Loyola University Maryland Top Questions

I think parents need to find a balance between letting their kids pick a school that is what they need and want in a school and also keeping them in check with reality. For example, as much as I am happy that I went to Loyola and got to go abroad for a year etc, I wish my parents would have made me more aware of the financial constraints this put on them and perhaps guided me towards only going abroad for a semester, or finding a school that would have been less of a financial burden. I was shocked when I had to take out loans my second semester of my junior year abroad and all of my senior year and I am paying for it now. There definitely needs to be good communication skills on both ends between parents & students of all factors when considering colleges. But keep in mind, ultimately, it needs to be a good fit for the student. If they are not happy at school, they wont' succeed. I am ultimately extremely pleased with both my and my parents decisions regarding my college experience.

Dont believe what the tour guides tell you, they mostly lie when they talk to you. Always talk to someone you know who goes there

Turst your yourself. You know what you want from a school and make sure that the school you choose has those things. Do not compromise and ask tons of questions on tours and of realy students. Ask the students you are not working for admissions--askk the kids you see in the eating lunch.

To do some soul searching. What do you value in yourself (or what should you value)? What school reflect what is most important to you? Get involved! Make the most of your college experience by trying new things- and I don't mean drugs.

For the students the most important step in the process of selecting the right college is visiting the school while it is in session. It is not beneficial to go during the summer when no one is there. Going during the school year allows an individual to get to know the true feeling of campus life, the type of people that attend the school, and the true size of the school. It is also wise to speak to a professor that works in the department that you are considering majoring in. This allows the student to better understand the expectations and the program that the college offers. In order to make the most of your college experience stay on campus and limit the amount of time you go home. You meet more people this way and build stronger friendships that make college much more fun. For parents, I recommend being supportive of the students choice but financially realistic. It is a difficult decision for the student and they need their parents support. But at the same time do not be afraid to suggest a similar school with a lower tuition cost if their choice is too pricey.

When considering which school to choose think about what activities there are to do on the weekend, for example, do you want a city. Another thing to keep in mind is the size of the classes. I love Loyola's small classes and how helpful the professors are which is mostly why I love the school. Think about whether you feel at home when you walk around or out of place. And finally when your child goes to the school make sure they are open to others and socialize as much as possible. Freshman year is the only time you can do that without feeling strange.

Make sure you look into what you want to major in before you pick a school, and the type of people you are choosing to surround yourself with. Also, find out if it is a bar school or a house party school, bar schools are a very expensive social life!

Think about it for as much as you can, but don't make yourslef crazy. Students,w hen making your final decision, think about laying in your bed the night before move-in day and think about where you'll be most excited to go. You're the one who has to live there, so you're the one who has to love the place

Make sure to look into the surronding area, it ends up being a lot more important than you may think.

Be yourself, branch out, go abroad!