Frequently
Asked Questions
Is it
better to live on or off campus during the freshman year?
On campus
living has a number of benefits for new college students that off campus
living does not. Living on campus gives new freshmen the opportunity to
meet and live with many other college students. Obviously, such an arrangement
would provide you with ample opportunities to meet and make new friends
quickly. On campus living is also very convenient. Since youre living
on campus, youre close to classroom buildings and all of the other
facilities that house valuable university services and resources. Its
easier to get involved on campus and attend university functions because
youre "close to all of the action" on campus. Finally,
students living on campus have both student and professional staff members
who reside in the residence halls with them. These staff members provide
resources, assistance and support to students residing on campus. National
statistics show that students who live on campus tend to be more actively
involved on campus and achieve higher grades than those who opt to live
off campus. After a year or two on campus, you may choose to take a look
at off campus living, as you will have established a fairly strong social
network and solid study habits.
Can I
have guests visit me if I live on campus?
Yes! Youre
certainly welcome to have friends, classmates, and family members visit
you in your residence hall on campus. The extent of this visitation varies
greatly from university to university. Some universities visitation policies
are more liberal while others are more conservative. You may attend a
university that allows guests in the residence halls 24 hours a day, 7
days a week. Other universities may have limited visitation during the
week such as 8:00 a.m midnight during the week and 7:00 a.m.
2:00 a.m. on weekends or 7:00 a.m.- 2:00 a.m. during the week and 24 hour
visitation during the weekends. Some universities may have more strict
visitation policies. Visitation policies on campus may also vary from
residence hall to residence hall. Be sure to find out what type of visitation
policy exists on the college campus you will be attending. If you choose
to live on campus, you will want to be comfortable with the visitation
policies that are in place.
What
is "work-study?"
The Federal
Work-Study program is an important source of financial aid that provides
on-campus employment to students each year. Work-study awards are usually
for the fall and spring semesters. A student must submit a new financial
aid application for the summer semester. Students who are awarded work-study
should contact their financial aid office to learn how they need to go
about acquiring an on-campus job. Most campuses have a student employment
office that posts all of the openings for work-study and wage positions.
How do
parents get a copy of their son/daughters grades?
While policies
regarding students grades vary slightly from university to university,
most universities will tell parents that they must obtain these grades
from their students. Many universities send student grades to their permanent
address at the conclusion of each academic semester. Some universities
make final grades available to students on the Internet as well.
Why do
textbooks cost so much?
There are
many factors that affect the prices of a textbook. These factors include
author royalties, publisher costs, marketing, publisher and author taxes,
and bookstore expenses. Most universities try to offer textbooks to students
through their university bookstore at a lower markup. Be sure to check
with the university regarding its "buy back" policies. Some
universities will buy back textbooks from students at the close of the
semester for a portion of the original price.
Is it
better to get a job on or off campus?
While this
is certainly a personal choice for each student, there are a number of
benefits to locating employment on campus. On campus employers tend to
be more flexible with the students work schedule as they realize
that the student employee is a "student" first and an "employee"
second. On campus employment does not require any form of transportation.
Students can easily walk to and from work if they reside on or close to
campus. Finally, working on campus gives students the opportunity to meet
faculty, staff and students on campus. Its a great way to network
and build connections on campus. Be sure to stop by your universitys
student employment office while youre on campus for orientation.
You may be able to find a job before the fall semester begins.
Are most
college campuses safe?
You will
find that most colleges and universities have many resources in place
to make their campuses reasonably safe places for the students. Most universities
have university police officers or security officers on patrol 24 hours
a day. The number of officers on campus and the extent of their duties
varies greatly dependent upon the size and location of the particular
university. Most universities will also offer a great deal of preventative
safety measures including things like educational workshops, escort services
abd emergency phones on campus. Residence halls will offer students additional
security measures. Many residence hall policies and procedures are designed
with the students safety and security in mind.
Do I
need to have my own computer?
Many students
choose to bring a computer with them when they go to college. This is
certainly ideal as it gives them the convenience of having a computer
at their disposal whenever they need it. Whether checking e-mail, doing
research on the Internet or writing a paper, a computer of your own can
come in handy. While convenient, students can be just as successful if
they do not have a computer of their own. It just may take a little extra
effort on the part of the student. Most universities offer a number of
computer labs on campus that are available for students to use. Some of
these labs are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. So even if you
dont have your own computer, you can visit a computer lab on campus
and complete your work there. Use of the computer labs is normally a cost
covered in your general tuition fees.
If I
purchase a computer for college should I buy a laptop or a desktop?
This is
merely a matter of preference for each student. Some students like the
laptop computers as it gives them a great deal of mobility. They can bring
it with them to classes, to a study lounge in their residence hall or
take it home with them on the weekends. While this convenience has its
advantages it also can present the potential problem of loss or theft.
While a desktop does not offer this same level of mobility, it is usually
less expensive and is less likely to be lost or stolen. Some universities
have a preference regarding what type of computer you should purchase.
There are many universities that require the purchase of a computer before
you arrive on campus or include the cost of a computer in your initial
fees as a new student. Be sure to check with the university you are attending
to get details.
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