Indiana University-Bloomington Top Questions

Be careful with loans offered and don't expect a degree to equal a job.

Make sure parent's let their students know the fiancial scope they are looking for in a school, and let the student find a school that fits those requirements. The school shouldn't be about the name, but rather where you will feel most comfortable. Talk to a student not hired by the university so you can get a perspective less skewed.

It's important to make a list of what you want in a college and what you don't want in a college, then visit schools to see how you feel on campus. When I visited IU for the first time, I knew I would be happy there. To make the most out of the college experience its important to get involved on campus of volunteer. By enriching the lives of others around you, you enrich your own life and experience.

I would say to definitely visit the schools you are interested in to get a feel of what the school is like. If you are outgoing and like larger class sizes, then a large university is right for you. If you like small class sizes and tend to keep more to yourself, then a small school is your best bet. Depending on your major choice, you should look at the schools who are recognized for their success in your area of study. I would say to take into consideration your financial situation because private schools as well as out of state schools are going to be much more expensive. The best advice I can give about making the most of your experience would be to be open to new ideas and backgrounds and to be outgoing and make new friends. Don't be afraid to talk to your classmates or instuctors/professors. They can be useful tools in your academic success. Also, don't give into the pressures of those around you to do things you don't feel comfortable doing or become someone you aren't. Always be true to yourself.

Be sure to visit each possible college choice and take the time to talk to students at each one. They are the best advisers when it comes to true campus life and study conditions. Alumni, teachers and HS advisers only know (or remember) so much and panthlets usually depict the best of anything they represent. Find the problem areas of each campus to determine how they will effect your daily life. Having all the finiancial information on hand will also rule out certain colleges immediately and allow you to focus on schools that will fit your family budget. Finally, go where you will feel the most comfortable both in and out of classes. Your college experience is dependant on your ability to find interest groups and social events that compliment your educational studies and your ability to enjoy them all.

Go with your gut.

It really depends on who the student is, and that's is something the student should seek to find out before college. I know lots of people find out who they are in college, but I'm talking about maximizing your experience. Find out who you are, what you want, then find the college that focuses on offering that. If you want to party, so be it, if you want to learn, there's a place for that, if you want a job, there's a different place for that. Find what you want. And parents, shut up.

Make sure to visit the campus before hand and really experience it. Also, look up all the opportunities available in the subjuct that you are interested in pursuing. There are a lot of great opportunities that you don't want to miss.

Try to visit all the schools that interest you. While you are on the visit to check out campus housing, food services, class rooms and lecture halls. If the idea of a lecture hall is intimidating, make sure you always sit in the first few rows...the rest of the hall will seem to disappear. Make sure you talk to your guide about what campus life really is like at the school. Do students party Thursday, Friday and Saturday? Does the school emphasize volunteering in the community? Find what the weather is like in the area? Will there be tons of snow? Is the school good about clearing/salting sidewalks? If you aren't certain of what you would like to major in that you choose a school that offers several programs in various fields. Check out the area surrounding the school. Are you someone who wants to be near shopping centers, movie theaters and numerous restaurants? See what activities the town has to offer such as state parks, coffee shops and culture centers. Most of all remember to keep an open mind. Something might sound great on paper but make sure it meets your expectations in reality!

Make sure you enjoy the feel of the campus and that your student is comfortable with the overall size of the college or university that they plan to attend. Try to let you student choose the school that best suits them and not the one that best suits the parents idea of what school they prefer.

To find the right college, you need to look at what you want to do with your life, not just the long term for a job, but the short term too, with what activities you find interesting on campus and what things you'll want to be involved in for these four years of your life. Also don't just listen to what the advisors tell you. Talk to the students. They have more knowledge about student life on and off campus because they are actually living the student life currently. As for how you want to live your college experience, the choice is yours. There are so many options out there, and you can chose whether you take advantage of a few or all of them.

