University of Southern California Top Questions

Visit a bunch of schools and cities, go for the place that just feels right - you'll know it when you set foot on campus. Try not to concern yourself with reputation, etc. Go where the people have the kind of fun you want to have, learn the kind of stuff you want to learn, and lead the kind of life you want to lead.

To find the right college for you, make sure you consider all the aspects of a school. A large part of this is where the school is located. Maybe you want to stay close to home or maybe you want to go across the country. Keep in mind, though, that a school 20 minutes from your hometown can be as far away as you make it. Really think about a school's academics, social scene, etc. as a whole and decided on that, and don't just focus on one positive or negative aspect. To make the most of your college experience, just let go and get involved! Join your school's Greek system, or if that's not for you, join a different club or organization on campus that you are interested in. You can even do both! College will go by longer than you want it to if you just sit and study every day. Studying is important, but what college is really about is learning about yourself, and life, and meeting new people and learning from your relationships with them. Just remember: you can't find the important things in life in a textbook.

pick specific things you are looking for, such as location, size, prevalence of greek life and sports, etc. then look for the college that fits best with the specific atttributes you are looking for.

Try lots of new things in college, meet as many different types of people as you can, but focus on academics.

Finances do not have to be the decision maker when you're choosing a college. A lot of colleges are willing to help prospective students out financially. Go to the college of your dreams. You only have four years, and you don't want to waste them at a decent, but afforable college. When you've worked your tail off in high school to get into a good college, money should be the last thing that keeps you from going there. The best way to enjoy your college experience is to be yourself. You won't have fun if you're worried about what others think of you. And you won't have fun if you allow others to change the way you think of yourself. No matter how unique you fancy yourself to be, chances are very good that there are going to be people at your college who listen to the same weird music and watch the same weird movies that you do. Find those people and befriend them. Don't be afraid of people who are different from you. Befriend them too, and learn things you didn't know. But don't change yourself.

Follow your gut. You can mold any decision you make into the right decision and, if you can't, you can transfer! Follow your gut.

In choosing the right college, I would advise students to listen to their instinct and intuition, as those will guide you to the right campus. A student should do their research, but ultimately, divine intervention will come into play, and you will end up where you are supposed to be. I do not regret my decision because I went with my instinct and knew that my path would lead me to USC. Academically, socially, and personally, USC was the perfect fit for me, and my research and intuition told me that. Once in school, live your life like there is no tomorrow. I cannot stress how important it is to try everything and meet everyone you can. College has produced the best times of my life and some of the most important resources and relationships I could ever imagine, and I attribute that to having no regrets and wanting to live my life to the fullest. Ultimately, it is your life, and nobody elses, so make the most of it by going to every class, meeting every professor, and talking to every interesting person. In the end, you will come out a more worldly person than ever before!

When you are at university, Go out and take advantage out of everything you can. Dont be afriad to go through doors which you are unsure of, just by taking that first step you have already acheived and grown. Learn about yourself as a student, how you learn or how you can be a better student. Learn to organize your time and be self-efficient.

Go visit the college and stay overnight away from your parents. That's the best way to get a feel for what the college is really like. Go to orientation, meet people, make friends. It makes going into college so much easier. And if you don't like the college you've chosen, don't be afraid to transfer. Take on internships, join clubs, go Greek. Do as much typical college stuff you can think of. It only comes once!

remember to visit each school you are applying for

Go with your gut instinct, and live it to the fullest. After all, college only happens once.

Be excited! This is going to be one of the best times of your life. You are going to meet so many new people and really discover who you are and what you want in life. Take tours of the campuses you are really interested in and try to talk to current students at that university to get some first hand insight and advise. Take advantage of all the resources your university offers. Seek help if you should ever need it, your professors are getting paid to help YOU! Get involved in whatever makes you happy, I was a choir nerd in high school and now I'm in an a cappella group in college; there is something for everyone, no matter what you are interested in. It really helps to be involved in something you enjoy because school gets pretty stressful, so it's nice to have something else to do that is pure enjoyment. Succeeding in college is all about balance, you will learn to balance school, work, extracurriculars, and you social life. Enjoy every minute of college because it flies by, then you're out into the real world!

