Indiana University-Bloomington Top Questions

I think students and involved parents should be willing to take their time in their search for a college. For example, when visiting a campus, which should be mandatory, be willing to linger in the places that interest you. Be willing to ask questions to passerby's, students and faculty. These are the people most likely to give you information and honest answers, more so than your tour guide. Plan to visit the college or universities that interest you more than once and upon those visits make time to sight-see off-campus locations. While there, pick up literature and campus newspapers to obtain pertinent information as well as links to websites. Search the university's website for anything that interests you both academically and socially to see what is available. Once you have chosen a college, I believe the best advice is to have an open-mind. You never know what might interest you and the students who are willing to try new things, I believe, have the most fullfilling and successful college careers. With an open-mind you will find the peers that will become your friends and a field of study that will become your career.

make sure you visit the campus first!!

Find a college/university with a culture that fits with the student's personality and will help him/her grow as a person.

Almost any school can be the right school, you just have to find what's great about it.

I would tell parents and students to go and look at the campus before deciding because the campus is what made me fall in love with IU.

Make sure you visit the institutions you are intersested in attending. Walk the campus and envision yourself doing it everyday. Go do the things you think you will do. Visit places you will go everyday (the classrooms, the dorms, the athletic facilities, the libaries) because being comfortable in those situations, is what makes you comfortable making the decsion that effects your entire life. Its like a puzzle where the pieces seem to fit into a few different places. No matter where you end up, its not whether the piece fits or not. If you put forth the effort and give to where you go you will receive a plethera more in return.

if you are planning on attending Indiana University, KNOW your major before coming to school

The best advice I can give to students and parents about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to find a college that has courses that are similar to your taste and that offers a wide range of activities that interest the student most. Within my time here so far at IU, I've changed my mind several times about my minor, and each time IU has had a program that offers that interest. Also, get involved in school activities, such as the school newspaper or rock climbing club. You'll be amazed at how many more people you will meet through extra-curricular activities. Finally, make sure that you have a means of funding yout college education. There's nothing worse than awaiting your next semester with past due fees and no way of paying them.

Finding the right school is really just finding out which school has the most to offer you when it comes to your needs the rest is up to you and making an effort to make the school your own.

Do a lot of research.