Saint Louis University Top Questions

My advice to students: Find your own voice and be as true to your self as possible, without harming others. Follow your passion, for life short, and you deserve to achieve happiness. Do not let anyone, including yourself lead you astray from your path. If you mess up, its okay; just get right back up, for each is a new day. And do not forget, at any time, if you realize that your passion has changed, do not be afraid to see where it takes you. My advice to parents: Let your children be themselves. Do not judge them harshly, for they simply trying to find themselves., which is no easy task. Young people need support and postive reinforcement. Focus on the good and not the bad. Love, understanding, and patience are the receipe for a good relationship with your child; oh yeah...and money.

I think the biggest thing that you have to keep in mind is the type of student that you are or your child is and then go from there. People focus on the classics, (diversity, class size, cost, etc) but it is easy to overlook things like surrounding area, city life, off campus housing, food. To make the most of it you need to remind yourself why you're there and stay focused on your ultimate goal, whatever that may be. It is easy to get caught up in one thing, but I feel is it important to be sure to expand your horizons and be adventurous. You only go to college once, don't let everything it has to offer pass you by.

Visit the college, see what's in your price range, and focus on what you want out of the school you will choose. Don't limit your options, even if they are far away. Remember, airplanes make every college close to home.

Visit all colleges your are considering and spend as much time there as possible.

When looking for the right college, it is important to keep an open mind. You don't want to limit yourself too much in the beginning because visiting the college is what really helps you to decide what college is the best fit for you. Instead of narrowing your choices by a college's student size or urban/small town setting, look at what each school is going to offer you instead, such as academic opportunities or the campus atmosphere. In order to make the most out of one's college experience it is important to not be closed-minded, because you never know what you may find you enjoy. It is a time of thousands of new experiences. Also, make sure to use of different resources the college gives you. There is no reason to be stubborn and struggle through a course, when there are most likely plenty of qualified tutors. All in all, if you're willing to step out of your comfort zone sometimes you'll have a great college experience and learn a lot about yourself in the process.

My advice for parents or students is listen to your gut. When you go to the right college for yourself or your child you will know it. Also do not to worried about the distance of the price, if it is the right place for you those things will work itself out for you. I would also suggest that the student spend the night on campus so they can get a feel for how the campus really feels. This will allow you talk to people that are not in the admissions office and you can get an honest assessment of how the school is. Keep an open mind and everything will be fine

Plan what you really are looking for and what you really need. If a student needs more guidance, where are the office, what's the phone number. Who do they call when they get sick? Where do they go if they need a strep test? If there are dietary needs, does the campus fulfill that? Is there a grocery store nearby that would provide what the university convienience store does not? Really understanding what a student needs and looks for is very helpful. A really good thing to look at is whether there are career links near campus. If they are studying theatre, are there opportunities to attend professional theatre near campus? Are there networking opportunities?

First, I would advise everyone to start early .. NEVER wait till the last minute! Students, research different colleges to see which one best suits you and your career choice. Parents, visit these universities with your child(ren) and ask plenty of questions when you get the chance. Both, the parent and the student, fill out the college applications and send them out as soon as possible. (Remember: The sooner they are sent out, the sooner one will know if they are accepted to the school of their choice.) As far as making the most out of your college experience, that varies on the individual. Make new friends, don't be shy! Im sure every college has "Welcome Week" events ... Go to thoes different events. They are there for you to attend and for you to meet new people. Get involved is school related activities and most of all, HAVE FUN! After all, you only get to live this once, so might as well have fun doing it! ;)

Pretty much any college will be good. It all depends on what the student makes of it. Of course there will be schools that are just terrible and the student will have a hard time enjoying him or herself there, but most of the time if kids have a good mindset, they will enjoy themselves and figure out how to balance the homework load and the socializing load.

