Iowa State University Top Questions

Visit a variety of colleges, in and out of state. Don't let money be your biggest concern when you are choosing a school, you want to spend these 4 or 5 years of your life having fun and preparing for your future, don't let money be a deciding factor.

Find that school that best suits you and your goals. Don't pick a college because that is where your best friend is going or your boyfriend/girlfriend is going. And when you get to college stay on top of your school work and life will be much enjoyable. Get involved with activities as well, you will make new friends and find a break from homework and the stress.

In my opinion I would tell prospective incoming freshmen to explore all of their options and visit several campuses to make sure you have the right feeling about a campus, the professors, staff and fellow students, and the town in which the college or university is located. Choosing a college is an important decision that will change your life and should not be taken lightly. I believe that young people applying for college should apply to several colleges. It is best to have a back up plan in case you are not accepted to your first choice, what may not be your first choice could possibly be a stepping stone to bigger and better choices that work well for you in the future. As a sophomore I remember that the hardest thing for me to do as a freshman was to stay on campus for the first several weeks of school. This was a time when I missed home, family, friends and beloved pets but the choice was right to stay on campus so that I was able to meet new friends and dorm-mates, get acquainted with campus activities and explore my new home town.

find somewhere that has a great program that you love, then you will enjoy the school and learn so much more!

The key to finding the right college is to find out what interests you or what kind of job you would like to do. Then apply to the colleges that offer your program of choice and visit them. By visiting them you can see for yourself what it would be like to be a student. After you arrive get involved! There are so many different clubs and extracirricular activites that you can participate in, there is something for everyone. Another important thing is to think about your priorites. School should come first, the reason you are there is to learn and build a knowledge about what you want to do as a career. However, there should definately be room for fun. In college you are very likely to find lifelong friends, so be open minded, friendly, and don't be afraid to open yourself to new ideas.

Find a school that you plan to stick with for four years. I transfered to Iowa State from Southeast Missouri and I found it very difficult to adjust and to organize my previous credits with the requriements needed for ISU. Also try to find a major early and get involved in at as soon as possible. Go to every career fair offered and just be active in your education. This is college and you're ment to have fun, but do so responsibly. College is about starting your future and you don't want to start your future with a record for getting in trouble by partying too much or bad grades for the same reason. These will be the best years of your life, so make the most of them.

Honestly assess what it is that you hope to achieve in your life when choosing a college. Don't go to a university based on location alone, but find a balance between the quality, size, affordability, and personality. You will be spending the next few years of your life in the college you choose, so it is important that it have the right feel for you. Once you get to your new school, try new things, talk to people different from yourself, and be open to new ideas. There is more personal growth done outside the classroom than in, so take advantage of the opportunity you have before you.

Choose a college where you don't know anyone. Then, you can truly branch out, make new friends, and learn new things about yourself. If you're a student who is lucky enough to know what you want to do with the rest of your life and what you're passionate about, go to the best school you can for that purpose. If you find out through schooling what you want to do later, don't be afraid to transfer for yourself and your needs. Make the best of your years. Find people that you love for real reasons, and not artificial/shallow reasons. Become a good listener and learner about other people and be tolerant of other views. You don't have to drink every night. I don't drink at all and can still have fun on weekends. Do not give up your dreams to drink with friends. If something works, stick with it. If something doesn't work, try something else. Don't be afraid to change your mind. This is your college experience.

My advice to a high school graduate would be to do what you are passionate about. Make sure that you choose the school that will give you the best chance at a career after school. By doing this the student will be able to find the college that best suits him/her. The best way to enjoy college is to get involved in campus organizations. You meet a lot of people and gain a lot of experience that way. All schools have clubs, intramurals, and other small organizations which is a great way to enjoy campus life. I know I waited to join an organization until my second semester of my sophomore year and I regret not getting into it earlier because I have met so many people and have become a lot more involved with things that are going on around campus. So if you do all that and choose the school that best fits your needs, you will be better off.