Visit the university, ask the students around about the things that you are mainly looking for in a university, look online to see what the university is known/famous for (both academically and socially).

I would advise all prospective students to any university to visit their top choices in universities that they are applying to and make sure to not only take a campus tour and meet people from your area of study, but also to arrange a meeting with at least one current student to learn "insider" information about the school. This was the most valuable contributing factor towards my college decision.

To students: The most helpful thing in deciding on a school is to go visit. It is better if you know an older student who already goes there so you are able to submerge yourself into the life of the school. Also, make sure that your academic abilities are up to par with the schools expectations for its students. It is easy to get caught up in social activites and build up a hard work load your first year in college. Pick a school that feels right, if you visit you can usually tell if you would fit in by looking around at the students and their activities on campus. Every school has a niche for every student as long as you try your best to integrate into your surroundings. Good luck!

Just make sure that the school provides good enough fo an education and that you really want to be there. The most important thing is to enjoy being at the school you're at and have a good balance of fun and work.

Talk to other students that are accepted in your year - it really gives you a feel for what your campus atmosphere is going to be like. Also try to be involved in at least 3 clubs, you meet so many new friends through it.

Passion is the ultimate motivator, the reason behind a person's strength, will or resolve. Think of the athlete who endures incredible pain, only to cross the finish line with a sudden burst of energy in defiance of every odd leveled against him or her. That is passion. Orconsider the patient who withstands unimaginable agony, never abandoning the promise of recovery and, ultimately, redemption. That is passion. But, passion is not merely heroic dignity amidst suffering; it is something more elusive. Passion drives a person, not for the bestowal of awards or publicity, but for a reason as timeless as history itself; it is for the betterment of society and the fulfillment of individual ambition. As a junior at USC, my advice to incoming freshmen would be to find a university that breeds individuality. It is in these college campuses where you can truly follow your passions and forgo the criticism that society tends to place on anyone fighting the norm. I would encourage parents to put aside pride and their bias because ultimately college is the opportunity to grow the most. Any impediment inthis natural growth process interms of the student?s unhappiness could prove detrimental in their success.

Look for schools that have certain unique programs and every school has a certain environment and vibe to it so choose one that fits your personality

Apply to schools that you would like to attend. Make sure that the school has many majors so that you can change into a major if you don't like your first one. Money is always an important issue so the parents and students should consider the cost of the school. I don't think it's a good idea to attend a school that will require a student to take out at least $5000 in loans per year. Students can make the most out of their college experience by taking all opportunities that come. If you're curious about something like joining a Filipino group if you're not Filipino, just try it. Don't be afraid to stand out. Always try new things...if you like it, great and if you don't, find something else.

As often as you hear it, walking on the campus and talking with current students is by far the best way to discover if you are going to like that university. As an undergrad, I cannot tell you the number of times that my peers would say that the reason they chose USC was because of how they felt when they walked on campus. For some people, it was how welcoming the campus seemed to them, for others it was how spirited and proud USC students are to attend USC. To make the most of your experience at university, you have to seek opportunities and not focus on grades as much. Opportunities range from anything with hands on experience to internships to networking. It is becoming more and more essential to be a balanced person and many universities understand that and are giving their student population the ability to become balanced. Fight On!

You never know what might happen--go ahead and take a chance. Yes, they say the college you choose will shape you into the adult that you will become, but remember that ultimately you make the decisions to become who you want to be. No matter where you go to school for the next four years, no matter if you're a serious student going to a reputed party school or vice versa, trust that you will attract around you a community of other people who will share in your interests and support in your endeavors. On coming to USC, I was worried that I would be completely out of place among its Southern California blondes. But I found myself welcomed into a network of relationships that now after two years have become close friendships, friendships that will be a part of my work and leisure far after graduation. Being here now, I couldn't imagine myself anywhere else.

