University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

The best piece of advice I could give to parents and students is to truly understand and know yourself before choosing a college. If you are artistic, simple-minded, love people or rather stay indoors, then this key personal insight can make or break which college is the best fit for you. If you choose a college that is not to your likeing, then your experiences there will not be worth the money nor the effort. Get to know you perspective schools outside of simply taking a tour of the campus. Talk to various students. Talk with faculty members. Make sure the university atmospher agrees with you. Doing the necessary research will help ensure a positive experience. Also, a student should take advantage of the diversity on campus, and the resources available to learn more about less explored areas. This can take shape in studying abroad, joining a sports team, or doing volunteer work. There is much to be learned in every avenue of college life. Don't be afraid to branch out and really start learning!

When looking for the right college it is all about the student and where they feel most comfortable. I would say don't listen to peer pressure from parents, friends or relatives on where to go, especially not because they went there. Choose where you feel most comfortable and where you think that you will get the best experience from. If you enjoy being in smaller classes and knowing everyone you see, attend a small college. If you enjoy meeting new people every day, but still have tons of friends and lots of places to go with big lectures, attend a big college. As for making the most of your college experience, it is different for everyone, but I would say get involed early. Don't wait until Senior year to make your mark, get involved in many clubs and activities in order to meet new people and make a difference on campus. Getting involved will also help you to land a job in the future, so pick the clubs that are right for you and put yoursefl out there because this is a chance to start fresh!

One of the best pieces of advice I could give is to not be afraid to major in something that you think sounds interesting. As a senior in highschool, I wasn't entirely sure what I wanted to study, but I was fairly sure it was going to be engineering. I had the grades to get into the school, but for some reason, I didn't apply because I wasn't sure that was what I wanted to do. This is why I went to school undecided. I have found that it is much more tedious to transfer into a program rather than start out with one. So, I would tell incoming freshman to go with their gut, not just regarding a major, but with all decisions, because they are generally the best choice.

Find a school you love, not like or pick because your friends are going there, But a school you have a true passion for. Do lots of research and plan lots of visits, and before you even apply, imagine yourself at the school. Do you love where you are? Will you grow from your college experiance intellectually and emotionally? Can you learn things about yourself, as well as other's? You have to be going to your school of choice for all the right reasons. Apply no matter what you think the outcome will be, and do try your hardest. Once in, discover clubs, sports, and greek life. find a place that makes you happy. Don't ever not try something because you think you will not accomplish your goals. Set the high, and strive for your best. Honestly. Go to college for all the right reasons: To get an education to determine your success, discover who you are and what you are all about, and have fun while doin it. Savor those four years, because they're over before you know it.

Finding the right college to attend has nothing to do with the name of the school. Finding the right college for you requires you to prioritize what qualities you find most important in a college, such as size, distance from home, social life, and tuition. It is important to remember that a college's ranking does not solely contribute to why a student would want to attend the school. A student will usually spend up to four years, or even more, at a college, so choosing the right college is very important. It is also important to keep in mind that with all of the expenses and time put into college, it is vital to make the best out of the college experience. This can be achieved by putting yourself out there and chase opportunities rather than sitting back and wait for opportunities to come knocking on the door. The college experience can be one of the greatest times of your life if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone and be open to new experiences.

Visit the colleges and explore your options. That is pertinent to getting a sense of the atmophere. Students can set their minds on a certain college because their friends are going there or becuase it has a fun reputation. I won't lie, those were the two main choices when I was deciding where to go. It wasn't until I visited all the schools that I realized I liked the laid back atmosphere of U of I. It wasn't because my friends were going here or because it sounded like a lot of fun. I genuinely thought I could become a great student here and meet tons of different, new people. I didn't get that vibe at the other schools I visited and decided that U of I was the perfect choice for me after all.

Go where you want to go, not where your parents or anyone else wants. And study what you want to study and makes you happy while you're in college. It will make you happier, and make you a better person in society.

It is important to visit the campus and evaluate how it fits your needs. When looking at potential schools, it is important to evaluate some of the following: the size school you are comfortable with, cost and financial assistance, relevant academic programs, extracurricular activities that fit your interests, and location to name a few. If you step onto a campus and do not feel like you belong, you most likely will not enjoy attending that school and should continue searching for a school that better fits your personality and your needs. Once in college, the best way to make the most of your experience is to confidently make your own decisions and ignore the peer pressure. It is most important to focus on your academics and make decisions about your lifestyle that you are comfortable with. If a student is able to block out peer pressure and make his or her students based on what he or she wants, then the student will truly be able to make the most of his or her college experience.

Picking a college that fits really depends on what the student feels comfortable with. With hundreds of colleges around the country, it can be completely daunting to try to pick the "right one," but it's important to remember that your decision is not set in stone; you can always change your mind. And if, like me, you know exactly what college you want to get into, don't let finances, distance, or anything else keep you from achieving what you want. Where there is a will, there is ALWAYS a way. A great way to make the most of being away at college is to simply put yourself out there, maybe taking yourself out of your comfort zone. Each college or university, no matter the size, has so many opportunites to get involved- so do it! You'll meet people, gain new perspectives, and grow as a person overall. And if you need help, ask for it. Don't let yourself fall in a rut because you're too afraid to ask. Most importantly, though, enjoy each day as it comes and remember: your college days are some of the best days of your life! Soak it all in.

The academics, athletics, and prestige of a college are all important things. But they are all secondary to your child. In making a good decision for a college, students need to feel comfortable with their choice. Visit EVERY college your child applies for with your child and let him or her sit through a couple of classes. Do anything and everything to make sure the college fits with your child, not the other way around.