Azusa Pacific University Top Questions

Assuming I can go back and talk to my freshman self, I would advise myself to keep up with my school work. Don't be afraid or too prideful to ask for help in subjects that are difficult to understand. If I could advise myself in my senior year, after I had pretty much killed my high school career, I would say to get moving at a junior college. Take as many classes as possible and don't let making money become your number one proiority. Get your general ed classes out of the way and in a few years you can apply to Azusa Pacific. Don't take years off of school, just keep moving forward and keep pushing. I know school isn't the most fun thing to do, but getting a degree will better your life in the long run. It sounds cliched, but it's true.

Finding the right college can be one of the most confusing tasks of the life of a student and their parents. There are so many factors that both the student and their parents must take into consideration in order to ensure a successful life for both the student and the parents. To choose the right college, both the student and the parents must do their duties. First of all, the student has to research the type of college they wish to attend; they must keep in mind whether or not they prefer a small school versus a big school. Students must also see the location and decide if the weather is comfortable for them. Another great way to choose the right college is to actually talk to graduates or students who are currently attending the college one might be interested in, this is actually effective inorder to know both the positives and negatives the school has. Parents must be supportive and encouraging, for example parents should make room on their schedules to visit colleges and ask questions as well. The parents should also do their own research on the school their child might consider to attend.

For parents and young students looking for the right college, I would say to go with your first instinct; chances are you are right. Another thing that I would say is make sure to visit the schools you apply too and are thinking about attending. For me, visiting the campuses made all the difference and made making my decision easier. Once you walk onto a college campus, you will know if you can attend school there or not. Also, be sure to learn about the community on campus. A welcoming, friendly community will make or break the college experience. Don't be too concerned about finances; if you really want to go to a certain school, don't be afraid to seek out financial aid from that school as well as other places! There are alot of scholarships out there, you just have to look!

Look at all of your options and make sure that each school is not just putting on a show for perspective students.

My advice to every student looking for the right college is to follow your heart. When you step foot onto the college of your dreams, you'll know it. If you are faced with challenges when it comes to getting in, do NOT give up. Don't settle for less, don't give up your dream because of a rejection letter. Personally, APU is way out of my financial range but it doesn't matter to me because being there is MY dream. People will put you down for your college choice but don't let them get to you. As for making the most out of your college experience I have to say try everything! There are SO many opportunities out there to you, take advantage of them! Join the surf club, the science club, participate in Homecoming Week activities, run for the Student Government, just DO it. And don't forget to make the most out of your living situation. The people you live with can become life-long friends if you foster those relationships. College is a great experience, why not enjoy it all?

Always, always, always visit the campus before you make your final decision. The school may look great on paper, but you may step onto campus and simply not blend with the atmosphere and the people. Attend the school's orientation week, talk to alumni , current students and students with your intended major, and visit a class or two. Of the schools I applied and got into, Azusa Pacific University was my last choice. However, after visiting campus and meeting the friendly faces of the APU community, I knew that was the school I would thrive most at, both academically and socially. You will be spending the next four (or more) years in this environment: a short trip to your potential new home can help guarantee your future happiness.

Don't buy into the name of the college you look into. Get into the college that best meets your needs!

Find a school that's committed to teaching you more than just academics. Find a college that strives to teach you about life, about yourself and how to be a better person, about the world and how you can make a difference in it. Find a place where people care about you as a person, not just a student. Find a university that will prepare you for a lifestyle, not just a job. Find a place with strong community, somewhere you can be happy, a place you can call home. Don't settle for less, you don't get a second chance. Parents, don't deny your kids a chance for an exceptional college experience. Don't pressure or force them into anything. Students, be thankful to your parents for what they're doing for you. If finances are a problem, don't give up, find a way! You can't afford to live in regret. At college, make friends, join clubs, support the home team, learn something new, attend a concert, go see a play, make goals and achieve them, find your creed, dream big, fear little, love abundantly, believe in yourself, and never be the same again!