Interestingly enough, I have found myself discussing this very subject quite often lately. I suppose it has to do with me being a senior and thinking about which path I want to take after graduation. I find myself questioning the decisions I have made, plagued by that ever present "what if": what if I didn't choose my college/my major, what if I had more direction.... and on. Yet, ultimately, I cannot say that I would change anything about my own experiences. Everything, without exception, has contributed to who I am now, at the end of my undergraduate career; I have had some amazing opportunities that would simply not have been there had I chosen differently. My advice, then, is to think deeply about what each college will offer and where you will match, but once the decision is made, trust that it is the right one for you and learn to be flexible and adaptable. Expectations, more often than not, hinder a true experience; do not expect for things to simply happen but realize that it is necessary to take initiative. Oftentimes, those very things that we are fearful to pursue turn out to be the most fulfilling.

The best way to choose a college that is a good fit is to start looking early. A student should start visiting colleges in the summer before his or her junior year of high school and should learn what is expected from the schools that he or she hopes to attend. Important factors to consider include the size of the school, its location, and its demographics. One should choose a school at which he or she will fit in, rather than a school suited to who the student wishes he or she were. One must realize that he or she cannot change who he or she is in college. Don't choose the school with the best name; you may end up miserable if you don't like the location or the student body. The fit really is important, and one should examine all factors including location, weather, Greek involvement, enthusiasm for sports, emphasis on study, and social habits, among others. Also, no matter how much research one does, it is hard to know what a school is like until you attend it. Sometimes people make the wrong choice, and in this case, one should not be afraid to transfer.

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Pick a school where you know you will be happy both academically and socially. It is important to know how to balance the two aspects and if you are somewhere you think you can do this then it is a good fit for you. Also, don't expect to be happy the first second you step on a campus. Every school has its ups and downs and a lot of what college is is what you make of it. So don't be disappointed if you don't get into that ONE school; keep and open mind and you will be good to go!

It's hard to know what type of college experience you're looking for without diving in and experiencing something to begin with. Do you want a big school, or a smaller environment? Urban atmosphere or a college in the boondocks? While the "college road trip" can be a great way to get a feel for different schools, you ultimately won't know the best fit for you until arriving for freshman orientation. That's why I think the best advice to finding the right college AND make the most of the experience is to keep an open mind and be willing to feeling out of your comfort zone. This will not only allow you to keep a positive and optimistic outlook about your college experience, but will also give you the push to try new activities and join new organizations that you may never have considered before. Instead of feeling like, "this is not for me," staying open to a variety of experiences and people will lead you in new directions and help shape the you as person you will become in the future.

Have fun, enjoy it, and learn as much as you can about each of the schools you visit. Go actually visit the schools you are really interested in because that's the only way you can really see what the campus is like, what students are like, and whether or not you truly feel like it's a fit. Parents, encourage your student to do research early (sophomore/junior year of high school) and help him/her find options that fit all of the student's needs, whether social or academic. Help them feel comfortable making the decision for themselves.

I feel it is critical to find the place where you belong. But honestly, everything happens for a reason, and you will end up in the place that best suits your needs. If by some chance you feel differently, transfering is always an option. I think it is of paramount importance that you visit the campus, and spend time there. Walk around, try the food, examine the dorms, attend a class lecture, get a feel for the environment. Talk to the students, research the academic curriculem, and if athletics and school spirit are important, then get a feel for them as well. Be confident in your decision, and be confident in yourself. Be social, make friends, and don't look back. Have no regrets, love where you are, love where you're going, and love where you've been. Make the most of your college experience - do everything that you can do. Intern, study, party, excercise, and enjoy. College is the best 4 years of your life, don't let them driftaway. Sieze the day, and make something of yourself. Be sure to study, but stay up late some nights. Always be safe, but live your life - and fight on!

