Illinois State University Top Questions

My advice that I would give to parents about choosing the right college would be to not shelter your child when it comes to choosing a college because it is best to branch out, explore and meet people of all cultures! For students, I would say to choose the college which you are comfortable with when it comes to the class sizes, the campus size, etc... I would also advise to choose the best college in which you will receive the best education and real world experiences for your career because the more experience you have, the better. For example, I chose Illinois State University mainly for their tv station, TV-10 News, because I am pursuing a career in broadcast journalism and I get hands on experience being a reporter, anchor or weather person. My last advice would be not to choose a school just because the campus is beautiful, your friends/mate attends that school or because your family are alumni. Choose the school that bests fits you, your comfort zone, your major and personality! To make the most out of your college life branch out and meet people, join clubs, study hard and go for the internships!

Parents, try and get your soon to be college student to narrow down their selection from 5 or more down to 3 top schools. Then go and visit these schools, walk around check out the buildings. Yours student will feel that the school is right for them. I personally visited 3 schools not including my sisters University (which was way to large for me). I went on a tour or Western Illinois, stopped by Northern Illinois, and ended up looking at Illinois State. What drew me to ISU was the look of the quad the renovated building and there was just a presence around the school that I loved immediately. Go from academics, the surrounding area of the College, the buildings and you'll know whats right.

Visiting the campus is of utmost importance, it can really make or break your decision. Know what you're looking for in a college, for example a big or small campus and what activities you want to do. Make friends with those people on your floor/in your whole dorm. Strongly suggest living in the dorms. Get along with your roommate as much as possible, me and my roommate did this by talking about how studius we are, what tv shows we like to watch, what activities we like to do, who's responsible for what, etc. This helped set guidelines, I suggest even roommates who know each other do this. I don't think it is necessary to get involved with campus activities at least for me, I met people in classes and through friends I already knew on campus. Be outgoing, there's friends out there for every single person.

Finding the right college is more about program fit and campus size/lifestyle than finances - if it is right, you will find a way to fund it! In order to get the most out of the experience as a student, you must be very active and enthusiastic about your own education. Beyond simply going to classes and doing your best, take advantage of Honors programs, sponsored internships, and other programs that your school may offer. Many students miss out on these opportunities because they do not want "extra work", but all of those extra experiences will prove to be valuable assets on your resume later when you are applying for jobs or graduate schools. Take charge! Mommy's not setting your alarm any more!

I think it is important for parents to not only support their college students financially but also emotionally. A lot of college students go through phases where they get really stressed and more than anything, they need their parents support. I think it is important for parents to let their students know that they are proud of their students' accomplishments. As for students, it's important to become involved on campus with something, anything. Try to join clubs, inter-mural sports teams, organizations, etc. This is a great way to meet people who may have the same interests as you. It may be intimidating at first, but just be yourself and chances are, you'll find someone who you truly click with. It's also important to be yourself. No matter who or what you are, as long as you are happy, that's what's important. Above all, enjoy yourself and the friends that you have made and the years that you have at college because you can't them back!

Picking the right college can either make or break the college experience. Finding the right college is more then just finding a party school , it is about finding a college that fits you as a person. I strongly believe that when looking for the right college you have to consider many different things. Make sure the college that the student attends has a good program for their career choice, that is the main purpose of college is to earn a degree. With this, make sure that the school has staff available to assist with questions and tutoring. The student also needs to consider the activities and clubs that are available on campus, having fun at college is part of going away to school. No one wants to learn all day and not have fun, that would make it hard to enjoy college. If the child is interested in a particular sport, make sure that sport is available for the student. Safety at a college is also very important, make sure the campus safety is good. The housing and its location to needed stores should also be considered. Along with this, is the transportation that is available to students.

Choosing a place where you feel comfortable and at home is so important. After all, it will be your new home for your college years. Its so vital to emerge yourself in all your college has to offer. Joining clubs and attending socials and sporting events is a great way to meet new people and decide what it is exactly that you are interested in. And you should not expect college to be how it is in movies. It is definitely not all about drinking and partying, and is not what you should be going for anyway. There are so many resources and opportunities available to students for all of their needs if they apply themselves and make an effort to get to know their campus. College is an unforgettable experience that will take you to great places and open so many doors for you. As any graduate will tell you, make the most out of your years, because once they are over you'll want them back!

Finding the right college is much like buying a new pair of shoes. There are many different styles, but you have to find a pair that appeals to your own taste yet comfortable enough for a long journey. The most beneficial experience I engaged in, when looking for the right school, was preview. The program allowed both prospective students and parents to come and stay, on campus, to get the true feeling of the school. If the college does not offer a preview take a weekend and go stay as close to campus as possible. This experience allows you to test the waters. Hopefully you choose a college that makes you comfortable and feel right a home. To aid this, I recommend getting involved in your major. Join clubs your major offers, volunteer throughout the community, and engage yourself in research. These activities allow you to learn about your field, so you can decide if it is right for you. However, you can always return those shoes if they are not the perfect fit. If your first choice does not work do not like that discourage you, maybe you just need a pair with a little more cushion.

