Illinois Institute of Technology Top Questions

I would never take a school's advertising or school tours seriously. Staying on campus, no, living on campus, for as long as possible is the only way to see if a school fits. Remember that school should be more than academics.

My advice to students would be to start researching school choices in the sophomore or junior year. That way, once the student enters their senior year, they have an idea about their major and possible school choices. Also, it's best to start applying for financial aid early and to try and and apply for possible sholarships. It could be the difference between going to your dream school or not. In making the most out of college, try and find extracurriculars and activities that you're interested in doing. If there are none, find people who like the same things you do and start a new club. Managing your time well is also important too. If you party or are unfocused, you risk flunking. However, if you study nonstop and are anti-social you can miss out on a lot.

Visit the college and talk to students AND faculty. An online glance at the website can never do justice to the true environment. If you can't visit, contact a faculty member or ask to be put into contact with a current student. Find a chat forum about the school. Just get an INSIDE view. Also, be open-minded. Just because the school isn't your first choice doesn't mean it can't be wonderful.

The advice that I would give to parents who are helping their son or daughter to find the right college is to talk to as many students as possible and almost completely disregard the lip-service you get with any counselors or administrators that you meet with. Higher education is a service industry and the students are the customers so if the majority is unsatisfied then there is obviously something wrong. If on the otherhand students show pride in their school and are happy that they are there then your mind can be put to rest if your student chooses that school. My advice for students who are looking for schools are the same to the parents. If you are looking to get the most of the college experience do just that, experience. Try new things, don't be afraid to journey out of your comfort zone because you may find a new one. Secondly, become active in the campus community, participate in student organizations and run for executive board positions, try-out for a varsity team or a club team, stay active in the community and the chance of you getting the most out of college will be high.

Make sure you know what teh focus of the students and the university you are attending are before you go. Just because the school gives a good education does not mean that it is a good fit. I attended a school whioch gives a great education and dreaded all 4 years here. Make sure you know what your goals are.

The most important part is finding a college that fits your needs and personality. If the school doesn't fit you, you will be unhappy and unsuccessful. In order to have a good experience in college, it is important to be active. Meeting new people is the best way to have new experiences and to learn the most, both socially and academically.

Pick one that you will enjoy being at not one that only offers academics.

Always consider all options when applying to colleges and universities.

VISIT CAMPUS.

Be sure you like the campus when you visit otherwise you will regret it if you chose a school whose atmosphere you don't like.

Try to really get know the atmosphere and the coarse load, and typs of coarse offered. Remain focused and STUDY!

College is what you make of it. Focus less on reputation of the school and more on the student life. If you think you'd have a good life there then that's a good school for you as long as you work hard to make the academics worth it.

Make sure the college fits what you want to do.

Make sure to find a college that not only provides a good education, but is also situated in a place where you would like to live. The school's campus, surrounding area, and culture all play a huge role in your college experience. Don't underestimate the profound effect they will have on you; when it's time to take a short break from your schoolwork, you will want to enjoy it!

Research your school. Know what you want out of college. It's not all fun and games, and at times it is very time consuming. College is what you make of it, so come with a positive attitude, even in the light of people who aren't very positive. The friendships made here can last a lifetime, so choose wisely. This isn't high school so don't expect it to be. Be mature about the way you conduct yourself and try your best!

Guess. Take chances. Do what scares you.

Finding the best school is not always about money. If you think you'll be happy at one school then go there. Do not worry too much about cost, there are usally ways to get the money you need. Be accepting of your schoolmates. They really help you out through tough times. There were many times I was very close to transferring to a different school but having a close group of friends really help me keep focused (and on campus). Don't be afraid to explore. new things. Usually the best experiences you have in college are ones you've never done before. Drink, party, have fun, but remember to keep it in moderation. Finally, try to get away from home. You experience totally different things that in the long run, will make you a better person.

A big thing you should think about when selecting a college is to not be afraid of your options, embrace them. Limiting your higher education choices to a community college because of financial situations or the distance a school might be from home should not guide you to deciding the right college. Being in a completely different state with significant cultural differences and having to be responsible for oneself is how you/or your child will grow and develop for the corporate world. To make the most out of your college experience is to always get involved and be willing to get to know anyone and everyone. It might seem awkward and you can usually feel like you just want to deal with being in school and succeeding at it that you miss out on all the opportunities the school offers to have fun or get to know one another. This added interaction helps in the long run because not only is it a good destresser from the academic world, but it can be beneficial for the future when you need to get a job and can use those people skills while applying or working in a team.

I would advise them to attend the school for a day. Maybe get a tour but rely on your individual interaction. The tour guides tend to make the school seem alot alot better than it actually is. Ask students that are around how they like the school...they would be the most honest. Drive around the school to check out the campus or surrounding amenities. Let your son/daughter go to the offices and see if he/she can get questions answered without hassle. Find out how many computer labs exist as opposed to the attending students. You don't want your child to go somewhere where the resources are booked all the time. Besides that...take pictures if you are checking many colleges out. That way if you liike two of them alot for there educational services, the comfort of the campus is a deal breaker. The campus design is very important when it comes to comfort and convenience.

