Purdue University-Main Campus Top Questions

Parents should not pressure their kids to go where THEY want their child to go.

One thing you really need to consider is the distance from home. How far away from your family are you willing to go? College is all about learning to grow up and live on your own but you never know when you might need a little help. Being located far enough away to feel like your on your own but close enough to drive home if you need to is key.

Visit the school and pick a school that is most valuable in all terms of the word. Remember that an undergraduate degree is sometimes not worth the extra out of state tuition for some families, but keep grad school opportunities in mind. Finding a school that offers a good "college experiance" can often be also linked to the student's perception and ability to create a positive environment around them; for example if the student is a fun person, good times will often come to them. Also, students should surround themselves with friends who will help them suceed; the best friends are ones who are part of neither extreme (always studying or always partying - a healthy balance will provide the best experiance). Parents should freely share any experiances they had in college that helped make it one of the 'best times of their lives.' While students might seem to turn a deaf ear at first, they will probably be listening anyway. Don't be too judgemental, but provide enough support to create an environment of sucess in the mind and lifestyle of the student.

Go and visit as many colleges as you can and see what they have to offer. Look at the doors, the classrooms and anything else that might interest you. Get involved with things that are going on at college.

Make sure you visit a college numerous times throughout different seasons. Also, be sure to attend seminars on the major area(s) you are considering to get a first-hand idea of what it will be like. If you know someone who already attends that univerisity or college spend a few days with them. I think it helped a lot to see what housing/social life was like on campus and also to attend classes and observe what the work load would be. You need to make sure to walk around the entire campus and get a feeling for the property as well as the people. Also, go with your gut instinct. I thought for years I would go to the same university as my parents and other family members had because I had been on campus many times for football games, etc. Once I finally toured Purdue and spent more time there I fell in love with it and knew it was the perfect fit for me.

Look into extracurriculars as well as majors and minor when looking at schools. You want to know that you'll feel comfortable and safe on-campus as well as off-campus. Don't choose a school according to partying or drinking, whether you want that or not - most schools have it.

Make sure you visit first.

I would say that when you walk on campus if you are excited and feel like you would have a blast here then that is where you need to be be. Bottom line that is where you're going to meet all your friends and where you will graduate from. So it needs to be somewhere where you know you will have fun!

The people who tell you to visit lots of schools and you'll just know which is the right one were correct in my case. When I went to Purdue for the first time I felt at home even though I was 2,000+ miles away. Yet, that did not happen for all my friends. My advice pick the school that is best for you academically, financially, socially, location wise, and your other criteia. Do not pick because your friends are going there pick the school YOU want! It may not seem like it now but you will meet new people and become great friends with them AND keep your old friends at home. So if you want an adventure far away, go for it! When you get to college the way the make the most of your experience is simple, GET INVOVLED! Join a club, a greek house, an orgainzation, whatever you want just start joining and meeting people the rest will take care of itself. However, most importantly GO TO CLASS; if you go you'll remember something even if you can't focus it helps, I promise! Now go find the college of your dreams too!!!

Above all, you have to remember that you are chosing this school for you, and no one else. I think it is crucial that you go on campus and see if you could imagine yourself among the student body, and you will really be able to find a good fit for you. Statistics are important, but only a very small part of the college itself; you have to make sure you look at the bigger picture. If you feel like you could call the college home for the next four years of your life, then it is probably the one for you! The true test of whether students are happy or not can be found by walking up to students on the campus and asking them how they like their experience. You will (hopefully) get an honest, uncandid answer that can help make your decision.