Virginia State University Top Questions

Make sure you go to the school to visit before you make your choice. Also make sure you are able to balance your schoolwork and fun in order to be successful in school

I would say don't judge a book by its cover.Visit many different colleges before you decide to choose one. Make sure the college is just right for your child not just for the parents, because the child is actually the one that is attending.

Students, make sure you choose a school for their value of education not parties . parties are everywhere. Value education before socialization.

Students who are looking at different colleges should make sure the SAT scores and GPA is high enough to attend one of the best colleges. Prom and other senior activities may cause you to be unfocused, but you would like to attend a school that is meant for you. When attending college, make sure you are academically focused. If you are having a tough time make sure to talk to the teacher and exchange numbers with colleagues to receive more help. Taking time out to meet with faculty shows that you are serious about the course and striving to do better. College is considered the best period of your life, attending parties are fun but make sure you keep your eye on the prize. Networking and having internships are necessary when you graduate. Jobs and Grad schools tend to look at your activities. Do not take the experience for granted because you are the one paying for it.

I would say to try and make sure you have some idea as to what you may want to do with your life, so you can choose the correct institution. Also to get the best experience, I would say be open minded to new things and meeting new people, and try to remember that everyone there are in the same situation you're in; away from home and familure things. Don't sweat it too much though, college is a blast.

I would inform parents and students to first do their research on that particular university and find what attracts individuals to that institution. Getting the background information on a university can aid in finding what opportunities a student will have when attending that university. Once an institution is agreed upon, finding a reasonable source of income should come next. In order for incoming students to become successful, they will need to spend more time studying then partying especially if they want to become a part of an organization. Students first year of college determines how disciplined they will be in the upcoming semesters. For parents, it is recommended to monitor your students first year college seeing as it?s their first time away from any form of discipline. Parents and students should have a working relationship when it comes to their future.

Research the college before you make your final decision. Once you've made your decision, visit the school a couple times to get an idea of what the social life around campus is like. Go to at least one sporting event and see how the alumni act towards the school. Are they supportive? Do they give back? If they do it shows the character of the school. If people are willing to continuously go back and give, the school must have made a positive impact on their life. After you are enrolled into the school and have gotten yourself settled in, be sure to take advantage of all the tutoring, mentoring, seminars, organizations, clubs, and extra curriculum activities. Don't be afraid to meet new people, because one thing I've learned is that it's not always what you know, but who you know.

When you find the school for you, make sure the size is something you are comfortable with and the people are easy to live with.

FOR ANYONE WHO IS APPLYING OR THINKING ABOUT ATTENDING COLLEGE...I WOULD STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE THE TIME TO THINK ARE YOU DOING THIS FOR "YOU" AND FOR WHAT "YOU" WANT FOR YOUR FUTURE. BECAUSE MANY OF MY FRIENDS ARE STRESSING ABOUT FINISHING COLLEGE TO MAKE THEIR PARENTS PROUD, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT COLLEGE AND HIGHER LEARNING SCHOOLS ARE ABOUT. I REMEMBER TELLING MY MOM AFTER MY FIRST YEAR OF SCHOOL, 'THIS ISN'T FOR YOU, THIS IS TO HELP ME TO GET TO MY DREAM.'....THAT HAS BEEN THE THING THATS BEEN KEEPING ME MOTIVATED WHEN I WANTED TO GIVE UP.... MY DREAM IS MY MOTIVATION FOR SCHOOL AS WELL AS MY THIRST FOR MORE KNOWLEDGE......DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT, NOT BECAUSE THEY SAID YOU HAD TOO.....LIFE IS TO SHORT, NOT TO FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS AND THATS WHAT I'M DOING NOW.

In finding the best school for you there are many characteristics to view; finances, rating of the school, distance from home, setting and weather and overall size of the classes. It is important to find a balance in what you want and what is realistic. What I urge students to do is to embody the term ambition. Display drive and liberalism, despite the many obstacles that you may face on a daily basis, it will allow you to appreciate life and all it has to offer. Take every mistake as a learning experience and have no regrets. To be successful one must be humble and in turn realize that mistakes form wisdom and wisdom allows for a better decision to be made in the future. In addition, learn that to be a good college student one has to be open and willing to try new and different things. It is alright to have fear, but you can not let fear paralyze you. Let fear be a catalyst, let fear push you to try harder in your endeavors in school. In essence, it is your strength and decision making that will determine how you make the most of college.