University of Southern California Top Questions

Very simply put, find a college that will make you happy. I truly believe all the other important aspects of finding the right fit in a higher learning institute will follow. After careful research, choose the college at which you can imagine yourself being happy. Don't only focus on prestige and academics. Consider the school's social climate and attitude, your interests and wants, and whether or not a certain college can satisfy your overall experience as a college student. After the application process, remember that a college choosing you is half of the deal. It's about you choosing them. Choose them for how they can enrich your life with happiness and satisfaction as a student and citizen of the world. If you are happy, your college experience will be amazing and fruitful regardless of what you're involved with. If you are happy, that certain college is the one for you.

The college experience isn't easy. There, I said it. It's a sentence many parents and students that are so focused, so entirely consumed by the college acceptance process do not want to hear. But there will always be compromises, letdowns, and a difficult transition period, regardless of whether or not you attends your "dream school." That is a reality that students should prepare themselves for long before they begin the college application process. The most important advice for finding the right school, however, is to be selfish. This process is one of the only, and most important, times that one should be completely selfish. Shed the pressures and desires of society, friends, and family and only look for where you could see yourself happily spending the next four years of your life, because it is you, and not anyone else, that is spending those four years at a university. Once there, remember that the college experience is wholly under your control. Being gay, I was terrified to attend a school that is almost entirely socially dominated by the greek scene. But once I realized the full potential for a great college experience by taking control, I was happy.

When you ask your parents how they knew eachother was "the one", they say they just knew. When you walk onto the campus for the first time, or visit the college's website - you know. You get that feeling that you can't describe to anyone. You don't even want to describe it to anyone! Disregard distance and money in the equation, those things can be easily fixed with plane tickets and financial aid. Just focus on how you felt when you stepped on the campus, those first few moments will tell you everything you need to know. If you are unsure or don't feel that into the school, then tthat college is not the one.

Remember that what you think is your dream school might not be as great as you think it is. It is really up to the student to make the most of his/her experience. You can go to any school and not make an effort to meet people or get involved and obviously will have a bad expreience.

My advice to young, prospective college applicants would be to choose the school that best fits your major. Choose the school that you know will make you happy in the end when you graduate and get your degree. Don't choose a college because ALL your friends are going to same college. Choose the one where you know no one and start a brand new life or should I say beginning. My advice to parents is to be supportive and always be there for your children because they are going to need you throughout their college experience. Choose wisely and make sure you have a back-up plan, meaning apply for as many colleges as possible that way you have other options open to you. Good luck and always remember to dream big! go the distance and never let anyone tell you that you can't! because you know that you can.

Make sure you take the time to go visit the campus and interact with some of the students. If the school atmosphere and people there do not fit you, it could be the worst four years of your life. I don't think many people understand the significance of the choice you make when deciding which school to attend. The school you decide to attend will be on your record (resume) for your entire life, thus it is very important that you go to a school that you will be proud of. Many of the top firms only hire from "prestigious" target schools and thus makes it a lot more accessible to get a good job post-graduation. Talk to people you know who have gone to the school because they know best about the school. That doesn't mean talk to someone who graduated from the school 20 years ago because a lot changes during that time. Ideally, talk to someone who is currently there or recently graduated from that school. Also, make sure that you get more than one perspective on the school because everyones' experiences are different.

Don't be fooled by information sessions and collegiate rankings when picking a school, the best way to know if you fit in a school is to meet the undergraduates and professors that go there and see whether or not they are the type of people you want teaching you and hanging out with you for the next 2/4/6 years. Numbers don't matter as much as a lot of people seem to make them out to be.

We all eventually "find" who we are after a few years of college. Pick the one that you know will make you the person you want to be for the rest of your life. It may be a tough decision but after enough research, it will eventually become clear.

Make the most of your college experience. Get out there and make friends and get involved in everything your college has to offer. Make sure you feel comfortable on campus the moment you get there.

I would suggest that they ignore the price tags while applying to schools, and to apply to as many school that catch their interests. They need to ignore what the choices their high school friends are making because they need to apply and find a college that is well known in their chosen major. If they do not have a major their selection should be based on the school that gives them the most opportunities to select a major in their interests. Once they have been accepted to schools, I would highly suggest doing an "overnight program" or at bare minimum visiting the schools for a tour. You cannot know if you will fit in unless you step foot on that campus and it just feels right. If no schools feel right or if you do not have your heart set on a major, I would suggest doing 1 or 2 years of a community/junior college (saves a ton of money!!!) Finally, when you are at the school, follow your interests and join as many activities that relate to those interests. This is a great way to make connections and to meet amazing groups of friends.