Make the college work for you. You're applying, so when visiting make so that you're showing yourself and your attributes and to identify which college would be the best fit to recieve them. Doing it this way makes it less daunting!!!! Parents, remember to do fasfa early!!! the earlier the better. you will have a better range of fiancial aid and a higher offer. also, if your kid wants to a go to a different school than you had in mind, be sure to hear them out. you've raised them and given them good judgement so if they're intrested in a certian school, it might not be that bad. kids, remember your parents are just there to help. it might seem like they're are trying to rule everything but they just want to help. and remember, college is what YOU make it. don't expect it to just happen. you have to live life pro-actively!

Finding the right college for you often feels like a job in-and-of itself. And most likely, there isn't one school out there that has everything on your wishlist. But don't let that discourage you. It's all about finding a balance. It is important to take into consideration many different aspects of campus life before deciding on a school. Academics are key. The reason you are going to school is to obtain your degree, so make it count! BUT...don't forget that having a social life is important as well. Make a list of the top 5 ideas you most strongly believe in and see how you can be a part of them on campus. I, for instance, love ministry work and so I decided to take time once a week to tutor intercity youth. It's all about balance. It's ok to have a little fun in college; I mean, it is a once in a lifetime experience, but don't forget what is most important: growing as an individual to make a difference in the world!

I would tell them to consider that the funnest school may mean the most academic struggle. Also, that it may be harder to get involved in a bigger campus.

Go somewhere where you find happiness. You can receive an education anywhere if you choose to do that, so just find a place that fits you and goes well with your personality, values and beliefs. Do not get pressured into going to a college because someone else wants you there or a friend is going there. Take the lead. This is your life so take control. This is a BIG DEAL. Keep focused, but have fun. Make the most of every day and when the going gets tough --- remember to look ahead to you future. Things might be hard now, but it will be so worth it in the end.

Visiting the colleges that you apply to is extremely important! If you are able, attempt to stay overnight in a dorm or apartment (OUTSIDE of Preview Week---it's a little tainted). Dads, find ways to VERBALLY praise your children. Moms, continue to encourge and speak into existence your child's success. Future friends, give everything you do ("good" OR "bad") your ALL. If you're not going to give it your all, don't do it at all. This part of your life is too short to do anything less. Lastly, stay optimistic---but that's a basic life lesson. Even a survey like this has reminded me and renewed my appreciation and pride in my university. And remember, we find ourselves in Christ, not the other way around. Find Him to find yourself, and enjoyable live free from what most of the world will forever struggle against. Good luck in your search, choice, and acceptance...

Find a school that fits you and your personality! The people need to be like minded and similar to who you are and what you believe. College is a life-changing time and your peers help define who you are. Find a college with great people who attend it and who actually like where they go. Peers rub off and being involved and interacting with them can be good or bad. So find a school that fits your personality and character. Even if it may not seem who you are right now, maybe find a school with people at it that are like who you want to be. The studen body must welcoming and friendly so find one that does a great job and is happy that you are going to attend there.

Plan finances accordingly. Money will be needed to cover what financial aid does not. Keep in mind that books, supplies, parking fees, etc., do add up over time. College is a great experience regardless, but even more so when planning is completed.

My advice to parents would be to make sure that whereever your son/daughter decides to go, that they will be supported through their journey. You want them to choose a college that will help them beyond their degree because the one thing I have noticed over and over again is that once someone finishes, they STOP. Once we earn our degree we are given a skeleton key, but no one points us in the right direction to which door will continue our journey. So we freeze and have a degree, but it becomes meaningless. My advice to students would be to make sure that you have two back up plans because as we voyage on a 2-4 year road, we may find out that it is not what we wanted to do. We and I have changed my mind with what direction I am traveling in up to the very last minute. Choices do not get easier, they just seem to confuse us more. Look into every opportunity given to you before saying no to any of them. Knowledge is POWER and it is better to try something new than to regret.

