Loyola University Chicago Top Questions

Do not pick a school based on where your friends are going, and also do not pick a school where you think you have a chance to recieve an easy A. It may seem good at first but you should feel challenged at whatever school you attend. Also dont be afraid to experience something different.

Visit the college. You will get a good or bad feeling when you see them

*THE BEST ADVICE OF ALL THAT I CAN GIVE TO PARENTS AND STUDENTS IN REGARD TO FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE IS, "A PICTURE IS WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS." WHEN I FIRST SAW LOYOLA, SOMETHING INSIDE OF ME JUST CLICKED AND I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO SPEND MY COLLEGE CAREER THERE. CHOOSING THE RIGHT COLLEGE IS ABOUT THE FEELING THAT IT PROVIDES. STUDENTS, CHOOSE A COLLEGE THAT FEELS LIKE HOME. CHOOSE A PLACE THAT WILL MAKE YOU HAPPY, EXCITE YOU, BUT WILL ALSO CHALLENGE AND STIMULATE YOUR MIND TO LEARN NEW THINGS BOTH INSIDE AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS YOU WILL EVER LEARN WILL BE OUTSIDE OF THE CLASSROOM, WHICH IS WHY I WANTED A CITY LIKE CHICAGO TO FOSTER THAT LEARNING. NEVER SETTLE ON ANYTHING LESS THAN YOUR PERSONAL BEST, AND YOU WILL HAVE GUARANTEED SUCCESS.

I would advise parents and students to seriously sit down and think about what an entire year would be like at each of their potential colleges. Students must realize that if they travel far away from home then they will not be able to go home often. This sounds pleasent to a lot of people, though that also means that the student will probably get few visitors. Students and parents only need to visit three colleges before they turn in their applications: a small private university, a medium university, and large state school. This way travel expenses can stay low and the student can get an idea what each environment is like. After the student has applied to the schools of their choice, they can go and see the ones that they are accepted to. When visiting the campus make sure that you think about going through a regular day in each season on the campus. Once in college, make sure that you take as many opportunities available to you. Make friends, but don't place yourself in any group too quickly. Be aware of your surroundings when traveling around campus, especially at night. Last, but not least, HAVE FUN!

Be sure to visit and take to a studen that is NOT the tour of each school to get an accurate picture.

The choice for college is unique and personal for every individual and his or her family. In order to make the right choice, I encourage students to visit each prospective campus, talk with students there, and --if possible-- spend the night. Talk with financial aid officers, housing representatives, and professors in your intended area of study. Although these areas may not be your main concern (but for many, they are), you may still gain a sense of how receptive the campus is to the needs of students. Moreover, these professionals may have more insight than the glossy brochures for the college that you recieve in your mailbox. In the end, know that your decision should be the college that best fits your personality and goals for the future. Do not focus merely on the school's ranking, one major it offers, or on any one specific issue. After all, those can all change within a year. Instead, imagine yourself at the college for four years. For each school, ask yourself the tough questions: what opportunities does it provide for your career advancement and for your personal growth? Where will you feel most comfortable? Where are you most likely to succeed?

make sure you take college visits

Go where you feel comfortable. Visit the campus, stay over night, eat in the dinning halls, and sit in on a class of the subject you are most interested. Feeling connected to your school and being happy there is one of the most important things about college. You can always make money later to pay off debts. So many schools have great programs, but the friends you make and the activities you participate in during college are an experience you cannot get anywhere else in life. Be sure to take time deciding where you can really see yourself fitting in. This decision should be personally yours. You do not have to go where your parents went or where your best friend is going. Choose a college for you, becuase you are the one attending. You should feel happy and confident about your choice!

My parents felt they had to choose the school I went to. In effect, they chose only schools that they'd heard of like Yale and Harvard even though my grades were clearly not good enough and so I didn't end up getting into any schools except the one I applied to last minute. Really make sure you know what you like and what type of person you are and don't let your parents sway you. Even if they haven't heard of a school, it doesn't mean that it's not good and that it's not suited for you. If my mother had let me apply to a liberal arts college which she though was not suitable for a pre-med major, I probably would have been much much happier. It's your four years and what you want and what you think is best is most likely more right than what your parents may think!