Don't look at the ranking, because that doesn't determine your success in life. It is definitely a beneficial factor, but it does not make or break your college experience. Look for a school where when you see the campus, the student body and major-related coursework, you think to yourself "wow, that's where I want to be." Many students and parents get so caught up in GPA and extra-curriculars, that they forget about what happens once the student finishes with school. Studying mechanical engineering for instance, when you really wanted to be a performance pianist only ensures your later life will be full of regret. Fall in love with a college, without regard to its name, and do something you love doing. Once there, you will know exactly what to do, and success will surely follow.

Visit and go to the one where you feel the most at home.

Find the college that makes you excited about your future and what you desire to accomplish. Find the college where you will be challenged by the activities you're involved with and the relationships you make.

As you look at schools across the world, you may be overwhelmed by your options and the complexity of the application process. You need to realize that this is to your advantage. The single most important thing I did when looking at colleges was to visit them when there were students on campus. You're basically going to get a good education anywhere, so you need to know whether the school you're considering is a place that you want to be for the next two or four years. Once you're in college, there are a ton of options as far as extracurricular activities and social life goes. It is important to strike a good balance between your academic life and social life, which can be tough with all of your new friends and college classes. You should try to get your work done during the day when you're not in class, so you can hangj out with your friends at night and explore the area surrounding your campus. Being on the other side of this whole process, I look back on my choices and am pleased with where I ended up, and you can too.

Make sure that you don't choose the college just for it's prestige. Know that it not only would help you to become an expert in the field you want to enter, but that you also will fit in and enjoy the type of environment that the campus offers you.

Choose the college that best fits your personality and one with good alumni relations and job placement.

Parents as well as students should be involved in the application process. Be realistic about your limitations. Don't choose a school based on rankings, chose a school where you feel at home and will learn the best.

To parents: Let your child make their own choice. If you are worried about safety in regards to their choice, chances are so is every other parent. The University will accommodate every concern. If it's the money, the distance, the variety of majors, etc., that you are worried about, it doesn't matter. You are not your child. They will be making the decision, living there and their happiness is the only one that matters in regards to this choice. That being said, to students: You'll know the right school when you walk on the campus. Make sure to visit every campus that you have received a scholarship to or are interested in - you never know what can happen. It's a big decision, to be sure, but it's also not a big deal to transfer if you are unhappy. Don't stay somewhere because of a scholarship/financial aid package if you are uncomfortable. Lastly, GET INVOLVED! No one will be forcing you, which means it's up to you. Find your passion and seek out others who challenge you. Going Greek is great, but make sure to branch out. Have fun - it's your life!

Finding a balance between the different defining factors for your college selection is crucial. Do not merely focus just on the cost, no matter what your budget. There are resources that can help you meet your financial needs, and there is more to the decision than money. Location, diversity, exclusivity, notoriety and recognition are also valid factors. Finding a school that you feel comfortable at is the key. After three or four years, minor financial differences will be small compared to a prior sacrifice of location or quality. A school that can be your home, that you feel you fit into, a location you enjoy, with surroundings you feel safe in, that you can be proud of, is the school you should attend, money being one of the least important factors. This is obviously easier said than done, but if you can at least find a balance between these factors that you are happy with, and your child is happy with more importantly, you will be fine.

I think it's very important to not get too distracted by all the polls and ratings that feature the "Top Ten Colleges", etc. Apply to universities that you really like and want to attend. The college at the bottom of your list could be on the top of another person's so don't apply somewhere even though you don't really want to attend that particular college--you could be taking a spot away from someone who really wants it (and it's one less application to worry about!). I have heard from so many people how much they hate their school even if it is very prestigious and offers the best program for their major. How much you like your school makes all the difference in your college experience. College isn't all about classes; the environment that surrounds you will affect you greatly so I would advise looking at universities that have an atmosphere/surrounding that is comfortable or appealing to you.

