Purdue University-Main Campus Top Questions

Parents and students need to keep their options open and not limit themselves to looking into a only a few select schools but to research any possible school and all it has to offer before setting their mind to one particular school. Knowing some of things that you are looking for in a school is key and then researching and asking questions about the universities and colleges that fit those things.

Find a school that fits you best, and makes you the most comfortable to learn what it takes to become successful in life.

Decide on your college based on what you want, not what your parents want for you. Ultimately, this is your life and you need to be happy with where you are going to school and where you are going in life.

My advice would be to examine your options completely. Visit the schools you are planning to attend to make sure you are most comfortable in the environment you plan to live in for the next four years. Make sure that you plan to go to that school not only for academic reasons but also for the social aspect of going to college. I believe that if you are not happy with the college you are attending it is hard to focus on school since you are thinking of going home or being somewhere else instead.

It is important that parents and students choose a college based on where they fill comfortable and where they feel like they fit in. I know too many people that choose colleges based solely on financial purposes and they are not fully happy with their choice. Money is a very important factor, but it should never be the sole factor in choosing a college. I choose Purdue University because it had a program that I really liked and fit perfectly with what I wanted from my college education, there are a ton of extra curricular activities to get involved in, and it was quite a ways from home, so I could experience something new and different. Make sure you choose your college based on what feels right and not only what your wallet likes. You don't want to miss out on a great experience just because you didn't want to spend a little more or look a little harder for financial aid. If you choose the right college for you, everything else will just fall into place.

The most important thing is to make sure your vision matches the school's vision. If you're a career focused person, you should find a career focused college. Always visit the campus beforehand. It is where you'll live for at least year. It's good to get a feel of what's there and what the people are like. College has diverse students. This allows you to experience things from around the country and the world that you wouldn't have if you chose not to go to school. So get into as many extra-curriculars as possible.

Dont let money be a factor. Financial aid is availible! Plus, college is only a small part of your life so make the most of it!

Yes, college anywhere can be expensive, but at the same time it is important to find somewhere where both the student and parents feel comfortable with. However, no matter where you attend college it is what you make of your experiences there than anything else. In order to get a fulfilling experience and education from the college you are attending you have to put in to it what you expect to get out. If you just slack off and do nothing then yes, it will not be worth your time so you might as well just stay home and save money. College can seem overwhelming at first, but it is important to get involved right from the beginning. This way you can make new friends, learn the ropes, and enjoy the overall experience that the college has to offer. It is also important to be open to new situations and experiences. You will meet a variety of people with new viewpoints and stories to tell. You can learn so much from anyone if you just give them a chance. In the end, just enjoy it and have fun.

I would tell parents and students looking into choosing a college that it IS a big decision and it should not be rushed. I honestly believe that students will perform the best academically where they feel the most comfortable. If a student is not comfortable on an individual school's campus/environment, then they are less likely to perform up to the school's academic standards. One of the best ways to make the most of your college experience is to get INVOLVED!! Whether it be in sports or clubs, or anything else, a student who is involved in extra-curricular activities is more like to make new friends and will enjoy their college experience even more!

Don't let anyone but yourself make the decision about where you want to go to school. You have to feel comfortable on the campus and look at the activities the school offers to know if you will fit in or be able to find things with which you can be involved. Look around at several colleges so you can get the feel for different campuses. College is supposed to be fun so enjoy it, but don't forget about the real reason that you are there. You are paying a lot of money for your education and you don't want to mess it up. This is the time in your life where you will have the least responsibility. Use it wisely!

go visite the college, spen a weekend there, attend a class, live the life of a student for a day or two.

Take a risk when choosing a college. Don't go somewhere where you will know every single person. College is your opportunity to start fresh, meet new people, and become your own person. Studying is important, but have fun while you can. You only live once, and you may as well make the best of it. Try new things, go to sporting events, participate in traditions, and make the most of your 4+ years wherever you choose!!

Have fun and meet new people. Don't be afraid to change your major about 10 times =)

Visit every school, and talk to current students on every campus. A tour guide is trained to tell you only the good stuff, so if you get the chance, ask a current student. They are usually overjoyed to tell you the whole truth!

College is the doorway into your future. College will give you the background and expierience you need to have a successful future. Don't take that for grated. Academics should come first but a life without balance is not very prosperous. Take the time to make some good friends because these are the friendships that will carry through for the rest of your life. Absolutely go visit all the schools you apply to ; or atleast as many as you can. It is not just how the school looks , but more importantly how you feel when you're there. You can visit the most beautiful campus you have ever seen and not feel a connection. If you do not feel a connection to your campus than you will not be happy. In these trying economic times financial aid is a big part of the decision but do not be afraid to talk to the financial aid office or seek outside financial assistance if you are passionate about attending a specific instituion. And finally, go with you gut and do what feels right to you. Ultimately, it is up to you to make the final decision; not your parents or anyone else.

