Purdue University-Main Campus Top Questions

In order to find the right college for you or your child, the most important thing to look at is the student's learning ability. If it is difficult to focus in a large group of people, a big university would not be right for them. I have lectures up to 400 people and it is not an easy learning environment. If you have the time and are willing to put forth extra effort, learning sessions and tutors could make a big university possible for them. Another big thing to pay attention to would be tuition and living costs. Expensive tuition is possible for anyone, though. I grew up in a middle class environment with just enough money to get us by. The summer before my oldest sister went away to Purdue, my father passed away. This made things more difficult for us, but did not stop my twin sister or I from coming to the same school my oldest sister was at, with the same tuition and amount of loans. I know that when I graduate college, I will have a lot to pay back. With an education from Purdue University under my belt, it is all worth while.

You should visit campuses to get a general view about it and their academic programs. And once you do find a school, if they offer any student orientation programs, I would highly recommend them. At Purdue University, they have a program called Boiler Gold Rush, and it was the best thing I could have done. The next year I was a leader for incoming students. I made life long friends and got familar with campus and definitely grew in love with Purdue.

I am really bad when it comes to trying to make a decision. But when I stepped onto the campus at Purdue, I knew it was for me. Nothing can tell you more about a colleges personality than seeing it. Interacting with the students and campus will help you make the most accurate decision. To get the most out of these college experiences, the more you do the better. Getting invloved and taking advantage of all the things that these colleges have to offer. There are so many things that you have the opportunity to do and see, famous performances, research, study abroad, and so much more. Getting a sense of colleges personality and taking advantage of all they have to offer is the best way to get the most out of your college experience.

Find a university where the kids can have an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives. College is suppose to be a time where you have fun, make new friends for life, and also learn. It is not meant to be spent, studying or constantly doing homework. I encourage students/parents to take visits to schools and learn more about the schools their are planning to attend. First it is important to go to the school to where it meets your needs with what you want to do with your life academically, but it is equally important to find a school with a very positive environment and a very positive staff. Choose the place that you will think will give your kid/student, the best experience possible!

Choosing what college you attend is one of the most important decisions you will ever have to make. However, rest assured it is hard to make a bad decision. You might not like the college you shoud; or you might love it. Whatever ends up happening, you will learn many things from the experience. Whether you finish your years out at the college you originally chose, or end up switching to another one, you will learn skills you need to have later in life when you start your career. You will learn good communication skills and adaptation skills that you can take with you to the workplace. That being said, do not stress about the what college you choose or where you are going in life. College is an experience that will benefit you, no matter which one you choose.

I would tell them to visit as many colleges as possible and talk to people who went to that college and studied the area you are interested in. It is very important to make sure financial problems are taken care of, otherwise the student will spend too much time worrying about money. Find a good circle of friends that you can have fun with, but also are good study partners. It makes studying so much more interesting and less boring. Also, don't feel pressured to be in the greek system. There are a lot of good people and opportunities involved with it, but it is not a requirement to be successful.

Make sure you research each college thorougly. Find out what kind of class size, the walks to campus, and the cost to attend. Each of these are important in choosing where you would like to go. To get the full college experience, you also want your Freshman year to go very well and to make a lot of friends. The Residence Halls are where I did this. I met tons of people on my floor my first year, and learned more about people I would have never met had I not lived there. That's the best thing about attending college so far for me. The people I met here, will be with me forever and I'll never forget all the fun times we had in college.

To Students: Find a place that you feel comfortable. Visit the college you would like to attend, and if you can imagine yourself as a student there, that is probably the best choice for you. Picture the perfect college for you in your mind and write down the things that describe it (size, amount of people, sporting events, type of housing, etc.). Check off the items on the the list while visiting. This should give yourself the best personal rating.

truely go with the school that is best for what the kid wants to do. The size should be secondary. You will find that 10-15 people no matter where he/she goes. Have an open mind because you never know who you will still be hanging out with com junior year.

As a prospective student, you should visit the college you are interested in plenty of times. Getting used to living arrangements you will be in is also a good idea. Visit friends that are in college to experience the college lifestyle. Make sure to apply for financial aid so you won't have too many loans or out of pocket expenses. Get to know how the weather will be during the school year and if you will like it or not. Make sure mostly everything that goes on is in your comfort level as well.

