Loyola University Chicago Top Questions

Visit, and talk to as many people as possible. Understand what it is you want out of a university: from academics, to a social life, and certainly location. At 16 or 17 it is hard to have enough experience to understand what you want, but do you research. You are likely paying a lot of money to go to one of these places, make it the one that fits you best.

College is an experience. Yes, you are learning and preparing to get a job, but make sure you pick a place where you can develop your social skills and have a wide variety of new experiences. Your resume will only get you so far in obtaining a job. You also must impress and connect with the person you interview with. It is the experiences you have had in life, not just the grades and the classes, that make you desirable to a potential employer. So take advantage of this time in your life when you are allowed to be selfish and experience as much as you can. When looking for the right college, make sure it is an environment where you feel comfortable and that offers many new experiences.

Just go with your heart

When I was looking at colleges, I read a lot of books and magazine reviews to find which school would be the best fit. Although these resources did help me to narrow down my choices, visiting each school I was considering allowed me to make a well educated decision. No matter how many satistics you read about the school's incoming freshmen, retention rates, or faculty-student ratios, nothing gives you a better idea of a school than visiting it. Some schools I visited had impressive architecture and state of the art science resources, but the student body did not seem united and campus life seemed bland. Visiting schools helps you to get the best feel of what the students and campus life are like. Once you have chosen a school, it is important to get involved in order to make the most out of the expereince. Every school has great things to offer so don't just sit in your dorm room watching movies. Get out on campus! Join organizatons, find a place to volunteer, introduce yourself to new people, and learn more about the subjects you care about! College is what you make of it!

Definitely visit the school and if you can spend the night with a current student. Make sure the school is affordable to you and that you feel safe in the area. Do not pick a school because that is where your friends are going. Go to the school that feels the most right in every aspect. I knew Loyola University Chicago was right for me because I love the city.

One can never know if the school they choose will be perfect for them. It is all about taking a chance and knowing that everything happens for a reason. Choose a school that feels right during the visit. Yes, many may consider going to college arduous. One is stripped of all familiarity and dives into an unknown location far from one?s comfort zone. Thoughts of uncertainty may arise as one feels essentially naked in this new situation, and challenging courses have the ability to make one feel inept. However, despite the difficulties, going to college and making new friends while learning to live on your own is one of the boldest, most exquisite, and rewarding experiences one can ever encounter. To make the most of the college experience, go out and explore the city. Education is not limited to the classroom, you can learn just as much, if not more, outside of campus. Above all: Have fun!

Students: when choosing your future college, make sure that EVERYTHING there will help you succeed in life. Do not attend a particular school merely because your parents attended it or your friends will be; go to a school because it has available resources to enable you to discover your future self and have the ability to benefit you wholly. Know your interests when choosing a school whether or not you know what you would like to do with your life, i.e. career. College is incredibly expensive so choose wisely! Visit various campuses, interview current students, sit in on classes that you could possibly enjoy, and talk to counselors!

To be wise. Choose a path, DO NOT wait until junior year.. Know what you want and work, work, work.. because no matter where you go, there will be competition... not just within the school, but within the state, and country... and if you waste college time and money partying, you wont get very far... learn to balance your education and leisure

I would tell both the parents and the student that he or she should attend a university that is affordable. Yes it's true that most of us want to go to a prestigious school to impress others, but most of the time these universities tend to be very expensive. It's all worth it in the end, but sometimes not enough financial aid is given to those that really need it. Also I would say that it's ok not to know what he or she might want to major in because he or she will find that out by taking different classes. PIck a major that he or she is interested in and don't try to major in something just because your parents want you to. Pick something that interests you because you'll waste less time and save more money that way.

I would tell them to choose a place that has the perfect balance of academic integrity and a social life that appeals to the student. The tuition should not be a factor in choosing a university. The experience and education students get out of college should not have a price tag on it. Parents and students should be willing to keep tuition out of college decision making and they should be willing to make the proper sacrifices and take the proper actions to make the school affordable if it isn't.