As a parent or future college attending school, make sure you really check out schools of different sizes and visit when school is in session. I think that going over the summer can be hard because it does know show the real campus atmosphere that you would get throughout the year. Also, make sure you do not rule out a small school because big schools can be overwhelming and you really can get lost in a crowd. Once in college, make sure you involved yourself. Especially if you do not know other kids from your high school or you want to branch away, it can be really difficult just meeting people from class and on your floor. Lucky for me I did find some best friends from my floor but otherwise it can be hard. So branch out, get involved, and make some ever lasting friends!

Just remember that you're about to spend tens of thousands of dollars, and while you may have fond memories of protests and bra burnings in your college days, you don't want to waste that money sending your kid to a school were they'll get high and be taught to drone on about the plight of the working class all day. Find a school with a good course offering and a good program in a real degree your child is interested in. Courses in queer theory and racial studies are usually a good hint that the school is going to be using your money to teach other people's kids (and potentially yours) a bunch of useless theories from some '60s radical left overs. Be smart, spend smart.

Definitely go for a large college like Indiana! Even if you're shy and think you would like a small school better, give the big schools a chance because you have a much greater opportunity to meet people and find your niche. Plus, the big schools are much more fun!

It's important to go and see the college of your choice because many times when you go there, it may not be the college experience you would want. I would tell the students to join clubs to get involved with the campus. If they are interested in the fraternity and sororitiy life, they should consider rushing.

Be brave, get out of your comfort zone and experience new things but hold on to your values and know yourself going in. Don't forget how big the world is, you may not find like minded people but you are at school for an education.

My advice to parents and/or students would be to make a list of colleges that the student is considering. Have that student research those colleges and find out about the campus, extracurricular activities, dorms, the classes they offer, etc. The college or university should be a place where the student will feel comfortable and it should match the personality of that student. Yes, college campuses and universities have personalities. It is very important to find an activity, whether it be a sorority, fraternity, living and learning center, student board or instramural sports. It provides a way to get away from the stress of school work and it's a positive outlet. After the student has decided on a couple of colleges, go and talk to a high school advisor and find out if there are any programs that your school provides to go and visit college campuses and find out more about the colleges that interest that student. The atmosphere of a particular campus is vital to a student. If the student is really outgoing and loves making new friends and socializing, they shouldn't pick a small college with little activity going on.

A great college experience is not always about the school a student chooses. It is more about the people the student meets and the opportunties the student takes advantage of. Every school can offer students a plethora of opportunties, so it is not about finding the right college, it is about making the most out of the school you are at.

Never think you have to make up your mind, allow yourself freedom to play around until you find a path that seems right for you.

Although it may be more expensive, let your children live on campus the first year. It is a priceless experience.

The advice I would give to parents and/or students would be to visit the school first. Make sure the campus you plan on attending offers everything you need, from academic to recreation. You have to be comfortable where you go to school and you have to enjoy the beauty of the campus you'll be walking everyday. Walk through some of the academic buildings, know the environment in which you'll be attending classes for the next four years. Research the type of housing where you'll be living, first the dorms then on and off campus housing. If you're in need of a job while in school look at the amount of campus jobs offered both on and off campus. Don't pay attention to where your friends are going to college, going to college is all about meeting new people and experiencing new things, going somewhere new is the best way to get the full college experience. Finally, one of the most important is the academics. Although this is most likely the most important you may not know exactly what you want to do, look somewhere were there ar numerous and most intriguing options.

Visit the campus and pay close attention to the students while you are on your tour. How the students look and react to different situations will tell you a lot about life at the particular school.

Find a college that specializes in more than one concentration. Many students change their minds, and if you attend a school that has options, you will never feel pressure to stay in your respective major when you know it's not what you want.

I would go to a school that offers the best job placement. Having a job long before you graduate is a very rewarding feeling.

