Indiana University-Purdue University-Indianapolis Top Questions

Don't look for what is cool or in, just find something you are interested in trying and find the school that focuses on that the most.

Find the college that best fits you on all levels. Remember that college is not just social, not just academic, and that there is a huge financial commitment being made on the part of yourself and your parents. Respect and enjoy your full education.

The advice I would give to prospective students and parents is to research your choices wisely; do not choose the community college simply because it is close to your home. There are many financial opportunities available to help you venture out to the school of your dreams - you just have to venture out and find them. If you do not believe that you will be eligible for any kind of financial aid, you may be mistaking. There are countless scholarships available for as many different things that you can think of. I personally had a scholarship all throughout college that paid for all my tuition, fees, and awarded me a stipend every semester - you can too. Making the most of your college experience both socially and academically is completely up to you. You can choose to stay in your dorm room every Saturday night watching TV or go out and meet new people. However, academia should be your number one focus while in college - after all that is what you came to college for in the first place. Learning to prioritize and time manage early on will make you much more successful later in your college career.

If I regret anything about my college experience, it's that I don't live on campus. It would be an amazing experience and would help me grow more into who I am. On campus living gives you a chance to make more friends and have a little more responsability for yourself. Also, parents don't push your children to go to a college they don't want to go to. It doesn't hurt looking into it, but ultamitly it's going to effect them more than anyone so it should be thier choice. If they go to the college of thier choice it's more likely that they will enjoy the college experience and will work harder to succeed. To the students I would suggest to work hard, but also to have fun. You need a good balance of both to get good grades and not get too stressed out. You want to enjoy your college experience in the moment, and not regret it later on. Good luck!

make sure you can handle what ever distance that you put between you and your family. You may think you want as fas away as possible but then you find out different and become depressed your grades and your social life will be effected greatly.

Find a school where you know you will fit in. One that shares your religious beliefs and your feelings. This will make dating and finding friends much easier. Second, the education is also important, so look for reputation of the school. The esteem or reputation of the school is very important as it will make landing that high paying job much easier.

I would tell the students and parents to make sure and take the time to visit a multitude of campuses before making a decision. There are so many options available, and it is better to pick from plenty than from few. Also, I would tell them to keep the cost of the schooling in mind and to plan out a budget that they can and will stick to. Finally, I would encourage these prospective students to look for a college that provides a positive social atmosphere because interacting with peers is a very important part of the college experience.

When searching for the college that is right for you or for your child, it is most important to visit any college campuses that you are interested in and maybe a few that you think you are not. Each college campus gives off a different feel and when you find one that you feel comfortable with then that is the one for you! It is more important to find a campus that fits you, as well as your personality and your major rather than finding one that is something you can "afford." Money should not come into play when choosing the campus that is right for you. To make the most of your college experience, it is best to live on campus and participate in as many activities as possible that interest you. It is important to take advantage of conferences, volunteer activities, and active clubs that are on the college campus which you are attending. Choosing a college that is right for you is a life-altering decision; one that should come from the heart. After your first semester at the school that you truly want to attend, you will never regret choosing the college that felt right!

If I were to go to the beginning of my academic career, there are three things that I would cover before making serious decisions. One: Look into alternate financial options. Two: Consider the cost of living involved. Three: Make sure that the school supports its alumni in finding quality jobs after graduation. If I had known about the 21st century scholar program, for example, I would have been able to maintain being a student at the top choice that I was accepted at. I didn't factor in the cost of commuting, food, supplies, etc. When all was said and done (2 years of education at SAIC) I was 10,000 dollars in credit card debt. This isn't including my loans. I wish I knew both how to attend a school of such high tuition and how to avoid credit debt. Lastly, I ended up finishing my degree in Indianapolis. The school of my (out of necessity) choice didn't support finding realistic jobs. I now am stuck in the middle where the Chicago school cannot provide me help since I don't live there anymore and the Indiapolis school has no real options.

visit the colleges before you decide where to go, and ask students about their experiences. don't be afraid to try out the college life for a day or a weekend and to soak up all the information you can get