Western Illinois University Top Questions

I would tell parents to encourage students to focus on more than just parties. I would tell students to make sure you visit the campus to make sure it lives up to your standards of clean and compatible. I would also suggest students to visit with some professors in their major of choice at the university of their choice. Also I would tell students and parents that you do not have to go to a college in another state to be away from home, I go to school three hours away and that is far enough. When you want to come home you will miss that distance. Once they have the college of their choice I would tell them do not forget to have fun. Always make time to relieve the stress of classes and hard work.

Start early to find a college and have a vague idea of what you are going to school for, and once you are in college be involved in all of the activities you possibly can be in

I would encourage the parents and student to research a lot of different colleges and dont settle on the first thing they like. Check out the campus a little bit too. Also, make sure the student is ready to be away from home and at a university. I know too many kids who come to college for a semester and then leave right away. This may be due to them really not wanting to be there in the first place, they're parents pushed them to attend. To make the most of college, I would have to say get involved. College isnt just about going to class a few hours a day and hanging out with friends from your floor every night. You are only in college once, make the most of it! Get involved with different groups and meet new and different people then you are used to being with. Its a time for you to learn about yourself and in order to do that you need to get out of your comfort zone and try different things.

Parents should be involved as students prepare for and choose what college is best for them. The learning environment is very important to find out about before any decisions are made as far as where the student will go to school. Also, students need to assess what is important to them in a college campus (student activities, housing, Greek Life, etc.) and make sure they ask lots of questions to a current student of each university if possible, to find out the honest truth about all the aspects that are important to them, since it can make or break a student's college experience.

I suggest visiting campus beforehand and taking both school provided tours and also walking around and interacting on your own. I feel very strongly that the best part of my school can't be taken in on a campus tour, and i assume that is the same with many other institutions. Keeping an open mind about people, especially where they're from and how they were raised will help very much with acclimating to the environment. As far as teachers and classes go, listen to your advisors but make it clear to them what you're interested in and what you would like to learn. Pursue your interests and realise that your time here will be short, so there isnt time to be sedentary, challenge yourself and you will be satisfied. Ask yourself before committing somewhere if this is the best place to give yourself the future you've always wanted, nothing else should factor into where you attend. Be tenacious with an opportunities that are available and give it your all. Remember college is not just about classes but it is the platform on which you should grow up and become who you want to be in the future.

The advice I would give parents about helping their child find the right school is to not persuade them in any directions. This is their time to select what they feel is best for themselves, not what you, the parents feel is best. Now is when your child is growing up and should start making decisions on his or her own. As for making their experience better, let them contact you and enjoy their time in college. College is an amazing place for them to grow and become their own person, so let them do it on their own. As for the students, don't let anyone convince you of what is best for you. This is your education and college experience, not someone elses. Get out there and look at differnet places and once you find the right one, you'll know. While you're in school, meet as many people as possible and get involved in as much as possible. It makes everything more fun and life changing. Also, take the time for school work because thats what your there for. Study hard, have fun, call your parents as often as possible, they miss you.

Visiting colleges is the only way to decide exactly which college is for you. Some schools may sound good on paper, but once you visit, you may be very disappointed. While visiting, make sure to meet with teachers from your department. Getting involved in campus activities is very important. You may not think you have time to do other activities in addition to you class work, but there's always free time, and participating in activities actually helps you become more organized with your time and allows you to meet a lot of new people who share your interests. Also look at the town or city the college your looking at is located. The college may be nice, but might be located in a bad town or neighborhood.

My first tip of advice would be to visit the school you are planning on attending, and if possible stay for a couple days with someone you know who attends that school. Second, don't just go to a school because you heard it was a party school, you're there for an education more so than a social life. Three, make sure there is something you can get involved in on campus that you will enjoy, it's no fun to just do homework all day, so find out if you can join clubs, volunteer, do whatever to say you were a part of something. Four, if you're like me and are solely funding your education, make sure there is enough employment opportunities on campus and within the community. Finally, go were you'll be happy, whether its close or far away from home, its all about you now, and do what you think will take your life to the next step.

When looking for the right college, you must look at a variety of different aspects of each school. First and foremost, you must visit the campus and see how the environment makes you feel. When doing my college visits, I knew which college I wanted to attend. On a whim, I visited a different college just for fun. Let's just say that I have now just recently graduated from the college that I was visiting for fun. Visiting the campuses changed my perspective on everything. As soon as I saw this specific college, I knew it was perfect for me. As for making the most out of your college experience, you obviously must work extremely hard. Study, go to class, do your work, and keep up with your assigned reading. If you do these things, your grades will hopefully show for your hard work. But remember... this is college. Working hard and studying is extremely important, but there is also time to have fun and enjoy yourself as well. The best thing I've taken from college are my friends that I met. My best advice is enjoy those four years, because they will end sooner than you think.

Go where you would like to go to college. Do not base your school off of the socials aspects, but base it off of what school will make you the most successful in the field that you choose.