Finding the right college for your student can be a long and tedious project, but in the long run it is important to make a good decision. Even if the student decides not to remain at the original choice of college or university, the experiences he/she has at that school(s) will affect them for the rest of their lives. The college experience is one of the most important times in a person's life, whether they attend school or not--it is a time when teenagers are becoming adults and trying to find their place in the world, so the right environment for the student is necessary. It may sound simple, but the best thing to do when choosing a school is deciding what are the most important aspects to the student, and then making a pros and cons list of all the schools being considered. The only way a solid decision can be made is if both student and parents visit all of the schools. After that, it is up to the student to make the most of their college experience by choosing school/community activities that interest them and not stretching themself too much.

Dear parents and/or students searching for a college, When looking for colleges, there are a few things I would like you to keep in mind that have made my experience more enjoyable. Look for a college that is in your price range, where the social aspect encourages academic achievement and a strong community, and has good programs to help your health and well-being. If a school is too expensive it will be too stressful to make the grades. The people you interact with are going to make or break your experience so pick a college that seems to have the most friendly, intelligent people as apposed to the most beautiful facilities. Make sure you are going to be able to get the exercise, fresh air, good food, and counseling that you need in order to make your experience the happiest and most stress free. I really enjoy college and I think you will too if you find the college that best suits you. Visiting the college can help you decide. It is also great to find out what colleges specialize in your passion such as theater or music.

Dont apply to a college because its in an area you think you will like; apply to a college because it has the best programs for the major you are choosing and because you think you could fit in easy on campus and wont have to struggle to make new friends or to get perfect grades. And dont get caught up in the whole party/drinking scene because its overrated and doesn't help you get to your goal in life.

It is really important to know what you are looking for in a school before you go and check it out. It is easy to go to a big beautiful school and get sucked with out knowing anything about it. It is important to know your ability to learn in a classroom. Can you sit in a lecture of 500 people and still learn or do you need more attention in the classroom? Do you want to go to a research school which will have many foreign teachers who are difficult to learn from? Are you looking for a church or a spiritual place near by and have people told you they actually like that church? How many rules do you want on you? You can go to a school that is as strict as no boys allowed in your dorm room except for fridays from 9-12 or a dorm where guys can stay all night and sneak in and use your bathroom too? And whereever you are be aware of the challenges you will face with both sex, drugs, and alcohol and know your limitations and have a plan how to keep to what you want to do!

DON'T PANIC! The right school will become apparent to you. Just keep visiting as many different campuses as you can, spend the night in the dorm, if possible, and take a lot of tours. If you panic through this process, stress can cloud your vision of you or your child's potential future home. Relax, though it is a big decision, it CAN be an easy one to make. Also- get going on those scholarships NOW! It doesn't matter where you go, you will need that financial aid. Students- get a job! Parents- help your kids find good scholarships to start applying to! Not all scholarships require that you be a senior in high school to apply. Your financial situation will greatly weight your decision for a school.

One of the best pieces of advice I received from a friend in college as a senior in high school was that in visiting prospective schools, visit on non-preview days and don't act like a visitor. I did this when I visited my first choice school, the school I attend now. I am so glad I did. I saw classes, people, and the environment on a normal day and felt like I belonged. I was given smiles and help if I asked, and all the while this was assuming I was already a student there. Also, I would, as corny as it may sounds, make a comparison chart if you have a lot of choices to weed through. Ask friends already in college what little details they wished they'd investigated, or are glad that they did, such as availability of laundry facilities or the availability of food on weekends and alternatives in the area at local businesses. Overall, try to envision yourself as a student for a day, what all would make a perfect day there for you and if that campus facilitates what you need. You could really live there someday.

My advice for parents and students looking at colleges is to put the decision in God's hands. Check out several different colleges that you think you may be interested in and compare the pro's and con's of each, but in the end if you get stuck on where to go, pray about it. As for making the most of your college experience, one of the biggest pieces of advice I can give is to stay true to yourself. Find friends who have the same morals and are interested in the same things as you because if you try to be someone who you are not, you will not enjoy or fully enjoy your time in college. College is where you can find your best life-long friends so if you don't compromise your character you are much more likely to find others who are similar and worthy to be your friend for life.

