Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Top Questions

The best advice I can give is to make sure you visit the campuses you are interested in and ask to sit in on a class. I came from a small high school and when I went to college there were over 100 students in my classes which made it difficult. By visiting you can get a feeling of what the campus as well as what the students are like.

If I had to make a decision about attending college, the most important decision is the careers available, what are you options or do you have several options that the college offers. Money should not be a concern if you find the right career. I strongly suggest that you do your research to find what your wish to do or accomplish in life first. You attend to college to prepare yourself for the future and to receive opportunities that others did not take a part of. You want to attend college to become a better individual and learn new skills; education and intelligence will take you far in the world. The beginning of knowledge is the discovery of something we do not understand. You didn't come to college to party and act a fool, believe me you will have plenty of fun when you get all your work done. Furthermore, you want to have a steady study load and set your priorities straight. Time management, studying and a healthy body will prepare you do well in college as well as in life. Someone special works when no one is looking, and you should never stop working nor quit.

Let your child explore and find what college is right for them. There are so many choices in where they go and what they study. Let them explore their majors and if they want to change let them. That last thing you want is to find that your child is unhappy where they are and in what field they are studying. Also visit every campus that your child is interested in, you will be surprised that every campus is unique in it's own way. Find out everything you can before making a final decision on where to go. Also don't rule out the local school that "everyone goes to" most times they end up being one of the best colleges to study at.

Don't look at the name a school has or the geographical location. Look for a school with practical majors that will guarantee you a job.

For any future college student, the best advice I can give is to take campus tours. All colleges give tours and it is the best way to really get a feel for the campus. When one goes on a tour, it is really important that you go during the school year, that way you can really see what college life is like. As you watch all of the students go from class to class, its a really great feeling, and it helps in the decision-making of choosing a college. Also, as you go on tours, make sure you ask lots of questions. Most college tours are given by students, so they can answer all the important questions without bias. When it comes to making the most of the college experience, get involved. Don't be afraid to go around your dorm and knock on doors to introduce yourself. Making friends in college is so important! Once you have friends who you can lean on when times get rough, go out and join some clubs. Colleges are great at supplying activities for new students, so take advantage of them. Clubs keep you involved and help you meet new people.

Make sure you check out all the school's campuses when you're considering, and not only for one day. Walking around alone makes it hard to experience the ambiance of a campus; sit on benches outside of buildings and listen to people's reactions after classes, go into the dining hall, drive around the town nearby. It's not all about the classes, even though it's most definitley an important part; the largest problem I've seen is no one expects it to be the small town that it is. Getting involved with sports, clubs, or the music on campus definitley helps making friends and adjusting, too. Also, make sure the degree you want to get is credible from the school. All schools have different things they're known for, and it definitley helps when looking for a job after graduation.

I would apply early to as many colleges as you are interested in that way you have a bunch of choices to choose from. I would also visit each college that you are accepted into, that way you can see what it will be like if you decided to go there. Talking to people at those different colleges is also a good idea because you can get their perspective on the college, not just your tour guides. You also don't want to pick a college based on its social life because you will end up focusing on that instead of what your really there for. Doing well in school takes a lot of work and you really need to have your mind set on it!

look around a lot.

Find somwhere that will make you comforable, not just for studying, but cost wise. Makes sure you are getting the best education for the major of your choice and don't just settle. I know a lot of people who just settled and were unhappy.

Sometimes your gut instinct is really the right one. If you feel that you should be going to a specific school for one reason or another, don't let anything hold you back. If your family cannot financially handle the school that you have chosen, there is always ways around that, and the school is always willing to help. Don't hold back at your school, let everything go, this is your time to really be yourself. If you are able to let go, this is the place where you will find who you are, and who you are supposed to be. Always keep an open mind, there are many people that you will meet, and you will be open to many new and different experiences. Make sure to try them all. I would also suggest to 'Go Greek'. You will find your best friends in these organizations, and you will get to experience so much more. Just take advantage of all that your school has to give, you will not regret it.