Iowa State University Top Questions

The most important thing in choosing a college is how much you're going to get out of the overall experience. Academics is only one area of your college life. You need to look for things that could feed your hobbies because, for me, my hobby that I was doing here became my major and my life goal. You will never know how things will change in a single semester like they did for me. You also have to look for how your life is going to be outside of school work. Doing school work all the time will drive you to insanity and you'll miss out on the most important things about college. What fun things are there to do? Does there seem to be good community between students? What clubs can I join that I would enjoy? Sometimes I think that future students never look past the academics and end up in a very depressing or stale environment and get nothing more than head knowledge out of their potentially life changing college experience.

talk to other current students and ask a lot of questions go on campus tours and college visits

Focus on where would be best for your intended major first, but make sure the prospective school is well-rounded, too. Strongly consider going to a state university, and focus lastly on price. If every place you want to go is too expensive, look at the community colleges that transfer over most of their courses to the universities. They're just as good for first and second year courses and cost very little in comparison.

I think that it is important to think about how values vary from state to state. Just wanting get away from your parents isn't a good reason to jump states for college. I think that college experiences as far as people that you relate to and how well you get along with friends is better if you remain in the same state or a state with similar values. It is also important to decide on a major that you are interested in and not one that will make you a lot of money when you graduate. Also, remember that you're going to school to learn and not to party and drink your four years away.

Parents, encourage students to go where they see fit all the while helping them to make the right decision. Most headstrong students fresh from high school are going to the college they want to attend, so don't initiate a war of interest with your son/daughter. Make sure the financial situation is understood and planned for. College is a huge investment and most students in college have little spending money on account of heavy workloads and low paying part-time jobs. Do some solid research when you're getting ready for school students. Understand that it's going to take some effort and sacrafices to become predominent in your field. Academics always come first! First semester freshmen year is almost the most important semester, so don't get discouraged if you can't seem to manage your time. Most upperclassmen haven't even honed their schedules yet, especially if there are different things that change outside of class from week to week. On top of the academics be sure to meet new people; because afterall, no one is going to know who you are if you close yourself up in your room. The friends you make are lasting!

just find what interests you most and what is most accomidating for what you would like to learn

I would suggest looking at the career fairs and internship availability. These are very important tools throughout college and as you leave.

Your main purpose for going to college is to earn an education. You first need to find a college that offers the majors that will allow you to excel in your desired career. Next, you need to find a campus that you could call home. You will be at this school for four years, so you need to find a college that feels like a community and a place you enjoy living at. The third thing you should look for in a college is the extracurricular opportunities. You need to find a college that can provide you with the life experience needed to be successful. You need to be at a college that can allow you to participate in many activities including service learning, studying abroad, leadership organizations. An exceptional college has achieved a balance between academic and extracurricular opportunities. Once you have selected a college, the most important thing you can do is get involved. Find something you are passionate about and be a part of it. In doing this, you will meet people with the same interests as you, and you can form strong friendships which is a key part to a successful college experience.

Make sure that you can afford it unless you have a scholarshop, i think it's important to not have to owe too much money once you graduate and are looking for a job. But also make sure you feel at home on your campus and it offers the degree you're looking for

To find the right college, one must really know his or herself. Before going on all of those campus tours, filling out applications and choosing your home for the next few years, take a moment for yourself. Even though life is hectic right now, it is crucial to decipher what values are most important to you. This will lead you to the school that is most compatible to you and your goals. Which will make your journey most enjoyable and help you achieve your most successful future.