As a student at Saint Louis University, I am constantly reminded and encouraged to "Be a Billiken." Apart from our serving as our mascot, a Billiken's definition includes the adjectives unique, inspired, intelligent, and even urban. In the fashion of this marketing mantra, I too believe that there is a right way to "be" during the process of finding the right college and making the most of the college experience. The first is to be persistent. The college search can be overwhelming, stressful, and at times very tedious. Don't expect failure, but take it in stride. Persist now, so that you can feel proud of where you end up later. Second, be informed. Find the college that fits best for your future, whether that is a variety of majors, or one strong program. Being aware of all of your options lessens the chances of coming up short handed, or feeling as if you could have done more. Last, and most important for success, is to be yourself. Relish in every opportunity college presents you with maxing out on your potential. Be an individual, strive toward the impossible, and excel in the unique opportunity that is your life.

I would advise them to visit each campus and talk to as many students as possible becuase their opinions are the least biased. To make the most of the college experience, it is key to get involved on campus whenever possible and to take student leadership roles. This will make it easier to find people who share the same interests as you and there will be less of a chance that you will feel that you don't belong.

Work off you rstudent loans right away and borrow money from yout parents through school.

When you are looking for the right college you need to think what you want out of college. If you want to go to a strictly party school SLU is not the place. Here people do not let partying get in the way of school, that is why this place is a good fit for socialble people who still want to get a great education to succeed in their later years. You need to visit every school that you apply to, because if I had not visited SLU I would not have gotten the feeling I got walking around its campus. This feeling is very important for a student to get because I do not know what to call it except for a "gut feeling", but ever sense I had that feeling after visiting SLU i have never thought what if. The last thing a student needs to realize is can his family afford this school. My family can afford to send me here, which makes me feel awful, but this is not with out making various sacrifices and taking out of loans. If your parents do not pay a student needs to know if they can themselves.

What is your priority with your lifestyle? My priority was finding a community that I fit into, so visiting campuses was really important to me. There is such a wide range of academic levels of schools out there that I focused on where I felt I belonged, and the rest all fell into place. Good luck! If in doubt, just go with your gut.

Really take a good look at what college you want to attend. Make sure that the students there seem happy and pleased with their decision, because ultimately you will be part of that environment that you choose. Choose a program that is truly interests you and that when you look back on your college career, you will be able to say that you learned what you wanted to learn, you did participated in the activities you wanted to be a part of, and you truly had a fantastic time in college. You only get a few short years to enjoy this time before getting out into the real world, so be sure to live your life to its fullest potential during your college years. It is a fulfilling life experience that will shape you into the person you will be for the rest of your life.

Pick the college that feels like the right fit. Whenever classes get tough, that feeling of community will stay with you through it. Find friends, the ones that will be with you for the rest of your life. And, when things get tough, lean on them. My philosophy on making the most of my college experience is that you aren't going to remember a test you studied for in 20 years. You are going to remember the fun times you had with your friends when you were supposed to be studying. Don't let college pass you by either. Four years seems long, but it will fly. Live everyday of it because the worst feeling in the world is looking back in 3 years regretting those memories you didn't make and feeling like you don't have any time left. This is the only time of your life to find yourself, so use it wisely. Find who you want to be, and be that person.

My advice for parents would be to relax more, and allow your child(ren) to make more of their own decisions when it comes to what school they will attend. It's understandable for a parent to provide some opinions throughout the decision making process. Afterall, they usually are the ones paying for our education. More importantly than that, we do value what they have to say, because they have been there before, so thay are aware of alot of things that we have yet to experience. BUT, we would like to for our parents to realize that we need to be given the opportunity to create our own unique paths and experiences, and not simply follow in their footsteps 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. My advice for students would be to simply follow your passion, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING!! As a current junior in college, I know that we may not enter a school knowing exactly what it is that we want to do. But if there is something that you love, GO FOR IT. If you are passionate about waht you are in, that's the only way that you will truly succeed. Secondly, AVOID CREDIT CARD DEBT!!!!!

Tryto remember that it is just as important to study with the stereotypical, rich white kids as it is to study with people from around the world. True, SLU has a low diversity percentage, but it helps you realize that racism is not gone, and there is a lot of work to be done before equality is reached-- anywhere in the world. Also, consider two major aspects: the ease of studying abroad and finding an internship. These are the two biggest aspects of college that will make you competitive in the workforce, so be sure to ask lots of questions about them.

