Butler University Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Brian

In order to find the college that is right for you, you must fust identify what qualities you truly want in a school. What majors are offered, the size, the type of students that attend, etc. all are important characteristics to consider. I had to visit many different types of school trying to figure out exactly what I wanted in a school. I recommend visiting many schools of various sizes, shapes, and colors if you are unsure what kind of college you want to attend. Once you decide on what sort of school you would like to attend, I suggest evaluating all those schools you have visited and those similar to the type you like. It all comes down to fullfilling the criteria and what draws you personally. I recommend physically visiting schools to which you wish to apply. I fell in love with the school I am attending when I walked the campus and saw the students. Ultimately, it comes down to what you want college do for you, and what you plan on getting out of the college experience. Making the most of the college experience is easy. Try anything and everything. Don't be afraid to try.

Laura

Choosing the "right college" is one of the most difficult decisions a student must make. The most important piece of advice I have is to visit, visit, visit! Check out the campus, sit in a class you might have to take as a freshman, talk with advisors, students, faculty, and imagine yourself walking those hallways every day, sitting in that class, or talking with those individuals. Can you picture yourself doing these things? It's a hard thing to grasp, but making the decision is such an exciting one! Take advantage of the opportunity and find the place that makes you feel the most comfortable. Once the decision has been made, it is even more important to make the best of your college experience. Get a random roommate, be optimistic, socialize, and study hard. Surround yourself with friends and become friends with those who are different than you. Any college is just pouring with diversity and opportunities. Don't pass them up! Whichever Univeristy you decide on, make the most of it. It has been the most exciting and educational time of my life!

Doru

Go to a school that you know you are going to enjoy, and but also be open minded. Do as much as you can in your 4 years because once they are gone, they're gone forever.

Kyle

Be flexible and open to any opportunities that may come. You never know who you are going to meet that may be able to provide you with any opportunities that you may receive.

Colleen

When trying to decide where to go, listen to your gut. Even though this wasn't my first choice in my mind, it really should have been, and I am so, so, so, so, SO glad I didn't get accepted into the program at my first choice, because then I never would have ended up here. So anyway. Trust to your gut.

Victoria

I think it is most important to go with your gut when deciding where to go to school. If you feel like a small school will make you the happiest go with that. Don't go somewhere just based on where your best friend or significant other is going. I know that I made the decision that was best for me & I have never regretted it.

Michael

You need to find a school that is right for you and Ii is important to visit the school to help determine this. Thinking about the size of classes, the variety of classes, and the general atmosphere of the college should help you find a good fit for you. Talking to a few students can really give an insight to the workings of the university. Once you are at the school you have chosen, a balnce will need to be found between work and play. Nobody will be happy if you forget your coursework and fail out. On the other hand if you focus on you studies all the time and never socialize, you will drive yourself crazy and miss an important part of college life.

Abby

The adivce I would give parents and students who are trying to find the right college is, don't worry about the cost. Yes, I understand that college is very expensive, some more than others. But when it comes to college, not only are academics important, but also the experience outside of the classroom. If you are at a college that you love, and money is important, you will apply yourself during college because you don't want to be wasting your money. The staff and faculty at a college are willing to work something out with a student if they are working hard during college. Don't let money dominate your dreams. Everything will work out in the end. Money will come, and your dreams will be able to be accomplished attending a college that you love. And parents, you will be able to see your student become succesful at a place where they are happy at.

Stuart

My advice would be to first be to ask around, do research, and apply to all the colleges you are thinking about attending. Talk to your high school counselor about what you are interested in studying or where you think would be a good fit for you and they can help! Also, they can offer different types of scholarships and even talk to you about how to prepare for the transition into college. Think about everything that you are interested in and see if that fits with the college that you want to go to. Don't be satisfied with the college that offered you the most money, but you don't really like. Once you make a decision, make sure you know that you will be happy there. The transition to college can be hard if you do not prepare properly, but talking with your college counselors in your department will help you to get on the right track. Being organized and planning ahead are simple, but major keys to college success. Lastly, don't limit yourself to staying inside your room; get involved through organizations and extracurricular actives on campus and always try to broaden your horizons.

Paige

I would advise parents and/or students in the process of finding the right college to do many campus tours & stay overnight with a host student in order to get the best look at & honest information about the campus & its students. Talking to older friends/family members to see what they like best & least about their campus can also be helpful so that when on the campus tours the individual can ask questions up front & is not left with a surprise should he/she attend the school. The size of the school along with the student's character should also be taken into consideration. For example, if the student is easily persuaded or gives into peer pressure easily, a large public school may not be for that person because of the many activities surrounding alcohol. In order to make the most of the college experience, the student should try out as many clubs as possible to see where his or her interests lie. The individual should also be open-minded in order to meet people different than him/herself and be more able to embrace different cultures. All of these suggestions will make for a more rewarding college experience.

