University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

The best piece of advice I could give to parents and students is to truly understand and know yourself before choosing a college. If you are artistic, simple-minded, love people or rather stay indoors, then this key personal insight can make or break which college is the best fit for you. If you choose a college that is not to your likeing, then your experiences there will not be worth the money nor the effort. Get to know you perspective schools outside of simply taking a tour of the campus. Talk to various students. Talk with faculty members. Make sure the university atmospher agrees with you. Doing the necessary research will help ensure a positive experience. Also, a student should take advantage of the diversity on campus, and the resources available to learn more about less explored areas. This can take shape in studying abroad, joining a sports team, or doing volunteer work. There is much to be learned in every avenue of college life. Don't be afraid to branch out and really start learning!

When looking for the right college it is all about the student and where they feel most comfortable. I would say don't listen to peer pressure from parents, friends or relatives on where to go, especially not because they went there. Choose where you feel most comfortable and where you think that you will get the best experience from. If you enjoy being in smaller classes and knowing everyone you see, attend a small college. If you enjoy meeting new people every day, but still have tons of friends and lots of places to go with big lectures, attend a big college. As for making the most of your college experience, it is different for everyone, but I would say get involed early. Don't wait until Senior year to make your mark, get involved in many clubs and activities in order to meet new people and make a difference on campus. Getting involved will also help you to land a job in the future, so pick the clubs that are right for you and put yoursefl out there because this is a chance to start fresh!

One of the best pieces of advice I could give is to not be afraid to major in something that you think sounds interesting. As a senior in highschool, I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to study, but I was fairly sure it was going to be engineering. I had the grades to get into the school, but for some reason, I didn't apply because I wasn't sure that was what I wanted to do. This is why I went to school undecided. I have found that it is much more tedious to transfer into a program rather than start out with one. So, I would tell incoming freshman to go with their gut, not just regarding a major, but with all decisions, because they are generally the best choice.

Find a school you love, not like or pick because your friends are going there, But a school you have a true passion for. Do lots of research and plan lots of visits, and before you even apply, imagine yourself at the school. Do you love where you are? Will you grow from your college experiance intellectually and emotionally? Can you learn things about yourself, as well as other's? You have to be going to your school of choice for all the right reasons. Apply no matter what you think the outcome will be, and do try your hardest. Once in, discover clubs, sports, and greek life. find a place that makes you happy. Don't ever not try something because you think you will not accomplish your goals. Set the high, and strive for your best. Honestly. Go to college for all the right reasons: To get an education to determine your success, discover who you are and what you are all about, and have fun while doin it. Savor those four years, because they're over before you know it.

Finding the right college to attend has nothing to do with the name of the school. Finding the right college for you requires you to prioritize what qualities you find most important in a college, such as size, distance from home, social life, and tuition. It is important to remember that a college's ranking does not solely contribute to why a student would want to attend the school. A student will usually spend up to four years, or even more, at a college, so choosing the right college is very important. It is also important to keep in mind that with all of the expenses and time put into college, it is vital to make the best out of the college experience. This can be achieved by putting yourself out there and chase opportunities rather than sitting back and wait for opportunities to come knocking on the door. The college experience can be one of the greatest times of your life if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and be open to new experiences.

Visit the colleges and explore your options. That is pertinent to getting a sense of the atmophere. Students can set their minds on a certain college because their friends are going there or becuase it has a fun reputation. I won't lie, those were the two main choices when I was deciding where to go. It wasn't until I visited all the schools that I realized I liked the laid back atmosphere of U of I. It wasn't because my friends were going here or because it sounded like a lot of fun. I genuinely thought I could become a great student here and meet tons of different, new people. I didn't get that vibe at the other schools I visited and decided that U of I was the perfect choice for me after all.

Go where you want to go, not where your parents or anyone else wants. And study what you want to study and makes you happy while you're in college. It will make you happier, and make you a better person in society.

It is important to visit the campus and evaluate how it fits your needs. When looking at potential schools, it is important to evaluate some of the following: the size school you are comfortable with, cost and financial assistance, relevant academic programs, extracurricular activities that fit your interests, and location to name a few. If you step onto a campus and do not feel like you belong, you most likely will not enjoy attending that school and should continue searching for a school that better fits your personality and your needs. Once in college, the best way to make the most of your experience is to confidently make your own decisions and ignore the peer pressure. It is most important to focus on your academics and make decisions about your lifestyle that you are comfortable with. If a student is able to block out peer pressure and make his or her students based on what he or she wants, then the student will truly be able to make the most of his or her college experience.

Picking a college that fits really depends on what the student feels comfortable with. With hundreds of colleges around the country, it can be completely daunting to try to pick the "right one," but it's important to remember that your decision is not set in stone; you can always change your mind. And if, like me, you know exactly what college you want to get into, don't let finances, distance, or anything else keep you from achieving what you want. Where there is a will, there is ALWAYS a way. A great way to make the most of being away at college is to simply put yourself out there, maybe taking yourself out of your comfort zone. Each college or university, no matter the size, has so many opportunites to get involved- so do it! You'll meet people, gain new perspectives, and grow as a person overall. And if you need help, ask for it. Don't let yourself fall in a rut because you're too afraid to ask. Most importantly, though, enjoy each day as it comes and remember: your college days are some of the best days of your life! Soak it all in.

The academics, athletics, and prestige of a college are all important things. But they are all secondary to your child. In making a good decision for a college, students need to feel comfortable with their choice. Visit EVERY college your child applies for with your child and let him or her sit through a couple of classes. Do anything and everything to make sure the college fits with your child, not the other way around.

