University of Southern California Top Questions

Very simply put, find a college that will make you happy. I truly believe all the other important aspects of finding the right fit in a higher learning institute will follow. After careful research, choose the college at which you can imagine yourself being happy. Don't only focus on prestige and academics. Consider the school's social climate and attitude, your interests and wants, and whether or not a certain college can satisfy your overall experience as a college student. After the application process, remember that a college choosing you is half of the deal. It's about you choosing them. Choose them for how they can enrich your life with happiness and satisfaction as a student and citizen of the world. If you are happy, your college experience will be amazing and fruitful regardless of what you're involved with. If you are happy, that certain college is the one for you.

The college experience isn't easy. There, I said it. It's a sentence many parents and students that are so focused, so entirely consumed by the college acceptance process do not want to hear. But there will always be compromises, letdowns, and a difficult transition period, regardless of whether or not you attends your "dream school." That is a reality that students should prepare themselves for long before they begin the college application process. The most important advice for finding the right school, however, is to be selfish. This process is one of the only, and most important, times that one should be completely selfish. Shed the pressures and desires of society, friends, and family and only look for where you could see yourself happily spending the next four years of your life, because it is you, and not anyone else, that is spending those four years at a university. Once there, remember that the college experience is wholly under your control. Being gay, I was terrified to attend a school that is almost entirely socially dominated by the greek scene. But once I realized the full potential for a great college experience by taking control, I was happy.

When you ask your parents how they knew eachother was "the one", they say they just knew. When you walk onto the campus for the first time, or visit the college's website - you know. You get that feeling that you can't describe to anyone. You don't even want to describe it to anyone! Disregard distance and money in the equation, those things can be easily fixed with plane tickets and financial aid. Just focus on how you felt when you stepped on the campus, those first few moments will tell you everything you need to know. If you are unsure or don't feel that into the school, then tthat college is not the one.

Remember that what you think is your dream school might not be as great as you think it is. It is really up to the student to make the most of his/her experience. You can go to any school and not make an effort to meet people or get involved and obviously will have a bad expreience.

My advice to young, prospective college applicants would be to choose the school that best fits your major. Choose the school that you know will make you happy in the end when you graduate and get your degree. Don't choose a college because ALL your friends are going to same college. Choose the one where you know no one and start a brand new life or should I say beginning. My advice to parents is to be supportive and always be there for your children because they are going to need you throughout their college experience. Choose wisely and make sure you have a back-up plan, meaning apply for as many colleges as possible that way you have other options open to you. Good luck and always remember to dream big! go the distance and never let anyone tell you that you can't! because you know that you can.

Make sure you take the time to go visit the campus and interact with some of the students. If the school atmosphere and people there do not fit you, it could be the worst four years of your life. I don't think many people understand the significance of the choice you make when deciding which school to attend. The school you decide to attend will be on your record (resume) for your entire life, thus it is very important that you go to a school that you will be proud of. Many of the top firms only hire from "prestigious" target schools and thus makes it a lot more accessible to get a good job post-graduation. Talk to people you know who have gone to the school because they know best about the school. That doesn't mean talk to someone who graduated from the school 20 years ago because a lot changes during that time. Ideally, talk to someone who is currently there or recently graduated from that school. Also, make sure that you get more than one perspective on the school because everyones' experiences are different.

Don't be fooled by information sessions and collegiate rankings when picking a school, the best way to know if you fit in a school is to meet the undergraduates and professors that go there and see whether or not they are the type of people you want teaching you and hanging out with you for the next 2/4/6 years. Numbers don't matter as much as a lot of people seem to make them out to be.

We all eventually "find" who we are after a few years of college. Pick the one that you know will make you the person you want to be for the rest of your life. It may be a tough decision but after enough research, it will eventually become clear.

Make the most of your college experience. Get out there and make friends and get involved in everything your college has to offer. Make sure you feel comfortable on campus the moment you get there.

I would suggest that they ignore the price tags while applying to schools, and to apply to as many school that catch their interests. They need to ignore what the choices their high school friends are making because they need to apply and find a college that is well known in their chosen major. If they do not have a major their selection should be based on the school that gives them the most opportunities to select a major in their interests. Once they have been accepted to schools, I would highly suggest doing an "overnight program" or at bare minimum visiting the schools for a tour. You cannot know if you will fit in unless you step foot on that campus and it just feels right. If no schools feel right or if you do not have your heart set on a major, I would suggest doing 1 or 2 years of a community/junior college (saves a ton of money!!!) Finally, when you are at the school, follow your interests and join as many activities that relate to those interests. This is a great way to make connections and to meet amazing groups of friends.

In terms of "finding the right college," I honestly swear by high school college visitation trips because I personally looked up colleges online and made list after list of my expectations; however after visiting the colleges my perspective changed. When I stepped onto USC's campus, and meet the students and faculty, I knew that that was the college I was going to attend! My advice is to start visiting colleges with a high school or with parents freshman or sophomore year at the latest. This will give you a physical goal to work toward rather than just the concept of college, visiting early is especially useful if your first choice school is competitive. My final piece of advice is to contemplate what major you are interested in pursuing because if you go to a school undecided and then happen to pick a major that is not available at your university youre only options would be to transfer or to change your major pick. WHile transferring is a good plan for community college students, it is somewhat of a hassle to transfer from university to university and often times you wind up losing units and taking longer to graduate.