I would make sure that not only do the classes fit your needs but also the social, extracurricular, and volunteer aspect of the campus. While achieving good grades is certainly a main goal while attending a university, what you will remember most of your college experience is the lifelong friends you have made as well as the experiences that help to shape your life. While attending school, involvement in a variety of activities will allow you to network and make the most of your time at college.

From looking on the outside it is nearly impossible to know if a school is the right fit for you. Do not be afraid of transfers, but do it early on. Make sure to take some fun classes, otherwise you WILL get burned out in your first year. Also, make sure to get acquainted with the resources available, like computer/writing labs, tutoring, counseling, career help, etc.

College life is not all about studying, there is a lot more to it. The bigger the college, the more sponsored opportunities there are. For science majors, the bigger the college, the more experts you can find in your field. It is important to look at the rankings of universities before you apply, the lower the ranking, lower the chance of world class experts in your field to be in that college. Also looking at faculty is very important and anyone can look at faculty and what their research interest has been. Many universities are famous for few fields of research, there is not a single university that is famous for every research aspect. If you know what your interest is, applying for a laboratory technician position and finding out what is your university of interest is known for is very important as well. Working for a professor starting freshman year helps with everything from schooling to finding a job. Extracurriculars are the best ways to find friends, many times people college students see are people only within their major. Extracurricular help not only with reduction of stress, but also finding new friends that will be friends forever.

Visit the campus. If you don't get that "I'm home" feeling, then it's not the place for you. If you are on a campus visit, and you walk around feeling like you are already a student, then you're at the right place! When you go to your choice college, don't focus too much on your social life or your academics separately. Figure out the best way for you to combine them. You can't let yourself lose touch with the world because you have your nose in books, or you will miss out on all of the wonderful once-in-a-lifetime experiences. And, you can't miss out on a great career because you had too much fun either. Be careful with how you spend your time.

Don't believe that you will be too busy to have a social life. If you're in engineering, DO your homework when it is assigned, you won't have to cram as much before finals if you do. Don't ditch all your classes, most of them are useful, you learn/remember more than you think you do. Don't stop having fun, do the things you like, but don't go wild. Don't get hooked on video games, many of my friends have failed classes because of Halo and WoW, most are on academic probation.

Don't get hung up on school rankings/reputation or on finding the "perfect" fit. If you feel really out of place and uncomfortable on a college visit, then yes, you're probably in the wrong place. Otherwise, I wouldn't worry about it. Find a place that is capable of supporting your academic success and providing a social environment you can enjoy, and then just run with it, making the best of everything it has to offer. Every school has it's upsides and downsides-- Purdue is huge, which can mean oversized classes and inattentive professors, but it can also mean world-class resources that are frankly irreplacable. Take advantage of every pro and learn to work around every con, and you'll just fine.

I definately encourage that you go and visit the school. Sometimes people say that you can just feel that the school is right when you walk around the campus. Don't pick becuase it's where your friends are going. Try and pick a school that has a good background in your desired major.

Make a list of what you want and expect from a university. Do you want to learn from internationally renown professors? Do you prefer smaller class sizes? How about community service: should your university be in a friendly, giving community? Or is proximity to city life more important to you? I owe my most personally developing and maturing years to Purdue University. My decision to attend Purdue was largely based on my desires to attain my education where I could be exposed to a wide variety of educational, social, and character-building experiences that would benefit me academically, professionally, and personally. I have not been let down. Research. The fact that your friend goes to State should never be the end of discussion. It is your life. Lead it. And yet, you may also find that after all your research and measuring pros and cons, you may find, as I did, that your gut, your heart, your soul knows exactly which university is the right one for you.

The advice that I would give to parents or students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experience is (in the order of priority) to evaluate where the student wants to be in twenty years, how strong of a social enviroment that the student needs, and how much the parents are able to afford/ the availability of loans. Where the student visualizes his or her placement in life is extremely important because obtaining an education is mainly about facilitating the chances of reaching goals. If a student desires an ambitious future, the student should go to the best university that they would be accepted that has their desired program. If the student would be satisfied with not obtaining a nobel prize, social experience and affordability should be a dominating factor.