My advice to parents and students when searching for the right college would be to find what is it that you see yourself doing, make a plan or goal and commit to it. You will find the people to help you and whatever path you take, be sure to keep working towards your goal. Explore yourself and grow with every learning experience.

When looking for the right college for you or your son or daughter you will get the most honest opinions of the school by talking to students and faculty that attend the school in question. If you talk with them you will be able to get a sense of what to expect and you'll hear real life experiences that will allow you to have more to draw your own opinion from instead of just the statistics you'll read about it in books. To make the most of the college experience you need to have a well-maintained balance of academia and fun. Your work at school is very important, but so is having a social life. If all you do is study, you'll regret the fun that you missed out on during "the best years of your life." Enjoy every aspect of it because you have your whole life to work and only fours years to go to college.

I would tell them to make sure they knew all about the campus and school before going somewhere. It helps to visit the campus and talk to some students who attend it so that you can get a feel for what your college experience will actualy be like. Also, it is important to get involved while you're at school. Joining clubs or other groups outside of class is a great way to meet to people who will most likely have similar interests. Finally, I think it is exteremely important to go into college with an open mind. Don't be afraid to try new things and be up for anything. Keeping an open mind allows you to experience new things and possibly find out something about yourself that you never would have otherwise!

The main thing to consider is size; someone who is from private schooling could easily get lost in a large state school. Make sure you are comfortable with the size of the college you choose. For public school educated students who have an extensive social life, a large state school would probably be ideal due to the variety and options in social life. Distance from home is also a large factor; if you plan to go to a college that is relatively competitive, remember that you may get overwhelmed and want to return home on weekends; make sure this is an option. If you consider yourself an independent person, be very open in location; moving to a new part of the country could be quite exciting and an eye-opening experience. I strongly recommend going with a random roomate, as long as you feel you are pretty easy to live with. If you are going to school with a close friend, try to get in the same dormatory, but don't necessarily request them as a roomate. You may get so comfortable that you don't try as hard to branch out and get exposed to other lifestyles and cultures.

Don't be intimdated by size. Some schools may seem big and impersonal but are not. Talk to actual students for the real story on the university not tours or lectures. Find a school that will challenge you but also inspire you to do something to help leave your footprint on the world.

Make sure you talk to friends and family about what kind of atmosphere they think would suit you; you might not realize some things about yourself that others might be able to see. Ask older siblings or friends about their college experiences, and keep in mind their individual personalities while doing so. Consider how well you like your highschool atmosphere, whether it be a large or small school, and think about the size of college you might be able to handle. As far as distance from home, keep in mind that although it will be an amazing experience to go somewhere across the nation, traveling home will always be a hassle/not possible, and make sure you're ok with that. Once you're in school, if you aren't happy right away, give it time. My entire freshman year I wasn't happy and even considered transferring, but now that I'm a junior I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. However, if you are still unhappy well into your sophomore year, don't be afraid to look into switching schools; you don't want your college experience to be a regrettable one.

If the students have their mind set on a particular major, I would advise them to pick a college that not only offers that major, but others that they may have an interest in. I feel it is better to have the opportunity to completely explore your options, especially in those first few semesters of colleges. Taking time to explore, even if students think they are sure, is important because it can both help them to change their mind to a major that is a better fit, but also can let the student know that they have made the right choice. If the students do not have a chosen major, I would still advise them to go to a university rather than a community college, because the exploration opportunities at universities are so much better than at community colleges. In general, I would not heavily advise students to pick their college solely based on the social reputation it has. College is going to be what they make it. Whether students are into the night life or quiet and peaceful study sessions, they will find a scene and group that they fit into.

Make sure you visit the college campus before attending and explore all of your options before 'settling' for a school that you are not fully sure about or that other people want you to go to. Make the decision for yourself and be firm and consice in your feelings. In addition, it is very important to make new, life long friends and to create new experiences. Be open-minded about people, ideals, and activites. You do not want any regrets. Your main focus should be getting your education. There will always be another party and that cute guy will be at the bar again next week, believe me. You only get one shot to take this exam and to ace this quiz. The points definitley add up at the end of the semester. Make smart choices and make the college experience one that you will never forget. Appreciate it because there are so many people who don't even get a chance to attend college and you have the opportunity and privilege to do so. Believe in yourself and find your calling. Anything is possible and if you want something bad enough, you will get it.

The most important thing to finding the right college is to visit the campus. A school can have the best credentials, but you may not feel good on the campus. How you feel at school and on campus is a large factor in how well you succeed in school. To make the most out of your college experience, get involved with as many activities as you can in the first weeks of your freshman year. Anything that sticks out to you, sign up. Once you learn more about the groups you will be able to drop some of them, but it is very important to dip your finger into as many activites and groups as possible.

The most important thing one could do when searching for what college to attend is to find something that seems like it will be a good fit. Think deeply about what you want to do in life, and about a couple of back-up plans so that should you change your mind on career path, the school you choose will still fulfill your needs. Analyze the students likes, dislikes, and preferences when making the decision on what schools to attend. As far as making the most of the experience, be sure to be involved in as many activities and organizations as possible. Try new things and to see what is out there and what is/isn't for you. If you are adventurous, study abroad; if not, join organizations on campus that you enjoy doing. Volunteer on and off of campus. Do everything you can while you can do it because you won't have the same opportunities after graduation.