University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

You'll know when a college fits you. Make sure you visit campus and really get a feel for it. Try and imagine living there in all seasons! As for making the most of the college experience, enjoy everything. College flies by so quickly so emerse yourself in things and remember them. College can be fun but you have to work hard too!

I would tell parents and students to visit the schools before deciding. Not only visit but try to attend some of the classes and come for a visit when classes are in session just to get a feel for what the university has to offer. Also, dont get discouraged by a large campus because it gets so much smaller once you get there and meet people.

College is an exciting time for young adults to use their talents to develop into an adult and fully expand on their abilities. A prospective student should always choose a school for himself or herself, no matter who is persuading him or her otherwise. He or she will be spending 4 years of his or her life at this place and it should be a time for enjoyment as well as academic achievement. First or all, choose the college that will create the most opportunities for the student?s future, since scholarship is ultimately the reason for college. Look at regional and national rankings in your program as well as where recent graduates have gone on to work. After narrowing the selection, look for opportunities that strike the student as entertaining. Find schools that have a large range of activities to perform, including both those that the student enjoys and that sound intriguing. On a visit to the campus, make sure it fits the current and future situation. Is there proper public transportation? Affordable on-campus residences? And most importantly, answer whether or not the student will be happy and enjoy the best times of his or her life.

Prepare in high school as much as you can academically.

In order to pick the right college, make sure that the student is sure what size school he/she wants. If a school is too big for a specific person, they will feel lost and unimportant. If a school is too small, they may feel like they have too much competition and pressure to succeed and to "beat out" the other students. In terms of money, make sure that you apply for financial aid if you are planning on sending your student/going to a school that is more expensive than you think you can afford. Money should never stop someone from getting a quality education. Once at college, GO OUT AND MAKE FRIENDS!!!

I would sy that students need to take their first year and even just their first semester seriously. So many students get excited to finally be on their own and their grades reflect it during their first year. I would suggest taking a year off before starting college if you are feeling burnt out on school. It will help you to learn more and try harder once you choose to go.

Visit all of the schools who are thinking about attending. Envision actually living on campus and what it might be like calling that school home. Make sure they offer enough activities to become involved in. Look for schools that encourage and help fund student run organizations. Take into consideration the variety of curriculum offered. Make sure they provide alternatives to your chosen degree program. Most importantly, look for a place where you feel at home.

I believe the most important thing to do when looking for a college is to visit each and every place your plan on applying to. The place you choose wil be the place you live for the next four, or more, years, and it is important that you feel comfortable in the setting you choose. Also, it's ok to not know exactly what you want to study when you first enter college. The greatest thing about college is that there are classes available in almost every subject, and being able to take different and interesting courses will help you the most in choosing your focus. And for parents, just support your children with lots of encouragement. Go on visits with them, and offer your opinions and concerns, but also remember that this is a scary time for your children, and the most important thing you can provide for them is enthusiasm in the choices the make. By visiting with parents and keeping an open mind, I believe that anyone can find a place they can call their new home.

Find a community you want to be a part of before you go to college. I choose a sport and artistic community that I thought would be friendly and benificial to my time at school. Being a part of those communities gave me the support I needed to get through classes and survive the hardest college experience, GRADUATION!

Become involved early in your college career by choosing any group or activity that aligns with your interests. Finding friends and building a resume is all about investing time. Although it may be difficult to know your ultimate attitudes and beliefs early in college, align yourself with people that will support your success. Those that become your friends will determine your housing, academic and social experiences so try to be intentional early in college.