University of Washington-Seattle Campus Top Questions

Go visit the college!! Its all about the feeling and vibe you get from the college and being on the campus. Go when school is in session so that you can see the students. Also, get involved. Dont stay cooped up in your dorm, go out and make friends, be involved, join a sorority or fraternity, go to sporting events.

Sample a wide variety of schools. This means that when you are visiting colleges look at a wide range of locations, sizes, and vibes. You never know what might strike you as the perfect place. Every college will give you a unique experience, so find a place you love and have the time of your life.

College is about finding new friends/people to hang out with. Growing up is another thing that should be learned or getting used to. Also hygiene is a big issue in college especially without moms.

Make sure you visit the college and that you like the atmosphere. For example, sit in on a few classes, walk around the places you might be often, and if you can try and spend a couple nights in the dorms without your parents so you can figure out if you'll feel at home. It is easy to remember to pick a good academic institution for what you will be studying, but its also important to be happy. Consider things like political diversity, atheltic standings, team spirit, and ethnic diversity as well as seasonal changes and location. Depending on who you are a school may not be right for you. Also, just because a school is big doesn't mean the professors aren't personal, make sure to do your research. :-)

Do what feels right

There are many things that I think both the student and his/her parents should know while going through the college experience. As for the student, he/she should focus on his/her personal preferences, both academic and social. I have found from my own college experience that in order to learn and grow as a student in college, one must be happy with their social surroundings as well as comfortable with the learning environment. Therefore, I would suggest that the student write down all of his/her needs, both socially and academically, and keep those on hand while searching for colleges. After all, you don't want to settle for a school with a great academic standing, but have a lousy time socially, or vice versa. My advice for parents is to be supportive of the child's desires when it comes to schools. Even though the parent may think they know what is in the student's best interest, the student knows best, and after all, it is his/her education. The more the student feels like he/she had a part in the choice, the more he/she will apprecciate it. Advice for both? Stay in touch!

To students: to find the right college you should try to have a good idea about the type of person you are and the type of person you want to become. Where you choose to go to college can either nurture and accelerate the process of becoming that person or can hinder you or worse make you feel alone in the world. As important as it seems to be to make your parents happy, you should take time to realize their advice is wise, but usually much too cautious and it is up to you to combine your desires with their advice. To get the most of the college experience you have to put yourself out of your comfort level, this means even if you feel silly and akward if you brave up and do that sport you've never done before, or talk to that person your scared to talk to, or do that crazy thing that makes no sense in doing(but safe and legal) you'll make memories in the most unexpected and wonderful way. Everyday can be a crazy adventure in college, you just have to be up for anything and keeping your mind open.

When choosing a college, major considerations are the size of the college, its location, and its academic focus. Assuming colleges of equal academic rigor, these should be primary deciding factors. Larger colleges will have more programs, more activities, greater funding, and more opportunities. Colleges located in or near large cities will have more activities and an involvement in the metropolitan area. Most schools that are located a large distance from cities will have a much higher drinking and drug use rate and far more parties, as there are fewer extracurricular opportunities. Students who live in small towns or rural areas may enjoy the change of pace that a large city gives, while being able to go home to get away from it all. Likewise, city-based students might enjoy the quiet change of pace provided by an isolated school. Lastly, the focus of the school -- on academics or on research -- is a major question for students who require extra attention from their professors. Research brings additional funding and attracts those professors interested in advancing their field, but many professors are too pressured by their research to make teaching the priority it should be.

Apply to as many schools as you feel like, as long as you give a full effort. Acceptance and rejection can help in the selection process. Be honest with yourself; is this the college you want to attend? or the one your parents want? The college experience is what you make it, so choose the one that will simply best provide whatever that might be. Besides the obvious concern of academic quality, make sure to account for realistic aspects of college life: surrounding town/city; off-campus housing; noise; climate; people/population; do you like/dislike drinking? etc. Neglecting to research and think a lot before making choices is the worst thing parents and high school seniors could do. And freshmen, don't be nervous, be excited.

I feel that the college search experience starts earlier on in high school. I would start as earlier as sophomore year to research difference campus?s. If money is available visit the campuses in person and take a tour. Students who don?t know their major, since area of interest plays a role in the selection, should take advantage of non profit programs for high school students. Often you will find a program that allow students to sample the college experience. For example i am a counselor for Accounting Career Awareness Program. Participants experience the dormitories by living on campus for the week. They attend informational courses in an college classroom setting where corporate executives and school officials educates the students about different business fields, college admission process, financial aid and scholarship information, time management, etc. Students should not left money effect which institution they wish to attend. Financial aid is there to help you. You never know till you apply. In addition there are thousand of scholarships available. Search for scholarship in your community not just online because the audience is small and your chances are greater.