Life has undoubtedly been the shortest journey I have ever traveled. Be that as it may, it has given me the most worthwhile unforeseen experiences imaginable. As college being thrown in the mix, I have come to believe that it has been more than just a privileged education; rather it has been a test in itself. It is a test of character, prudence and values. Before entering college, my expectations for what I wanted out of life now seem trivial. These last few years have brought me to enduring realizations that have sculpted who I am today, and I believe this process of reformation is a large piece of the true college experience. My challenge wasn?t finding the right institution. My biggest challenge was to not take a single breath for granted. Many people have unexpectedly come and gone from my presence, but many have impacted me in ways I have yet to fully understand. One thing I do understand is this: college does not have a backspace key. You can?t press rewind or pause for five minutes. College has only been a chapter of my life story, and once it is closed, it will be closed forever.

for students searching for the university that would be the best the decision has to be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} theirs. Don't let your parents, friends or boyfrien decide for you, but do listen to everyones input. Dont be afraid to go far from home and be on your own, going out of state and living on your on for the first time at a young age is one of the most liberating things. Learning responsibility is important before one leaves for college, because parents aren't there to cook or do laundry, learn a few of those things before you leave. Make sure you visit the campus of the school that you are considering because facilities make a major difference. Parents, you have to let your children go, dont hinder them by trying to keep them close to home and if they go away dont guilt trip them. Being far away from parents makes you miss them more, so you will become more appreciated! students need to make the most of their experience by getting to know everyone in their dorm and joining all groups and clubs that they were apart of in high school or expand and do something new

Make sure you make pick the right school for you. Its the most important decision of your life.

It's all about what you make out of it.

Parents and students need to examine any areas of interest prior to finding a school. Had I known I wanted to major in business, I would have made my college search more oriented to great business schools. Luckily for me, my school just happened to have a great business (accounting) program in a major city of commerce. Students and parents should also consider the location of colleges. It was not obvious to me until senior year (when I started applying for jobs) that there is a likely chance that the student will find employment near or around their college campus (or hometown). It is very important to be satisfied in the college location because there is a great chance that life will continue in the same area/region several years after college. Lastly, it is very important to plan finances ahead of time. There is no worse burden than financial uncertainty; the college student should be focused on school alone. It is very difficult to juggle school and finances (through a full- or part-time job). Proper planning will ensure financial peacefulness for both the parents and student. All considerations above will help reveal the most fitting schools for students.

When looking at potential schools for one's secondary education it is vital that the student first tour the school. This way the potential student is able to gain a better understanding of the different types of students that attend that school, as well as the overall atmosphere of the school and surrounding campus. While making sure that ones academic needs are fulfilled is most important; it is equally important that the student is able to feel comfortable in his or her new learning environment. Many students neglect touring their school of choice before making their selection, and once there, some realize that their top choice may not have been the correct one. A lot of time and effort can be saved if one were to first take a tour of the school. One should know as much about his or her choice as he or she possibly can. Choosing the right school is important because it will impact one for the next two to four years of one's life.

Find colleges that offer what you want to study and narrow it down by size and location. Once you have it narrowed down, visit the campuses during a time when students are there. Meet students and professors in the area you want to study, and bring some questions so you can get a feel for the department. Talk to students in a casual setting, not tour guides and that sort of thing, to get a more accurate reading of what life is like at each college you visit. Here's the best advice I can give you: as long as there is nothing that you absolutely hate about a college you visit, if everything else fits (price, location, etc.), go for it. It may seem strange and unfamiliar now, but it will become your home soon enough, as long as you let it. Don't stay cooped up in your room! College can be a blast; just go out and enjoy yourself. College is the time to challenge yourself and try new things, don't let yourself miss a single opportunity to expand your horizons. Good luck!

