University of Southern California Top Questions

For me it comes down to three things: How will the college help you grow personally, how will it help you grow professionally and what lasting advantages will you have as a graduate? USC was the perfect fit for me, and as an alum I'm in excellent company. Good luck!

There will be no right way to find a college: it is just a feeling. I remember the first time I walked on the grounds of USC. I knew I belonged here. It is all about feeling that you can make it at a place for four or more years. No one can tell you if the place is right or not.

I would suggest that parent's do not force their opinions on their child. My mom didn't want me to go to a school so far away from home but when she saw the look on my face when I walked on campus she knew I had found my new home. Be prepared for the adjustment to be hard but don't blame the school. Going to college is a big step and it takes time to love it. Also, visit the campus before making your final decision. Yeah, you may like the sports or academics, or even the prestige, but does it feel right?

Finding the right college is a question: What will a college can do for you? Prestige is nothing if the cost is apathetic professors and social negligence. An excellent view of the ocean is not helpful if your university is such in name only. To pick the right college, I?d suggest making a list of personal requirements. If you find a school that meets every requirement, congratulations; if not, compromise and reconsider. As logical as this process seems, there is also a time when you might follow a gut instinct, go to that school that will put you $70,000 in debt, and still feel good about yourself. When you know what you want and what is important, not following your gut feeling is something you may regret. I?d say the key to a good college experience is to leave your dorm room as much as possible. In college, you will have opportunities to join clubs, meet people who are in the same position in life that you are, and take part in once in a lifetime events. Never neglect schoolwork, but always neglect, say, the television. It will still exist in four years; these opportunities will not.

The best advice that I can give about finding the right college is to take the time to visit the school and talk to students who are currently attending. It may also be best to talk to students who are not employed by the school, just to ensure that you are not receiving an edited or scripted responses. The college years, for many, are times of self-discovery and growth. To make the most of this time, it is best to keep an open mind. You will meet people who have come from diverse walks of life. Take the opportunity and the time to get to know some of these people. They will help you to discover who you are as well. Another important thing to realize in college is that you may become frustrated or want to give up at times. Most schools have resources that can help you to overcome many of these struggles. Once you get through that time of doubt, however, you will realize how much you have grown from the experience.

When I began the application process five years ago there were a great amount of questions that I had for my advisors and for myself. My biggest question focused around which university would offer the most socially and professionally adjusted atmosphere. I needed to decide this in order to obtain an education that would have the greatest impact on my college experience and then later on my professional life. With that I applied to a fair amount of schools in various locations with diverse educational backgrounds. This gave me multiple options and great perspective. So with that, the advice that I would share with any individual who is beginning his or her collegiate journey would be to keep their options open. Having more options to chose from may seem difficult short-term, but in the long-run it gives anyone the ability to, inevitably, make a sound and well developed decision. That is what helped me and I still believe that it was one of my best and most important decision to this day.

I would encourage students to put school as their priority in order to flourish and succeed. By stating to "school" not only am I referring to the academics, but extra-curricular activities on and off campus - get to know and love your surrroundings. Learn to feel at home away from home. Learn to feel comfortable and confident with the people you know and the places you go. Create friendships that have deep bonds which will last a lifetime. Don't be afraid to try new things or pursue different goals. Set high expectations for yourself without fearing failure. Live life for today so that you won't regret tomorrow. I would encourage parents to give their children, who are now young adults, freedom of choice. Allow your children to make decisions and make mistakes. Encourage them to reach outside of their comfort zones in order to find themselves so that they'll become excellent contributing members of society. Allow them to make their own expectations - their own assumptions. Tell them that you're proud of them, and always remind them of your love - regardless of their failures and successes.

Focus on what the student wants to do in the future, not what you want them to be.

In all reality, college is just a means to an end. For me, it isn't the best time of my life (it is fun because I enjoy learning). It is a time where I learn what I want and need for my future. The people you meet may or may not be life long friends. The teachers you have might remember you later on, but might not. For me, the right college wasn't the one with the best sounding social life, but the one that would allow me to do the most things with my life after college.

The best advice to parents and/or students about finding the right college is: * Research thoroughly the colleges that offer Majors that are of interest to the student; an active college alumni association will help find jobs after graduation. * Be passionate about what you study and what career you will ultimately choose for your life's work versus choosing a Major to 1) please someone else or 2) guarantee financial stability. * Get involved in campus life and community and learn about other cultures. My school offers the best curriculum taught by industry experts in my Major but it is pro-community service as well. * Determine what your contribution to society will be - - starting at home. * Don't be deterred by your socio-economic status; pursue avenues of financial aid and never let naysayers dissuade you from getting the education you deserve. * Set goals. Consult with school educators to help you develop a plan of action to achieve your goals. * Believe in yourself and your unique abilities. * Have faith and remember that the struggles we endure to reach our goals are what truly build mental, physical and spiritual character. Knowledge is information but wisdom is enlightenment. Turn your light bulb ON!

