Northern Illinois University Top Questions

Absolutely none. What I have learned through experience is not comparable to words. Only taking on these challenges of college first hand could somebody even begin to understand what a big responsibility it is and how hard it is to maintain a balance within one's life. Saying work hard and keep your head high doesn't explain how tough college can be, nor does it explain how rewarding college can be. Giving a predisposition can actually hurt someone more than help them. But if I had to say something, it would be cliche, "work hard and be good".

I would have told myself to not take being a senior for granted. It was a lot of fun being a senior, and a lot of my teachers are now my friends, but college was nothing like senior year. I went in thinking it was going to be fun and easy just like high school, and I would have told myself to be prepared and start off strong. That was the biggest mistake I made, and if I did have the resources to go back and tell myself this, I definately would

Don't waste time! There is so much to do and accomplish in school, sitting around and watching TV is the worst thing you can do. Make friends, experience life, and do your best.

You must have a dream, and no dream is too big! Doing something just because other people do it, because it is close, easy or convenient doesn't mean its the thing that you would best be doing!! There is a whole world out there of colleges and university beyond the boundaries of your state lines. If you work hard to meet their admissions requirements and show real people there how much you are interested, you will be suprised at the caliber of schools you will be admitted to that you didn't think you would. Now is your chance, to travel, explore the world, your own mind, and the cultures of other people. Your life will be infinitely enriched, as will the lives of others when you reach for the stars and pursue a dream that you never thought was possible. Each day is a gift. The time to live is now. You have a calling and gifts that you are meant to use. The world is your oyster when you are a high school senior. Carpe Diem!

I would tell myself that it would be a good idea to go to a comunity college and save some money before attending a larger school like northern. That way I would be able to finish my general education classes for cheap and have money to make it through my major.

Make sure that you kid has every possible thing that you can think of. first aid kit, carpe, bateries, printer, food, a way to get food, There are alot o people that forget the basics and really have a hard time adjusting.

I would have to tell them to make sure they are ready to go mentally. And picking the right college does invole a lot of different factors, but visiting schools and taking the proper time to research a little, you will find the school for you. Just don't get too hasty and keep your focus on what you are really going there for while you are choosing. Don't go to a school just becasue it's a "cool" school, or a party school, one should always go to a school for the right reasons. If you attend a school for the wrong reasons you could end up messing up all your plans.

When selecting a college, you must visit the college. You can not choose the next four years of your life from a pamphlet. while visiting, imagine yourself attending this school. Is the campus right for you? Do you feel like you will fit in? Also, you must talk to current students of this college and others. Ask them why they choose to attend where they do. Ask what they like to do on campus. Remember that the schooling is only part of your college experince. Ensure that you will be confortable where ever you choose. Do not worry about costs or prestige. If you like the school that you attend, you will succede in all that you do there.

make sure its at a friendly, yet affordable campus that ensures that you are surrounded with a positve group of people that will encourage you to make the right decisions and get all of your work done.

For parents I think that the college choice should be left up to the student because its not like you're going to have to live there. Also you should make a plan for how you are going to sponsor the student's college career, and execute it effieciently. This is why I am filling this out now, I need money to go back to school. For the student: I think that you should make the most out of your college life because while your in college you don't know who you're going to meet, as well as become friends with in the future. Everyone there has dreams that they are all trying to achieve all at that one place. Im just saying that your best friend in college could be a doctor and thats just something that I think you should live for and cherish. Also i think that if a certain college isn't for you, you should just transfer till you feel comfortble. There are plenty of colleges to go to these days, you just have to apply. Stay motivated and focused and hopefully instead of your BFF being the doctor, you could become one.

To the students and parents of the students who want to attend college: Students: Picka college that you know you can make a lasting impression on and that college can make a lasting impression on you. This is very important because you do not want to go through your college career regretting the fact that you chose a college that you hate. Parents: Alow your child to chose a college that they want to attend. If you try to choose a college for them, they will end up regretting your decision and revengeful towards you.

When picking a college most students know that it is right for them by a certain feeling that they get from being on campus.

