Admissions

One of the most important tips anyone can give is to wait to buy your text books until class has started. Try to check online websites that offer cheaper prices for books or find students that have taken that class to see if you can either borrow the book or pay a small price to keep the books. If you buy it from the bookstore right away, you will be guaranteed spending nearly $500 when you could have nearly saved $100 to $200. Go to class for the first couple times to see if you even use the book. Another very important advice I can give is to purchase the smallest amount of dining hall plans possible (210 for freshman) because most people still have 30-50 meals left at the end of the semester. This is especially for the students who go home on most weekends. If you do run out, there is the possibility of purchasing more but if you purchase more, you can not refund on what’s left. Also, one of the three biggest tips I attained when I went to school is: GET HELP! Attend office hours (which are outside classroom time with professors or aids) if you need clarification or extra practice. This is the best way to understand the material better because it is one of your only chances of one on one time with the professor. Most classes at Rutgers range from 200-400 students so take advantage of any office hours provided. In general, this is a great school and students will have a lot of fun as well as attain a lot of knowledge.

Dont take more then 16-17 credits per semester! You have as much time as you need to finish school. It's better to take your time and do well every year then jam your schedule and have to take the same classes again the next semester because you failed them. Remember! Slow and Steady win the race! Also, make sure that you go to academic advising even if you think you don't need it; You DO! Stay on top of deadlines and make sure come scheduling time that you have three times the amount of classes you really want because most likely you will not get every one you want. (and if you don't get them first off don't panic! Classes constantly change, I had 7 credits going into my second semester and a few weeks before classes started everything fell into place and I had a perfect schedule) Also, do yourself a favor. Don't declare a major before you've even started school. You may think you know what you want to do, but why wouldn't you want to just take some fun classes you are interested in and see where it takes you? You are finally FREE! Give yourself a chance and take classes you WANT to take for once and see where it takes you! Lastly, become a studyblue.com member. Its free and you get rewards for posting your class notes online. Its an awesome site, you can view peoples notes and check on info you don't understand and its always nice to have a little reward incentive :)

I highly recommend prospective students to work hard in getting a high GPA and SAT, so that Rutgers actually offers you some money. Also take advantage of the AP courses and exams, because they can save you from taking electives, and you can sometimes skip courses LIKE EXPOSITORY WRITING. PASS AP ENGLISH LANG OR LIT. AP courses are nothing compared to college classes. Just do it. Attend many events, get to know the people around you and in your major, and have fun. But not too much fun, because I personally study like 20+ hours a week for my classes. You will learn in college that it is not as easy as you think it is. It's only easy if you are a studious student.

Get involved! I joined club baseball and got to travel to Florida with the team on spring break where we got to play teams from around the country and enjoy our time off at the beach as well. I also pledged Alpha Chi Rho Fraternity and made friends that I know I'll be close with for a lifetime. Rutgers is what you make of it, so get out there, start meeting people, and get involved! Make sure you take care of your work in the classroom too, because it can be tough to find balance being away from home for the first time.

Rutgers is a challenging place to attend school if you are easily discouraged. As a freshman, I commuted not because I could not afford to live on campus, but because my parents were afraid to let me dorm. This put a tremendous strain on how I experienced college. Yet, it did not stunt my views on college life. Academics at Rutgers if you are an engineering, math, science, nursing, pharmacy, arts major are rigorous. Do not be fooled, partying happens but so does exams that you must prepare for and shops that you have to stay long hours to complete various activities in. All in all, it is a blast. Learning about yourself through the eyes of your peers and those faculty that you become close to, teaches you a lot about who you are. Discouragement and depression about an exam grade or a test scores or even your GPA in your first year at Rutgers is bound to occur. However, at the end of that spring semester, when you look back you will be thankful to have experienced so much, learned so much, and enjoyed your time budding into young adulthood. This school, though not my dream school, nor my first pick has indeed opened my eyes to reality. As a prospective student, strap down and be prepared for a ride.

Rutgers University is professionally business-orientated university. I advise prospective students to manage their finances carefully. Students should choose a meal plan that is fitting. If you receive a refund check, consider the costs of books for a semester and any borrowed loans. As for the social atmosphere, keep in mind that time is money. You are now responsible for deciding what classes to take, how to structure your time, and with whom to associate. Leisure time should be expended for studying for first-year students. Freshmen, who work to set the foundation for their graduate studies by establishing a high GPA, are more prone to find success in this university. In addition, never let your ego and confidence take best of you in courses that are not challenging and seemingly a waste of your time. Students on Pre-Med track should consider not taking too many science courses in one term. In addition, I recommend students to utilize tutoring services, such as OADSIS for pre-med students and Writing Centers for specialized writing/research courses, to perform well in class. Most importantly, learn to become an active member of the community fresh and early.

If you're considering any other colleges, don't look any further. Rutgers has all you need and then some by tenfold, for a reasonable pricetag. While the sheer size of Rutgers is often the deciding factor in why students say no to Rutgers, do not be intimidated. As you get familiarized with the bus system and different campuses, join clubs and make friends, you'll notice you will find familiar faces nearly everywhere you go. Many of my friends regret going to small colleges because the clique aspect is still alive and well in many smaller schools. Well, not here. Everyone is so friendly and willing to adopt you into their friend group. Striking up a conversation with nearly anyone is bound to have favorable results, and with all the clubs and organizations you can join, NOT making friends is virtually impossible. Shy people rejoice! Tips? Challenge yourself academically, be open minded when meeting new people, be kind, and balance work and play in a healthy manner!

If you want to apply, apply earlier rather than late. The school has probably over 10,000 applicants each year, and you want yours to be read sooner to ensure your spot. While a lot of people have said that anyone in NJ can get into Rutgers, I know people that have gotten rejected because they had one bad grade on their transcript. And write the essay on the application. I know it's optional, but write it anyway. Make sure to visit the campus and see all 3 campuses, so you can get a feel for the school. Also, talk to multiple advisors, because they may have different advice or one may be more knowledgeable about your concern than another.

Getting in contact with admissions, financial aid office, etc., is difficult so keep harassing them and calling till they have helped you.
If you can commute, do it (unless you can afford dorming) because there is so many things to do and events to go to that you will still make friends and meet people with having a huge debt.
Although it is sometimes describes as a safety school, the rigor of the classes might surprise you so don't underestimate the difficulty level.

Because Rutgers is such a large institution, do your best to get involved! Attend the involvement fair to learn about clubs and activities you could be interested in. Also use your first few days before class to get acclimated to the bus system and where things are.