Don't go into the process set on one school, and don't settle for a university where you don't feel at home(you'll be spending the next 4+ years here!!!). There is always a college out there with EVERYTHING the student and parent want, don't sell yourself, finances, or options short. Most colleges will give back to you in financial aid and academic assistance what you gave in the application process. Oh, and one more thing: visit the school, those pamphlets only highlight the best places on campus, and every school is only as good as its worst.

If you want to find the right college research all the possibilities. You want what's best for you (your child) academically, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Visit the campuses and take a tour or talk to some of the students there. A huge factor is financial aid, so I would check out how much the school is willing to give to. Also, pray. Trust in God to guide you where He wants you to go. As far as making the most of your college experience, I encourage you to just immerse yourself in the culture of your college. Don't hold back. Let yourself be vulnerable to others. When you're vulnerable to others, they tend to let themselves also be vunerable to you. My biggest mistake was not going out there and looking for friends, social events, and ways to get involved. I stayed in my room and waited for those things to come to me. Also, join clubs and go to the events that your school organizes. Don't be afraid of being hurt or losing something or else you'll never do anything worth remembering. Be careful, but not paranoid. Seize every opportunity that comes your way.

Make soure that you are able to finance it and would want to stay there for four years.

In order for any prospective student to find a college that he/she will not only be successful both academically and in future endevors but also enjoy; one must look at the history of the school's success of programs offered, visit the actual campus and surrounding location, speak with professors faculty, and students, and be on the campus during "active hours" to experience the culture of the school and it's people.

Research, explore, find the right fit. Check out as many colleges as possible. Go visit on campus. Talk to people. Find what you are passionate about. You are much more likely to succeed in something that you love to do. Make friends. Friends push you to do better. They help you through. Above all, find joy in what you do.

The most important thing to do is to meet the people-the staff, students, faculty and professors! Money will work out if you want and need it to.

I would highly recommend visiting the school, more than once if you can. Utilize the opportunities they offer to meet with admissions counselors, visit classes, and if possible, stay on campus over night. These experiences will give you a more authentic flavor of campus life. If it is impossible to visit, ask as many questions as you can over the phone, look into making contact with current students to get their perspectives, and make sure to request a catalogue from the school. Because I was interested in attending a Christian university, learning about the faith community on campus and how I could be involved was very important to me. If you don't know what activities you are particularily interested in, take every opportunity to participate in the events on campus, espcially in the first few weeks. These are a great way to make friends and feel connected to the community, especially if you are attending a school far from home. In classes that you need motivation to attend, do the math to calculate how much you are paying for each session. If that doesn't work, find something that does because falling behind isn't fun. And, have fun!

The best advice that I cn give about finding the right college is to think about what you want to do with your life and what you want out of college. If you are interested in a specific field, find a school that has a focused program for that and talk to people that go there or have gone there and get their opinions. Even though the school won't lie about how good it is, they will always put the best information out there and to get the most reliable information, you need to talk to someone who has had first hand experience there. To make the most out of your college experience, remember that your primary focus is to learn and get an education, but in the midst of that, you are there to live for the present and not just the future. Get involved and meet people that will encourage you in life as well as academics.

I would advise them to specifically look at schools that specialize in the field or major that the student wants to obtain their degree in and to set high standards and not settle for less.