When choosing a university, ask students who already attend there what they think of it. You should walk through the book store and find out what percentage they pay for selling back books. Look at the hours cafiterias are open in residence halls. Try looking up how many arrests are made on campus per semester and what they are for. You should look for any policies or rules that may be changing during the summer between your high school graduation and your freshman year of college. You can usually find controversial changes in policy in the school paper. If you need to work during college, make arrangements to transfer to a store closer to your college town, if you work for a chain. It is very hard to find a job in a college town. Most inportantly, if you must have a roommate, make sure you do not know them ahead of time. Many best friends have parted ways after finding that they cannot stand to see one another after living together in a twelve by eight foot dorm room for three months.

Go after your dreams and keep your education first no matter what.

Make sure you visit a variety of schools to get a general idea of what you are exactly looking for or else you will be disappointed.

What I would say to students and their parents who are looking for a college is that the student should really look at colleges and pick the college that is right for them. Too many students right out of high school pick schools by where there friends are going or the popular school to go to. If you know what you want to do, make sure that the school has that major and also a couple other majors you think you may be interested in just in case you change your mind. Basically, choose the school that fits you and will make you happy because you will be there for at least another 4 years of your life.

Finding the perfect college is not easy, but it can be done. The most important advice I can give as a senior in college is that no matter where you choose to go to college, make it the best choice and never regret your decision. Life is what you make it, and college is an amazing time to find yourself and learn about life. Truly get involved in your college and in the surrounding community; you will never know the difference that you can make until you try! I honestly picked to go to Northern Illinois University because that's where my boyfriend was going. I had no idea that going into my fourth year of school I would still be with my boyfriend, become the president of my sorority, and love my life as much as I do. Make the most out of your life, and do NOT be afraid to take some risks, they may just land you happier than you ever could have imagined. You only have a short time to be a college student, so live the dream the way you want to. Own your decisions and make the best out of your life!

Weigh the importance of different aspects of school before making decisions. Consider programs available, social activites during the week and weekend, housing, the actual campus, support for students, etc. Make sure that you can find what you need at each school. If you don't like to party, the school should have quieter social events available. If you need psychological help, that should be available. The school should have resources that will make you happy.

I would just advise that they visit all campuses they are interested in prior to even applying for college. Once accepted, I would advise that they narrow down the schools to their top 3 and re-visit all of those schools to refresh their memories of what the school was like. Also, on the second visit, they should try to meet with a counselor and a student from the department in which they are interested in studying under so that they can get an idea of the strengths and weaknesses of each department. They should also ask the student about the social life, clubs, drinking, and other areas of concern the student might have.

I would tell anyone, that when you are deciding what school you should attend, you should ALWAYS pick a school where you feel comfortable and safe. Make sure you vist the school to see how it is ran, because every school is not good for everybody!

The college should meet the student's individual learning abilities, ambitions, and ability to adjust. If the student is prone to problems in transitioning, or if the student is undecided, I would suggest a community college first then a 4 year university. However, if the student is able to adjust well and has great ambitions then a 4 year university with the right program would work best.

Make sure you know what you are getting into. Go visit the colleges and see what the the place and people are like. As for making the best out of your college experience, just make sure to go to all the events your school offers the first week or weekend you get there. Most of the time you meet some of the people that turn out to be your best friends through out your college career at that time. After that just make sure to go to class and get your learning and studying in and of course make sure to have fun whenever possible too. College is a great experience for everyone.

I myself had applied to a numerous amount of colleges, and because of how close Northern was to home, I chose that. I would definitely recommend looking into the location, and what areas of study are most focused on. Whatever the school is really known for is what the student will get the best resources of. In making the most of your college experience, I would stay on campus as long as you can, and try only going home for breaks, to truly enjoy the minimal amount of time left in college. Becoming a part of the campus community is also a plus. Try and get involved as much as you possibly can. And that doesn't mean joining Greek Life. There are so many unbelievable opportunities available at many universities that are seeking aspiring students with different outlooks. A college with diversity is one that will prepare you for the rest of the world. College is a life changing adventure, so in choosing that route, go with what you're not used to. Go with change.

You have to know what you really want out of your experience. Do you want to attend in a large or small school?? Visit during the school year while classes are in session and don't be afraid to try new things. Pick a school that best fits your true needs and don't necessarily go for popularity.

Go with what feels right. The college that you think most about and have the best intuition about, is probably the right choice.

Allow the student to choose where he /she would like to attend school. It is important for the student to understand that he/she is going to college for an education, rather than a social life. I suggest being involved in student activities and be out going. College is a time to make friends and attend a degree. Allow yourself to enjoy this time it is important.