Make sure you do your research and weigh all the options. Look at what the school has to offer, especially in terms of what you want to study and what you want to do as a career. Get involved and make the most of the experience!

find the right place!

make sure you visit the school first

College is a mixture of academics, fun, learning, friends, and pretty much life. Although academics are important, the college experience as a whole are far more important to college, which includes everything from dating to career work to learning to friends to partying. All of these things comprise all of our lives and its unfoolish to believe otherwise. Follow your passion. Be open to experimentation. in a trusted environment. Study hard. Let your true character show here!

I would advice parents/ students to do a lot of researchs and think about their financial stituations. Most students who just enter college are usually undecided or most likely to change their major, so I suggest choosing a school that would give you a variety of majors and minors. Students should take as much time they need when deciding their major and never think it is too late to do anything. College is another stage in your life, it is the beginning, so don't think of it as an end. Learn as much as you can and experience as much as you can in colllege but don't forget about your future.

Make several choices and visit each school. Visit during a tour and off hours to get both sides of the story.

Visit! It is not only important that the school look good on paper, but that it looks good in person. You have to feel the school, meet the people, and explore the community. Nothing is worse than feeling left out because you did not realize the area or the school would not fit your needs other than "seeming" okay. Do your research, and then live it.

know what you're getting into.

Advice that I would give parents is to really take a look at who your child is as a person. What do they like to do? What are they good at? What don't they like, and what may they struggle with? what school would most enhance their personal growth as a person and push them to expand their minds and outlooks in ways that will not only help themselves in the future but benefit those around them. Forcing or even hinting to your child to go to a school that you want does not benefit them as a person. Talk to them, see what they want and then discuss the things you both want. Money is always an issue, but education is an even bigger issue that holds much more importance then money ever could. To the students, I ask the same questions as I did the parents. Who are you as a person? In looking at schools don't choose them becuase they seem easy and you know you can do well. Apply to schools in hopes that they will push you beyond what you think you can do. Apply to schools that will change your life.

Visit a bunch of different schools. Find out what enviroment you want to be in, rural or in a city. Figure out qualities you want in a school, then pick one with those qualities.

Any prospective student should begin with a list of things that they absolutely need to have in their college experience. They must have their goals and aspirations in mind to find the universities that are going to offer him/her those opportunities. Prospective athletes should consider the level of play they would like to compete in as well as their own athletic ability. They can enter onto a team that is strong and they'd have to fight their way to play on or play on a team not as strong and be a key contributor. It helps to speak with current college students that are willing to give their honest opinion of their school and give them insight that way. Bottom line, we all go to college in hopes of preparing ourselves for the future. Parents and students must pick the school they feel will give them that foundation and have no regrets with their decision.

Finding the right college for a student is an arduous task. I myself made my decision based on scholarship offers, but ended up transferring schools after my sophomore year regardless of the money. The advice I would have to offer is to make a genuine attempt at visiting the campus and really getting to know the atmosphere the school projects, not just the atmosphere the school represents. Many schools, though flaunted otherwise, are interested in the student?s money. Thus it is important to weed these schools out. There are schools with an adequate administration, and these are great to find, they care for the students needs, not just getting them in and out the door in four years. The college experience helps define you as an adult, your habits and lifestyle. It is important to find a school that is not surrounded by alcoholism, drugs, and partying. Rather one with a friendly environment that promotes both studying and integration. With integration comes experience, and with this type of experience comes growth. Ultimately, the college experience in a whole is about growth and leadership. The type that will make you succeed in the working world you will soon enter.

Make the best out of what you're given. Everyone has their dream school, but few realize it is foolish to hang all their hopes on a mere possibility. In this pursuit, they may miss out on what a truly great college they landed at. They may be worried about the reputation of the school, and what kind of future possibilities they'll have, but employers look at the person too- and that is something no rankings can measure. College is more than grades and frats. You may still have a safety net, but for the most part you are thrown out into the world. Yes, grades are important, but you learn so much more outside of the classroom. Make the most of your experience any way you can, and don't be afraid to go against the grain and make some memories.