Before you visit a college it is important to really think about what you want out of your college experience. Items such as intramural sports, class sizes, clubs, career counseling, sporting events, housing options, diversity of students, dominant political views on campus, and size of the campus can alter how you feel about your school. My best advice is to take a tour of your prospective school(s) and ask as many questions as possible. Additionally, don't worry about what your friends are doing or where they're going. Realize that choosing a school is a decision made by an individual and should have very little influence from friends. You know yourself better than anyone else, trust that when making this decision. Finally, always remember that nothing is ever set in stone. After my sophomore year, I realized that the school I chose was just not right for me. After many discussions with advisors of all sorts, I chose to transfer. It was a difficult decision because I had to leave friends and even receive less financial aid but I have the peace of mind that this is truly where I want to be now. Good luck!

I would advise parents and/or students to take the time to search for colleges that provide exactly what they are interested in. Not just in classes or courses that are needed but also in activities or clubs that they are interested in joining. Don't be afraid of asking lots of questions or visiting campuses multiple times. It's the only way you can decide which college is a perfect "fit".

College is only important if what you'll get out of it, whether it be the learning experiences, the career requirements, or the friends and fun, is important to you, your heart, and your mind. Always weight the pros and cons, the good and the bad, of choices and dilemmas that are important, before firmly deciding upon any decision. Yes, it is worthwhile to seek advice and information from family, friends, those already on the path you want to be on or don't want to be on, or a higher power. However, you must do yourself a huge favor and listen to your heart above others. Don't wallow in either fear or regret, but be patient, and have joy in your heart. Always remember that mistakes are meant to be made, because we learn and grow from them, and that makes us better, smarter, and happier people.

I strongly advise both parents and students to visit the campus before committing to a particular school. You cannot get the full feeling of what a school is like just by pictures and talking with people. Physically visiting a school makes a world of difference in the decision making process. Also, open up to people and do not expect everyone to come up and talk to you. If you just wait for everyone to approach you, you will not make very many friends. You have to put yourself out there and talk to people. Also, yes, education is very important, but you cannot keep your nose in the books all day everyday. You need to make time for some fun. If you do not do that, it will make you depressed and stressed out and that will not help you academics at all. All you have to do is set boundries for yourself and stick to them. Also, make a schedule and stick to it--just make sure to schedule in some down time. This will help you have a great time in college. You'll get a good education, make friends, and have fun.

Start the search by figuring out what you want to do. I looked at where I wanted to end up first, and wound up with a huge list of schools. Even worse, once I decided what I wanted to do I discovered half of them didn't offer it!! Once you know what you want to do, figure out what size school you want and how far from home you are willing to be. Those are the two major points, distance being probably the most important. Be flexible on size, my school has 40,000 students and I still feel like I can't walk ten feet without seeing someone I know. You never know until you visit what size is right for you. The best way to go about starting the search is to find a list of the top 50 or so schools in your intended major, and narrow down from that based on your own personal preferences for distance, size, and anything else that is important to you. Most importantly, try to visit! It's the best way to judge whether or not you'd be comfortable and at home at a school.

Let your kids branch off and experience life on their own. Too many kids depend heavily on their parents for not only money but also responsibilities that need to be learned by themselves. And get as much out of college as possible, always seek help from professors if you truly need it, and care about the quality of your work.

Look for a college that excels in the major that you are looking for as well as the social scene and area of the college. You should also look for a college that has a high placement of jobs after graduation. Also the price of the school and their willingness to help you with questions is very important. Another thing to look at is the class size. Go for what you prefer.

When choosing a college don't assume that you will or will not like it without researching it fully. Talk to alot of students, professors and alumni. When you narrow your selection, stay on campus for a weekend and attend sports games and other activities. Sit in on some of the classes that you may be taking in the future. Attend a lab class if the school allows this. Check out the dormitories not only during the day but at night to see the activity level. After you have made your final choice, go to the campus before classes start and spend some time finding your way around. Make sure you attend all orientation activities that are offered. Last, get involved in one or more activities. Don't depend on your roommate to be your social contact. Join a club, the band, orchestra, fitness group, ect. This is the key to meeting new people and this will make your college experience more enjoyable. Study hard, be organized and allow enough time for some fun.