Go where your heart leads you and not neccessarily your parents( this is your experience) however parents play a vital role in this process of life so be kind, respectful and patient with them and yourself.

Reasearch the campus. See what kind of major/minors they have. Make a visit to the campus and see if it somewhere the student can live. Look at the resources the campus offers such as health insurance, health services, recreation, sports, activities, groups, religous groups. Look to see the ratings on the programs offered there. Also look at the rate that students receive finanacial aid. Look into the living arrangements and make sure the dinning plan is feesible for students. Utilize all the resources on campus such as health services, the writing center, resume center, career center, religous center, computer labs, or otherwise all the other campus perks. It may take a while to find all of these but they usually include it with orientation packets. Look at the fees you are being charged for on the bill for tuition and monitor it.

I would say think about what you really would like to do, what would be your dream career? Don't just think about what will make you the most money, think about what will really make you happy. Also don't apply to just one school, look at a lot of places and don't be afraid to leave your home state. Leave all of your options wide open, you never know what's out there, and if you get advice from a teacher or friend about school make sure you agree with the reasons they loved the school you are thinking about. In regards to having a good college experience, just remember that what you are doing, all the hard work and painful all-nighters are all leading you to a great future, so don't stress too much. Go out with your friends once and a while and dont feel guilty about it, but balance your time well, it can be hard but in the end it'll all be worth it. Also don't be afraid to go to club meetings or go up to someone new, they are in the same boat you are, be yourself.

For parents: What ever you do, make sure that you stay involved in your childs education and college selection. Be positive encouraging about your child's decision. Your child wants help but wants to figure things out on their own too. Make sure that when they are doing the research for their school, you are beside them and assisting them. When they finall go away to school, be there. Make sure they know how much you miss them but let them be independant as well. Care packages and letters always light up a college student's day. For students: Make sure to visit lots of schools to figure out where you feel comfortable before applying. Don't pick the school that all of your friends are going to. You will make more! Plus its fun going home on breaks and sharing stories with friends from high school. Also, keep track of due dates. When you finally get to school... Go out. Meet new people. GO TO CLASS and STUDY! It's what you are at school for. Try new things. Get involved. Call home frequently. (Your parents miss you!) Most importantly, HAVE FUN!

Northern Illinois University is close enough to home for those who may want to go back on weekends to work or see friends. It is aso far enough away from mom and dad. Northern Illinois students have seen tragedy, which made us stronger as students. NIU is close with the neighboring community. The Huskies are supportive of one another and has a great football team. The alumnis are very close with NIU.

For students, I would say to keep your options open. Really research the schools that you're interested in and take the time to pick a top 5 that suit your wants and needs. This way, the likely hood of you getting accepted into a school of your choice is ideal. Once you've entered college, I feel it is just as important to develop academically as it is socially; whether that be by becoming involved with clubs, a fraternity/sorority, or just by meeting a lot of new people and making a great group of friends. Enjoy all of your years here and remember that it's okay to make some mistakes. College is about discovering yourself and that is truly the best part of it!

I would suggest they visit the colleges and talk to students attending it. Going to orientation and getting familiar with the school helps to figure out if it will fit the person well and meet their educational needs as well as personal needs.

Don't let anything hold you back. There is always a way to pursue your dreams. Be yourself and have an open mind. Meet new people and expand your horizons.

It is tough to find the right thing to say to both parents and students when picking the right school, but after a bit of thinking, I was able to come up with one simple phrase to sum it up: personal experience. My advice would be to first narrow down your selection to three schools you got into, and would want to attend. The first should be kind of far away, either big or small, and should be somewhat of a dream school if you will. the second school should be a bigger in state school, and the third should be a small private school. this way, the three biggest characteristics that change your college experience will be covered. Then you simply visit them. I actually reccomend two trips to each school. One with the parents that includes a university ran tour. But I strongly believe another trip should be taken either by the student solo, or with a couple of friends. This will truly show the student if the school is right for them not only academicly, but socially as well. College is college no matter where you attend, but the proper precautions make the experience that much better.

