in life.

Stick up for yourself. If you don't seek help for yourself, nobody else will. Chances are, your parents won't be around to ask every teacher why you failed that test, or why you didn't get into that class, so you have to fight for it yourself. Ask around: find the teachers you like. Finding agreeable teachers is one of the most important things in college. Many teachers are very excited about they do and are very interested in helping you learn, but some just don't give a crap; those teachers can ruin a class, quarter, or an entire subject for you. If you don't like a class, find out why, and fix it. Is it the teacher? Transfer to a different section. Is it the class on a whole? Drop it and enroll in another. Is it the homework? Form a study group so you can get interested/not as bored with it. It's important to learn to ask for help and ask why something turned out the way it did. If you take a while to figure this out, it'll stick on your transcript, and that's not always easy to explain.

In order to have a meaninful and enjoyable college experience, I recommend that students do a lot of research on the different colleges they are considering applying to. Research should include visiting the colleges website, visiting websites that offer evaluations and descriptions of the college's academic standing as well as social opportunities, and, of course, physically visiting the campus. Once you find a campus that is congruent with your goals and values, explore the different living situations offered. For me, going Greek was one of the best decisions I have made yet in college. I met a lot of people and made a close-knit group of friends right off the bat. Whether you decide to go Greek or not, the key to making the most of your college experience is balance. Make sure you are organized and keep up with your classes but do not live in the library. Be outgoing and attend social events but do not forget that your main reason for being in college is academics. All in all, take advantages of the unique things your campus has to offer. Whether its studying abroad or intramural sports, do what YOU want to do!

Choosing the right school isn?t an easy task. There are many things to consider; area of study, class sizes, financial aid, available resources, location, friends, living situation, academic status among other schools, and the list just goes on and on. The best way to help you make a decision of which school you will spend the some of the greatest times of your life at would be to actually go and visit the school. Most colleges have prospective student programs in which you can spend some time at the university, and maybe even stay overnight. These experiences will help you decide if you like the environment you are choosing or not. In reality, it may even take attending the college for at least a quarter or two before you realize it is not for you. This may happen, but don?t freight because in the end, it?s all about what you learn and how much fun you have while doing so. If you are one of those truly indecisive people, you can go to a Fred Meyer?s toy section and pick up a Magic Eight Ball and let that help you choose where to go.

Invest the time and energy to travel to the school, talk to current students and staff, especially in your (in the student's) prospective fields, and sit through a variety of lectures. Don't leave until you are satisfied with the quality of information you received. Remember, this is YOUR education (students), do what YOU want. Money should not be a deciding factor. After you make the decision, continue to investigate the school, start talking to advisors and GO for it! Don't ever be affraid to change majors. I finished the pre-medicine requirements and then applied to Architecture and was accepted. I will be a fifth year but at least I am pulling all-nighters doing what makes me happy. Find what makes you tick and stick with it. Don't forget about your social life- make new friends and have fun!!!

Make sure your student stays motivated and gets involved on campus to get the best University of WA experience possible. It's a beautiful campus so encourage them to study outside when the weather is nice. Tell them to do fun activities in addition to studying such as going to the gym, dancing, skiing, or intramural sports in order to take a break from the studying. Of course it is important to budget time between socializing, school, and internships/jobs. All three are important and make the student more happy when they are involved in all three and they give the student direction as well. Take advantage of such university resources as husky jobs, the career center, and Mary Gates Hall. The academic counselors there help students decide on majors and help them find internships and scholarships. Once they decide on a major their academic counselors will step in. Most of all college is the first time the student is responsible for himself/herself. It is important to have parental support but it is also vital to have confidence in themselves; that way they can accomplish anything they want.

Plan ahead. Determine how much money is needed to avoid financial stress so you can focus on your studies. Do not overdo. If your student needs to work, then make sure they can handle the workload (hours) as well as the credits they are taking. If your student needs to work make sure that they schedule time for themselves and schedule time for their studies. When selecting the right college make sure it is one that makes them feel comfortable and welcome. Visit the college at least once and spend time on campus to get a feeling of the culture of the college. Make sure the culture of the college is not in opposition to your culture and that there are clubs and organizations that your student can join so they can make friends and thus, have a support network. Supportive faculty is very important, especially in times of struggle. Make sure that the faculty is open and available to help your student, that is probably the most important aspect when selecting a college. This ensures your student's successful completion of college.

Go to the college. If you get a good feeling, go with it. If you get a bad one, look at your other options.