Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Top Questions

I suggest going to a community college first because it is cheaper and there you can find out in time what you really want to do in life and possibly get a higher GPA and credits for the college you find that you want to go to.

Save money before you graduate highschool so you don't feel like you're drowning in a pool of your own vomit by the time you have to cough up tuition. And don't fill out "easy surveys" given to you by complete strangers who say you'll get a free pizza. It's a credit card application aka: scam. The monkeys will steal your money.

The reputation of the school can help or hurt a lot when you're looking for a job, but don't pick a school that you'll be miserable at just because they have a good rep. It's just not worth it, and you're more likely to get good grades if you have friends at school and enjoy going to class.

Make sure and do your homework - investigate as much as you can. Look into each and every aspect of what your child could do.

Join clubs and get involved with your college, it is great for networking and understanding your carrer.

Choose somewhere you can get involved and meet like-minded people. It won't be an experience worth noting in your life if you meet no one at school that you can talk to for the rest of your life.

Talk with someone who graduated from that school, the alumni. They are the only people who will give you a srtiaght answer about what to expect and what you need to know. No tour, nor teacher, nor phamplet can provide you with accurate information.

Campus visit early spring, apply for campus job, apply early, parent stay in contact with the student counselor, saving account of at least $1500 for emergency. Be prepared for miscellaneous expenses, books are very costly. Get involve in the community. Stay focus in school, student #1 priority is be educated.

I would urge your children, from day one. My father pushed me to know exactly what I wanted to do right out of high school; not going to college was not an option. Thus, I applied to one school, one program, and am finishing school in the least amount of time (and money!) possible fro my chosen career. Make sure to really let your children decide their own future. Keep an open mind in whatever your child may bring up as a career option; they may change their mind! And most of all, love them for whatever and where ever they may choose; you are their parents, caregivers, friends, and soul guidance in life. Your love is what will guide us through the rest of these years.

Be sure the financial aid is really there before enrolling.

Make sure that you know what you're getting into. Have about 5 different schools to compare from. Make sure you factor in distance, tuition & housing, and spending money. Make sure the environment is student friendly and gives you a certain freedom so you know how it feels to be an adult.

Look around, don't settle on the first choice. Visit the campus, talk with students, professors and advisors. Don't choose a school just because its close to your family or friends. Find someplace where you can be yourself, and be happy with it.

Visit as many schools as possible. This way you will know which campus feels right to you. I went on many college campus visits and when I was touring the school I am attending now, I knew that is where I was supposed to be. Also, attend open houses and meet with people within your department before committing to your college. These are the people you will be dealing with for at least the next four years of your life, so you want to be sure they are easy to work with. Last, get out and meet some of the students. Whether it is sitting in on a class or talking to a student group, this will let you know what students who attend the school are like.

The advice I would give parents is to help their child in any way, shape or form. Consult them about where they see themselves in five years and help them discover all the endless career possibilies they can pursue in college. Help them with finances if possible, and when it is not, let them know you are there for them when the time comes that they will undeniably need you. Show them how to apply for loans and scholarships and how to fill out FASFA. For the students, live life to the fulliest. School is important, learn everything you can, but books and libraries are not everything you need to discover. Learn about your community, volunteer, take part in extracurricular activities and be an active member of your college's school spirt. Make life long friends but do not limit yourself to meeting them in a bar, those usually will not turn out to be the best of friends. Form study groups to encourage studying, they help alot! Lastly, take it all in. College is the most exhilarating experience so do not miss out on a thing.

I think the most important thing is to find out the best college that suits you. Look about class sizes, girl to guy ratio, and if the school is conservative or liberal. If you aware of all these things the school has to offer and you think this best fits you then the school you choose will be right for you.

TO choose a college (and campus) that will satisfy your greatest desires in accomplishing your goals, and while doing so will make you happy with your life to help boost your moral. If the campus is all work and no play then all you will be learning will be book smarts, but "street smarts" that one can learn from going to college can be life changing, externally and internally. It is definately true that one can find lifelong friends and in so as one is going through college to better their future in their careers and lifestyles, they will also be bettering their social skills and gain the ability to have secure, life altering, and unregretable freindships. Just to work their hardest in the books and with their peers.

I best advice i can give parents and students is college is a resource for one to utilize for his/her career and to make the best of it, this will help build a path to what is in life his/her life that they want to accomplish! Surround yourself around students and people who are about something, who are driven, who are motivated, who are going places, that type of attiude is contagious and needs to be rubbed off on everyone! get internships, get acquainted with the faculty and staff for they know alumns and people with connections....It's all about Who you know and Not What you know these days! Gaining experience is the best thing one could do and never look at it as its a chore, but look at it as an opportunity to gain insight in the profession you are trying to get a degree in!

My advice to parents and/or students would be to weigh out your options. A junior college can be a rewarding and cost effective experience for young adults that are still a little leary about living on their own hours away from their family. When choosing colleges, don't base it off of where your friends are going or where your mother or father went when they were in college, choose the college that is going to best suit you and what your major is. Also, do not base the college you go to purely off the cost of attendance. College is a one shot deal, you might pay more in the beginning, but the rewards will pay in the end. I was timid when it came to coming to a university due to the high cost, along with the cost of living. As a student you must be responsible and make good choices now and secure every opportunity possible to maximize your status compared to others that will be looking for the same job as you in a few short years.

