Loyola University Chicago Top Questions

To the parents, honestly I would go for the best eduation, but also consider the factor of cost. There are some great community colleges that offer just as great of an eduation as the bigger colleges, but are so much less expensive. To the students, remember to keep focus on your grades and not so much on social activities, because fiancial aid can be lost easily, and I'm sure parents hate paying thousands of dollars with no help. Remember to find a college that you feel comfortable in, and don't try to fit in so hard that you are doing things you wouldn't normally do. Also, drinking and doing drugs may seem cool, but it will keep your focus off of college and you will go downhill fast. Who cares what everyone else is doing? Atleast one day you will have something to show for how you spent your years. Just remember to never give up, even when something seems impossible to accomplish. After all, I'm sure a few doctors, actors, and musicians once thought their dreams were once impossible too.

The best way to choose the right institution is to visit its campus. There has to be a feeling of warmth, and content while you're on campus otherwise the student will not enjoy attending classes. The first time I visited Loyola I felt as if I belonged. That day I could clearly picture myself attending classes, and walking around campus in my spare time. Two years later, and I still feel the same content as I walk along the green paths to study or just sit in a quiet spot and observe Lake Michigan's tides. As for the best college experience my advice is to follow your own path. Each of us comes to a certain college/university searching for something, and it's found by attending lectures, movie screenings, religious ceremonies, etc. Due to a class assignment I attended my first Christian Orthodox service as a European Muslim. I found it not only educational, but fascinating. Four years seems as a long time, but it goes by quickly. The best thing is to work hard, but also enjoy those years because we all transition from a teenager into an adult.

Always visit before making a final decsion. Weigh all your options and never settle. Talk to people, and always ask questions; everyone is willing help. College is a great experience if you make it one. There is several ways to get confused just stay focused.

I would tell parents and children to look at many options, to look at schools they wouldn't expect themselves to go to, and to travel to a place that is different from home. I would tell them to take risks, and take themselves out of their confort zones because in that sort of situation a person can grow so much more. It is important to also consider how to financially swing a school, but I also feel that if a student really feels drawn to a certain school, money should not be the only factor keeping them from attending. In terms of making the most out of college, I would encourage students to stray away from the party scene and find close friends who can have fun without that stuff. It's been incredible to just have fun and find who I am without ever getting involved with the party scene. Also, I would tell the student to follow what they are passionate about and not what will make them the most money, then they will squeeze every drop of knowledge they can out of their classes and do their best if they are passionate about their classes.

My first piece of advice to both parents and students is to start early. Research schools and start campus visits as early as sophomore year so that the student can get to know which school he or she plans to apply to. Making an early decision can really help the student in the process of applying and finally going to college. The second piece of advice is to get the funds. No one wants to get into their dream school and not be able to go because of money issues. There are plenty of options for both the student and the parent including financial aid, scholarships, and loans. The last piece of advice is to milk your school! Join clubs, become the campus, use your professors, and make your face known in every school office. Your college is to serve you, get the most from it.

When making the decision on a school, remember that you will not only be attending school, but also living in this place for four years or so. So find places that have a school right for you and that you would enjoy living in. If you are happy where you live, than you will learn much more than what is given in the class room, and your grades will reflect it.

Plan, plan, plan. How are you going to pay for it? If you're going to use loans what kind and with how much interest?See when you will have to start paying them back. Make sure you visit the campus of the college you want ot attend and spend a night there if possibe. Don't go to a school just because it has a good reputation, it has to feel right to you.

Be open to all types of schools in any location. Try to think outside the box in terms of where the student will be attending because a great college experience is possible almost anywhere, so factor in other aspects of the environment. Consider what your career goals might be and assess how practicle the school will make it for you to achieve these goals over 4 years. Parents: trust your children and don't fear their sudden independence. Students: always remember your values and who you are, not how you fit in among everyone else and what others' expectations are. You know better than anyone else what kind of person you are, so don't allow prejudices and your own presumptions about college to keep you from doing what you want and expressing yourself.

When choosing a college, the most important thing you can do is visit it beforehand. If you don't like it when you visit, you won't like attending school there. What are your hobbies? If you like the outdoors, go to a school in the country. If you prefer concerts & shopping, go to a city school. You will only be happy if you are able to do the things you love. It's also important to make sure that the school offers the exact major you want. That may seem obvious, but many people overlook it! In order to make the most of your college experience, balance is everything. If you party all the time and ignore your schoolwork, you will either have to do a ton of cramming before finals or you will do very poorly in your classes. If you are studying all the time and don't have a social life, you will be stressed and unhappy. However, if you are able to balance the different areas of your life, college will be one of the best experiences you will ever have.

Always go an visit, try to stay over night with someone if you can. talk to real students about the campus and activities.