When looking into colleges, students and parents should look for a school that provides a solid education. This means not only educating its students academically, but giving them a well rounded education. College is a great time of growth and developement. They should look for a school that helps its students develope into the people they want to be.

Don't be afraid to take a risk with your college choice. Maybe it's far from home, or maybe you will be the only one from your high school attending this university. But maybe, your choice in college and your experience on this campus will be the greatest experience of your life. The friends you meet will last a lifetime and the things you learn will forever be a part of you. When making your final decision, make sure to talk to current students to get great insight into what makes this university different from all others. The greatest and most important resource isn't your high school guidance counselor, it is your peers who have gone through exactly what you are going through. To make the most of college, get involved, meet new people, and don't be afraid to strike up a conversation with a stranger. It is the simple things that make college so much fun.

Go where it feels right. Don't worry about the school name or what it means that you went to one "better" school over another. Go to the place where you feel at home and feel welcome on campus. Then when making the most of your college experience, stay true to who you are and the right people will find you out. Then you will be more satisfied knowing you stayed true to yourself and met people who were like you.

Apply to several schools and from those that accept you, look for financial aid opportunities, location, and make sure the department that houses your major is reputable. Once you are at the school, join a club or two to meet new people. Remember, when you start college, you can be whoever you want to be.

Let your kids visit many different colleges until they find the one that feels right. Note that feeling "right" doesn't necessarily depend on the number of frats or sororities on campus...there is more to choosing a college than that, obviously. Additionally, what you do in college depends on YOU. Unless you're majoring in something "easy" prepare to fight for a good GPA especially if you're in engineering, premed, etc. Those types of prgrams typically have a lot of weed-out classes. Most importantly, talk to CURRENT STUDENTS. They are a wealth of knowledge and will give you the TRUTH not some canned bologna that the administration puts out in those glossy brochures with the diverse looking group of kids having fun on the front cover. College isn't really about partying. It is for your freshman year but then when you realize your GPA sucks and you probably won't get an internship then it's time to wise up because our economy is in a recession and they're only going to hire at the top of the list!

You should pay attention to every single detail about the college you choose. Once you commit and start to realize the many aspects of the different types of universities, it's really hard to go through the process of transferring. I wasn't prepared and ran into so many roadblocks that I didn't research enough before I chose my school and now I will graduate in five years instead of four. So make sure you know as much as possible about your school and with the economy, make sure the tuition and financial aid is right for you. To make the most of your college experience, you MUST get involved. School can make for a lonley time if you repeatedly go from class to work or class to homework then sleep. There are so many volunteer opportunities with school, intramural and varsity sports, clubs, fraternities and sororities, academic communities that become close and tight knit. You just have to make sure you give yourself time to relax your brain and have fun as well.

Finding the right university can be a difficult endeavor. You have to consider so many different aspects of the school all at one time, especially the cost. My advice to anyone who is having difficulty picking a school, you need to visit and get a sense of the atmosphere. When you are at a school, it should just click whether through meeting other students, teachers, or just walking the campus. Just like when it is time to shop for a new car, home, or even wedding dress, when you find the right school you will feel it. Also when you do get that gut feeling, there is one thing you must remember, and that is don't fret about the cost. Yes schools are terribly expensive right now, but this is your education and your future and you just can't simply put a price on that. Many schools, especially private ones have extensive financial aid packets, so the money issue can be worked out. While college is about academics, mostly, that gut feeling will dictate your overall experience at the school. Make the most of it, and take your future into your own hands.

First, buy a book to compare different schools. This will give you a rough idea of how they relate to each other. Attend a college fair if you can, and sign up for every single packet of information that is remotely appealing. Then, go visit as many schools as you possibly can! No one is going to be a good judge of that school's fit for you except for you. If possible, make these visits before even applying, so that you know which kind of school fits the mold that you want. Do several of these visits in one trip if they are going to be far away. Also, try to get the most out of the ones that you are most serious about. Go on a campus tour. Meet with an admissions counselor. Talk to the head of the department that you wish to join. Try to stay a night on campus. Talk to as many students as possible! You can judge so much about the school from these interactions. How easy they are to accomplish will tell you so much about the school and your potential future there. Most of all, make it fun rather than burdensome!

