University of Illinois at Chicago Top Questions

Get good grades in the first 2 years, 300 and 400 level classes are hard!

Choosing a college is a very difficult, and sometimes overwhelming, experience. What school should I go to? How much is it going to cost me? What am I going to study? All of the preceding questions are those that potential college students ask themselves each and every year. Often, we find ourselves feeling alone and without guidance, but there is a cornucopia of resources that are at your very reach. High schools have many resources such as guidance counselors, and the internet is a great tool to research potential schools. One area that many studnets miss out on are campus visits. These visits allow you to picture yourself at the campus and this alone can possibly be the deciding factor for you. I believe that in order to create a positive college experience it is necessary to completely emmerse yourself in the school's culture. More specifically, it is the student's responsibility to become a part of the university; the university will most likely not come to you. Therefore, I would tell any potential college student to take that weary step and make the effort to learn and grow by participating in as many clubs and organizations as possible.

It's important to look both at the cost of tuition and housing as well as the location of the school. Living at home is the worst thing a college student can do. Yes, it saves money but it is ultimately detrimental to the full experience of college life. Live on campus, get involved in extracurricular activites, and make friends. Make sure to watch what you eat and work out as often as possible. Develop good study habits from day one because it is very hard to boost an ailing GPA later on in school. Also make room for a social life but avoid wild parties, especially on weekdays. The most helpful thing you can do is take AP classes in high school and don't set your mind about a certain major. Experiment your first year or two and take a variety of classes so that you can get a taste of all the different professions out there. Take off the blinders!

If you want a bigger school with a lot of options, this is a great school. The classes are more challenging than most schools, but the professors are great at offerring assistance. You or your child won't develop much of social life towards school if you commute unless you make a conscious effort.

I think it is important to reflect on what you want out of the college experience. Consider what you are looking for socially and academically. Consider the amount of students attending the school to determine where you would be comfortable: in a school with thousands of students or hundreds. Consider is the faculty members. Are they diverse in their teaching methods? Are there facilities to help you if you need extra help? Do the teachers use a variety of teaching methods? To make the most of your college experience, it's important to put yourself out there - take advantage of every opportunity you have. Time goes by so quickly, and while it's important to make sure you are succeeding academically, it's equally important to ensure you have time to spend doing things for yourself. College is a perfect opportunity to meet diverse people and find out who you are and what you enjoy: maybe it's volunteering at a local school; maybe it's dancing, singing, or acting; or maybe it's just hanging out with friends at the local student center. Whatever it may be, make time for exploring your interests, giving your time, and having fun.

One piece of advice would be to do your research. First, it is extremely important to determine what it is that you would like to earn a degree in. After that, research as many schools as possible that have programs that match your choice of major. Another thing that is important about finding the right college would be to pick a college that is situated in an area that you are most comfortable in. This may mean a bigger college that may be in the city or a smaller college in a rural town. The choice is yours. Researching a college is extremely important because you will be spending at least 4 years there so the college of your choice should be somewhere that is safe and yet academically appealing to you.

First off, listen to your child. Don't push him into a school just because you went there. Find out what your child has an interest in learning. Once this has been accomplished search for schools close to home. The need for distant schools is ridiculous when there are fine schools in the vicinity of your residence. If the child is competitive in athletics don't push them to play on sports teams. Athletes have twice the work as the average student because of game schedules. Many athletes receive incomplete grades due to the schedule. Second, find out all you can in regards to financial aid. This is important because the majority of parents sit astride of the median income level. The parents are not poor enought to receive full rides and are not rich enough to pay for the education. In so doing student loans come into play. The student loans make the child a learner for life because in today's economy it will be hard for them repay their student loans and begina family if they so desire. O

I transfered to UIC from a smaller school down south. I still think of the transfer as the best decision I have ever made. For a while I thought of the previous school as a waste of my time, but I realized that all my decisions there have helped shaped where I am at now. It was a large change for me moving to the city and into a new major i had little experience with. The instructors were great, the classes were so wlecoming and encourage participation. I would tell a student to not be afraid of change and to take chances. Dedicate this time to finding yourself without the worries of a "4 year" time line. Education is a priviledge. FIND A PASSION and take all the time you need to harness it. In the end you will be able to use it to make yourself happy, and help others. Following your passion leads to happiness.

Make your academic Advisers put absolutely everything they tell you in writing and sign it. Save your academic catelog and figure out what courses you need before talking with academic advisors. Otherwise they will make you take courses you don't need and/or do not have the prerequisits for. When they do this, you loose large amounts of money and you waste a lot of time.

Make sure that counselors help your child instead of killing their dreams. Small classes are more helpful. Support laws to help students with financial aid.