DePaul University Top Questions

GO FOR IT! I would encourage myself to dream big and to jump high because I know I'll make it. I have always had such an amazing support system that has kept my head held high. No dream is ever to big when you have people behind you to help achieve it. College life has been nothing short of extraordinary.

I would remind myself first to relax. It is a tedious process picking out a new school to attend but you will get through it and hopefully make the correct decision. I was not that lucky the first time around. Although I had been accepted into some local Private Universities I decided that it would be financially easier if I attended a state school. The state school was too large for me and I did not adapt well at all to my new surroundings. After a semester I ended up transfering to a smaller University. If I had thought more about my needs as a student I would have realized that the state school would not be the correct choice for me and although the private school cost more with the help of my family and loans I have been able to make this experience one to learn from. Money is not all that matters. Cost is not all that matters. Want it bad enough and you will figure a way out to reach your goal no matter the obstacles in your way.

To be honest, I don't know what advice I would give. I did what I needed to do for me as a high school senior, and I really don't think I'd do anything different if I were to go back and do it again.

My advice to them is to take advantage of the offers the school gives you, it will help you make a better decision. Offers such as campus tours or live with a college student over the weekend are some offers given by DePaul. I live in Chicago so I got to experience the university more often that those who travel far away to visit their colleges. Furthermore, there are many school events that you should attend because they are not only fun but you get to meet new people. And if you love sports but you are not competitive enough for club sports, try intramural sports. Anyone can make a team and play!

Finding the right college cannot be done over the internet or a magazine! I cannot stress enough how important it is to visit and stay on prospective campuses before choosing the school for you! Also ask questions! It is important to know the boring questions like how many students to a class, and how available will your professors be! Anything that you may be unsure about RESEARCH it! Finances are most important! Apply for everything and pay attention to the funding you will be rewarded! College is the best time so do the needed research!

The advice I would give to a new student upon entering a college is trust your gut. I had no intention of going to DePaul when I applied and I only did to simply see if I would get accepted. I didn't visit the campus and I did little to no research on the school at all. I did, however, talk to students and take a tour of the campus after I had been accepted. Like everyone embarking on the collegiate journey, I was nervous until orientation where I met fantastic people and soon we became great friends. I do know that people are not always as lucky as I was on this, but I do value our friendship and I feel that it helped me adjust to life at school even better. I do suggest to anyone going into orientation to just be yourself and to try and not freak out about the new school. It was the best thing I did while entering this university and I have great friends now and a great college life because of it.

A tour guide can rattle off fact after fact, but when it comes down to it only the student can decide which school is going to be the best fit. The only way to determine this is by visiting and exploring. Take the tour, but go a step further! Try the food, get lost on campus and ask for directions. Pay attention to the type of students around campus- do they seem happy? Can you see yourself hanging out with any of these people? Answers to these questions may come naturally, a sense of belonging and community at a school is something that can be hard to define but may easily be felt. Taking in a sense of a school requires more than a 60 minute tour. Be adventurous and ask the risky questions, the responses you get might surprise you. Choosing a school can be a scary and stressful process, but putting the work in can make it a rewarding one. After all, college is supposed to be the time of your life, right?

The best advice that I can give any parent or student regarding the selection of a college is to know exactly what the college can prepare you for and how strong or successful the institution is at placing a graduate upon completion. I say this because, once a student is bachelor conferred; Pell grants are no longer offered. It is extremely important to know what one is going to major and minor in from the first day of class, if coming in as a freshman. This would eliminate wasted time and expense in classes that one can't apply towards their careers or degree, unless its a prerequisite. With the economic climate being what it is, the lack of funding on all levels have become increasingly scarce (from an out of pocket perspective). Our country has becoming less competitive on all levels, we as american students need to gain back the competitive edge in order to be strong in the market place again. Our students need to take more science & math in order to fill jobs that go unfilled because of unqualified candidates. These are some of the reasons why I feel its important to find the right college.

let your child(ren) decide what school they want to go to

Go early. Go often. Graduate. Don't be a bucket-head.