University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

Go to a junior college and find out what you want to do with your life, then pick a college that fits your job.

I strongly believe that you need to find a school with the right kinds of people and with the right kind of faculty. I've come to realize that the friendships and the relationships you make during college are the ones that will stick with you for the rest of your life. With the right kind of people, your life will be more satisfying and you will be more happy on campus. This was the biggest thing I have learned from attending college. You must also choose a school that has a diverse faculty/teaching staff that are open to new ideas, new discussions, and research. This will give you the most out of your academic experience and will broaden your thoughts as well as your horizon. The University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign fulfills both of those requirements.

High School does not prepare you for college, it is a whole different playing field and to do well in college it is necessary to be prepared. When looking for the right college you should consider the different majors and oppurtunites offered at the different colleges you are considering and think about what you are interested in. I would recommend talking to upperclassmen for adivce because these students just experienced what you will be going to go through. It is good to have an idea of what you are interested in pursuing, before college or during the first semester so that you have the time to take advantage of all the oppertunities the college has to offer. If you start early then by junior year you will not be worrying too much about how many more classes you need to graduate, you will have figured out everything ahead of time. NO MATTER WHAT STUDY ABROAD BEACAUSE IT WILL BE THE ONE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE YOU WILL NOT REGRET.

Understand that the person that you will enter college as is not the same as the person you will be upon graduation. College will change your perspective, your attitudes, and many aspects of your self that you may not even realize. The ultimate consideration is to find a college that allows for growth- personal, emotional, and professonal growth, in that order. What this means, in terms of finding the right college, is that you must strive to strike a balance between challenge and comfort. The overall rank of the school, any sort of prestige that the name of the school evokes, and the "value" of a school are all important considerations when deciding where to attend. But these are not as important as enjoying the city and surrounding area where the school is located, being surrounding by people that are different than those from high school, and remaining open to changes in major. Find a school that has strong academic programs that fulfill any interest of the potential student, is in a comfortable area for the student, and introduces them to new types of people. These will allow the student to grow into the graduate that they aspire to become.

Students: research careers and schools. My high school choices were narrowly focused upon my assumption that because I loved animals, if I chose and did well in science , I could easily become a veterinarian. Therefore, I selected a college with a great veterinary school. College classes soon made me discover that veterinarians have a deep understanding of the molecular level workings of animals, much more than I wanted to pursue. Researching this would have resulted in me choosing another school or another major earlier. Parents: plan ahead financially. Aid and scholarships are available but becoming harder to get and do not cover all of the ever-increasing college costs. Accept the fact that because of this, you, as a parent who is supporting you child's college choice, may have to do what my mom, a single parent with no aid from anyone, has been forced to do: come out of retirement at age sixty-two and go back to work when she would prefer to be relaxing and enjoying the fruits of her previous labors. Students: do your best and explore the many new and wonderful things being offered you! Parents: do your best to remain objective and sane!

When choosing a school...VISIT VISIT VISIT! Speak with multiple current students at the school and ask them about where they live, what they do for fun, how they balance social life and schoolwork, the campus food, etc. etc. etc. Stick around on campus for a few days, go to a bar, attend a cultural event, eat at the cafeteria, attend a lecture. Once you have chosen your school, focus on figuring out a good balance of social and school activities. It is easy to be swept up in the social scene of drinking and partying 5 nights a week and school can get lost in the background. Set a plan early on and stick to it! But on the other hand, don't be afraid to socialize and interact with as many people as possible! Your friends will be constantly changing depending on the activities you get involved in, but if you don't get involved in anything you will miss out on so much! Involve yourself in as much as you can handle. You won't regret it!

My first year of college was the hardest I've ever had to endure. I was positive I chose the right school, but now my parents won't let me leave. My advice is to think about what you really love, whatever it is, school-based or not, and go towards that goal. I had no idea what I wanted in high school, but if I looked at the little things I loved, like urban lifestyles, and diverse settings, the school I'm at now would have been at the bottom of my list, and now I'm forced to make the best of it. For parents, let your child make their own choice. If you force your kids to go somewhere, they will end up like me; a girl with thousands of dollars in debt, and a really bad GPA to show for it because I don't love where I am at. And as for the students, in the end the cliche stands true, do what you love and don't let numbers, figures, and counselors drive your decision. This is the time to find yourself. And don't leave home unless your ready to leave your friends!!!!!!

The most important thing is to VISIT the school, preferably without a parent if possible. This gives you a real sense of what it might be like living there on your own. Narrow your finals choices to within 5-6 schools for an easier choice. Money can seem scary, but there are always places to find more. Don't let a great school scare you away because of the price tag. Be prepared to WORK hard, because that is why you're in school. But another important aspect of college is the socialization experience, where a student learns to be independent and create friendships that will last forever.

