Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Top Questions

For students, I'd first suggest visiting the school to get a feel for the campus and if it is a place that you could be for four or more years. Next if you already have an idea of what you want to major in the visit that department, and if possible maybe sit in a few classes. Also veiw the school's website and find out if there are ways to become involved at the school, and if there are any ways to be able to get involved in your personal hobbies. Furthermore, look into statements from current students or alumni for advice.

Make sure there are things there you want to grow into. It is easy to sustain your pasttimes that you are passionate about at most any school, so it is important to make sure you are carrying yourself in the right direction. My personal greatest struggle has been to find the same new and refreshing passions that fueled my efforts and gave my academic and social pursuits direction in the past. Be certain that where you are heading is a place where you can mix things up. Too small a school will sometimes limit what you end up doing with your time there but too large a school allows you to completely drop things and move on. Any place that offers continuity with enough flexibility for you along the way is without a doubt the right choice. Make a school your own and be passionate about the people and experiences there. No other time is more liberating and exciting than the years of college and it is a shame not to live them to the fullest while continuing to discover yourself and put yourself on the map.

My advice would be to visit as many colleges as you are interested in with an open mind and do physically visit them. You never know which school will surprise you and which school will let you down. In order to make the most of the college experience I believe balance is the key. If you can manage your time in such a way that you can get all of your work done and still have time to relax and go play volleyball with your friends or something along those lines, you will keep your stress level low and have the most fun while still getting a good education at college.

make sure you visit the school before you go! if possible you should try to go during a promotion like a campus days where everything they have to offer is presented to you AND visit on any normal week to get a feel for what the campus is really like on an everyday basis. as far as making the most of college once you're there; that's all about getting out and participating in everything you can. no one has fun sitting in a dorm room waiting for people to find them. also, STUDY HARD! whether is you or your parents, someone is paying alot of money to get you to school. dont be lazy and waste it.

Definitely visit first! Talk to as many students as you can. If you know your major, meet with the program chair. Many programs have a prospective student ambassador who is more than willing to answer all your questions and have you shadow them for the day: see what a typical day in classes is really like! Wandering around campus, definitely visit the student center and get a list of activities, exhibits and shows going on that week/month. For me, it was helpful to make a list of all the things I do at home, and all the things I wanted to experience in college. Then I matched that list to what was available at my schools. Don't worry too much about financial aid! There are numberous opportunities for both need-based and merit-based funding. It's also very easy to get an education loan (even in the bad economy) and paying back post-graduation is a cinch! I would NEVER trade my 5 years of out-of-state tuition debt for all my college memories and experiences! I went to a great school, made fantastic friends and memories that have truly shaped my life.

College is a place for learning and growth, so you should take your time in deciding which school is right for you. Decide which school you feel most comfortable at and go with it. When you are a student at whichever school you finally picked take advantage of every oportunity given to you. Most important is your school work, so go get tutoring help if you need it, but also go to football games, join an intermural sport, and live it up with your friends because this will be this best four years of your life.

The biggest advice I could give is to find a school that feels like home. Evaluate what your interests are and use that to find a school. I am a huge sports fan and I love being in large groups and socializing. When I came to my school and saw the stadiums and how large and lively the campus was, I immediately knew that's where I wanted to be. Use your instincts, if a place doesn't feel right, don't try to force it to work. And most importantly, don't let anyone make the decision for you. YOU are the one who will be living and learning at that school for four years of your life. Make sure that you can make the most out of them. Good luck!

I started with what I wanted to do "when I grew up" and what my degree needed to be for me to attain that goal. Next I found what schools were as close and as far as I wanted to go distance wise from my home. Students, visit as many college campuses as you can. I thought that I wanted to go to a university in a city and then I went and visited one and realized that it really was not for me. And I ended up in a small town of southwest Virginia. Also something that was extremely helpful for me was, once I had narrowed down my options to two school, I went and stayed with a friend that I knew at each of them. Making sure that the school has all of your academic needs is definitelty the number one priority, but the social life that you want to be experiencing for the next 4-5 years of your life is key as well. In college really finding out who you are as an individual so try as many new things as physically possible and make those four years count!

Everyone has urgency, a passion, for something that must be discovered and embraced. The content, auspicious, and complete persons embed allow their passions to guide their career choices and aspirations leading to lives of vibrancy and flow, rather than lives of ?quite desperation? ? Thoreau. Thus, I would advise one to identify his/her passion and then find a school that mirrors the discovery. It is important to find a school and community where you will ultimately be happy. As apposed to enrolling the most prestigious school to which you gain admittance, I would reccommend that you pick a cool at which you are most comfortable. This is because, I believe, college is a tremendous adjustment for many persons and so it is important that one choose a community in which he/she feels embraced, respected, and confident in. Because, in the end, the prestige of the school you went to may not be nearly as important as what you did whle you where there and even afterward. Collegewill be what you make of it and so embrace this opportunity and find a place you never want to leave.

Follow your heart! If it doens't feel right, don't go! You should never settle for a school, keep working to get where you want to go.