Make sure it's what you really want. If you think you are going to be homesick, you probably WILL be. Talk to current students at the university to find out what student life is really like. Current students give the best indication of work load, extracurricular activites, and overall condition of the classes. A college experience is what you make of it. If you continually look negatively on it, odds are you won't enjoy it. You need to make the right decision for you and your personality. Don't just go there because you have a friend who is or your parent is an alumni. Everybody is different and a crowded state school is probably not a great choice for someone who is really shy and introverted. Get involved with student organizations and clubs, it is the best way to meet people who share similar interests to yours.

When I began looking at colleges, my parents bought me a book of all the schools for my major. I had already set my mind on looking at several schools, but as I looked through the book, one more school caught my eye. I visited the schools and realized the one I liked the most was the one I found by accident in that book: the Illinois Institute of Technology. I did not even fully apply to any of the schools I thought I would attend. My advice for parents and students looking at colleges is this: do as much research on college with your major as possible. You never know what you might find out, and you might realize, as I did, that the school you least expect will make the best experience of your life! And when it comes to making the most of your college experience, I have two words: GET INVOLVED! Seize every opportunity you can get your hands on, and participate in on campus activities. You will be so happy if you do!

When it comes to finding the right place to continue your education to a higher level, it is important to have an idea of what you would want to do in your life. Choose a college/university that caters to your desired study or interests. More than anything remember the importance of college. Though you will be having a good time, the most important thing is to remember that you are attending for the sake of your education and future.

Visit the campus before you make your decision.

Apply to as many college as you can because you can always barter with colleges about scholarships, a school will give you more money if they think you are going to go somewhere else, also it is not a bad idea to go to a community college and then transfer in. I know IIT has a $10000 transfer scholarship. Be sure to balance your load and don't get caught up in the worng seen. Make sure what you are majoring in is relevant to what you want to do in life and if all else fails do business. Join a sport or group of greek life or something because it is nice to belong to something. Apply for lots of scholarships even if you dont think youre going to get them or they are small a little bit helps and start when you are a Junior in high school because time passes way to fast.

Take the time to figure out what you want to do in life prior to making the decision of where to go to school. If you enjoy the material or are interested in it, the studies and work will be less stressful and more enjoyable. I like attending a small school in a big city - that way the classes are small enough that you're comfortable asking questions, and also have a large city to meet people since a small school usually has little social events going on. good luck everyone.

Do as much research as possible about any schools you are interested it, if in doubt apply!! then once you have your exceptance letters compare financial aid offered, with school visits(never enroll in a school you have never visited!!!) and talk it over with family and friends. once you have found the school for you, get out there!!! attend orientation events(no matter how lame you think they are) , you will make some really good friends there and learn all about your new school. join clubs and socialize with your peers, once the first week is over you will need thoes new friendships to make it through the year ahead! the goal is to never look back and wish you had joined that club, or attended that class, this is your time to grow into person you will become, and enjoy it!

I would tell parents not to worry, but to still ask questions. Also, parents really can trust that their student has an idea what he wants in a school and often, what he wants to study. The student certainly knows his interests better than the parent! For the student, my biggest advice is to get involved and learn the good things about your school. There are always unique and exciting things at and about a school, you just have to find it. By getting involved, you will get more out of your college experience, and you can still do just as well (or better) in your classes. You'll also develop life-long friendships and helpful networking connections that will serve you well when you reach the "real world" and are looking for the best job or someone with certain knowledge to work with you when your specialties are not the only ones required. Also, use resources provided by your school, whether that is free tutoring for a class you are struggling in or career fairs, a career center, and/or an alumni network for finding a summer internship or post-graduation job.

Do more than contemplate where you want to go in life. Hit the books, talk to your neighbors, friends' parents, whoever it might be that works somewhere you're interested in. If you want to go into engineering or science, read up on the basic fields to get a feel for what they are and the importance of each. For some, it seems best to pick a college where you'll have plenty of friends from high school to help ease you into this new environment. For others, high school seems better forgotten completely. All in all, it's probably better to just leave this problem out of the selection process. College is great either way. Many who have gone either way have had wondeful college experiences. Those who go to a school where everyone is a new face will find new friends immediately if they so desire. It's simply a natural response to a new environment. If it seems intimidating, step back and take a breather. Very often, the people you meet in the first two weeks of college can become your best friends for the rest of your life.

To find the perfect school for yourself or for your son or daughter, figure out what setting you are most comfortable in. Decide what has the opportunities you'd like to have and make a decision from there. It is so important to visit the school and talk to people who aren't just admissions representatives. Also, no matter where you go, college is what you make of it. There are plenty of people on a college campus and it isn't hard to join or even create a group or club that pertains to your interests.

Choose a school by its extra-curricular activities. Anyone can apply themselves to a subject and master it, but the true difficulty in doing that is in how much of your old habits you're forced to give up. You can't go out drinking every night and expect to master brain surgery, but on the other hand, earning your Ph.D won't make you happy if you are forced to give up those hobbies that you truly love to do so. Watch the students on campus and see how they direct their free energy. If they spend every night partying, they probably aren't being engaged by their courses, but if they are totally devoted to their coursework, they are losing sight of the bigger picture. Intelligent leisure, like hobby robotics or any kind of art, that students devote themselves to as much as to their school work is a sure sign that that college is doing something very right.