I think it is extremely important that you (the student) do your research. Send off for all the information and review any reference materials you can find at the library. Initially, I was set on one particular university. But, after my mom made me do the research, I saw the benefit of comparing. I was most struck by how location played a major factor into the school I would eventually select. My mom told me to look at regions where I may want to leave upon graduation. That played a major factor in my end selection, which was not my first choice university. The second thing is to try and travel to your choices. I was fortuante enought to see first hand all of my top four choices. It is especially beneficial if you can go during an "open house" event. That way you can hear presentations, and truly roam the campus and dorms. When I stepped on the grounds of Loyola, I knew it was the school for me (and we hadn't even stepped into a building yet!).

Your school will be the place you will spend four years of your life. When choosing schools, make sure to visit campuses. You need to be comfortable in order to be successful. Academics are important, but so is your happiness. Once you choose a school, you can always transfer, but that sometimes is a hassel. Find your home away from home.

The advice that I would give to parants and students is that let your child go off and expereince the life of living on your own but make sure that you let them know that you will always be there for them. These baby steps will help develope your child into the responsible person that they are going to be for the rest of their lives. Always stay positive and reassure them that they are on the right track but give them your assistance if they need. As for the students, be thankful that your parents have given you the opportunity to advance your life in the positive direction. I'm very thankful that my parents had faith throughout my life as im growing up. Be sure to thank them and love them whenever possible and be sure that you never lose touch with the ones that brought you to where you are right now. Your parents are the best teachers that you are ever going to have in life.

The advice that I would give to students would be to find a college that really fits your personality. If a person is quiet and likes to study, don't go to a school that is a known party school and vice versa. Moreover, I would advise students to check out the school before they apply. Don't just assume you'll like it. Also, I would give the advice that students should go to the school that they want to go to. Don't go to a school because someone tells you to go or because you want to be with your friends, because you might end up regretting it. The advice that I would give concerning making the most of the college experience is to truly be yourself. College is where people discover who they are and can find themselves. So, as long as you're doing what you want to do, you'll enjoy your college experience.

When faced with the critical choices in life, values is the word that comes to mind. Values are the most important things we carry around with us and that includes are purses, wallets and debt cards. Values are what bind us to what's important and critical for our well-being and happiness. College is going to be a place in which your personal values may develop, transform, diminish or strengthen. Choosing the right college is about chosing a life path. When you are faced with a decision, look within and try to find a college that you believe is compatible with your values. During these formative years, your exposure is essential to further shaping your character. You want to find a University that will respect your values and give your the opportunity to explore and thrive.

Understand that the college choice and major is the student's choice, and that the student should choose their university based off of what would be best for them. The college experience should be what the student wants and expects from their college years, and the parents should let the student search around for the school that tends to their needs the most. College should be something enjoyable, not something that one feels forced to do. College is going to prepare you for the rest of your life; thus, it should be the best for you.

Students and parents alike should research many schools that have the best programs for what their child or they wish to learn about. Students should also visit the campus' of their choice and see how students interact. Sometimes brochures only display the positive things about a school and if one goes the see the campus, he or she can learn more of the truth about what really goes on. When a student does figure out what school they would like to attend make sure to fill out as many scholarships as possible and the FASFA, because the less financial worry one has, the more he or she can relax in school and do their best academically. To make the best of your college experience, join clubs, be active, go out and make friends, create a good time management schedule, go around and discover new places, shops, restarants, and so on. Students should make college fun and not stressful to be fully happy and have the best experiences.

I believe it is important to attend a school where you are able to find a home away from home. It makes the transition a lot easier, and it will make your general college experience happier. To be able to walk through the campus and attend classes with a sense of knowing this is where you belong, this is where you feel home, will really will motivate you and push you through school. It's all about enjoying the experience while working extremely hard to obtain your goals.

