University of Illinois at Chicago Top Questions

What should every freshman at University of Illinois at Chicago know before they start?

Ryan

apply to some schools that you think you never would want to attend. some of them could end up being your favorite and you might have to pick one of them if your first choices dont work out.

April

One thing that is very important is to visit many schools. It is very helpful to know what your options are to be able to compare them. Also, don't be afriad to look out of state. That's what I did and it made for a much more exciting and interesting experience. This decision is different for everyone, so I would reccomend making a pros and cons list for each school you are looking at, and compare them to a list of things you consider important when choosing a school. Even if you know what school you'd like to attend, having two or three back-ups is always a good idea. Also, if you know what your major is going to be, it is a good idea to speak with someone from that department at each of your prospective schools to get an idea of what the program will be like. One of the most important things is to find a place where you will feel comfortable, another reason why visiting is a must! Don't be afraid of choosing a different school than your friends. In my opinion, it's a good idea! Good luck!

Kristine

It's really important for students to have a concrete idea of what field they plan on pursuing in the future. If students have an idea of what type of career they plan on pursuing, it will be easier to make a outlook of their college experience. Having an idea of what you want to do in college is important too because it will also help you plan financial matters effectively as well. If possible, take pre requisites at a small college or somewhere where the tuition is cheaper so that way, you can save money for grad school. The worst thing you can do is go to a large university or private school without even knowing what you want to do in the future and take classes that end up not relating to the major you decide to take up. Because then you end up throwing away money. It's also important to be well disciplined in your studies. For students, your parents aren't paying thousands of dollars for you to party and drink. Study and do your work and you will be more likely to succeed.

Ian

College is an experience that can only really happen once or twice in life. Therefore choosing a school that is the perfect fit for the student is paramount. The process of college application is long and stressful, but during this time visiting several schools and making sure the student will enjoy their time at school, can often be overlooked. Once a school is chosen, studying and having fun will often conflict with each other, but it is important to find a healthy balance that will satisfy both the student's social needs, and satisfy the parent's desire for academic excellence. Once the perfect school is chosen and the student starts attending, there will be temptations. Resisting temptation isn't necessary. The student can have as much fun as they want, so long as that all of their work gets done and they are ready for exams. Parent's should take a step back and let their child learn to be an adult while at school, but should not be kept out of the college experience altogether. The student is the most important part of the family in terms of college, but everyone should get involved, and be proud.

Arom

One piece of advice that I would like to offer is that obsessing over and aiming to attend a certain school solely for the grandeur of its name and standing is not a favorable course of action. Not only may such schools become a draining financial burden, but it may not even be the school that best suits you. When choosing the right college, it is important to make sure it offers many opportunities to expand your knowledge and experience in your selected field of study, and these, on no account, exclude activities that never get credited on an official transcript. If you are unsure of your academic goals, it would be especially advantageous to seek out schools which provide courses of a variety of subjects. This way, you can easily explore and familiarize yourself with a plethora of topics while assessing them in possibly becoming your major, career goal, or a life?s ambition. At the same time, it allows you to immerse yourself in well-knit communities, which oftentimes lays the foundation for developing meaningful relationships, resulting in your college years being filled with the coveted gains of higher education and camaraderie.

KATHY

It is important to attend a college that will offer both a high quality of education along with a social life. College is a memorable time in one's life and the decision should not be made lightly. In my opinion, sometimes it is worth to go to a college that has a good reputation but is more expensive, rather than going to a school that is cheaper and has a bad atmosphere. There are many aspects that should be considered when making a decision about the right college. The student has to feel that the school suits them and that they will be comfortable going there.

Alexander

One should choose their college based on the interest of what that person wants to do for a career. For example, I knew coming out of high school that I wanted to do something in the medical field, most likely to become physician. In this case I wanted to stay home and attend the nearest university which was University of Illinois at Chicago. I knew that medical school would cost me a lot of money so I wanted to go to an undergraduate institution where the tuition was not that expensive. However, if I choose to do something in the business field I would have probably looked into various universities that offer a good business program. But one of the most vital steps to take when deciding what college to attend is to pray to God and ask for wisdom.

Shannon

Do well in high school. It will make things easier and more prepared for picking the right college.

Esmeralda

Finding the right college for a student is a tough one. Many things have to be thought of when submitting the acceptance letter in the school of your school that you will be attending their school. Population, academics, social life, housing, and location has to be thought of. The advice I would tell a student and/ or parent is choose the school you would like to be stuck at if you had to attend school forever! A student does not want to attend a school because it's their only choice or because their parents wanted them to. Choose the school you want to attend for the next four years of your life, your dream school. Make your dream a reality.

Melissa

When finding the right college and making the most of your college experience, don't make any rash decisions. Take the time to apply to at least 3 schools for a good variety of schools. Know what size of school you want to attend, make sure you pick a location that you are comfortable with, and then visit the school and get the feel of the campus, and the vibe of the University/College. After being accepted to the University/College don't wait for the last minute to decide which school you would be attending. It is always good to take your time and think, but do it in a timely fashion. Apply for scholarships ahead of time and in a timely fashion as well to make sure that you get every oppurtunity to get money to attend the University that you want. Lastly, don't apply or attend a University or College just because your best friend or boyfriend/girlfriend is going there. You need to go to college to find yourself and experience life. You need to enjoy College too.