To parents, I tell them to listen to thier child. Guide thier interests towards a school of well recognized academically challenging school, but make sure the school also has a plethora of extracurricular activities, clubs, and organizations. A school run by fraternaties and sororities is no fun for anyone not part of the greek system. One of the things that sold me to USC was its abundance of political, environmental, music, theater, and sports clubs. Anyone from any background can find a club geared towards thier interests, including foreign student organizations. Any school that boasts a strong extracurricular mandate creates a more involved and happy student population. Still, academics are the most important aspect in making the right choice. USC was perfect because it fit both categories: challenging academic curriculem and hundreds of extracurricular organizations. To the student, I tell them to wait to find the college that feels right. You will know when you find that right school; there is a special feeling of excitemtent, curiosity, and anxiousness to become a part of the school. Create a list of possible schools, try to visit them all, and take organized tours. You will know when you find the right one.

Make sure you can happily live in the enviornment, so visiting the college is very important. Also, knowing the academic rigor of your school is very important.

Chose a school that will allow your kids to find out who they are as people, become responsible adults, and learn to make a living off of what they love doing.

Apply to a variety of schools and then, once you are accepted to a few, go visit and make the decision from there.

It is a great school just too expensive. Students graduated here are almost guarantee a job, but just too much money while in school.

Most studetns applying to college have heard that they will get a feeling that they belong when they visit the right school for them. I don't think that this is the case for most students. There isn't one perfect school for every person, but rather, some schools are a better fit than others. I believe that one makes his/her college experience what he/she wants it to be. Because of this I think that many factors should be considered when choosing a school. Social invrionment, clubs, extracurricular activites, facilities, location, size, and price are equally as important as academics and reputation in determining if the school fits a prospective student's needs. Students seem to be too focused on attending their dream school that they froget that the degree is not the only thing one gets from a university. One's involvement, grades, contributions, and experiences count more in finding a job or going to graduate school than a name on a degree. With some effort I believe that any student can turn a school with the right fit into their "dream" school by how he/she takes advantage of the opportunites available to him/her.

Really consider what you actually want in a university. If your a small-town kid, a big-city school like USC might not actually be for you, even though it might seem exciting at first. In addition, a lot of people find that they do get very homesick if they are far away from school. Choosing a school close to home, or at least not completely across the country, might be a wise choice, especially if you do not have the means to travel home often. Many students find that later in their college career, sometimes just after the novelty of freshman year is over, that they really do miss their family and would rather be closer to home. Lastly, its totally OK if you do not know what you want to major in or what you want to be involved in. You WILL find your niche, just do things and study subjects that interest you. After all, thats what college is all about--finding out things and continuously learning about yourself and the world.

Do the research and do not be afraid to explore your options and go with your gut instinct, even if it means defying family traditional wishes because in the end it is YOUR university experience as a student- not theirs.

Follow your gut instinct - the vibe you get when visiting a campus is the best indicator of whether you will enjoy your time as an undergraduate there. When I first visited USC, I just loved the enthusiasm, spirit, and involvement of the students. Even though USC didn't quite fit the critera I thought I was looking for in a university, I just somehow felt it was the right place for me. Now that I'm a junior, I'm 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} sure I made the right decision. Every time I walk across campus I'm just so happy...I would urge other students to similarly visit each of their schools and chose the place that just feels right.

There are two pieces of advice that I would recommend for finding the right college: 1. Search for schools that have a major you are passionate about 2. Visit the school. You will know it's the one because it will "feel" right I am a first generation college student, and this was one of the hardest decisions of my life. I had nobody close to ask for advice. I was so confused that I considered taking a year off to create a plan. I decided that was silly and that I needed to jump into this headfirst. I started to think where I would want to be in the future. I've always been an entrepreneur, so I decided to pursue business. I was debating between USC, UCSB, and UCI (UCLA and Berkeley rejected me!). I was crushed UCLA didn't accept me, but looking back I'm so thankful because I wouldn't have the confidence and pride USC has given to me. From the moment I heard the Marshall dean speak, I knew I was in the right place. I even got chills! I belong somewhere now; I'm a trojan!

make sure that it is somewhere you are really excited about going to. figure out what kinds of activities the city has to offer.