West Virginia University Top Questions

What should every freshman at West Virginia University know before they start?

Danielle

The first thing to consider is what career path the student wishes to take. If they are undecided, a state school or community college is a good place to start. They are usually inexpensive and an undecided student can complete their general education classes without spending a bundle. If the student knows what they would like to go to school for, they should find the best schools in the country for that field and also to compare prices among that list. Visiting colleges is key, if you know a current student at that school, have them show you around, they may know things that you wouldn't find out on a normal tour. If you like the campus, see if you can sit in on a class to see what the professors are like, if you don't like the professors you won't get much out of your education. The most important thing once you have decided on a school, try not to overload yourself. Don't take as little classes as possible, but don't take the maximum credits either, find a balance in between that allows for ample study time and preparation for exams/class.

Renato

college is not a continuation of high school, its singular purpose is to train potential students in upper management and scientificly specific jobs. One needs to be self sufficient and self reliant, in high school one attends school because he or she has to, however you must seek out success because for many failure is not at option. Find a school which your family can afford to send you to, no one wants to be 22 with hundreds of thousdands of dollars worth of debt. Success is by no means guaranteeded by simply attending an expensive school, however it is ultamately up to yourself to decide what kind of lifestyle you are comfortable with living. Just be happy and realize that you are still very youg, mistakes will happen however its best to avoid some which can cause serious harm in your future. Have a dream, and if you desire it enough eventualy it will manifest itself as reality.

Jordan

Choosing the right college is very important. When choosing you need to think about location, population, education, and costs. Many schools have good financial aid programs to help cut down on costs. Education is also key. You want to choose a school that has not only what you are looking for, but what has the best program for your anticipated major. Some people would rather be close to home where others want to be further away. There are many different schools across the nation to choose from. It also depends on population. If you don't like big groups choose a smaller school. Then you will have more one one on one time with your professors to help you in your courses. The college experience can be whatever you want it to be. If you work hard and keep your priorities straight then you will succeed. One thing to remeber is to make sure all of your work is done before you go out to be with your friends. Don't put it off or you will get behind. Once you are behind it is hard to catch up. Stay on top of the work and you should be fine.

Justin

Make sure you pick a school that is right for you, so know if you like, big schools, little schools, or medium size schools. Go to all the schools that you are looking at before you make your decision, visit them during the school year to get the full experience. And most importantly be sure you can afford to go to this school for the whole time that your major requires.

Katy

Visit plently of schools. Find one with the right balence of activities and education to fit your needs. Have fun but not too much fun, make sure to study and focus, because college is a lot tougher than high school.

Megan

The best advice that I can give parents and students is to start looking early, and to have a clear idea of what you are looking for in a college. Some key things to really comtemplate are how far is the campus from home, whether the students are off campus on weekends, what activities and clubs are available at the college, the number of degree's available, and how easy it is to get into your program if you go undeclared. It is extremely important to go visit the colleges, for a day AND for an overnight visit. This will give you, the student, a great feel for the campus. I ruled out a lot of colleges just by doing this. Start visiting colleges Junior year and revisit the top three in Senior year. Don't rule out a college because of cost. A lot of colleges will provide financial aid. As to how to make the most of your college experenience: GET iINVOLVED!! Join clubs, work out at the gym. Remember, all the freshman are new, don't really know anyone and are looking to make friends. Remember-have fun, get involved and don't forget...study!

Greg

It all depends on your personality and there are alot of choices, put school first and stay away from shady dealings.

Yue

research before applying for colleges. have a visit to the collge before making the decision socialize with friends and classmates, they are very helpful and while in college, make sure that you have a good relationship with all your profssors. they the people that could help you in the future with finding jobs

Jennifer

FInding the right college can be difficult, but I would definitely recommend making a few visits to the campus and attending an event like a football game or a concert, just to get the real feeel for the campus itself. Also, talk top current students, and find out what they like and dislike about the college itself. Additionally, the prospective student should really try to figure out what kind of experience they want, and where they can best see themselves. As for making the most of your college experience, take advantage of anything and everything that you can, but learn how to efficiently manage your time.

Danielle

The relationships between the professors and students is more important than the social environment at the school. However, the social environment should be a priority along with academics. If the student can not fit into a social group, it can stress the student out and force them into other emotional and mental problems. It is hard to focus on academics when the student is emotionally and mentally burnt out. Choose a school with an importance of career building. These schools will prepare a student for real world job interviews and real world work environments.