University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

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Listen to your heart!

Talk to people that go to the school. There is no better way to know what a school is like than to talk to the students. Colleges will give so you much information to try and wow you but its not going to be helpful if you don't know what your're looking for.

Dear Future College Student, You have a big decision to make and you are probably wondering how to do it. There are a few important factors you should consider about your potential school: Tuition, Location, Athletics, and Prestige. You should research each school you are interested in and find out about all 4 of these factors, and then consider which factors are most imporant to you and your family. If you are looking for prestige, stick with Yale. If you want athletics, try a Big 10 school. Once you have chosen a school and are moved in for the year, you should focus on making yourself feel at home. An important and overlooked step is decorating your dorm. Also, it is helpful to join clubs or fraternities/sororities to give yourself built-in friends. Having a ton of people to say hi to as you pass them on your way to class will definitely brighten your day. Also, keep a dry-erase board calendar by your desk so you can keep on top of your work and make sure you remember to do everything you need to do. Good luck with your decision and take advantage of the education!

While academics are a core part of college, it is important to find out what other things your school has to offer. My biggest piece of advice is to GET INVOLVED as soon as possible. It helps you find out who you are, and it helps you get to where you want to be. By involving yourself on campus you are able to find your niche and turn your college into a HOME. Being involved with causes you believe in gives you a purpose outside of studying and helps you make a variety of friends. Outside of being involved, take advantage of everything that your school has to offer. Many colleges have outstanding student acting, choral and dance troupes. They also offer smaller concerts for lower prices. Take in as much culture as you can, and always be willing to step outside of your comfort zone. If it sounds fun, you should try it. College is an opportunity to experience things like studying abroad, joining a skiing team, or rallying for a cause you feel strongly about. Take advantage of every opportunity that you can!

I would definatly visit the college first. It is also helpfull to know someone who goes there or went there to talk to. Find out what makes this college more special compared to other choices. It is also important to check out the department of interest. Some schools have better departments than others. Another obvious consideration is the cost but I don't think this should be the number one decision maker. Education is a precius, untangible, rewarding and most importantly priceless. Another choice to consider is difficulty of the school. I personally would consider choosing the "smartest" school because like I said education is priceless. It is an unexplainable feeling one gets when he or she realizes how much knowledge they've encompassed. The last but not least aspect to consider is social life. Are you interested in fraternity/sorority life? Then join a school who is big on that. If not, then you might want to consider a smaller school. Greek life dominates such schools and if you are not into that those people will irritate you. Big schools are a lot of fun and out of the world experience, but for some its not the best choice.

Pick a college that fits you academically and the rest will follow. People get so stressed about picking between 2 or 3 colleges that are essentially the same thing. College is a big decision, but it's less hard to make the wrong choice than people think. Also, come prepared for the environment you're entering. If you're going to be a partier, plan accordingly. If you hate the party scene, even if you're not participating, don't consider a large university. People are always going to drink, do drugs, have sex, and all those other terrible things. Don't freak out. Be aware that it happens and move on.

I would advise parents and students to make a list the student's junior year, and visit top school choices. The schools should have a solid base in the area that the student wishes to study. Then make visits to each school. If the schools vary in size, choose what environment the student felt most comfortable in, and be sure to visit the schools while classes are in session to truly get a feel of campus. Before college, try to find out as much about yourself as possible; what are your interest, goal, hobbies, so that when you get to school, you are able to jump right in with involvement. One piece of advice: if you are hestitant about joining or participating in a college experience, just go for it! Otherwise you'll never know what you're missing.

Ask students who attend the school to see what it is really like. I think orientations glamorize schools and leave out a lot of the negative. Get involved as often as possible with as many different groups as possible, especially academic or major related groups. Internships are incredibly important, and take the opportunity even if the internship can be costly, because it will help the job hunt.

As a student who looks back on his college experience and sees missed oportunities, I would suggest getting out there and trying everything at least twice. I say twice because maybe once isn't enough. I look back as a senior on my three previous years at the University of Illinois and I cannot figure out where the time has gone. There was a multitude of opportunities to join organizations that I liked and was excited about, but never got around to. So the best advice I can give is to go out, join some clubs, and make some friends because you only get one shot at it. You have the rest of your life to lay around and watch TV, but you will mostly remember the times you had just living the college lifestyle. To this I would also add, when looking to attend a college, make sure you go visit. Don't just walk around a campus over Thanksgiving break though, that's not visiting. Go to a class, interact with people, find out how people with similar interests as yourself like the campus. College only last a brief time, use the most of it.