Take the time to find out what is right for you. There are so many different aspects of college life that can't be discovered in an hour long campus tour. Talk to current students. Stay on campus for a weekend. Get in touch with teachers you may like to take classes from. Research the department that you are interested in majoring in. Once you have decided on the right school for you, get involved! Don't be afraid to try new things. Study abroad. Join a club. Make friends that may not be like your friends from home or high school. The beginning of college is one of the few times you will have the opportunity to reinvent yourself. Don't set limits on your abilities. If you allow yourself and your college experience to be great, it will be.

be sure to know that the atmosphere around campus suits who you are. There will be finanical strain but dont let that take away from where you would have the best experience. College goes by quickly so be very intentional with who you interacrt with on a daily basis.

you really need find a school that matches your same values. while its good to go to a new place with different ideas and cultures, too many people make rushed decisions and end up at a school that really does not match what they believe, wether it be moral, social, or economic values. its great to go to a place that challenges your beleifs but to make sure it is not completely different. students really need to find a place they can see themselves at and a place where they can have great community. too many students go through school without a great support network and it is so vital to have people you can have fun with and talk with and just people to be there for you when times are rough and you dont think you can make it anymore!! parents need to learn to let go and not expect their kids to stay in contact 24/7 their students are on a journey of finding who they really are and need to let them be free to do that.

Spend time on the campus and meet with students who aren't on the admission's staff. Evaluate proximty to resources (banks, grocery store, etc). Think about weekend activities and opportunities for study abroad (along with the costs and help available on campus to send you out and help you when you are gone). Seek out students via Facebook groups, but get advice from more than two students (you might end up talking to the most bitter student or the most enthusiastic student). Remember that it is more than getting a degree: making new friends that will be a second family, gaining skills that will help you use your degree, networking, new experiences, etc. If study abroads seem unaffordable, try taking summer classes to cut a year off, which would offset the price of studying abroad. Also, when you set foot on campus as a new student, seek out a mentor in your department and approach your classes remembering that for every class you miss you are wasting $X (find x by dividing your tuition by the amount of hours per semester) - it will help you keep perspective of your studies when the temptation to skip arises!

The advice I would give parents and their prospective students when looking for the right college is to make sure you take your child and yourself for a visit onto the campus. Do this for all the schools you visit. This automatically helps you and your child to get the feel of whether or not the campus is right for him/her. I knew right away this is where I wanted to be for the next four years of my life, here at APU because I loved how friendly everyone was and the campus itself, really caught my eye. It really is a beautiful campus. You really have to make the most out of your college experience. Getting involved is the key. Most college campuses are much larger than what you're used to so you have to throw yourself into somewhere. It really helps to be around other students outside the classroom and knowing that you are making a difference in someone's life other than your own. It is truly rewarding! Have fun but keep serious with your studies.

Research, and visit the schools that you are considering.

Selecting the correct college is a very important process that takes much thought. The right university is not necessarily the largest one. Instead, many smaller private institutions can offer comparable programs with a much more edifying environment. Although the annual tutition costs may be slightly higher, the average graduation time is significantly less because of the availability of classes. Parents need to actually allow their child to spend a few nights on campus to experience which college fits best. Ultimately, the child needs to be excited about his or her choice being that this is the place they will soon call home. Although college is primarily to obtain an education, the experience is just as important. A degree is certainly of high value, but the maturation and growth that occurs in the college process is arguably more beneficial. To ensure that these life goals come into fruition, it is vital for the new college student to have a plan of action. The student needs to plan each course that will be taken in order to graduate. In following this plan, the student will learn life planning along with achieving a goal that was set forth.

Colleges can have amazing reputations, but it means nothing without a deep-rooted understanding of the purpose of knowledge. So say knowledge is to better oneself, but I believe that is obtained to better the world and influence others to better the living conditions and understanding of life globally. Also community is a vital characteristic of a good college because without a network of people who are willing to help each other to succeed, then what serves as the basis of compassion for others.

First of all, go to the school with a plan. Figure out your goal(s) and then research all your options carefully in order to know what your best possible option would be. Look carefully at all the time and money requirments for any major you might be interested in. Most importantly, your perspective should be as realistic and practical as possible, that is, don't just look at what your dream is or what would be the greatest achievement. That is all well and good, but life gets in the way, and so you need to be as down-to-earth as possible. Always strive for the best, but make sure it is reachable.