?My philosophy for the classroom is to create as much agony as possible so the only way out is to think?- Dr. Steven Lamy. The first time I heard these words, I was hooked; I knew I had to take Professor Lamy?s class. A year earlier I had stepped onto USC?s campus for the first time and I knew it was the place for me. The environment, the people, the opportunities all added to an overwhelming feeling that this school simply felt right. My advice to you is to go to the place that consistently hits home. Professor Lamy?s words have stuck with me to this day because he was a teacher who blatantly promised to challenge me. That struck a chord and it was something I felt resound throughout my body. It was a confirmation that I felt good being there. It felt wonderful. People often say choose a school for the program or the financial aid package. I say, choose a school based on what feels right to you. If you feel at home- the place where you?re supposed to feel comfortable and in your element- chances are, everything else will fall into place.

I think that students and parents need to look at all the aspects of a college. The decision to go to a particular college is a big decision that has a lasting impact. I think that in order to make the right decision about which college to go to, the student needs to sit down and think about what he or she wants in a school, compile a list of schools that match the list and then visit those schools if at all possible. Also combined with the visit or by itself, research, research, research and more research. It is very important to make sure that you research your college options so that an informed decision can be made. Once you get to college it is important to get involved in extra-curricular activities and other professional organizations that will help you in your career. If you want to make the most of your college experience you need to place a lot of weight on learning in the classroom but you also need to get active socially. College is a place where you meet lifelong friends and make life loong connections so take advantage of the experience.

It is never too early to start thinking about college. I learned this through the rush of taking SAT's, doing college applications, and finishing up senior year. At 17 years old, I remember thinking, "Wow, this is all happening so fast." It's important to visit as many colleges as possible during high school, and to stay open-minded to any and all possibilities out there. I went to a school all the way across the country my freshman year when I thought I would never even leave California. Your choice should not be based upon the weather or the parties or the women on campus (although these things may add to your college experience), but on whether you believe a school can gear you towards success in your field of study. But most importantly, choose with your heart. When I first stepped on my college campus, I knew that I was meant to be there. Something about it spoke to me. Once you reach college, study hard, but remember to let loose a little and enjoy the experience! Life is not all work! Put yourself out there, try new things, reach for the stars, and you will succeed.

The best piece of advice I would give prospective students and there parents is to visit the campus of all potential schools. You can look online at pictures and study statistics all day, but the best way to choose a college is the feeling you get when you walk around campus. When I chose to go to USC, I did so not because the strong alumni network, financial aid offered, or the quality of the football team, but rather by the beauty of the campus, the friendliness of other students, and the sense of belonging I felt as I toured the University. You're going to spend the next 4+ years of your life at whatever school you choose, so why not pick somewhere that is enjoyable and fun to be at.

College isn't all about partying and having all the fun in the world, but it isn't about just studying and not socializing either. I tend to see some of my peers struggle in their studies simply because they cant seem to manage their social and academic life. A good college should be one that serves both purposes, a place for social interaction, and a place for higher learning. Students and parents definitely need to visit campuses and talk with current students who go to that school. It's better to general view of the school from the perspective of a variety of students who have a variety of peronailities and preferences. But most of all, pursue your career from the very start. It's never too late to start applying for internships or jobs even if you feel like you might be too young. Use your school to find opportunities to get yourself exposed out in the real world, whether through job fairs or career counseling departments.

The best advice I would give people is that you really need to make a decision about college that is not based solely on which school has the best reputation, because it's really important to pick a school that fits you as a person. It's important to take into consideration all the other things besides academia that are going to affect your college experience. I think from a personal perspective location was something really important to me, your surroundings can have a huge impact on you physically and emotionally. One thing I've learned in my college experience, especially being a transfer student, is that college is a lot harder than people tell you. You expect the courses and school work to be difficult, but not necessarily the adjustment it takes to go to a completely new place, surrounded by new people, and a new lifestyle and you're completely submerged into it. There's not a lot of time to get acclimated and for a lot of people it can either become too much too fast, or you seclude yourself instead of taking a risk. Don't ever lose sight of yourself and you'll be fine.

It's fun and exciting to go to one of the best schools, but ultimately I don't think it gets you far enough ahead in life to justify the cost.

After finances, location, school programs, and the prestige of a school are all considered, pick what's right for the student. Not necessarily what the parent wants. Go where there are a lot of opportunitues, because a student will often change their mind, and a school that has many strong programs, and a fitting environment for the student will be better in the long run. Also, as a student, experiment with new things, get involved, and make new friends, memories, and experiences. You're only young and in college once. Enjoy it, but try not to do anything too idiotic. It'll just come back to bite you later.

While researching colleges, the best way to really understand if a school is right for you is to visit campus while school is in session. When campus is bustling with students running between classes, you can really pick up on the attitudes and vibes of the students. You also get a personal look at the facilities, visualizing yourself there and deciding whether you would thrive socially and academically. Once you begin college, you need to shift into the college mindset. You'll no longer be coddled like you probably were in high school. You need to take the initiative to seek help when needed, get to know your professors, meet new friends, and get involved on campus. Also, you need to remember that your first semester at college will probably be one of the most tumultuous times of your young life. There are so many changes in such a short period of time that it is easy to get discouraged and blame your choice of college, figuring that it's just not the right school for you. Give it time and most likely, you?ll end up falling in love with your school and everything that it has to offer.