Loyola University Chicago Top Questions

Do not pick a school based on where your friends are going, and also do not pick a school where you think you have a chance to recieve an easy A. It may seem good at first but you should feel challenged at whatever school you attend. Also dont be afraid to experience something different.

Visit the college. You will get a good or bad feeling when you see them

*THE BEST ADVICE OF ALL THAT I CAN GIVE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN REGARD TO FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE IS, "A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS." WHEN I FIRST SAW LOYOLA, SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME JUST CLICKED AND I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO SPEND MY COLLEGE CAREER THERE. CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE IS ABOUT THE FEELING THAT IT PROVIDES. STUDENTS, CHOOSE A COLLEGE THAT FEELS LIKE HOME. CHOOSE A PLACE THAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY, EXCITE YOU, BUT WILL ALSO CHALLENGE AND STIMULATE YOUR MIND TO LEARN NEW THINGS BOTH INSIDE AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS YOU WILL EVER LEARN WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, WHICH IS WHY I WANTED A CITY LIKE CHICAGO TO FOSTER THAT LEARNING. NEVER SETTLE ON ANYTHING LESS THAN YOUR PERSONAL BEST, AND YOU WILL HAVE GUARANTEED SUCCESS.

I would advise parents and students to seriously sit down and think about what an entire year would be like at each of their potential colleges. Students must realize that if they travel far away from home then they will not be able to go home often. This sounds pleasent to a lot of people, though that also means that the student will probably get few visitors. Students and parents only need to visit three colleges before they turn in their applications: a small private university, a medium university, and large state school. This way travel expenses can stay low and the student can get an idea what each environment is like. After the student has applied to the schools of their choice, they can go and see the ones that they are accepted to. When visiting the campus make sure that you think about going through a regular day in each season on the campus. Once in college, make sure that you take as many opportunities available to you. Make friends, but don't place yourself in any group too quickly. Be aware of your surroundings when traveling around campus, especially at night. Last, but not least, HAVE FUN!

Be sure to visit and take to a studen that is NOT the tour of each school to get an accurate picture.

The choice for college is unique and personal for every individual and his or her family. In order to make the right choice, I encourage students to visit each prospective campus, talk with students there, and --if possible-- spend the night. Talk with financial aid officers, housing representatives, and professors in your intended area of study. Although these areas may not be your main concern (but for many, they are), you may still gain a sense of how receptive the campus is to the needs of students. Moreover, these professionals may have more insight than the glossy brochures for the college that you recieve in your mailbox. In the end, know that your decision should be the college that best fits your personality and goals for the future. Do not focus merely on the school's ranking, one major it offers, or on any one specific issue. After all, those can all change within a year. Instead, imagine yourself at the college for four years. For each school, ask yourself the tough questions: what opportunities does it provide for your career advancement and for your personal growth? Where will you feel most comfortable? Where are you most likely to succeed?

make sure you take college visits

Go where you feel comfortable. Visit the campus, stay over night, eat in the dinning halls, and sit in on a class of the subject you are most interested. Feeling connected to your school and being happy there is one of the most important things about college. You can always make money later to pay off debts. So many schools have great programs, but the friends you make and the activities you participate in during college are an experience you cannot get anywhere else in life. Be sure to take time deciding where you can really see yourself fitting in. This decision should be personally yours. You do not have to go where your parents went or where your best friend is going. Choose a college for you, becuase you are the one attending. You should feel happy and confident about your choice!

My parents felt they had to choose the school I went to. In effect, they chose only schools that they'd heard of like Yale and Harvard even though my grades were clearly not good enough and so I didn't end up getting into any schools except the one I applied to last minute. Really make sure you know what you like and what type of person you are and don't let your parents sway you. Even if they haven't heard of a school, it doesn't mean that it's not good and that it's not suited for you. If my mother had let me apply to a liberal arts college which she though was not suitable for a pre-med major, I probably would have been much much happier. It's your four years and what you want and what you think is best is most likely more right than what your parents may think!

Life has undoubtedly been the shortest journey I have ever traveled. Be that as it may, it has given me the most worthwhile unforeseen experiences imaginable. As college being thrown in the mix, I have come to believe that it has been more than just a privileged education; rather it has been a test in itself. It is a test of character, prudence and values. Before entering college, my expectations for what I wanted out of life now seem trivial. These last few years have brought me to enduring realizations that have sculpted who I am today, and I believe this process of reformation is a large piece of the true college experience. My challenge wasn?t finding the right institution. My biggest challenge was to not take a single breath for granted. Many people have unexpectedly come and gone from my presence, but many have impacted me in ways I have yet to fully understand. One thing I do understand is this: college does not have a backspace key. You can?t press rewind or pause for five minutes. College has only been a chapter of my life story, and once it is closed, it will be closed forever.