Choosing the college you or your student will attend is not something to take lightly. The process can be difficult, as there are many factors to consider, but among the most important are religion, student resources, and class size. Whether you choose to attend a religious university or not, feeling comfortable with your religion on campus is important. If a student cannot feel comfortable on campus because of his or her faith, it could hinder the student's ability to perform to his or her best. A campus without sufficient student resources can make college life difficult. The campus should have a tutoring center, a career or job center, a financial aid office, a health center, and a campus security office. These help a student succeed in academics, finances, health, and safety. Lastly, class size can affect academic success. Whether the student prefers large lecture-style classes, or intimate discussions, the experience. If the class size is too large, a student's achievement may be hindered due to lack of individual assistance. No matter where you choose to go, consider all the student's interests before selecting the university, or the student may have a discouraging college experience.

when choosing a college, be sure to visit the campus. For me, after hearing about APU i was very enthused and knew it was a school I should consider, but I also felt that way about other schools. The thing that made the decision for me was when I visited the campus (along with many other campuses in the same weekend). I knew instantly APU was a place where I fit; I felt at home. this is very important when choosing a college, beacause it will essentially be where you will be living for the next four years, and you want it to be a place where you can both have fun and be comfortable. As far as making the most of your college experience, take advantage of the opportunity to meet new people and have fun, but remember your own needs and make sure you are taking care of yourself. Sometimes it is best to stay home and study or rest rather than go out, if you have been going out every night that week. Also, in the academic sense, get involved in your major. Get to know your professors and show a good work ethic.

If at all possible visit the college, it makes a huge difference. For myself, I struggled my first semester on a pre-dominantly Caucasian campus. For the first time I was no longer the majority race and my minority status finally became a reality for me. I did not know it would affect me so much. Experience the campus, sit in on a class, go to a basketball game and most importantly see what resources the school offers in the case that your student is struggling to fit in. My university provides counseling sessions in the psychologists office, we have a number of part-time pastors on top of our three full time campus pastors ready to assist, we have a variety of social/ethnic organizations to get involved in, and a mentoring program for students. By getting plugged in to these resources early it will make it easier in selecting the right college.

You can not just look at one particular aspect of a school. You need to look at the school as a whole. I was recruited by this school, and I didn't exactly choose it but Azusa Pacific is the best school I have been to. Besides looking at just the academics of a school you need to focus on the type of community you desire living in. Azusa has a great sense of community, like a huge family. I went to Sonoma State and there was no sense of community just drinking and a small school feel. So I just recommend looking at many aspects of a school and visiting it so you can feel whether it is a right fit. I truly think that you can get a great feel by visiting a school. If you do not like the school always remember you can transfer so just go with your gut.

When deciding where to go for college, just let the kids decide. They know what is best for themselves. If they want to go to the private Christian college rather than the state school for free, then let them do it. It is their choice and they know themselves teh best. Thats what my parents did for me and my sister and we could not be happier at our choices.

it is important to really think of all the areas a student is looking at a college for. there is a perfect college for everyone depending on location, size, religious affiliation (or lack there of) political worldview, extra cirricular activities, and more. It is important as the student to pick his/her own college and not base their choice on their parents or family expectatons. College is a personal decision that should suit a student for 4 years, and they should find what they want, not their parents. for so long i wanted a school, but realized there were other plans for me and then I found Azusa. Keep your options open. Realize what kind of money you have for a school and make sure their Fnancial opotunities apply to you before deciding to go there. If you love a school make sure all areas are to your liking. Allow yourself to become excited about a school. It is ok to do! School spirit is so important. Make your four years count. Make a difference in your community and in the world. Get involved. Love on others and that love will fall back on you. Work hard but have fun!

Find a college that you enjoy being at, has the programs you want and can suit your best interests. Visit the school, talk to the teachers and students because they can give you the best perspective. Do no settle for something less than what you want, aim high and if you really want to go somewhere do what it takes to get there.

Know whether you want to go to a Christian school or not. That is huge. Otherwise, know what environment best suits you.

Visit the college and talk to the department to which you're major is in and talk to students that attend the school.