I would advise parents and students who are seeking out the right college for the student to base their decision on which college has the most to offer academically and will provide the student with the greatest opportunity to grow and learn. It is extremely important to pick a college that is challenging for the student, whether it's socially or academically challenging, so the student has the opportunity to adapt and become stronger by adjusting to the more challenging environment. It is also important that the school has a strong academic base so the student will stay focused and will be recieving the best education possible in their area of study.

I would advise potential parents and students to carefully plan for the expenses that going to college create. If one is not prepared, it is very difficult to keep up with all the costs. Have a good plan, and be ready to budget.

You have to go to the school of your choice for you. Not for family, a boyfriend, or friends. You are the one that will be looking at those people and buildings everyday. You have to be able to be happy there.

Visit and in a way know what your looking for. Are you read y to grow into this type of environment, or are you more comfortable at a smaller college. Be prepared for the finiacial aspect of the college you are looking at. Talk to people that go to the school. This will tell you alot about it.

visit the campus and talk to the students who are currently attending

Be sure to schedule many different campus visits and tours of colleges to really get a feel of what that school is like.

Obviously academics are the most important thing that you are looking at when choosing a college. If you know what field you are interested in, research colleges that are strong in that area. If you don't know what field you are interested in, look into colleges with a good reputation and a wide variety of fields. Another important consideration is the location of the school and the size. It is important to also visit campuses before making a decision. In order to make the most of your college experience, attend all of your classes. If you do get behind, talk to your professor and work out a plan to get yourself caught up with the material. Take advantage of study groups and learning communites. These are great ways to not only stay on top of class material, but also to make friends. Also try joining a club that interests you. It is always fun to get involved in some way at your school. My last advice is to keep yourself healthy. Eat as healthy as possible and try to exercise regularly.

I think the most important factor in finding the right college for you is visiting as many schools as possible. The school I decided to attend felt like home to me as soon as I stepped onto campus. I can't even explain why it feels like home, but I knew that this was the place that I should attend. There should be some people there who share the same interests and goals as you, and have some who are completely different. Diversity is an excellent way to learn about other people. I think the best way to make the most out of your college experince is to get as involved as possible. Finding things that you love to do, and others who love to do it is critical. Whether it is a club, or a sorority/fraternity, or sports, people who love the same things as you can end up being lifelong friends. Your college years are supposed to be the best years of your life, so make the most of it! Don't get too stressed out with classes and forget to have fun!

Choosing a college is a very personal thing. If you want to find a college that fits you, you are the only person that can find it. You have to go out, tour the campus, look at dorms, and meet the teachers. Talking to students who already attend the school can help you get an idea of what it is like to live there, but always keep in mind that your experience won't be quite the same as theirs and that things they hate about campus may be things you would like. Cost is a big factor, but you shouldn't let the high price of a school stop you from attending it. There are always ways to get the money you need. Finally, friends are also a factor. If you go to a university because your friends are going there, there is nothing wrong with that. It will help you adjust to campus life to have people around you that you are comfortable with. And when it comes down to it, a degree is a degree, no matter what college it comes from.

I work as a campus tour guide, and I believe that the most important part of the college selection process is going to visit every campus that interests you. Even though a place may sound perfect on paper, there is no way you can tell unless you visit and get that feeling that you can call the place home for the next four years. Once you choose the right college, I highly recommend attending any freshmen orientation programs run by the university, living in the residence halls, and I also highly recommend getting involved on campus. These are great ways to meet people and make the best out of your college years.

The main advice that i would give is to choose a place that feels most like home to you. College is the place where you will spend 4 or more years at, and it is the place where your life essentially begins. This is the place where (most of us) we will make life-long friends, choose our career paths, develop unbreakable friendships, learn the most valuable life lessons, and probably find our future spouse. Any person is going to need to feel at home in order to feel any of that. In order to know which campus feels mostly like home to you is to visit college campuses. There is a school for anyone and everyone. my second advice is to get involved. Take advantage of the hundreds of different students organizations that are offered in your campus. Those exist for a reason; others students, like you, did not want your school to be a dead place, so they started an organization that would bring togehter students with the same interests and passions. This way, it is much easier to make friends and get involved in other activities besides studying.

go where you feel at home

Figure out what you want to do first, then find well known schools in that area and apply. Once you're accepted, work hard and remember, you're there to learn. You also need to have fun and meet new people though. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone.

