Purdue University-Main Campus Top Questions

Just finding the right college. Visit and ask students who already go to the college you are looking at. It is also best to look at the graduation rate in the field you want to go into.

I would say that you should really let the students choose where they need to be. Make sure that the school fits into your budget and make a visit to the college before you attend. Apply early, turn things in on time and look to the future about everything that you could do and become

I would advise them to research the college and make sure to visit the campus onece they decide which college he/she wants to attend.

I was just talking to a high school student that was interested in my university and these are the main things I stressed when I was telling him about how to choose the right school: school size, however this does not directly indicate class size; diversity in students and factulty; availablity of activities and opportunities, i.e. clubs, study abroad, career fairs; transition to college life through special programs and dormatories. I remember how hard to was to choose a school, but this student seemed very greatful that I shared my experiences.

If you are weary of being homesick then pick a college near home within 3 hour drive, but also one that fits your personality. Basically if you are a conservative, small-town kind of person then don't pick a college in a liberal, highly-populated area. Culture shock may be harder than you think. Make sure to visit the school before you send in the acceptance letter. Most schools have great freshmen orientations which are a great way to move in early and feel socially connected as well. Look into what type of extracurriclars you are interested in and see what they are like at the new college. Give it time and try to stay there the first few weekends if at all possible. Study hard but also allow yourself to have some fun. Live on campus for at least the first year so you can meet a larger number of people from a greater diversity. You learn more lifelong responsiblities.

There are many choices you can make, but choose one that you think that will make you happy. However always remember whatever you choose, its not the school's responsibility to make sure you learn. What you put in is what you get out. You don't need to go to an ivy league school to get a good education. Work hard and many doors you wouldn't expect will be opened.

Pick a school where it is known for your desired major. Pick the one that you can afford. And make sure you visit the school so you can have a feel of the school. In addition make sure just in case your major does not work out it has other majors that may interest you as well.

Be sure to take interest tests and decide upon a field of study and, ideally, a specific career, which the student has a passion for. It will bring confidence to the student if they have specific goals they are trying to achieve. They will be able to begin shaping their life and the things they do to make themselves more desirable to prospective employers. Once a major field of study is selected, college choice should be a matter of a few simple preferences.

Talk to people from the college. It doesn't matter if your student knows the major they want or has no idea. The biggest part of college is going to be the people you are around for 4 years. It's easy to find information about the school cirriculum from the college, but the only way to find out about the people is by talking. You don't want to go somewhere with great academics and then hate it because you can't stand the other students. So visit, walk around, and ask. College students love talking about themselves and their school!

My best advice for parents and students when picking the right college would be to look for a school that caters to what YOU want in your college experience, not with what your family and friends want from you. This is your education and college experience, not theirs. Once you choose your school, participate in things that you wouldn't have when you were in college. The opportunities on many campuses are endless and your participation in them will add to your overall experience. If your worried that the only groups and clubs on campus are academic ones then stop. There is a club for just about every interest you can imagine. Participating in these not only enhances your college experience but it will expand your social network as well. College is by no means a joy ride all the time, but if you learn what works for you, you can make it some of the best years of your life.