Take time to relize what it is you want to do, so you don't end up wasting money and time figureing it out.

Pay attention to how the students and staff treat you on day on campus events and try to spend some time on campus away from guided tours, if possible, to really get a feel of what the campus is really like.

The advice that I would give to parents and/or students about finding the right college is to take a look at all of the options. There are hundreds of colleges and universities and what is right for one student, may not be right for another. Whatever you do, as a student, don't limit yourself. Just because a college is big, that doesn't mean you will always feel ilke just a number. Similarly, just because a school is small that doesn't necessarily mean that your opportunities are limited. Choose the school that makes you feel at home. As for making the most of your college experience, I have two pieces of advice. First , study and get good grades. That is the reason that you are at college. Make use of your resources and your professors, so that later in life you are prepared for the career that you are pursuing. Second, have fun. While you are mainly going to college to get a degree, you are also going to have some great life experiences in new places with new people. College life is at its best when your grades are good, but your friends are better.

Go to the college that is right for you, and don't let anyone pressure you into choosing a certain school. You need to go to a college that is going to benefit you the best not only socially, but also academically. Don't ever let money stop you from going to a college because there is all sorts of scholarships and financial aid that you can receive.

When I was looking for a college, I too was having a hard time figuring out what would be right for me. I finally decided on Purdue just because as soon as I stepped on campus, I felt comfortable. I realize that other factors are important such as academic offerings and things like that, but honestly I would say to pick somewhere that you feel comfortable and that you could see yourself living contently for the next few years. Also, don't just base your college on where your friends are going. Make sure you are picking the school that is right for you individually. It is hard to separate from highschool friends, but if you brach out to where you feel you would fit in the best, you will meet so many new people who are just like you.

They're all the same, just pick the biggest one you can get into...so if you end up hating your major, you can switch and you'll have more options

Academics is important, but it is in no way the entirety of the college experience. Make sure you get involved on campus to get the most out of this experience. Make friends and enjoy a social life too, because in six years, no one is going to care what grade you got on your chemistry exam. Find a campus that you like, if you think it's ugly, you are not going to want to live there the next 4+ years of your life, no matter how good it will look. to have a diploma from there. Long story short, just think long term, and not just academically.

Make sure you visit! And if it's possible to do a sleepover with a current student I reccomend you do it! It gives you a real understanding of what dorm life is like or classes, if you go to class with a current student.

Try everywhere, even if it doesn't seem right, and talk to the advisors that's what they're there for.

Do your research to find the best school that suits your learning style and personality.

GET INVOLVED EARLY!!

Just finding the right college. Visit and ask students who already go to the college you are looking at. It is also best to look at the graduation rate in the field you want to go into.

I would say that you should really let the students choose where they need to be. Make sure that the school fits into your budget and make a visit to the college before you attend. Apply early, turn things in on time and look to the future about everything that you could do and become

I would advise them to research the college and make sure to visit the campus onece they decide which college he/she wants to attend.

I was just talking to a high school student that was interested in my university and these are the main things I stressed when I was telling him about how to choose the right school: school size, however this does not directly indicate class size; diversity in students and factulty; availablity of activities and opportunities, i.e. clubs, study abroad, career fairs; transition to college life through special programs and dormatories. I remember how hard to was to choose a school, but this student seemed very greatful that I shared my experiences.

If you are weary of being homesick then pick a college near home within 3 hour drive, but also one that fits your personality. Basically if you are a conservative, small-town kind of person then don't pick a college in a liberal, highly-populated area. Culture shock may be harder than you think. Make sure to visit the school before you send in the acceptance letter. Most schools have great freshmen orientations which are a great way to move in early and feel socially connected as well. Look into what type of extracurriclars you are interested in and see what they are like at the new college. Give it time and try to stay there the first few weekends if at all possible. Study hard but also allow yourself to have some fun. Live on campus for at least the first year so you can meet a larger number of people from a greater diversity. You learn more lifelong responsiblities.

There are many choices you can make, but choose one that you think that will make you happy. However always remember whatever you choose, its not the school's responsibility to make sure you learn. What you put in is what you get out. You don't need to go to an ivy league school to get a good education. Work hard and many doors you wouldn't expect will be opened.