Visit places and talk to the student that go there.

The best way to know what the right college for you is to actually visit the campus; see and experience everything about the school in a first hand basis.

I would advise that student and parents not take the location of slu and some of the things you here to heart. Most of the bad rumors are promoted from scared racist individuals that take the location on slu and translate that to mean that slu is a bad campus. I do not believe this and i urge others not to as well.

Definitely come and visit the campus, and find students other than the ones giving tours to ask particular questions. The students walking arounds are going to be friendly, guaranteed, and do not have a memorized or practice-scripted response to tell you back when answering your questions. Definitely approach people that are not wearing a polo or making the tours, they'll give you a different perspective on a more "real" basis, and chances are if they're walking around they're involved and already loving and endulging into activities and enjoying the school they chose. Best of luck!

I would tell all the parents out there that it is important that they let their child go and explore as many colleges as possible and early in their high school career. My mom let me go explore every possible school I was interested in applying too before my junior year came around. When you go and visit a campus you can experience for yourself the atmosphere of the school and you can really see what they have to offer. I know people say that you know where you belong after you go and visit, and I believe this statement. I went to visit SLU and I fell in love. I immediately felt a connection to the university and knew that I wanted it to be my alma mater. To make the most out of your college experience, I would have to say that it is important to get involved. This doesn't mean you have to participate in greek life, but get involved in different organizations around campus. Also, go out into your community and lend a hand. It is important to give back to our communities escpecially because you will be living there for the next four years.

Know yourself before you pick a school. You want to be sure you know what is available to you now and in your future. So many people change their major and their tastes as they go to college, so it is important to leave yourself room to grow. Stay a night at the school if you can, test the waters without your comfort zone surrounding you (family/current friends). The college you chose is just that, YOUR choice . Make sure it matches your interests, your desires, and your needs. College is the time to learn more about yourself so don't hold back, take chances, and get involved in what you like. Good luck!

Parents, do not pressure your children into going to a certain university. If students choose for themselves, they will be much more likely to enjoy themselves and succeed. Base your choice off of what you think you would like and if something isn't what it seems, it is certainly not the end of the world. About making the most of your college experience, go into whatever it is you are doing with an open mind because you may find that you like something more than you'd think. Try different things and give 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} for whatever it is you try. If at first you don't succeed, quitting/failure shouldn't be an option.

The advice that I would give to anyone entering the college scene is to remember that not only is college about focusing on your career and what will become of us after we graduate, but also the experience in the classroom and those around us. We will never again experience what this time in our lives offers us; life is much too short to worry about the little things. We are the lucky ones who are even able to attend college and should treasure each moment. So much of life is caught up on trivial issues that we need to instead focus on our friends and family and what memories we can make with them. College is experience of a lifetime, no matter how cliche that sounds; we are given the chance to prove to others that we can make something of ourselves. Life is what we make of it and it is our own to lead. I truly believe that we have the power to do what want no matter where we go and the relationships that we make along the way are the ones that will help us survive.

Keep in mind your values. If you are religious, make sure you have a place to practice and a community to support you. At the same time, intelligent people welcome intelligent yet different viewpoints. Gauge for yourself how competitive you are and match the school as closely to that as possible. Understand what you want to do after college so that you know what to do while you are in it. Make sure you go to a school that supports all the things you need to do to get to the place you want to be after graduation. Watch out for too many TAs or graduate students teaching especially if you want to do post-graduate school like law. More tenured teachers help when shopping for great recommendations.