1. Dont be scared to try new things. College campuses are full of fun and exciting opportunities but it is up to the student to grasp them. 2. There are so many types of people on a college campus that it is such a great way to meet tons of people and get a wide variety of people as friends. My favorite part of school is honestly meeting new and awesome people.

It is very important to visit a wide variety of colleges and talk to staff or graduates of the school. Dont pick a college just because your best friend or boyfriend/girlfriend attends it. It is a whole new chapter in your life when you get to college. You will make new friends who will be your life long friends. To make the most of your years at college, join a sports team or a club. Putting yourself out there to make new friends is a part of college, whether you know it or not. Also, putting trust into your teachers helps also. You cant be afraid to talk to them or go to them for help. Whether it be before or after class, or even going to their office hours. I have found that doing this helps you out a lot.

When you are trying to find the right college, take your time, don't rush or get frusturated. Things like this take time, you won;t find the perfect school right away. Also make sure you visit the schools and go into the bulilnding and meet and talk to studensts on campus to get a feel of what they think. When it comes to the college experience, just go to all your classes, participate do all your work and really study for those tests. But don't just focus all your hard work on studying, go out, meet new people, volunteer and do something good for yourself and the community, my favorite is volunterring at animal shelters. join sports and clubs and anything you think will be fun and safe. And when you get behind in your work, always talk to your professor and get the extra help and tutoring right away I made sure I did that when I got behind in accounting.

Make sure that you visit first because that would let you know how comfortable you would be in that kind of setting.

Make sure to visit every campus. Talk to the people you see on the campus who actually attend the school, not the people who are giving you a guided tour. They are paid to tell you certain things about the school. Everyone is generally very friendly and wouldnt mind stopping to tell you something they love about their school. If the feedbacck isnt positive go find some other students to speak to! I promise it will make the choosing that much better.

Some advice that I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college is to research colleges that pertain to the major that the student is planning on studying. Each college has their it's own area of excellence. The next thing I would consider when deciding where to go to college is the price of each school that is a candidate for the student to attend. College is exspensive, so finding one that fits into your budget is beneficial. Once the student has been enrolled into college, there are several things that he or she can do to make the most out of their college experience. I would highly recommend getting involved at your school. Joining organizations can get you involved and help you meet new people. I would also recommend staying on top of your game in your classes. Don't let your social life overcome everything; you have to remember that you are there for school, not partying. The last thing that I recommend is to study abroad. Studying abroad gives a student a whole new experience to learning. If a student does these three things, college life will be a breeze.

I would recommend using the following steps in helping your child start their academic life: - College is a time of transition for students. They are just starting to see people doing things that they may not have been exposed to, yet. - Stay interested in what your child is doing, just don't expect them to remain in constant contact with you. The administrative staff at any institution will be happy to assist you and answer any of your questions. - Listen to them without judging when they talk about the future. They may be trying out new ideas and are looking for your support. - Ask open-ended questions about their plans and activities, such as: "Tell me more about how you made that decision?" "What do you think is important in making this decision?" "What is the best thing I can do to help you in this situation?"

Make sure the school has the major you're considering picking & make sure there are extra-curricular activities.

Believe in yourself and take every great opportunity as it comes. Go out and meet people, do not be afraid to take chances. Get involved and work hard.

When looking for a college make sure it has opportunity for you to go into several fields that you would like to and make sure you feel comfortable in the area and school. Money should not play a big role but a small role. You really need to focus on the area and how you will feel going to this school. Work hard and stay disciplined and enjoy your experience.

Attend the same school as your best friends if you can. Therefore, you can adjust to college life with a support system already there. This can help you stay focused on studying while meeting new people to add to your social experiences. Most students don't know what they want to do in life right away and that's okay. Talk to advisors at school to figure out what majors suit your interests and passions. Changing majors is common, so there's no shame in it.

To parents and students looking for the right college, I would simply say explore your options and your personality. If you prefer smaller towns to larger towns, go with a smaller campus. If you are a social butterfly, make sure that the school offers a lot of opportunities to meet people. Also, ensure that the college of your choice offers programs to develop your major of choice to its fullest. In order to make the most of your college experience, you must try your hardest to come out of your shell. Constantly introduce yourself to people, and don't be afraid to strike up conversation. Really, no one minds making new friends especially in such a large setting such as a college. Don't be afraid to ask the person next to you for notes, and don't be afraid to ask the professors for extra help. Remember that making the most of your college experience will not involve strictly academic principles. Introduce yourself to everyone on your floor, and set aside time to study. This will help you succeed.