The best advice I can offer is what my parents did for me when I was searching for the right fit for college. Don't restrict your kids to a certain geographic area. I thought I wanted to be as far away as possible and ended up feeling the most comfortable in my home state; but we traveled to many others to take a look. Taking that look was what helped me make my decision because I continually compared each school to IU and finally realized that that is where I belonged and needed to be. If my parents hadn't allowed me to do those other visits I might have ended up in a situation that could have been a disaster. I would also encourage incoming freshman to try all activities offered on campus, go to a football game, even if they don't have the best record. Visit a fraternity/sorority...it may end up being the best environment for you. Also discover new people who didn't go to your school, it is a time to broaden your horizons and make lifetime connections.

It so extemely important to find the college right for you or your child. The college experience is one that is once in a lifetime and students need to enjoy it while they can. Too often life gets to be too much and having the college environment to go to when you need a break is a great advantage. It is very important to make the most of the experience because there are so many things at your figertips that are offered only in college and they are only beneficial if you take advantage of them.

College is such an important part of life. This is the place where you start your career, experience life on your own, and make friends that you will know for the rest of your life. I believe that everyone ends up in the place that is perfect for them. Look for a school that will help in your future endeavors and the size that will fit you socially. I dont regret one thing about my college experience as of now. I found the perfect size school that I feel as though I fit perfectly in. I am taking classes for my major and succeeding greatly. I have already found friends that I know will be in my wedding. These are friends that I know will never let me down. I truly believe that the friends you find in college are true friends. These people become your family and at the end of freshman year it is a sad, sad goodbye. I will never ever forget saying bye to my dorm floor for the first summer. College is an experience I never thought I would enjoy as much as I am. Enjoy it while it lasts! Its amazing!

Be open minded and willing to accept new experiences culturally and academically.

Visit first!!!

I would telll students to take their time in choosing what school to go to. Really look at the campus and the people to decide where to go. If the administration is not kind to you when you go for a campus visit chances are they will not be helpful when you need them while you are attending their school. I would try to meet with Professors and ask questions about classes and what is expected of you. I know that I didn't look at all my options when I was a senior in high school and I regreted it because I ended up transfering and that was not a pleasant experience. It pays to sit down and look carfully now so that you will not end up being unhappy with your decision in the future. Finally, don't be scared or timid college is a lot of work, but it is also fun! Good luck with your searching.

I think students and involved parents should be willing to take their time in their search for a college. For example, when visiting a campus, which should be mandatory, be willing to linger in the places that interest you. Be willing to ask questions to passerby's, students and faculty. These are the people most likely to give you information and honest answers, more so than your tour guide. Plan to visit the college or universities that interest you more than once and upon those visits make time to sight-see off-campus locations. While there, pick up literature and campus newspapers to obtain pertinent information as well as links to websites. Search the university's website for anything that interests you both academically and socially to see what is available. Once you have chosen a college, I believe the best advice is to have an open-mind. You never know what might interest you and the students who are willing to try new things, I believe, have the most fullfilling and successful college careers. With an open-mind you will find the peers that will become your friends and a field of study that will become your career.

make sure you visit the campus first!!

Find a college/university with a culture that fits with the student's personality and will help him/her grow as a person.

Almost any school can be the right school, you just have to find what's great about it.

I would tell parents and students to go and look at the campus before deciding because the campus is what made me fall in love with IU.

Make sure you visit the institutions you are intersested in attending. Walk the campus and envision yourself doing it everyday. Go do the things you think you will do. Visit places you will go everyday (the classrooms, the dorms, the athletic facilities, the libaries) because being comfortable in those situations, is what makes you comfortable making the decsion that effects your entire life. Its like a puzzle where the pieces seem to fit into a few different places. No matter where you end up, its not whether the piece fits or not. If you put forth the effort and give to where you go you will receive a plethera more in return.

if you are planning on attending Indiana University, KNOW your major before coming to school

The best advice I can give to students and parents about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is to find a college that has courses that are similar to your taste and that offers a wide range of activities that interest the student most. Within my time here so far at IU, I've changed my mind several times about my minor, and each time IU has had a program that offers that interest. Also, get involved in school activities, such as the school newspaper or rock climbing club. You'll be amazed at how many more people you will meet through extra-curricular activities. Finally, make sure that you have a means of funding yout college education. There's nothing worse than awaiting your next semester with past due fees and no way of paying them.