Make sure you not only visit the college and speak with counselors, but meet with students not affiliated with the office of admissions; these people will most likely give you the absolute truth about the school versus the biased, deceptive facts provided to you by the office of admissions and their affiliates. A good way to do this would be by emailing students via Facebook and other online social sites, as well as viewing surveys and other ratings of the school by peers.

To the student- make the decision of where you want to go to school based on what you want. Not what your parents tell you or where your friends are going. It's your life and your college experience. That's not to say you shouldn't listen to the advise of others, but the decision is yours to make. To the parents- be there for your child. Support the decisions that they make and what they want to do. Listen to them. Ask them about their lives at school. They may seem like they're too cool for you and some big shot away at college, but they're not. They need you now just as much as they needed you to come to their piano recitals and soccer games.

TRUST NO ONE! Do not believe the brouchures or the rumors, the websites or your best friends. Before you choose a college or university, the most important thing to do is to research, visit, and ask questions. The only way to decide if something is truely right for you is to personally experience it. Once all of your research and college visits are done. Weigh your options. Think about all of the aspects of the schools don't just think about class size or campus life, also think about things like the cost of tuition and the distance it is from home. Many factors like these are often over looked but have a grave impact on the college experience. Once you have chosen a school, the most important thing to do is get involved both on Campus and in the Community. Getting involved around campus allows you to make friends while doing things you enjoy. Getting involved in the community allows for networking, learning your way around, and giving back.

I think that it is so important to visit all the schools that you are considering. You can't know what a school is really like until you visit it. Go to a class, take a tour of the campus, spend the night with a student; that is what helped me pick my school because you get to live like a real student for a day and you can hear about the campus from a real student. It is also important to know what you want in a school. I am an RA and I had a couple of residents transfer at semester because Loyola wasn't what they wanted because they didn't really know what they wanted until they got here. Spend some time really thinking about what is important for you: sports, school spirit, service, greek life, city, suburb, big school, small school. Once you know what you want, it makes picking your perfect school so much easier.

I looked at a number of colleges that I was indifferent to. Once I stepped on the campus of the school that I currently attend, I knew this was where I wanted to go. It sounds silly, but trust your instinct. Here was the place where I felt most at home and could imagine myself. Talking to people while you are on campus for a visit is a must! This doesn't mean just your tour guide. Eat lunch in a cafeteria, and get a feel for the students. Also, once you have narrowed down your choice of schools to 2 or 3, I recommend an overnight stay. This way, you can experience not just what they want to sell you on when you go on a tour, but also what a day in the life of a typical student is like. The overnight stay is what sold me on my school. It gave me a chance to see what a typical evening was like which made me much more comfortable in my selection.

Start early in the college process. Parents should help and support their children in this process because it can be overwhelming and difficult. Don't chose an instition if you don't feel good about it. Follow your heart and know that the outcome will be rewarding.

Visit the university, you will see that you will love being here for four years!

Start looking early. I think it is never too early to start looking at universities, because just stepping onto the campus can make or break your decision, whether or not it has what the particular student might be interested in. I would be advised on tour leaders, because they can potentially make or break the experience. I would also go during a nicer season, like spring or fall because you won't find it dreadful to walk around campus and actually find out what's going on. There were a few schools I saw during the winter and it was awful. I would also not recommend going to a school based on the path you think your going to chose as a junior or senior in High School. I changed my mind 4 times, and was so happy to have as many options as I did. You can always transfer, that's important to keep in mind, that your decision is never set in stone. Don't be afraid to make new friends, everyone is in the same boat.

Really shop around and look for a place that will challenge the student to step out of their comfort zone and really allows them to grow, achedemically, and moraly into a person that will succeed and be happy in life.

Don't choose a college/university just because of their reputation, but instead if you believe you can do well at that specific institution. You need to go somewhere where you can succeed.

Do your research. Visit the school. Talk to current students. Spend the night in the dorms. Go to a lecture.

do everything to get involved

- Make sure to let your kids choose what school they wish to go to and remind them that if it does not work out they are always able to transfer - Remind them to really give their school a chance and get invovled on campus - Make the most out of your college experience because it is only a small part of your life