My best advice to finding the right campus for students and their parents is to visit, visit, visit! I visited many different campuses but none really seemed to fit until I came to SIU. I knew as soon as I got here that this is where I wanted to go. Hopefully the same works for you. Trust your instinct and everything will work out!

First of all finding the right college is definitely not easy. Most people choose the college they want to attend based on there major or where their friends are going. It should be more than that, of course it is important to go to a college who obviously has your major and is well known for it but it is also important to choose a college or university where you think you can excel and accomplish everything you want to accomplish. Someone should also feel comfortable where they attend school and not feel like an outsider. It is also nice to choose a school that is similar to surroundings from home. I personally chose Southern Illionois University because it was close to home but at the same time far enough away.

Don't always believe what people say about the college in terms of a bad reputation because if you base your decision on just that advice, you can really miss out on a great college education and experience. (Don't believe everything you are told, because it might not be true)

Do not pick a school just because your friends are going there. I only knew two people who were attending the same school as I was and I don't even spend time with them. Pick a school that you want to go to and you will make plenty of friends when you get there.

When I came here I was a transfer student, and came in the spring as a Junior. The experience, I must say is a LOT different than someone coming in as a Freshman and staying for 4 years. You will make more friends, stay in groups longer, and build different relationships. I will spend one full year here, and will not have the same 4 year experience as others. When picking colleges think about if you will have to transfer or not. It was cheaper and better academicly for me, but in a social sense it is a totally different experience.

Get involved in something you really care about and make friends with the people in that group. They usually have something special in common with you. Don't sit around in the dorm and wait for friends to find you. Make friends even if you feel shy about it because they will be there for you when you need them the most.

Look not only into the students choosen majors area but into the campus and its surroundings as a whole. Theres a lot more to experience than just classes. Look into their hobbies and interests as well.

Make sure the schools have your exact major and the different sports and programs that you would be interested in taking. Parents, don't buy your child's books prior to school starting. Always wait until after the first class to get the books because even the teachers might tell your child that the some of the books required for the class will not be used. Students, make sure that you take in every experience that you go through and learn from it. Going to college is an experience that many would like to endure but some don't have the option. And ALWAYS, ALWAYS try your best.

When making your college choice, make sure you visit as many schools as you can before deciding where you want to go. A picture is worth a thousands words, but you won't really know what a school is like until you step onto its grounds and meet some of its students. There's a feeling you get when you step onto the campus of the school where you belong. Once you get that feeling, you'll know that this is the place you belong. And don't be surprised if you get to school and it's not as wonderful as you want it to be. There's a lot of adjustment involved in your first semseter of college. You'll be lonesome, overwhelmed, and homesick. But one day, everything will click into place and you'll have a great time and an exceptional college experience.

make sure its the right price and the right place for your child

My advice would be to reasearch, visit, explore your interests for a possible vocation, and then follow your heart. Do NOT choose your school because your friends are going there, or because it's got a big name. If you rely on those things you are likely to be disappointed. Do the best you can to find what inspires you, and then look for schools that offer a quality program to give you knowledge in that area. Next consider WHERE you feel comfortable and relaxed. Perhaps it's in the city with lots of action, perhaps it's in a more rural setting. To be AT your best, you should be in an environment where you FEEL the best. Make sure the distance you travel TO your school is right for you as well. If you will be returning home often for commitments or family -- then factor that in when you choose your school. WHEN you go to college be open to new people and new experiences. Live in the moment because it's the BEST TIME of your LIFE. Remember, though, that you are there foremost to LEARN and ACHIEVE your dream. Keep your eye on the prize always!

Parents and students, especially students, know who you are! What type of person are you? This will determine the type of college you attend. For example, if you are interested in the sciences but do not know what path to take, find a school that has a great science program. More than likely, they will have many opportunities and knowledgeable advisors that can help you find your niche. That brings me to another point. Some schools, usually larger ones, have advisors or professors that have little communication with students outside of class. Some students need attention and some may thrive in a highly competitive, cut throat type of school. In my experience, when advisors personally know you, they are more compassionate about your performance and your success as a student and future professional. After finding the right college for you, get involved. In order to get the most out of the money you are spending for tuition, first, use every resource available. This includes the library, recreation center, tutoring center, counseling center health and wellness, the options are endless. Secondly, get active in extra-curricular activities, this is the best way to make friends and enjoy being a college student.

I would definitely tell them to arrange a campus visit to get a realistic grasp of what facilities and extracurricular activities the school has to offer,to have their own personal feel for the campus and the student body. It is also important,which a lot of people over look,to examnie the community surrounding the school and its accessibility from the school. I would also advise them to talk with some of the student body perferably someone with the same major as the student. Ask them how the college is assisting them in achieving their goals in life and if the faculty and instructors are open to giving them assistance to help them along with their curriculum. Mostly importantly forget about how well known or the rank of a school because neither of these thing can tell you whether or not a school is a perfect fit for you because you can go to an ivy league school and still not feel like you're a part of the university and at the end of the day that is what is most important.