Advice that I would give to upcoming freshmen, is that take as many college classes as you can that was your first semester can be kind of easy. I took college english and speech in high school and it really freed up my time my freshmen year. Because of this I was able to participate in marching band and I was able to have a pretty easy semester. This made my transistiom to a new school that was far from home a lot easier than what it could have been (6 hours). Also, I would tell freshmen to choose their roommate carefully. My roommate my first semester was horrible. So, make sure you answer the compatibility questions carefully. Don't make qualifications on your answers. If it asks Do you mind if your roommate comes in late? Answer truthfully. I answered No, as long as she is quiet. And that was my mistake. Ithought that my roommate would have courtsey for me. She didn't and it was a horrible first semester. So, just be careful.

The best advice I can give prospective college students is going on several campus visits. Visit as many schools as you can to decide on what size, programs, and general atmospheres you prefer. After deciding on a school, go in with an open mind. Try different clubs and sports that you might not have pursued before in your life. Take classes that actually interest you for your elctives, not just the classes that are easiest. Most of all HAVE FUN, it will go extremely fast. Then it is all work, work, work.

Start early, go to as many places as you can, apply to them all. Take the ACT and SAT both starting sophmore year.

There really is no best school. It is all what you make of the time that you are there.

Parents should not pressure their kids to go where THEY want their child to go.

One thing you really need to consider is the distance from home. How far away from your family are you willing to go? College is all about learning to grow up and live on your own but you never know when you might need a little help. Being located far enough away to feel like your on your own but close enough to drive home if you need to is key.

Visit the school and pick a school that is most valuable in all terms of the word. Remember that an undergraduate degree is sometimes not worth the extra out of state tuition for some families, but keep grad school opportunities in mind. Finding a school that offers a good "college experiance" can often be also linked to the student's perception and ability to create a positive environment around them; for example if the student is a fun person, good times will often come to them. Also, students should surround themselves with friends who will help them suceed; the best friends are ones who are part of neither extreme (always studying or always partying - a healthy balance will provide the best experiance). Parents should freely share any experiances they had in college that helped make it one of the 'best times of their lives.' While students might seem to turn a deaf ear at first, they will probably be listening anyway. Don't be too judgemental, but provide enough support to create an environment of sucess in the mind and lifestyle of the student.

Go and visit as many colleges as you can and see what they have to offer. Look at the doors, the classrooms and anything else that might interest you. Get involved with things that are going on at college.

Make sure you visit a college numerous times throughout different seasons. Also, be sure to attend seminars on the major area(s) you are considering to get a first-hand idea of what it will be like. If you know someone who already attends that univerisity or college spend a few days with them. I think it helped a lot to see what housing/social life was like on campus and also to attend classes and observe what the work load would be. You need to make sure to walk around the entire campus and get a feeling for the property as well as the people. Also, go with your gut instinct. I thought for years I would go to the same university as my parents and other family members had because I had been on campus many times for football games, etc. Once I finally toured Purdue and spent more time there I fell in love with it and knew it was the perfect fit for me.

Look into extracurriculars as well as majors and minor when looking at schools. You want to know that you'll feel comfortable and safe on-campus as well as off-campus. Don't choose a school according to partying or drinking, whether you want that or not - most schools have it.

Make sure you visit first.

I would say that when you walk on campus if you are excited and feel like you would have a blast here then that is where you need to be be. Bottom line that is where you're going to meet all your friends and where you will graduate from. So it needs to be somewhere where you know you will have fun!

The people who tell you to visit lots of schools and you'll just know which is the right one were correct in my case. When I went to Purdue for the first time I felt at home even though I was 2,000+ miles away. Yet, that did not happen for all my friends. My advice pick the school that is best for you academically, financially, socially, location wise, and your other criteia. Do not pick because your friends are going there pick the school YOU want! It may not seem like it now but you will meet new people and become great friends with them AND keep your old friends at home. So if you want an adventure far away, go for it! When you get to college the way the make the most of your experience is simple, GET INVOVLED! Join a club, a greek house, an orgainzation, whatever you want just start joining and meeting people the rest will take care of itself. However, most importantly GO TO CLASS; if you go you'll remember something even if you can't focus it helps, I promise! Now go find the college of your dreams too!!!

Above all, you have to remember that you are chosing this school for you, and no one else. I think it is crucial that you go on campus and see if you could imagine yourself among the student body, and you will really be able to find a good fit for you. Statistics are important, but only a very small part of the college itself; you have to make sure you look at the bigger picture. If you feel like you could call the college home for the next four years of your life, then it is probably the one for you! The true test of whether students are happy or not can be found by walking up to students on the campus and asking them how they like their experience. You will (hopefully) get an honest, uncandid answer that can help make your decision.