Finding the right school is really just finding out which school has the most to offer you when it comes to your needs the rest is up to you and making an effort to make the school your own.

Do a lot of research.

Look all around. Compare programs and social activites. Surrounding areas are important, and ways to be involved are important. Get involved. Go to class.

When you are looking for a college, the most important thing to think about is this: does it offer want you want to learn? Yes, a college education is of the utmost importance when getting a job and starting a career, but that's not all it's good for. We must all remember that getting a college education is about more than finding a good job (although that is, of course, important); it is about expanding your mind, and learning to think about things in new and different ways. By taking the courses that interest you, you not only expand your mind, but you have a good time, too. By taking courses about other people and civilizations, we can learn how better to work together. If we all know the details of each other's cultures, we can learn to get along with each other. And even if you do not take classes on other cultures, you may find yourself learning more about your own culture and how it works by taking diverse classes. By taking classes that you enjoy, you will think about the world in new ways, coming up with new ideas, and sharing them with everyone.

To find the right college for you can start with online tours which are a great start but I think you really have to go see it 'in person' to get the true feeling of the place. Try to visit some colleges as early as your high school sophmore year so you can cover more campuses before your senior year when there is so much to do. This way you aren't pressured and can calmly tour the school and start defining better what you are looking for.

The most important think to understand in what you want. My school, IU, only excels at a few things, but I chose IU because I liked what it excelled at. In addition, make contact with professors before you attend the shcool. My experience has shown me that professors are the most significant force in the satisfaction of your school experience. In addition, explore the different lifestyles available at your college. As a sheltered highschool student, I found it very satisfying to converse with unique people.

The right college is a very important decision for both the prospective student and the parents. Numerous factors are played, such as location, expense, and on-campus opportunities. For me, all three factors played in my favor as my college within a couple hours drive from home, affordable for both myself and my parets, and finally endless opportunities to allow myself to grow as a student and a young man. The first year of college is undoubtedly the most important year for a student, the framework and foundation for the remaining years are formed from the actions and behaviors exhibited. Once the above criteria are met and full-time student status is acheived, my advice to that student is to concentrate on the academic side of the college experience first and foremost. The reason being, there are and always will be an outlet to partake in other aspect and more talked about aspect of college; the social life.

follow your heart, but keep your options over, they're bound to chang eventually

study and have a good time

Students should do their college research ahead of time and make sure they go on a campus visit to see if they can fit there. Also, make sure the school has resources they need to be succesful. Location is also a big issue. Students need to be aware if they are happy in a small town or in a large city. Students should also take advantage of club activities and form their social bondings, this way it can make their college seem smaller. Last, but not least students should go study abroad so that they can be culturally aware and do internships for experience.

Finding the right college is very important. To help narrow your search one should ask themselves two questions. First, "Do I want a large school or small school?" And second, "Do I want to live in a college town or the city?" These two questions narrow down the search significantly and you can proceed to analyze more specific parts of each school. I believe making the most out of the college experience means focusing on other things besides school work. Joining different organizations outside of the classroom help you meet new people and experience new things. I believe the phrase "do things you have never experienced before" should sum up the mentality of a new college student.

To the students: Think what you actually want in the college and then do it. As well within your first year of college choose to do something that you never would try at home and just do it. Meet new people. Break your bubble. When you are selecting the college choose a college that your feel comfortable with and don't let your parents tell you that you have to go the ir al matar. If your in dbt your in debt but at least its your life. To the Parents: Let your child take th initiative when they are applying to college. You can be invovled in the process but the final decision should be theirs-after all they are the ones who are going to have to live at the school. If your child want to go to school that it will be hard for them to get into, let the apply anyway, and support them. Make sure your child can do laundry before they leave. But no matter what, support the your child, thats all they want. Tell them that you miss them and love the. They want to see it and hear. A package never hurts.