Never make your choice of school based on anything besides what you want. Don't make your decision based on what others think, or make your decision for other people. I can't tell anyone what is going to be right for them, becaus it will be different for everyone. Some people should stay close to home, some should go to another country; some should go with their boyfriend/girlfriend to school, some should not; some people should attend community college first, some should go straight to four year. I don't know. No one can know. However, if you try to make your decisions based on what someone else thinks, or expects of you, it will be that much more difficult for you to tell if it is the right decision, because someone else made for you. And after all that, please listen to other people. Get their opinions and advice, just make sure that you are taking their input, but don't let them make your decisions for you. It's also OK to go to a school because it's the only one you can afford. I did that, and I am so happy.

I would say to get involved when you are in school. Do everything you can to get the most out of your college experience. Knowledge is very valuable, and choosing the right college is very important.

I would tell the parents to stay involved. Go with them during their senior year in highschool around to the different colleges to experience what they have to offer their children. Ask questions and observe how your child reacts towards each experience. Their face and their response to asking questions and veiwing the place will alone tell you their excitement towards that school. And finally, let them make the decision, because when they graduate from college they will be extatic over their life experience there at the college they choose.

Do not follow just one advisors advice. Do your research and get several opinions.

VISIT before you decide!!!!

I would advise students to take generally elective classes and take every class seriously.

Make sure you find a college that will fit your personality and be open to try new things in consideration. Make sure you have fun in school but be focused on your work. Get help if you need it ,don't wait until the last minute and don;t be ashamed. Parents encourage your child to go to a university of their choice and call them to check on them and encourage, it helps alot. Get in volved in your school, don;t just sit around in your dorm get out and do something. Get to know your school. Make the best out of going to college because it will affect your life depending on how you enjoy it. Good luck and God bless.

First, the students or students should always go to the college based on their own preferences. I do not think it is right for a parent to pick their child's college because the child has to be happy in the end. Also, make sure as a student you know if you want to be far away from home or close because you never know when you may need somthing. Finally, make sure the campus has important places such as grocery stores, hospitals, and department store near you because you never know when you may need something in case of emergency.

make sure its in an enviroment you would like to live in. visit on a weekend to see what people do for fun. maybe attend a lecture or two to see what class structure is like. talk to an advisor before making your decision. check to see if theres any clubs or activities offered that you would be interested in.

visit many differenct colleges.

I am in my second year at Northern Illinois University and I could not be any happier with my choice to attend this university, however, I have found that many of my peers do not feel the same way because NIU does not offer the types of things that they would have hoped for. Choosing the right school will ultimately help you to succeed throughout college and the rest of your working career. The first step to finding the right school is to examine your strengths and choose a couple of majors that would best reflect your abilities. Choosing more than one major is important because a large percentage of students find that the major they originally chose is not what is right for them. After determing a couple majors of interest begin looking for schools that offer those majors and take special note of the GPA requirements as well as the types of courses that you should expect to be taking. Other things to consider when choosing a school are location, climate, and extra-curricular activities. The main keys to success in college are the following: put your schoolwork before your social life, study hard, and attend every class.

Although finding the right education for your future career is important, don't forget about the financial factor that comes with the college searching experience. Although Harvard or other top universities have great programs for a certain career, but state or even community colleges have good programs as well. You should always look for all the options that are avaliable to you. Also, make sure you come and check out the colleges. You should check out the atmosphere and see what the college has to offer you. I think it's important to see what kind of activites, clubs, etc. there are. It really does affect your college experience , especially if you feel like the college doesn't really offer you anything. If you don't like it, then it will have a negatice impact on you. It can be especially difficult when you are transitioning from high school to college. You really are on your own when you get to college and it gets a little hard in the beginning, so make sure you keep an open mind and know everyone feels the same way as you. I really emphasize to explore the campus once you move in.

Find a different school

The best advice I could give high school seniors is to enroll in every class available because there is an opporutunity to test out of some the lower classes. The only way in finding a college that it best suited to an individual's needs to through campus visits because a picture can only say so much. I suggest that all students attend a 2-year college before deciding and transferring to a 4-year university because this would give students time to adjust to the academic workload and the responsibilites that come with that, while parents are able to save money for a 4-year university.

I wish someone told me it was okay to go to community college and work after I graduated high school. Not many people know what they want to do at 18. I thought I wanted a bachelor's of fine arts. I think that parents should tell their kids to consider experiencing the world without a degree.