Illinois State University Top Questions

The best advice I can give anyone preparing for college is to take your time. A lot of time is spent deciding on what school to attend but not enough time is spent deciding what to study. Carefully chose a career field/major to go into and plan your college career around that choice. A lot of time and money can be wasted by chosing and changing majors while attending college. This is especially important for transfer students. If you are planning on transferring from a two year college to a four year college decide where you are going to transfer at the same time you decide where to start. Plan your classes at the two year college around what will transfer into your selected major at the four year college. Work closely with your advisors from both schools to ensure the smoothest transition. Always double check, multiple times and with multiple people, that what you have planned will work out like you want it to. When you get to college work hard and take it seriously. You can achieve anything if you work hard enough. Most importantly, study hard and be friends with your teachers.

The key ingredient to finding the right college and making the most of it is the environment in which the university provides the students. Visit each campus you are interested in for a day, longer if possible. Eat in the cafeteria, sit in on a class, talk to the students on the quad, or common area, spend a night in the university dorm if you can. Universities are never adequately described on paper. Just because a university has a great reputation doesnt mean that its the right fit for you. When I applied for college I had my heart set in on Suffolk University in Boston, but it turned out that I was more comfortable on a traditional campus, rather than a vertical (urban) one. Visiting a college makes you see the school in a different light, and for me, changed the entire path of my education for the better.

just make sure that you like everything about it! once you see the campus and get the feel for it you will know if its right for you or not

Make sure it has a wide array of majors to choose from just in case you change your mind. Visit more than once. Stay overnight when you visit at least once. Make sure you pay attention to your gut feeling when choosing; pick a place for the right reasons, and pick a college YOU want to go to, not one your parents might want you to go to. Get involved and try your best to make friends. Go to plays and musical performances. Eat well and get enough sleep. Don't get caught up in the drinking scene; it's not the right vehicle through which good friendships are made and healthy relationships are started. Take at least one day per week to do something for yourself; relax. Stay in touch with friends and family. Keep a positive attitude and make the best of your situation and you will do great!

ISU rocks

Go to as many college visits as you can, by looking at a campus on a tour. It really helped me figure out where i wanted to go and i recomend it.

Its important to have an idea of wheather you want to me in a city or a small town: that ends up mattering. But otherwise, you can pretty much bank on having the same experience where ever you go. Also, college is really expensive and if you can, save WELL in advance. And try as hard as you can to be done in 4 years.

When you to visit a campus ask to look in on classes and talk with some of the students there to see how they really feel about he school they are attending.

Do not look into schools solely for the familiarity of their name (i.e., Ivy Leage schools, or places like University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign). Take a look at what the schools are well known for, as well as what they have to offer outside of classes. It is not absolutely necessary to go to an east coast or west coast school, and there is no need to go to a school hundreds of miles away when there is a school that is just as decent within your state. If you are intimidated by big cities, it would be better to skip schools like DePaul or University of Chicago in Chicago. This also goes for students who like urban/populated areas. Attending a school located somewhere in the middle of miles of cornfields may not be a good choice. When you do find the right college, make sure you join something. There are many clubs, music ensembles and sports to choose from. You will find people who have the same interests as you, and it will give you something to do besides classes and school work, and have something fun to look forward to every day.

I would say to new students remember to try new things but dont forget who you are and where you came from.