Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Top Questions

Decide what is most important to you and remember to be fiscally responsible in your choices. It is not always the best idea to go to the most expensive college because you won't always get your money's worth out of it. Get involved on campus -make friends and get to know your professors. It will ensure you have the most opportunities and do the most good while you are in college.

Already coming from another college with my AA, I thought it was going to be very hard for me to start over. I moved from Michigan to Indiana not knowing anyone or ever being to this state. I first came to the college thinking "wow this place is big." Now looking at it, it seems to be just the right size four year college to attend. I looked for the area it was around (if there would be things to do, how many people were around, did it look safe, etc.). Another thing that I looked for were the facilities. Having my major in photography and art, I wanted to make sure the art department was a place I wanted to be most of my time. I really checked out the photography labs and equipment. So always check out the areas of your study or what you might be interested in studying. To make the best out of any college experiance I think is to make lots of friends. Also try to attend the events they will have, gallery walks, sports, and even volunteer to help out at your school. Not everything has to have alcohol to have fun!

allow students to research and find a campus that meets their wants and needs

When choosing a college base it primarily off what one will give you the best education. Don't just go to a certain college because your friends from high school are. Look into the teaching methods, availability of internships or jobs on campus, and the rate of students being hired as soon as they graduate. Once you get to college always remember, that you will get out what you put in. If you don't study and just party all the time you will never learn anything. If you don't make an effort to get internships or jobs, the professors or future employers may never know who you are. If you don't strive to join clubs, you may miss out on networking opportunities. While at college always keep in mind what is best for your future, but remember that it is ok to have a night out in order to relax and stop all the hard work you are doing everyday for just a few hours. Finally, don't forget about your parents, they can be some of the best support you have when times get hard.

Make sure they offer the courses required for your major and its affordable. The best advice is to go to a college in the state you are in because you will save alot money.

Find a shool that has the career goals you are lookng for in terms of academic programs. If you are not sure make sure there are many resources on campus to help you explore this so you are not going from one major to the next. Also find a school that has the programs you want and fits to your needs. Get to know as many people ass you can and network with not only students but professors as well. Professors are a great resource to have for references and to give advice when faced with hard life making decsions. If you are in a major you are not sure about get out and take the general core classes that can transfer into other major tracks. Make the most of your experience, it only happens once and you can also help others when you are done the way someone is helping you now!

Before deciding which college to attend based on price, location, and the quality of education, take a moment to make sure you will feel good at this school. Can you picture yourself making new friends and learning new things? To find the right college, be sure you feel at home on your campus. When touring schools it's important to try to visualize yourself in that environment and see if you feel like you fit. Many people will say that to make the most of the college experience, you need to get involved. While involvement in school activities is great, it's also important to choose your friends, clubs, and activities based on what you're interested in. Do not join random clubs simply to be able to say you're involved. The second way to make the most of college is just to relax, but not too much. Have a good time, but remember why you're at school.

Advice I would give would be to consider the following things; Have an idea of what you want your career to be and find the best school's suitable for that degree, decide how far you want to be away from home (I know you might want to get away but it's always nice to have family close), COST is a big thing, make sure you are not going to be in financial debt when you graduate, VISIT THE CAMPUS!! if you don't like your campus you will find school to be a lot harder, also check out the available acitivites and groups to get involved with (it helps you meet new people and feel more comforatable.) Parents, make sure you feel comforatable with the campus and classrooms and housing because as parents do, you will be constantly worried when your child has finally moved in. Overall make sure you are in love with the school you pick and that you know other friends attending. College is a great experience and it's preparing you for life goals and experiences. Remember, education comes first over parties, fun, and sports. That's why you're there.

My best advice for parents and students in choosing the right college for their needs is to definitely take a tour of the campus and get to see the staffs and students there. Seeing the campus in person could be the biggest deciding factor in knowing if the college is right for you. Furthermore, one thing that could really help in deciding the right college for you is to do your research to whether the college in mind has a strong program for your future needs. College can be really fun even with the challenging classes. To make the best of your college experience, you must be willin to get involved. Students are generally very nice and easy to interact with. All that you have to do is be willing to interact with others and you'll surely make friends. Furthermore, getting involved with the community in clubs and such is a great way to meet people, learn about what your community has offer, and feel good about yourself. The key to a great college experience is to put yourself out there and not be afraid to put yourself in unfamiliar situation and try new things that you haven't.

I think staying open minded when selecting colleges is the best whay to look at schools. Not thinking only about all the negatives about where it is or what the dorms look like but also thinking about the learning experience. Whether or not the school is going to support the major that you are choosing and whether or not the size of classes and the campus is condusive to the students learning style. I know that not everyone learns the same way. Also, to students wanting to enjoy the full experience get involved in something you care about personally whether it be something in the community or intramural sports you will meet more people make connections and most of all have fun. College is a great learning experience to grow academically but also socially and independantly.