Krista

Find a college where you feel comfortable right away. If the people walking down the sidewalk do not seem like people you could be friends with, you may not be in the right place. Although academics are the most important aspect of college, you will not be happy if you do not feel socially connected to the school, and this is impossible if you do not have anything in common with the students. I am proud of the decision I made to attend Butler because I believe that I am getting the best education possible. It is expensive, but I know I will never regret spending the money on a fantastic education. Look into the job placement rate of a school, because it is a huge indicator of the success you will find there. Most importantly, just find what makes you happy. If you do not like your major, change it! If you don't like your classes and they aren't required, drop them! Get the most out of your college experience, because it will be time to grow up when you graduate.

Meredith

Decide what you want from your college experience as well as what you want for your future and find the college that fits those requirements. Once you are at college, don't be afraid to put yourself out there and join organizations and get involved on campus - it will help you meet people and make friends so that you feel more comfortable at your new school and you will have so much fun!

Sara

Don't give in to the pressures of family and friends. Pick an undergraduate school you feel comfortable in, but one that also challenges you enough to force you to more complex ways of thinking

Janice

Listen to your children: even if a school seems too expensive or not right according to your standards, allow you child to expore the university and find out on their own. Encourage them to go outside their box.

Kristina

My advice is to start looking early and apply early. That way you have plenty of time to make up your mind. Also, visit all the campuses you can before or during the application process. Try to stay over night if possible to get a real sense of the campus. Once you start college, get involved, but not overly involved. Pick the clubs, sports, or Greek organizations that are important to you and stay committed to them. Also, go through rush/ recruitment. You will never know if being Greek is right for you unless you check it out. Even if you don't join a house, it is a great experience and you can make great friends during it. Most of all, have fun and enjoy. Those 4 years go faster then you could imagine!

Rachel

Explore all of your options, financial need aside. Go and visit the school's you are interested in because sometimes seeing the campus can change your opinion. Look into both small and large schools and see what fits you best. Don't be afraid to go far from home. Talk to the financial aid office and see what is available through the school and local communities. When you are in college, don't be afraid to try new things, take classes just for fun, get out and meet new people, inspire others; this is your chance to start over if you aren't happy with who you were before, or felt you couldn't be yourself before. College isn't for everyone, but it's well worth trying for...it really does open so many doors!

Erin

Don't settle for a college that doesn't meet/exceed your expectations, and definitely don't choose a school based on the amount of financial aid offered. Also go on as many visits as possible. Look at all your options and write down pros and cons for all schools right after your visit or even during your time on campus. Don't be afraid to ask questions either. To make the most of the college experience you should try new things or expand your horizons. Also you should take chances and make as many friends as possible. Join a club or greek house, but don't spread yourself too thin. You'll get too busy and have no time to relax, and trust me.. you will want time to sit down and relax.

Alycia

When looking at schools, make sure to visit the career center to see what resources are available. If you wish to stay in the city in which you reside after you graduate, it is probably best to attend a school in the same state. Make sure to visit a variety of schools both in size and locations to find your best fit and ask the same questions at each school you go to. If there are opportunities to do overnight visits, do those as well to find out what the social life and students are really like.

Lauren

look at a lot of schools

Adrienne

Allow your child to not only tour the school but stay with a current student in the field that they are interested in. That way your child will get to experience the people that he/she will encounter and how classes will be conducted.They also will get to experience the food and the living conditions. It is a hands-on experience that is not only informative but fun!

Marianne

College is one of the biggest steps one takes towards adulthood. Take time to visit campuses, check out the curriculum for interested majors and plan out the future financially to make sure that the college is right for you. It is awesome when you know you have found the right college and you know that you will be a part of the school until you graduate. You want to be able to make good grades while still being challenged, get real world experience, have fun, be a part of campus, have school spirit and pride, and make friends that you have common interests as well as friends who have uncommon interests. College is where you can find yourself and really express who you truly are. Make sure that you select a college where you can fulfill all of those needs and be happy!

Samuel

I would suggest that students get involved as much as possible in campus organizations and programs whether that is through greek life or otherwise. I would also suggest that students pick a school that is academically right for their major and not just because their friends are attending a certain university. They can keep their friends and will get the quality education in the field they desire at another university.

Danielle

Choosing the perfect college for a high school graduate is about pushing them outside of their comfort zone and challenging them without completely destroying the environment they're accustomed to and hurting their academic experience. Meaning, if your child learns best in a small classroom setting, then they should probably attend a small school because they'll be comfortable in that learning environment. But try attending a more ethnically diverse school?-or one with organizations you've never even heard of. College is about earning your degree. But it's also about finding out who you are and if you keep yourself in the comfort zone that you've always been in, you'll never find out. Then you wasted your experience and the world is a much scarier place. Obviously finances are always a factor, but where there's a will there's a way. Find a campus that stimulates you intellectually, aesthetically, and challenges your views and you'll find a way to afford it.