Look into EVERY single possible school that you could possibly want to go to. Do not underestimate where you can get in because it doesn't hurt to try. Also, I really don't think you can base where you want to go based on statisitics, so the best way is to visit your schools of choice and try and network with people. That way, you can have people tell you what they think about the school and even give you a full tour of the school.

Make sure that your child feels good about the school they're planning to attend. Also, make sure that they have a back up major that is in line with curricla offered at the school.

Don't pay for a name on a degree, especially with this economy

Do the right thing for you and your family. Finances matter, if you can't afford it don't have the financial burden!

When choosing a college, but sure to connect with as many individuals at the college as possible, be it students, admissions counselors, or professors. Don't be afraid to as many and very specific questions about the program or major you are considering. Try to find out about the ups and downs of the day to day life of a student of that school. Always seek out the truth and not just what the school wants you to hear. Try to find a school that doesn't treat education too much like a business. A school that is too concerned with money or with its reputation will easily lose sight of the needs of the students who are already enrolled. When you do choose and enroll in a school , don't let your school work get away from you for the sake of your social life. But don't kill yourself over your grades. Invest in the friendships you make in college, as these are some of the people you will hopefully be in touch with for the rest of your life.

I bellieve that I'm in a great position to give advice, because I have now completed my four years at a Big 10 institution and can look back on my experience. To parents, I say guide your children to make the best decisions every chance they get. Remind them to go to every class, study for every test, do every homework assignment. Tell them that weekends are meant for friends and fun, because life isn't worthwhile otherwise. Teach them to treat others as they want to be treated, and that will provide them with the best outlook on life. To students, I say this: listen to your heart. If something doesn't feel right, it's not. Remember your parents are smarter than you. Work hard, play harder, but really....work hard. It will pay off in the long run. Involve yourself in everything you can and try new things on a daily basis. New food, cultures, races...everything will teach you something valuable. Apply for internships early, and use the resources on campus to help you. Remember, these are the only four years of your life you can live life as an undergraduate.

Every college has their pro's and con's. One of the important things about finding the "right" college, aside from being able to suit your academic needs, is to be able to find one that satisfies your social and personal needs as well. School doesn't have to be all work and no play. This is the time in your life where you may just find the friends you want to keep in your life forever and/or maybe even the love of your life. Go visit every college you're thinking of attending and get a feel for what it's like to go there. Go with your instinct--chances are you're probably right.

Realize that these four years define what you are going to be for the rest of your life. Choose a place where you see your potential being used the fullest.

You need to decide what type of school is right for you. Every school is different. Some important things to consider are the school's academic strengths, the size of the school/classes, quality of faculty, quality of labs/classrooms/facilities, and the geographical location. You want to attend a university that is well know for what you plan to be studying in order to find a god job after college. Some people don't like large schools while others would feel bored at a small school. Class size and student body population are important things to consider and everyone likes something different. You have to find what's right for you. Obviously, the quality of faculty, labs, classrooms, and other facilities will help stimulate your quest for knowledge. Sometimes the right teacher or class environment can make even the toughest class bearable. Another thing to consider is geography and location. Can you handle the cold? The hot? Do you want to be close to home, family, friends? Will attending school near a beach be too distracting? Do you want to get away from home and experience something new?

When deciding where to attend college it is important to look at the students interests, not what their parents think is best. It is important to research different sized schools and schools is different areas to see what type of college you think works with your personality. If you are big into sports, look into schools with big sports programs. If you do not like huge lecture classes, then look into smaller schools. It is important to make visits to colleges you think you are interested in because that is the only way you will be able to experience that school. Once you make a decision on what school is right for you, it is important to find different clubs or activities that interest you. This will help you meet new people and help you stay involved in your school. Keep you door open in your dorm when you first move in and try to make friends in your dorm. The most important thing is to make sure you don't lose sight of your goals and your passions when you get to college. Remember that everyone is trying to make new friends when they first get to school.

Don't worry about the future too much, but find a place that fits YOU. If you're unsure about what you want to do, find a place with more opportunity that you know what to do with. Be yourself and let your true interests guide you. Remember that it's your education and this is the chance to really explore the world around you and learn on your own terms before you need to worry about a paycheck. Don't worry too much about job training, but don't forget about it either. You're here to learn so keep yourself open to all information and opportunity. Always ask a lot of questions. Have fun!

When it comes to finding the right college, I would advice parents and students to take into account aspects such as financial aid, campus safety, campus accesibility, faculty and staff members. Also It is important to know the size of the average class in the instituion that one wants to attend. I would advice parents to take an active role in their children's education. In order to be an important emotional and psychological support, parents have to be aware of the difficulties and needs that their children face throughout college. In addition to that, parents are in a better position to demand changes, if neccesary, in the educational institutions. Students can make the most of their college experience if they allow themselves to learn outside the classroom. College is an excellent place to know people who are succesful in their respective fields and can also provide a great deal of insight and advices. Interships, research experiences, jobs, clubs and volunteering are ideal activities to enjoy, learn and discover about ourselves and the paths we want to take in life.