Apply early to this school for scholarships

The best way to find out more about a school is to experience it first-hand. Visit the campus, talk with professors and students, and sit in on a class. Meet others who are studying what you're thinking of studying. Find out what clubs interest you. Imagine being at the school for 4 years, or however long your degree will take. This hands-on interaction is the only way you'll be able to know for yourself just how good the school is for you. You should ask existing students your questions. Don't be shy. Whatever concerns you, whatever you think of, just ask them and be open-minded. Try not to let pre-conceived notions about the school cloud your vision. There are lots of college reviews out there, but none can compare to your own insight. Think of where you'll spend the most time, and spend time there, seeing what the environment is like. It might not be fun to sit in on classes, but you'll be taking a lot of classes if you end up attending the school. See if you like the ambience, and pick the school that's best for you.

Applying to and choosing a college is not easy and not always fun, but it can be. My best advice to you is to physically visit the colleges that have programs you're interested in. I completely changed my mind about schools after being on campus. Talk to students when you're there. Tour guides are always helpful, but try to talk to other students on campus as well. Ask lots of questions. Being a tour guide myself I have heard every question from what dorms are like to how many windows are on campus. Don't be shy! That applys to when you actually get to college as well. Introduce yourself to people and ask dorm-mates to go to the cafeteria with you. Everyone there is looking to make friends. If you take the initiative, trust me it will pay off and people will appreciate that they didn't have to be the ones to start the conversation. College is amazing, so do your research, visit campuses, and hopefully one day you'll be at the school of your dreams!

In terms of finding the perfect college, make sure to visit different college campuses so you can explore and develop a criteria for what you like and dislike. It is also important to keep your options open during your college search. Over the course of my three years in a university, I have observed other students' study habits to see how I could modify my own to better succeed in class. In doing so, I have learned that it is beneficial to research the professor beforehand, getting tips on how to best succeed in their course. Another point to know is that success comes in knowing your class standing and setting high goals for yourself. By keeping track of your grade in the class, you can determine what you need to do to get an A. In striving for the A, always know that the professors are there to help and desire for your success. Establish healthy relationships with your professors early because, later, you will have a pool of potential professors to choose from for recommendations. Lastly, participating in a study abroad program will teach you to embrace other cultures and truly appreciate your own blessings.

To the parents: Don't try to force a school on your kids. It's not where you will be spending 4 or more years, but it's where they will be spending all those years. The the students: Try anything and everything new that you can and are willing to try. College is about expanding everything about your life. Take advantage of every social opportunity that you can. Meet as many people as you can. I moved from Texas to California without knowing anyone in California. Becuase I branched out of my comfort zone I made really good friends and have tried some cool things. Don't be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. In fact, step way out because some awesome things can result. Live it up to, becuase these are the best years or your life. Just be sure that you can balance your school work and your social life, because being to involved in either individually generally is not a good outcome.

Find a college that fits your personality. You will make friends wherever you go, but if you don't like the atmosphere, you won't enjoy your experience. I would suggest somewhere away from home. College is a time to grow up, and the only way you can do that is without parents. If your parents require you to stay close to home, at least stay in a dorm your freshman year. You get to meet so many people from all walks of life, and you make friends that will stay with you the rest of your life. Be involved in campus activities, Sports, Greek-life, etc. In college, it's not always about what you know, but who you know. So get out there and make connections, meet as many people as you can. It will help you out in the long run. Good Luck!

NEVER DOUBT YOURSELF.

I would tell them that in order to pick the right school, it is very important to visit each school that has your major and field of study and stay there for a couple days to see if it feels like some place that you could live, work, and study for the next four years. Also I would tell the students that you should meet as many people as possible to build your network of friends. You will never again in our life live in a dorm situation and it is a great networking tool.

Parents: Let your child choose their college. At the end of the day they're going, not you. Be supportive , especially of your child's major. This all new to us! We need time to decide what we eant to do with the rest of our lives PLEASE talk about drugs and alcohol. It's college. It happens. A LOT. And your child needs to hear it from you because at most schools there is no one else to hear it from. Students: Your parent's advice is VERY valuable but you need to pick your college and your major based on what YOU want and no one else. Research a school, visit, (without your parents too!) and most importantly talk to kids who go there so you can get the dirt on what it's REALLY like. Realize you WILL have to work hard. Grades do matter. And there is no one to force you to do your homework and go to class. Don't get me wrong, socializing is important too, but it's your responsibility to find the right balance between work and play. If you do, get ready for the best four years of your life!