University of Iowa Top Questions

When looking for a college, its important to choose one that has more than just 1 major that is imporant to you. You are very likely to change your mind at least once about your major! Its good to consider how comfortable you will be if you have to live far away from home. Don't choose a school that is on the other side of the USA if you can't stand being that far from you family for a semester at a time! You should keep your own personality type in mind too, because some people are suited to a huge, busy school, and others cant handle a small school. Remember that while tuition doesnt always determine the quality of the school, but it can make a different in student amneties.

VISIT!! This is the most important part, the campus may be much different than appears online or in catalogs and the people may not be at all who you expect. Visiting also allows for you to take advantage of viewing the social life on campus to determine if that fits what you want while at school. All of the departments that are important can be visited and pros and cons based on your preferences can be weighed based on personal feelings. It is much better to know what to expect before you agree than afterwords and find out that the school does not fit your life.

stay focused

In order to find the right college, students should know what (s)he wants in their college experience. If they want to meet lots of people, a bigger school is more appropriate. If they want more interaction with their professors/TAs, a smaller school is more beneficial. Everyone's needs is different. College visits are important. If you're planning on being at a school for about 4 years, you have to like the campus because that's where you will be walking, traveling, meeting people all with in those years. In addition to that, talk to the school's current students. Ask them a questions how their transition to their first year of college was, how they like their classes, what's the most challenging part, etc. The universities always do an excellent job enhancing student's college experience. There are always a varierty of groups one can join & these groups always provide something fun. A good college experience would include, doing well in school (this is done by going to class consistantly & doing the work), meeting people (especially in the dorms), & trying new things that you normally wouldn't have the opportunity to do back at home.

Apply everywhere! You never know what kind of financial aid you may recieve.

Finding the right college really depends on the prospective students' taste. If they want to be some where big then they should go to a bigger school, otherwise they should try and find a small one. Whatever it is that they choose they are going to have many opportunities t make the most of thier college experience. There will be clubs, athletics, or many different social events that the students will be able to get involved in. No matter what they do decide to do, they need to remember that they are there for their academics and their school work should always come first.

Make sure to do a thorough campus visit lasting at least a couple of days. Meet students, find out how to get involved and meet people on campus. Find some sort of support group through dorm meetings, campus meetings and clubs. Don't get lost and spend 4 years feeling alone.

The "right" college can mean different things for different students. I chose the University of Iowa for is medical program, particularly it's physician's assistant program, ranked #1 in the country. Iowa is also a Big Ten school which is great if you love the college football atmosphere. In choosing the right college you should consider class sizes, sports, academic programs, distance from home, among other factors that you consider important.

Make sure the college fits you the best way it can. Even if there's a school that you like that doesn't have the greatest representation of your major, don't go there. Make sure you go to a University that caters to your needs academically. Be sure to challenge yourself as much as possible, you'll get more out of it that way. Also, join organizations, clubs, etc. and make the most out of living in the dorms while you live there. That's where you'll find friends for the remainder of college and sometimes even life. Be sure you participate in school-sponsored events as they are usually really good will help enhance your experience. Get involved in some sort of Intramural sport. Even if you're not that great, it's a blast!! Just make sure you choose the school that's right for you!

Make sure you're comfortable with the surrounding areas. If you want to be close to family, do it. If not, get away and make a new start....just don't lose yourself.

College is an experience for the student, so parents should support their child in whatever decision they make when it comes to college. As far as making the right choice for a future college student, make sure that you visit the colleges you are interested in, and some that you may not be as interested in. Make sure you ask a lot of questions, get to know some people on the campus, and do some research on your own about what the school is known for. After collecting all of that information, your decision should be made based on the campus that you feel the most at home at. You don't want to spend the first semester of college hating the school you are attending, just to transfer at the end of that first semester.

Don't put too much weight on what magazines and review guides necessarily say about the college as far as academic excellence, and don't concern yourself at all with going to a "prestigious" school. Make sure that the place that you decide to attend is somewhere that can offer you the classes you want to take and the degree you want to pursue while putting a lot of importance on whether or not you can see yourself being happy in the city in which the college or university is located.

Visit the college's you are looking into first before you make a final decision. Sit in on a class and walk around campus. See a dorm room.

Don't just go on a college visit during the day and take a tour. To get the full experience go visit for a weekend, and maybe go to an athletic event to see the student life. Also, if you know somebody that attends that college, stay with them for a night or two to really see what it's like to go to that particular school. You need to make sure that you'll not only be happy with the curricular side of the college, but especially the extra-curricular aspect. You're going to be at this school for 4+ years and you're going to want to make sure it's the right fit for you.

Have fun, but stay focused. Get good grades and more importantly get to know your professors. They have a lot of life knowledge and can answer many of your questions.

Make sure you have fun at college, but more importantly start your freshman year off right and maintain a good GPA.

For the college experience to happen in a great way, there has to be a happy medium between the parents and student. It is hard to find a college that the student will enjoy and the parents will also enjoy paying for! The college process is a difficult task but once everyone finds the school they will enjoy the most, it is easy from there. Always apply for scholarships and always try your best in school and life will take you from there!

Look for a college that fits you perfectly. The location, how big the school is. How difficult and competitive it is. The cost. The schools willingness to help you with anything you need. Whether it is a louder school known to party or a quieter school. The resources that can be obtained around the campus.

Take a look at everything

In high school, it is hard to know what your passion is, or what you want your major to be in college. So, when choosing your college, you should go to one that would offer an array of different courses and a campus that is in the right location and environment that you would feel most comfortable with. It is always smart to visit an array of college campuses, and speaking with an academic advisor, or with a student that is already attending that college whom could give you advice about what to expect from that university. Also, speaking with your high school advisor, whom knows your academic capabilities and understands what things you like/dislike could help you target specific schools that are right for you. By speaking with your high school advisor senior year, as well as a college counselor and someone that is an upper classmen at the college(s) you are looking at, you will get a better understanding as to what the college has to offer you, or what to expect. This will help you determine the college of your choice, as well as a way to gain advice on the college life.