Pick a school where it is known for your desired major. Pick the one that you can afford. And make sure you visit the school so you can have a feel of the school. In addition make sure just in case your major does not work out it has other majors that may interest you as well.

Be sure to take interest tests and decide upon a field of study and, ideally, a specific career, which the student has a passion for. It will bring confidence to the student if they have specific goals they are trying to achieve. They will be able to begin shaping their life and the things they do to make themselves more desirable to prospective employers. Once a major field of study is selected, college choice should be a matter of a few simple preferences.

Talk to people from the college. It doesn't matter if your student knows the major they want or has no idea. The biggest part of college is going to be the people you are around for 4 years. It's easy to find information about the school cirriculum from the college, but the only way to find out about the people is by talking. You don't want to go somewhere with great academics and then hate it because you can't stand the other students. So visit, walk around, and ask. College students love talking about themselves and their school!

My best advice for parents and students when picking the right college would be to look for a school that caters to what YOU want in your college experience, not with what your family and friends want from you. This is your education and college experience, not theirs. Once you choose your school, participate in things that you wouldn't have when you were in college. The opportunities on many campuses are endless and your participation in them will add to your overall experience. If your worried that the only groups and clubs on campus are academic ones then stop. There is a club for just about every interest you can imagine. Participating in these not only enhances your college experience but it will expand your social network as well. College is by no means a joy ride all the time, but if you learn what works for you, you can make it some of the best years of your life.

Try to determine what you enjoy doing and then find the best school that fits your budget to obtain a degree.

College isn't just about the education, as most of us think it is, but it's about the experience. There are a number of different college's out there all offering different types of experiences. Finding the right college not only means looking at what you want out of your education, but the memories you want to walk away from those years on that campus.

Make sure you visit a school you are seriously considering, because you will be spending 4 years or more there. Don't be afraid to look at schools that are not close to home. this may help you grow up and become more independent. Don't go through your entire college experience with out having any fun. Experience new things, take interesting classes, and take tiem to explore who you truly are.

If your child is adamant about persuing a certain career path, find the best school for that path. If your child does not know what he or she wants to do, find a school that will be condusive to the soul searching that is sure to come. In both cases, the name and prestige of the school should not be your main concern. Go visit the campuses. Talk to faculty. Most importantly, TALK TO STUDENTS. Sending your child to an Ivy League school does NOT mean he or she is garaunteed to be successful and grow as a person.

The best advice that I could give would be to look at all the options that are presented to you. Make sure that your child has applied to a variety of places not just the "safe" schools, but also the ones that they may or may not think that they can get in to. When I was applying I had my ultimate career goal in mind, I plan on being a veterinarian and only applied to vet schools. This wasn't necessarily a good idea, what if through the course of my schooling I decieded that vet school wasn't for me? I would be stuck at a school that didn't foster my changing of majors. In thinking this through I took a chance and applied to Notre Dame, just to see if I could get in. I had dreamed of attending a university such as Notre Dame, and wanted to see at least if I could get in. I did however get into all the schools that I applied to, and choose from there, but the fact is I had options. The options allowed me to look at pros and cons of each school and pick from there.

Don't feel pressured to go to college right upon graduation. I took a year off and then went to get my degree. It helped me decided exactly what I wanted to do and gave me a chance to save up more money. Rarely do people graduate in 4 years anymore anyway. Find the college that has a good reputation for what you want to study as well as one that has a welcoming social environment.

Make sure you take everything into consideration. Do they have a lot of majors if you want to change your career (which most people do.) Is it close enough in case you get sick or hurt? Is it a well known college? Will you get the bang for your buck? Please don't choose a college because it is "pretty" or your "boyfriend or girlfriend goes there." Those are the WORSE ways to make such an important decision.

I think the biggest thing that can help make one's college experience the best it can possibly be is taking advantage of everything that your school has to offer and fully use all the resources that are at your school. Also, I think it is so important to step out of your comfort zone and try something new, because you never know what you'll like and what can make a huge impact on your life. Also, I think that whatever college you attend will seem like the right place for you if you are just open to it and open to everything that it has to offer.

Look for a place that feels like home

I would tell them to go. Go the Universities and actually try to experience the campus before going. I think that would have helped me a lot.