Monica

Start early, think it through, understand that it is impossable to forsee every thing.

Tabitha

My best advice that I can give prospective students is to follow your instincts. Narrow down your choices to a few schools that you could succeed at. Make sure they all have good programs and will help you to excel in your chosen field. After that, follow your heart. Go where you feel comfortable. Don't worry about cost, there is so much aid out there that you can go wherever you want as long as you are willing to work hard to get there. If you feel comfortable at the school and think that you will be happy there, then chances are that is where you will succeed. College is about the education you get while attending classes, but it also is about the person you grow into while you are there. Make sure the place you choose will help you grow into the successful adult that you want to be.

Courtney

Follow your heart, and save as much money as you can!!

Jesica

Students should take time to visit the college not only in a regular college trip, but with normal students as well. They should experiance the entire campus including things such as dorm rooms, food, various classes. Life off of campus is important as well. Prospective students need to see what activities go on outside of campus, what transpertation is avaliable and what opportunities are avaliable for possible jobs or internships. The main reason students attend college is to obtain a job. When at school, treat each day as if it were a job. Make sure that eight hours of honest work is put in at least five days a week. If necessary, do not return to the dorm until all of the school work is finished. Then while having fun on the weekends, school work is caught up and there is no need for guilt.

Jeff

The key to finding the right college is to keep an open mind and look around at different types of schools. When I applied for college, I applied to seventeen schools. Some schools were private, some were public. Some were big, some were small. By applying to and visiting so many varying institutions I was able to better understand the different types of colleges, and that helped me decide which kind of college I wanted to attend. As far as getting the most out of the college experience, the student must become involved and actively participate in different organizations. Once on campus, the student needs to look into what different clubs and intramural opportunities the school offers and then decide which ones to join. The key for joining clubs is to join enough where the student is involved and meeting new people, but at the same time has enough time left to do homework, study, hang out with friends, and have some fun on the weekend. As a student looking for a college, or maybe just arriving on campus, the best advice I can give is to look around, and make sure you find somewhere you fit in.

Amber

I would tell a student shopping for a college to choose one that is equally comfortable and acedemically challenging. College is your home for at least 4 years and the people around you are your family. It's much easier to face a tough curriculum with the comfort and support of an environment like that.

Alexandra

Narrow your choices down by your preferred size, location, and price. Once you've picked out a few schools that offer the program you're interested in, VISIT it! Take a tour and ask questions! Some of the answers you may hear may be the ones you need to listen to. If it all possible, sit it on a class of interest. This will allow you to see an example of some of the teaching styles, and where you would fit in in comparison as a high school,transfer, etc. student. This will also let you see how maybe one school's classes will differ from another. Once you've selected your college, don't be afraid to meet people! Introduce yourself the first day and get involved. Extra-curriculars are the best ways to meet new people. These tips should prove very helpful in finding the right college and making the most of the college experience.

Zachary

Find a school with a good program for the particular field. Don't fret over the money; if the student is good enough the university will typically give many scholarship opportunities to the student. Always make sure to put studying first but one does not need to drown his or herself in homework. Find a healthy balance between putting studying first but still having fun on campus.

Kevin

Ask about how important Greek life is on campus and what people do for fun from someone who goes to the school that you think you can get a true unbiased answer from. The tour guides sometimes make things sound better than they really are and sometimes they spread misinformation by accident if they are talking about an area of campus life that they don't really know about. Think about what sort of activities you would like to get involved in before getting to the school and inquire about them until you find someone who can give you an answer.

Emily

Allow your child to look at schools themselves and not choose the school for them or pressure them into the school they went to. It?s a huge decision, and if you end up at a school you don't like, you end up having a diminished experience or drop out. If they choose, they?re more likely to choose a place they feel comfortable and are more likely to grow in. While College is mainly about academic education, it is also very much about life education and growth, and that can be achieved with more ease at a school one feels comfortable enough to fail in. It?s in the failures that one succeeds. I would not be where I am today had I not failed in one way or another. My failures allowed me to see pathways I would not have taken otherwise, and allowed me to gain confidence in myself and my abilities. Making the most of college means experiencing new ideas, cultures, people, ways of life, everything! Finding yourself, taking advantage of oppunities, and helping others. Take risks, and know that you may fail. It will all pay off in the end!

Whitney

The advice that I would give students that are looking for the right school is number one, make sure that you look at every aspect of the school. Look at the; social life, campus, dinning, living, sports, education and things like that. Also, you really should make a trip to the school and spend a day or two there. I would suggest going into the classroom while a class is going on and some school also have an over night program which is very helpful with your choice. Another thing that I would make sure you do is not just pick the first college you think you will like (even if you think it's perfect for you) look at all of them and don't rush your choice!

Jasmine

Know what you want to do with your career, and pick the school that will best fit your profession, not where your friends are going...and thats all I have to say.