Purdue University-Main Campus Top Questions

go visite the college, spen a weekend there, attend a class, live the life of a student for a day or two.

Take a risk when choosing a college. Don't go somewhere where you will know every single person. College is your opportunity to start fresh, meet new people, and become your own person. Studying is important, but have fun while you can. You only live once, and you may as well make the best of it. Try new things, go to sporting events, participate in traditions, and make the most of your 4+ years wherever you choose!!

Have fun and meet new people. Don't be afraid to change your major about 10 times =)

Visit every school, and talk to current students on every campus. A tour guide is trained to tell you only the good stuff, so if you get the chance, ask a current student. They are usually overjoyed to tell you the whole truth!

College is the doorway into your future. College will give you the background and expierience you need to have a successful future. Don't take that for grated. Academics should come first but a life without balance is not very prosperous. Take the time to make some good friends because these are the friendships that will carry through for the rest of your life. Absolutely go visit all the schools you apply to ; or atleast as many as you can. It is not just how the school looks , but more importantly how you feel when you're there. You can visit the most beautiful campus you have ever seen and not feel a connection. If you do not feel a connection to your campus than you will not be happy. In these trying economic times financial aid is a big part of the decision but do not be afraid to talk to the financial aid office or seek outside financial assistance if you are passionate about attending a specific instituion. And finally, go with you gut and do what feels right to you. Ultimately, it is up to you to make the final decision; not your parents or anyone else.

Before you visit a college it is important to really think about what you want out of your college experience. Items such as intramural sports, class sizes, clubs, career counseling, sporting events, housing options, diversity of students, dominant political views on campus, and size of the campus can alter how you feel about your school. My best advice is to take a tour of your prospective school(s) and ask as many questions as possible. Additionally, don't worry about what your friends are doing or where they're going. Realize that choosing a school is a decision made by an individual and should have very little influence from friends. You know yourself better than anyone else, trust that when making this decision. Finally, always remember that nothing is ever set in stone. After my sophomore year, I realized that the school I chose was just not right for me. After many discussions with advisors of all sorts, I chose to transfer. It was a difficult decision because I had to leave friends and even receive less financial aid but I have the peace of mind that this is truly where I want to be now. Good luck!

I would advise parents and/or students to take the time to search for colleges that provide exactly what they are interested in. Not just in classes or courses that are needed but also in activities or clubs that they are interested in joining. Don't be afraid of asking lots of questions or visiting campuses multiple times. It's the only way you can decide which college is a perfect "fit".

College is only important if what you'll get out of it, whether it be the learning experiences, the career requirements, or the friends and fun, is important to you, your heart, and your mind. Always weight the pros and cons, the good and the bad, of choices and dilemmas that are important, before firmly deciding upon any decision. Yes, it is worthwhile to seek advice and information from family, friends, those already on the path you want to be on or don't want to be on, or a higher power. However, you must do yourself a huge favor and listen to your heart above others. Don't wallow in either fear or regret, but be patient, and have joy in your heart. Always remember that mistakes are meant to be made, because we learn and grow from them, and that makes us better, smarter, and happier people.

I strongly advise both parents and students to visit the campus before committing to a particular school. You cannot get the full feeling of what a school is like just by pictures and talking with people. Physically visiting a school makes a world of difference in the decision making process. Also, open up to people and do not expect everyone to come up and talk to you. If you just wait for everyone to approach you, you will not make very many friends. You have to put yourself out there and talk to people. Also, yes, education is very important, but you cannot keep your nose in the books all day everyday. You need to make time for some fun. If you do not do that, it will make you depressed and stressed out and that will not help you academics at all. All you have to do is set boundries for yourself and stick to them. Also, make a schedule and stick to it--just make sure to schedule in some down time. This will help you have a great time in college. You'll get a good education, make friends, and have fun.

Start the search by figuring out what you want to do. I looked at where I wanted to end up first, and wound up with a huge list of schools. Even worse, once I decided what I wanted to do I discovered half of them didn't offer it!! Once you know what you want to do, figure out what size school you want and how far from home you are willing to be. Those are the two major points, distance being probably the most important. Be flexible on size, my school has 40,000 students and I still feel like I can't walk ten feet without seeing someone I know. You never know until you visit what size is right for you. The best way to go about starting the search is to find a list of the top 50 or so schools in your intended major, and narrow down from that based on your own personal preferences for distance, size, and anything else that is important to you. Most importantly, try to visit! It's the best way to judge whether or not you'd be comfortable and at home at a school.