My advice to parents or students in choosing a college, would be to take the campus visits and make sure the campus fits you and your field of study. Parents, let your child choose the school that fits them best and they will be happy with their educational experience. Attending college is about the education of course, but also about the experience. If you are having a good time and meeting new people, having new experiences, you also become a more valuable member of society. Students, get involved, in the greek community, or clubs, or activities on campus, meet people and enjoy!

Save money years in advanced, its hard to be a full time student with a near full time job that you have to have just to get by.

A good education takes much time, effort, and responsibility. It is as much the parent?s responsibility to help their child attain a quality education as it is the child?s responsibility to put fourth time and effort towards education. It is best for parents to prepare early. Long before college, parents should form financing for tomorrow?s rising education prices. It is very important to evaluate the student?s learning style. In order to make the most of a child?s education, both the child and the parents must know how and in what environment the child learns best. After the child finds a desired choice of study, parents and students need to research institutions that fit in environment, learning styles, and educational quality. Parents and students should plan college visits before making a final decision. College life is a big change for new students. It is best for the student to finish preparing supplies, books, financial aid, and living quarters a week prior to the start of class in order to accommodate the rapid lifestyle change. Students should stay on task and involve themselves in campus events, clubs, and sports to make the most of their college experience.

Get involved with the various clubs at ISU. Judo, canoeing, solar decathalon, formula one race car, etc.. Obtain good sleeping/eating/organizational/productive habits.

The best advice that I could give to parents and/or students about finding the right college would be to actually visit the school and go on a campus tour. You learn a lot of helful information on the tours and you can get a feel for the campus before you agree to anything. To make the most out of the college experience be sure to get involved in a lot of activities offered by the school. Not only will you have a great time participating in them, they are a great way to make friends and the involvement will look good on your resume. It won't hurt to give them a try.

Visit, apply, enjoy and don't get stressed out!

Parents need to remember that its not fully up to them where their child goes to school. It needs to be a good fit for their child and even if its not the best fit for the parent. New students need to look at a school that offers a lot of options as far as getting involved goes. School is all about finding balance between work and play. If you do not get involved in something early on you may feel lonely or left out.

In my case I started college with a child so finding a school that has flexible courses and times is a plus. Otherwise, for the traditional student, I would advise them to think about how big and social they want their school to be. Also, think about how much research you want to do. ISU is very research oriented, so if you're not into that you might want to pick another school. Definitely make sure to check out all the clubs and organizations to create a social network. That way you have an edge when you graduate.

My best advice is to look at what you would feel most comfortable in. Look at the class sizes and how much professors make themselves available to you. As a student I wanted a university so I would feel like I was not in high school anymore but I also wanted to be somewhat close to home. Always keep an open option and visit many colleges even if you think you have found the one. My main advice is to always follow your dream and do what you want to, not what a loved one would want you to do!

Go for what your gut tells you. If you feel at home, like you should belong there, don't let the size of the school or little issues bother you. Be daring, visit a lot of schools that you might not have thought of, you never know what you'll find out or what you'll love until you go there. Once you're there, don't be shy. People are so accepting and willing to make friends (they're in the same boat as you!), so don't think that they won't want to meet you. Lastly, go out and have fun. Don't spend ALL of your time studying... Half of your college career is meeting people and having fun!

When you visit a college campus, do everything you can to learn about the services they provide, whether it is academic services or clubs/activities you can get involved in for your major or for fun. Make sure that you like everything about the school. Check out the classrooms, the availabilty of majors, and the variety of activities on campus. If you feel that the school is too big or too small, you are probably right. Parents need to let students decide which schools they like, but may also need to make sure that there is financial aid available if necessary. In order to make the most out of the college experience, students should get involved in activities they enjoy so they are not always working on school work and can get involved in the social environment. Take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way whether it is academic help or financial assistance, but make sure you really like the school. Do not go somewhere just because your friends are going there. The school you choose will be your home for 8 months, if not more, so make sure you feel at home.