Wichita State University Top Questions

The advice that I would give to parents and students about finding the right college is to PLAN AHEAD! Don't procrastinate and wait until the decision has been made for you! I would tell them that it is important to start early so that they're not in a rush into even getting into school! I would also tell them to attend a community college for the first two years if they can't afford to attend a University right away. Getting your general studies completed (make sure the credits can transfer!) makes the whole college process much easier and cheaper and it's a great way of becoming accustomed to the college life! I would also encourage the students and parents to look to other options in different areas of town. Just because you've lived in some city your entire life isn't really the best reason to leave the state! Out-of-state tuition is EXPENSIVE and there's no point in spending that much money on an experience that may not be worth it, if you dont have to! Other schools are just as fun! Bottom line, plan ahead, study hard, and live it up!

For incoming students looking for schools to go to, I suggest universities with lot of diversity. It is good to learn about other cultures by communicating with people from different countries. It helps you understand their perspective and different life-styles. If you never get the opportunity to get to know people from all countries it becomes hard for you to know what other cultures act, talk, feel, and show respect.

I believe the things to consider when choosing a college are: finances, socializing options, class-size, and, of course, available degrees. Once at college, I think it's very important for students to get involved with an organization of some sort and socialize with different kinds of people. Also, interning is very important for a student. It makes finding a job after college so much easier!

Start early! With the cost of tuition increasing each year, it is essential that you start your college search by your junior year of high school at the latest. Narrow down your college choices and then focus on the aspects of school that are most important to you. If you have a passion for the arts, find a school with an emphasis for the various areas of entertainment and one that has those options readily available. It is impossible to come to college fully prepared. However, if you begin looking for your perfect school early enough, you will have a better idea of what you need to make you feel at home. Not only should you focus on your school; it is also important to research the city or town that surrounds your school. Find out if there are well-paying jobs close to your school so you can earn some extra money to spend. Once you find your school, get involved! Join a club that caters to your interests. You will meet new people and you will feel more at home in your new environment! Comfort is perhaps the most important feature when discovering a new school!

Finding a particular college is a thing of finese. Picking a school is dependent on a number of factors ranging from student life to academic possibilities. The biggest suggestion I would have would be to keep the options open and the possibilties varied. Never assume that a school is too hard to get into or to expensive to attend. The other thing to consider is what kind of experience you would like to have. Do you want a academicly focused research based school or one with plenty of social opportunities. Finally, never "just settle" for a school go to the one you truly want to attend. Just because the local school is convienient or one school throws you more money than another, decide whether or not it will be worth spending the next four to five years there.

Make sure that the student is ready for college. I started when I was 18 years old and dropped out after my first semester. It was not until I had my children and became a single mom that I realized I needed to pursue some goals for my life. If starting fresh after high school, maybe attend a community college for a year or two until you can ease into college life. Make sure it will be a community college that will transfer all of your credits when you decide to leave to a University. Fill out all financial aid forms after you do your taxes. Before March is best to ensure you can recieve top priority to funds that may be available to you. Dont get mixed up with the party crowd, they can drag you down and it will most certainly take a toll on your academic progress. However, these are the best times of your life, it will make the experience more enjoyable if you open your mind up to new ideas. Try to have fun throughout your college career, learning can be fun when you take pride in feeling more intellegent.

Don't get caught up in what a university is known for. My university is not known for my major outside of the region, but from my personal experience I know we graduate world class professionals. Check out places close to home, and please make sure you visit first! I have several friends that transfered here, but came too late. The came to my current university after several years at another and wished they would have come sooner. The college that I attend has a great support staff that is there for you 24/7. My friends didn't know such a place existed.

Follow what you feel is right with the school, and go on all the college visits you can. Definitely apply for any and all financial aid and scholarships. College is affordable for anyone who's willing to put forth the effort to find the scholarships and grants.

Knowing what you want to do for the rest of your life is the least of your worries in selecting a college, and the answer will come with time. In going to college, you need to take into account the type of experience you want to have. If you simply want to get it over with, stay close to home and miss out on the freedom, atmosphere, and infectious ambition of college towns. However, in larger universities, while learning more and becoming more responsible, it is much easier to become distracted and waste time and money, both of which are sparse for college students. Its an imporant trade off both parents and students need to recognize and embrace. If students are able to maintain a balance of appreciating the freedoms and recklessness of youth and quickly learn from their experiences being responsible with their investments they are putting into college they will ultimately win. In deciding a college it is most important to ascertain how you will deal with this situation and whether or not to take the chances.

A college choice can be a no-brainer for some but for many it's split between two or more schools. A person might know what college they're going to by the 5th grade while someone else works so hard to get in to the university of their dreams. The necessary things to keep in mind are academic quality, cost, location, extracurricular activities, and campus life. These five criteria help you compare schools and narrow down the margin. Cost is the biggest set back for most, which causes many students to settle for a lesser suited college. Location falls in with cost, in-state tuition is much cheaper than out-of-state. Your parents may be happy if you stay in-state but if you dream of going elsewhere don't settle, they'll forgive you later. Extracurricular activities and campus life go hand-in-hand. If people do sports, academics, and greek life with enthusiasm it makes for great school spirit and an overrall memorable collegiate experience. But what sets colleges apart from each other and prepares you for you future is academic quality. If it's hard to get accepted, work hard. It'll pay off.