University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

The advise that i would give to student, chosing the right college can be tought, often influenced by where you live, parents, and peers. the best advise i can give is for choing the right college is to experiance it visit the college that you want to apply, walk around, ask around. often student are very helpful to answering these questions if this envirement suits you, makes you happy, go for it! it's your life you got to make your life happy and not misrealalbe. As for parents to chose the right college is not how famous the school is, the trick to find the right school for your child is to talk to your child ask them what are their dreams and hope what type of envirement they want to learn in. my professor once told me " learning is not the problem, but the influence of the envirement you learn in" at first i did'nt get it but i finally did what he ment is to learn something is not the issue but when you learn in a bad envirment you do worse, when you learn in a good positive envirement you succeed.

I think it is very important for the prospective student to go to the campus, sit in on a lecture and get a feel for the overall atmosphere of the college. Every college is different and the student will only know by actually going to the college and experience the environment. As for making the most of the college experience, the student should be prepared to change, to be stretched, and to grow mentally, spiritually, and intellectually. Remember that these four years can never be repeated, to take things as they come and to enjoy it!

To all students who enter a university... Remember that you are on a quest to find the person deep inside of you... Things will be tough. There will be success. And there will most definitely be failure. But in failing, do remember what Pope John XXIII once said. "Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what is still possible for you to do." Basically, keep your head up and push ahead. Finish Strong. Do what you want to do. Study what interests you, and mingle with the people that ignite something deep with in you. However, don't forget the reason why you first set foot into college. Work hard, play hard, and keep focused. Don't loose sight of what's important. Lastly, be honest and true. Do what feels right and achieve a higher standard for yourself. Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit... -Fellow college student from afar...-

I would say research schools you think you would like to go to. I also think its important to visit the school. In addition, its helpful to speak to students and seniors to see what their plans are. Lastly, have fun.

It is important to make a list of what you are looking for to enhance your academic future. Do you like a big campus with thousands of people or more of a smaller campus with hundreds of people? Do you learn in a lecture hall type setting or hands on type class room? The preparation to find the right college will help make the college experience the most rewarding experience . Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.

Going to college should be the most fun and rewarding time of your life. Make sure when you are applying that you have certain things you do and don't want in an institution. When selecting a college, try to see how each school fits into your criteria instead of just applying to what sounds "cool" or where your parents went. Also, if you have the means, visit the schools you are most interested in. Walk around, take the tour, & maybe even sit in in a class. The more you can experience of the school the better for selecting the place that really makes you happy. When it comes down to it, select the school that feels right and offers the best programs for your needs. Have fun and enjoy the ride!

Research the schools you are thinking about and apply to more than one school. Think about what you want to gain from your education and actively participate in programs and groups at your new school and always be open to the possibilities of new things and of change.

Make sure that you are prepared for the size and location of your potential college choices, because even though the quality of education is very important, the setting in which you are educated can dictate your performance. You want to find a place where you do not need to be focused only on school to succeed. What you learn in the classroom is only a fraction of your total potential education. Although you are getting smarter academically, it is the environment of your college that you will learn the most from, and it is this environment's effects that will turn you into the person that you will be for the rest of your life. You want to be happy wherever you end up. I have seen cases in people I know, where although they are very smart people, they simply do not succeed in college because they are unhappy wherever they are. In order to be successful beyond college you need to be a complete person, so even if some of the schools you find seem like they would be perfect for you academically, make sure that they are also the perfect fit for you as a person.

Simple, college is a 'once in a lifetime experience.' First and foremost, academics come first. It is important to take stimulating and classes of interest your first year so you'll know what interests you. Although it may be hard to say 'no' to a weekend of fun before a midterm, it is always important to remind the student that there are plenty of other weekends left and that this one spent studying is not going to waste. Secondly, the social experience is beyond the fun had in high school and that college is the last step before entering the professional work environment. It is important to create meaningful friendships that will go beyond the four years at the university. Not only will these friendships lead to lifelong moments, but they will also prepare you for the 'real world' by giving and expanding your exceptance of differences. Lastly, remember that you are in college for a reason which is to get a job! Actively engaging with your professors and TA's is a great step to create connections that could lead to internships or more. College isn't were you find yourself, it's where you make yourself!

The most important thing is to keep an open mind. I ruled out numerous universities just because I thought I did not want to live in that particular state, or did not picture myself going to that university. Looking back on that now, I wish i would have applied to some of those universities and maybe if I had taken the time to visit them, my life could have been completely different. That being said, the key to finding the right college is knowing your priorities. Deciding what is most important to you, whether that be size, location, will help in your selection. As a parent I think the best thing you can do is to support your child and really listen to what it is that they want. Help them get started and gather information on schools they are interested in. The key to making the most of the college experience is to get involved! I don't know how many times I've heard that phrase "get involved" in my first year here. Especially on a large campus, getting involved is the best and easiest way to make new friends, while also gaining invaluable leadership and learning experiences.