University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

You have to really know what size of a school you want to go to. Even if a school is nationally recognized as a academically superior, if it doesn't fit your needs it will still not be your optimum school.

Dont just go to any college! When making your decision make sure you go to the college first so that you can get a feel for it yourself. Dont just go off what other people say or what your parents want. If you want to have the best college experience make sure you get your grades so when you go out you can enjoy it more and you wont feel depressed!

Pick the college that your first instinct tells you too. There will be many things that you think are very important to stress over but in the long run all the classes and all the housing situations will settle themselves. The most important thing is to feel comfortable at the school that you are at. The best advice is to not sweat the small stuff because learning how to take care of your own academics, finances, and social life is what makes the college experience so great. Growing up requires a person to take big risks, and then capalizing on those risks when they pay off. Making yourself sucessful and getting the most out of your college experience means letting go a little and opening up to the world that is out there for you to enjoy!

Pick a place that fits you. Do not just go somewhere where your friends go. Be your own person.

Know what you want from your school before you begin your search, specifically what size school suits you

It's ok if you don't know what you want. Visiting the schools you are interested in helps a lot in figuring out which one you feel comfortable with. Going to a school or even looking at pictures can give you a feel for the campus, and feeling welcome and at home is the most important thing. After that, it is good to see if there is the right kind of study area you want to enroll in. If you don't know, then it's good to think about campuses that have a lot of options for undecided students or ones who want to change majors at some point. Also, applying to top rated school is great, but keeping backups is a good idea. So, looking for the right kind of academics for you is always important in choosing a school, but it is just as important to be able to picture yourself living and having fun and being happy on the campus and with the other students you'll be sharing your college years with. It's fun to go searching and finally choose a school that is your best choice, so stay calm and good luck!

The best way for parents and students to find the right college is to research. By going on college visits, campus tours, and orientation days one can really get a good feel for what the college has to offer. Researching the college's website can provide loads of information from majors all the way to extracurriculars or housing. By writing down the the pros and cons of each school one is interested it, it easy to see which school is the best choice. A student will get the most out of his or her college experience by getting involved on campus. While this can be overwhelming in the beginning, it will pay vast dividends in the end. The point of going to college to start a career path. There are so many organizations on campus that can really help one with that process by providing the tools and resources that can be carried all through life. Quite simply, a student will get out of college what he or she puts in to it. Through preparation, college will provide the opportunities for anyone to be successful.

I would encourage students to spend 24 hours with a college student, known or unknown, in order to feel what it is like to be a college student, through a college student's life. Seeing the college campus through the eyes of a tour guide only leaves the potential student with a biased point -of-view. Ask real students in your major what they think about their program at that college. Strive for the real answers, not the typical tour guide answers. When a student arrives at college, take opportunities as they come to you and look for interesting opportunities to engage in. College is all about exploring things outside your comfort zone, in terms of meeting new people, getting involved in extracurriculars, attending social or cultural events, and overcoming fears. Always be open to trying new things because you'll never know if you're missing out on a new favorite hobby or new favorite person. Live the college experience by getting to know the world around you. You have four fast years so make every day count.

Finding the right college is crucial in furthering your education. Students shouldn't attend a college because they're expected to or because that's where their parents want them to go. Parents should be supportive and open to college options. While at school, students shouldn't cut their parents out of their lives. They should call home once or twice a week, at least. Visiting home when the opportunity arises is great! You get a home cooked meal, your own bed to sleep in, and moms to wait on you! Who would pass that up. If a student lives at home, their parents should be considerate of the fact that their kids are in college and adults and have lives in college.

If you are unsure about what you want to study, look at schools that are strong in many different fields (like the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign). Also, look at everything the school has to offer: academics, extracurriculars, research, etc.