It is all situational and dependent upon the person. Talk to friends, ask people who you know and trust how things are going at their school in terms of grades and overall quality of their lives at the time and these kinds of questions. If you talk to someone who you consider yourself very similar to you can probably be assured that their situation will be very likewise to your own if you were to enroll in their same school. I would also suggest making sure you are going to a college with at least one good friend who you can be positive will motivate you and keep you positive throughout your years as an undergraduate. I would also make sure to seek out the professors that are going to have the greatest impact on your life, I do this by going to certain websites that rate professors and bring students together to comment on their overall performance and abilities as an educational facilitator. By using these means, I experienced several courses with tremendous professors who made going to classes a must. All of these things are important and should be considered carefully and eventually.

Visit the campus when the students are there. Talk to random students you see and ask them about the university. Don't be narrow minded, consider all options.

Have a goal but keep an eye on the big picture and other possible options. Many things can and will happen during your four years of study. Develop a good relationship with your academic advisor and the financial aid office. They are the people who can help you plan and keep you aware of your options. Strike a balance between dreaming and practicality. Follow your heart but let your mind hold your wallet. Don't give up; work and study hard. Persistence pays!

Be knowledgable about the benefits of locked in tuition and exhuste options.

It is not about where your parents want you to go to school, or where your teachers tell you to go. The final decision is up to you. If you go to a school where someone else wants you to go and not where you see yourself being happy so as not to disappoint someone, the next four years of your life will be miserable. You have to do what is best for you, your education, your career, and your happiness. College is the best years of your life. Live it to the fullest, take every opportunity, study abroad, enlighten your mind, make new friends, go to a whole new city, study hard, learn as much as you can, go to parties, stay in and have movie nights, go to all your classes, lay in the grass and play guitar with your friends, call your mom and dad to check up, learn who you are, take chances, explore the world, and most of all: take advantage of the next four years of your life, but do not take them for granted.

ALWAYS apply to a number of schools, and branch out from the schools all of your friends are going to. You will turn out to be a more rounded person with even more friends. Take a ton of college visits, and take advantage of "overnight" visits where they pair you up with a current student to see what the school is really like, not just the commercial they feed you on tours. Where ever you end up going to school, get involved with something. It doesn't matter if its a fraternity or sorority, a sports team, a club, or a band. Make sure you find something that you really enjoy, and it will make college that much more fun when you have something to look forward to and take your mind off of classes.

Go on as many campus tours as possible. Pick the school that when has that wow factor. The wow factor may not be its academic record, but just the feeling you get when you arrive on campus. The key to making good grades and having a good time in college is being comfortable, so on each tour relax and breathe. You will know when it is the school for you.

Don't choose a school based only on one issue whether it is social life or the academic status of the school. Choose a school that will suit all your needs rather than just one want. You should always feel safe with adequate access to accurate help, even if you feel you do not need it. Balance is key, and you will never know what the college is like based purely on an open-house event which are designed to sell the school to you. If you can, choose a program where you can shadow a student, especially if it includes an overnight visit. That way you can ensure that you will have a taste for academic life, and the living conditions. How is laundry done? What , where, and when do/can one eat? What do the dorms look like? Are the classes organized the way that would work for you? If you require tutoring or assistance for a learning disability, are (good) services available to you. Ask every question you can think of.

They told me to go somewhere that I feel I would fit in and make the best out of it by focusing on school work.

Remember that how well you'll fit in and the general attitude of a school contributes to your satisfaction just as much as the academics of a school. You shouldn't solely base your college choice on how well it is rated in your area of study. you're likely to change your major anyway.

Choose a school that fits the student best.

Talk to as many people as you can about their experiences in college. You may hear two completely different answers from people going to the same school.

good luck your going to need it. you have to try things aren't going to just fall into your lap.

Always be open to new things! Figure out if a large or small college is good for you, then the rest is easy. Lastly, DONT BE AFRAID......of anything.....changes specially.

To students I would say first visit all the colleges that you have interest in even if its only a small interest. When you find the right college you will know as soon as you step foot on the campus. Get involved when you get to college but make sure you learn to balance your social life from your school work. For parents just encourage your child to look at all of their options and don't pressure them into a college just because you liked it. Also stay involoved in your child's life because they will need help the first year adjusting to everything.