University of Southern California Top Questions

Visit a bunch of schools and cities, go for the place that just feels right - you'll know it when you set foot on campus. Try not to concern yourself with reputation, etc. Go where the people have the kind of fun you want to have, learn the kind of stuff you want to learn, and lead the kind of life you want to lead.

To find the right college for you, make sure you consider all the aspects of a school. A large part of this is where the school is located. Maybe you want to stay close to home or maybe you want to go across the country. Keep in mind, though, that a school 20 minutes from your hometown can be as far away as you make it. Really think about a school's academics, social scene, etc. as a whole and decided on that, and don't just focus on one positive or negative aspect. To make the most of your college experience, just let go and get involved! Join your school's Greek system, or if that's not for you, join a different club or organization on campus that you are interested in. You can even do both! College will go by longer than you want it to if you just sit and study every day. Studying is important, but what college is really about is learning about yourself, and life, and meeting new people and learning from your relationships with them. Just remember: you can't find the important things in life in a textbook.

pick specific things you are looking for, such as location, size, prevalence of greek life and sports, etc. then look for the college that fits best with the specific atttributes you are looking for.

Try lots of new things in college, meet as many different types of people as you can, but focus on academics.

Finances do not have to be the decision maker when you're choosing a college. A lot of colleges are willing to help prospective students out financially. Go to the college of your dreams. You only have four years, and you don't want to waste them at a decent, but afforable college. When you've worked your tail off in high school to get into a good college, money should be the last thing that keeps you from going there. The best way to enjoy your college experience is to be yourself. You won't have fun if you're worried about what others think of you. And you won't have fun if you allow others to change the way you think of yourself. No matter how unique you fancy yourself to be, chances are very good that there are going to be people at your college who listen to the same weird music and watch the same weird movies that you do. Find those people and befriend them. Don't be afraid of people who are different from you. Befriend them too, and learn things you didn't know. But don't change yourself.

Follow your gut. You can mold any decision you make into the right decision and, if you can't, you can transfer! Follow your gut.

In choosing the right college, I would advise students to listen to their instinct and intuition, as those will guide you to the right campus. A student should do their research, but ultimately, divine intervention will come into play, and you will end up where you are supposed to be. I do not regret my decision because I went with my instinct and knew that my path would lead me to USC. Academically, socially, and personally, USC was the perfect fit for me, and my research and intuition told me that. Once in school, live your life like there is no tomorrow. I cannot stress how important it is to try everything and meet everyone you can. College has produced the best times of my life and some of the most important resources and relationships I could ever imagine, and I attribute that to having no regrets and wanting to live my life to the fullest. Ultimately, it is your life, and nobody elses, so make the most of it by going to every class, meeting every professor, and talking to every interesting person. In the end, you will come out a more worldly person than ever before!

When you are at university, Go out and take advantage out of everything you can. Dont be afriad to go through doors which you are unsure of, just by taking that first step you have already acheived and grown. Learn about yourself as a student, how you learn or how you can be a better student. Learn to organize your time and be self-efficient.

Go visit the college and stay overnight away from your parents. That's the best way to get a feel for what the college is really like. Go to orientation, meet people, make friends. It makes going into college so much easier. And if you don't like the college you've chosen, don't be afraid to transfer. Take on internships, join clubs, go Greek. Do as much typical college stuff you can think of. It only comes once!

remember to visit each school you are applying for

Go with your gut instinct, and live it to the fullest. After all, college only happens once.

Be excited! This is going to be one of the best times of your life. You are going to meet so many new people and really discover who you are and what you want in life. Take tours of the campuses you are really interested in and try to talk to current students at that university to get some first hand insight and advise. Take advantage of all the resources your university offers. Seek help if you should ever need it, your professors are getting paid to help YOU! Get involved in whatever makes you happy, I was a choir nerd in high school and now I'm in an a cappella group in college; there is something for everyone, no matter what you are interested in. It really helps to be involved in something you enjoy because school gets pretty stressful, so it's nice to have something else to do that is pure enjoyment. Succeeding in college is all about balance, you will learn to balance school, work, extracurriculars, and you social life. Enjoy every minute of college because it flies by, then you're out into the real world!

Visit the university, ask the students around about the things that you are mainly looking for in a university, look online to see what the university is known/famous for (both academically and socially).

I would advise all prospective students to any university to visit their top choices in universities that they are applying to and make sure to not only take a campus tour and meet people from your area of study, but also to arrange a meeting with at least one current student to learn "insider" information about the school. This was the most valuable contributing factor towards my college decision.

To students: The most helpful thing in deciding on a school is to go visit. It is better if you know an older student who already goes there so you are able to submerge yourself into the life of the school. Also, make sure that your academic abilities are up to par with the schools expectations for its students. It is easy to get caught up in social activites and build up a hard work load your first year in college. Pick a school that feels right, if you visit you can usually tell if you would fit in by looking around at the students and their activities on campus. Every school has a niche for every student as long as you try your best to integrate into your surroundings. Good luck!

Just make sure that the school provides good enough fo an education and that you really want to be there. The most important thing is to enjoy being at the school you're at and have a good balance of fun and work.

Talk to other students that are accepted in your year - it really gives you a feel for what your campus atmosphere is going to be like. Also try to be involved in at least 3 clubs, you meet so many new friends through it.

Passion is the ultimate motivator, the reason behind a person's strength, will or resolve. Think of the athlete who endures incredible pain, only to cross the finish line with a sudden burst of energy in defiance of every odd leveled against him or her. That is passion. Orconsider the patient who withstands unimaginable agony, never abandoning the promise of recovery and, ultimately, redemption. That is passion. But, passion is not merely heroic dignity amidst suffering; it is something more elusive. Passion drives a person, not for the bestowal of awards or publicity, but for a reason as timeless as history itself; it is for the betterment of society and the fulfillment of individual ambition. As a junior at USC, my advice to incoming freshmen would be to find a university that breeds individuality. It is in these college campuses where you can truly follow your passions and forgo the criticism that society tends to place on anyone fighting the norm. I would encourage parents to put aside pride and their bias because ultimately college is the opportunity to grow the most. Any impediment inthis natural growth process interms of the student?s unhappiness could prove detrimental in their success.

Look for schools that have certain unique programs and every school has a certain environment and vibe to it so choose one that fits your personality

Apply to schools that you would like to attend. Make sure that the school has many majors so that you can change into a major if you don't like your first one. Money is always an important issue so the parents and students should consider the cost of the school. I don't think it's a good idea to attend a school that will require a student to take out at least $5000 in loans per year. Students can make the most out of their college experience by taking all opportunities that come. If you're curious about something like joining a Filipino group if you're not Filipino, just try it. Don't be afraid to stand out. Always try new things...if you like it, great and if you don't, find something else.