University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Top Questions

I would tell them that there is no way to find the perfect college. It is impossible because there is no such thing. There are disadvantages and advantages to every aspect of college, from population to majors to faculty---the list is endless. What is important, however, is that a student makes the college experience into *their* perfect experience. At a large school like mine, there is every type of person and it's about finding the people that you feel most comfortable. College is about learning about yourself and maturing, as well as gaining a broader knowledge of the world.

First, towards finding the right college for the student, I would suggest really looking into the size of the school and what you feel comfortable with. Bigger schools give off the atmosphere of independence and variety, but smaller schools will offer you a smaller class which might make it easier to meet people. I would also suggest looking into how far away you want to be from home, academic programs, and tuition because tuition will probably one of the major deciding factors on where to apply and what your first choice may be. Now on making the most of the college experience it's up to every person. The first and most important thing I will tell you is that your classes are the most important thing going on. Not parties, or dating or anything else, but school. Stay focused and do your work then go out and have fun. Education is the reason you are going to school so take advantage of the priviledge you have been given. But also don't become a hermit, talk to people and don't be afraid to strike up conversations. The second most important thing I will tell you is have fun.

When finding the right college, both students and parents should seek an institution that will lead to a degree in the student's interest or career goal. This includes selecting a school with both high graduation and job placement rates. If the student is unsure about their future plans, a college that has a wide variety of programs of study as well as acdemic advising is key. It is also important to think about the distance of the college and how it will affect the student, whether it close to home or far away. Financially, students and parents should think about how the education will be paid for (scholarships, grants, loans, work). To make the the most out of the college experience, students should do the following: make friends (it is easier to go through these tough times if you have someone there with a similar experience; find the balance between classes, social life, and job- if working- (leave room in your schedule for studying for exams, volunteering, etc.); take care of yourself by eating right, keeping in touch with family for emotional support, keeping stress low (finish assignments on time), and don't forget to SLEEP.

Let the student choose which college they want to go to, and let them choose which major fits them the best (something that they'd enjoy doing for the rest of their life)

I believe that it is best for the student to do as much research as they can on the schools they are considering attending. They must decide whether they can cope with the male to female ratio as well as the diversity or lack there of the university. Students must think about whether they will be the home sick type and will need to attend a school close to home so traveling will be easy. I don't think that a student or parent should make financial circumstances be the deciding factor because if a student attends a school because they gave him/her the most money and hates it so much that he/she flunks out it is wasted money and time. Parents and students should discuss with each other the pros and cons of every school and the student shall have the final choice because he/she will be the one who will have to attend for two or four years.

Always go and visit a college before accepting to go there. Once you are there, treat it like a 9 to 5 job; always work on school work for at least 8 solid hours a day and then the rest of the day you can work on your social life because meeting friends is very important in a college community. And also, get enough sleep!

Really explore and find what you want to do. Don't allow others to influence your decisions..You know you the best, so listen to your inner voice. College is a time to work hard, think of your future, and have fun. ASK questions!

It doesn't matter what you do on the weekends as long as your grades are what you want them to be at the end of the year.

U of I is the place to be! If you want to be at a college where you can be yourself, get involved, and have a sucessful career than U of I is the college for you! I have never been dissatisfied here. As large as the campus is, every day it becomes smaller and more personal. The students are fun loving, social, and career driven. everyone is here for the same purpose, to learn. to make the most out of college you have to learn... about yourself! college is the only time in your life taht you can be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} selfish. You get to do what you want to do, when you want to do it. You discover your personality through difficult situations. You have to make decisions that later define you. U of I is a great place for self discovery because of its size and many opportunities. Here, I learn more and more about myself every day!

When finding the right college, consider the quality of education that the school provides and how the school can prepare you for life after college, including your ability to obtain the job that you desire. Consider whether the campus provides an environment in which you can develop as an individual and in which you can learn more about the world around you, encouraging you to discover who you are. Make the most of college by being open, by trying things that you would never think of trying, by not being afraid of the uncertain, by becoming involved in things that mean the most to you, and by just being who you are. And lastly, find the college that will provide you with the resources to do all of these things and that encourages you to be the best you.

The college experience is a very personal experience for students. Students need to choose a college that gives them a ?good feeling?. When I first visited my college, I instantly felt at home. I was comfortable and safe and excited for the future. Once that feeling ensues, it remains with you throughout your college days. There is so much more to the college experience then academics, whether parents want to see that or not. Academics must be supplemented with extra-curricular activities and supportive people. Activities and people enhance a student?s time in college. Both motivate and educate students. Whether activities include school sports or participation in plays and whether people include dorm buddies or professors and teaching assistants they are crucial. The balance of socializing and studying, experiencing life on your own is the educational part of college.

Don't just consider academics; consider the people that go to the school.

Pick a college that has a diverse student population. There is the obvious advice, like going to class regularly and staying on task, but you also need to go out and meet new people. It is okay to party, just do not let it take over your college experience. Meeting new people and getting to know about people from different backgrounds is a very important part of the college experience. I have learned so many things just from talking to different people that I will hold dear to me forever. Another important thing about going to college is not to be afraid of change; embrace it instead. Going through changes and realizing who you truly are will help you become a stronger, more confident person in the long run. My suggestion is to go to a school that is not to small, this way you will have more room to grow. Be very friendly, because in college you will definately make friends you will have for life.

Pick a school that you can afford and has the most opportunities for you. Think about your future as well as the here and now.

Understand that each college has a group of people that you or your child could fit into. Don't rule out big schools just because you think they're too big. There is always a way to make a big school smaller through clubs, activities, and classes, but it's much more difficult to make a small school bigger. Also, by joining activities freshman year, you make it easier to make friends with similar interests and beliefs as you. \

The advice I would give to parents and students on finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is when selecting a college, you should know what type of environment you want to be in. A lot of traditional colleges with may come with extra distractions that may cause a new student to stray from the main focus which is the studies. Students should also know how to balance school work and social life. No one wants to sit at the library constantly studying and miss the entire college experience. Students and parents should realize that college comes with a lot of freedom that the student probably didn't have at home. So, students need to know how to be responsible for their actions but parents also need to trust students to make the best decision for themselves. Choosing the right college takes a lot of research on the college but you also need to know what you are looking to get from that college whether it is a degree, a good experience, new friends or all three.

Visit, visit, visit. Walk through the busy quad on a schoolday, spend a night out on the weekend and stop in a class of your interest. Do not solely base it on the level of academics. It needs to be a place that fits you. Also, do not be intimidated by size. Usually in large schools there are many different places to find a smaller community that fits you even better because the vast amount of choices. More money does not mean the degree is worth more in the long run. If you are determined to succeed almost any school will get you there. College is a time to learn and grow to who you want to be for the rest of your life. One last tip look at some of the professors backgrounds and see if they attended the school as an undergraduate. It is always great when they have, you know they love the school!

My advice to students about finding the right college and making the most of their college experience would be to choose a college where they feel they would belong. If one does not feel comfortable and satisfied with the college that he or she attends, it is likely that he or she will suffer academically, emotionally, and socially. Also, I advise students to pick a college that will offer the most achievements and support towards their future and careers. This can be accomplished by researching about the different colleges and visiting the college as well. My advice to the parents of the students is to take the time to talk over the positive and negative aspects of each of the possible colleges with their children. Not only should they give their opinions to their children, but they should hear out their children's reasons as well. Overall, parents should be supportive, patient, and respectful of their children's decision.