I would say to study hard. Do whatever it takes to make your dreams come true. You also need to have fun and make the most of college.

I would say to look inside yourself. College is one of the most life changing things that one may ever encounter. It is filled with people from all over that may help to directly shape a person into one they seek to become. Choosing college is about choosing something that will be remembered for most of one's life. It is not easy in the least and millions of people struggle with it. It takes a lot to know what one wants to do for the rest of their lives. That is why it is best to choose a college with a variety of fields that apply to someone. Over 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of people who start college end up changing their major. It is not surprising that college affects a person to the point where they want to become someone more than they once wanted. Choose a college that is full of people from everywhere. The more diversity, the better one is prepared for the next chapter after college which is the real world.

I have to say even though it great to go to school with friends from school but to experience the real life of being on your own, go a college that your friends wont pick so you can meet new people. just have fun and enjoy yourself, they are the best years of your life!

When choosing a college, choose it for the right reasons. Don't just go to that college because your friends are or because of prestage. Your friends won't be there to do your homework, or help you when you are sick and need help. You are the one earning the degree and if you don't do it your degree is going to be what you put into it. Know what you want to be; take classes that you have to have first for the college requirements, then take the classes you need for your major and minor. If you do this you have a better chance of not changing your mind and end up in class for more time than you expected and have more expences than you counted upon. If the degree is what you want then be there for that reason. If you are there to party and make friends and have fun get that out of your system first. College is a 24 hour job, look at is as a job it is the training that you receive to get that job. Take it serious no one will if you don't.

To the parents, this process for a student is really a soul searching process. Try to be open-minded about the institution your child wants to go to. It puts an immense amount of pressure on your student if they are looking for a college that is right for you and them. Let them find whats right for them and in time you will ajust and know that they made the right decision for themselves and nothing else. To the students, when looking for a college that is right for you, look for a place that is going to fufill all aspects of your life. Look for a college that has the right amount of compitition and expectation for you, while also offering a well-rounded social life to take your mind off of the busy world of academics. Always try to push yourself for better things. Look for a campus that you can get involved in becuase you only get out as much as you put in. Be openminded to extracurricular activitys. Be strong and make your own decisions based on your expecations. But, most of all pick a place where you can grow and have fun!

Visit different colleges to see what different schools offer, and do not be closed-minded when looking at certain colleges. The college that you might have always wanted to attend, may not be the best choice of school for you. Talk with students, professors, and advisors from the different schools to allow yourself to get a better picture of the life at the school. Sometimes going to a school just because your best friend/boyfriend/girlfriend is attending the school does not make that school your best choice. Choose a school based on what you want, not what your family or friends want for you. Choose the school for you.

Consider cost, but if you can don't make it the number one reason o pick a school. Western is a great school, and worth what I pay, but it has some world class professors, and that is the number one reason to pick the school.

When looking for the right college, do not necessarily go to the college where your friends are going. Sometimes it is best to branch out and meet out people. Sometimes meeting new friends at a new school can help make the best person you can be. Once in college, don't be afraid to be yourself, don't worry about trying to fit in with a certain group by how you dress or the music you listen to. If you act like you want to act, which is who you are, you will have more friends and be liked moreso than if you act like someone you are not.

Figure out what you like best, if they university fits you, then the rest of the pieces will come together.

Look at what the school is accredited for, and assay to talk to people who are in that specific field you are interested in. By speaking to those who are in that field, one receives a better understanding of the basic proponents os that field, what professors teach better than others, and maybe even what jobs may be available in the future. Hard work is what it's all about.

I would suggest they first find out what career they want to go into. From there, find the best colleges for your specific field. Then go visit the campus and see if it is a place that you would want to go. Talk to students and teachers and find out if it is the right place for you. Also, make sure the college is financially feasible. From someone who goes to a lower cost University, I have learned that you can still have extremely talented professors and opportunities. It's all what you make of it!

I would tell them to pick there college around the degree they want, because you can always make friend any where you go. To make the most of the experience, just try to get involved in different things.

I would have to say if it's a college that will benifit you in the long run of life and it is what your son/daughter want's go for it! Looking into the future beyond college is also important, here at my school its a requirment for the Law Enforcment Department to have completed an internship in order to graduate. I think that it's great for the school to premote the work life because that's exactly what's going to be the lives of most and that extra step in helping you out will always come in handy.

Some advice I would give to other students is to go visit a variety of different colleges and get the feel of each of them. Also, that would help them out with finding a school that best suits them.

Make sure that you talk to other students and participate in the orientations. Also don't just stick to your normal type of people you hung out with in high school. There are many different types of people and learning about cultures and personalities are as much of growing up and getting prepared for your career as actual education. They both play a part in getting ready for the real world.

I would tell them that it is to their advantage to spend time at the college before setting their mind on it. Also visiting more than one college is to their advantage because then you can get a feel of different types of colleges and their atmospheres. Once you have enrolled in the college that best suits your needs, make sure you go to class all the time because you miss out on essential education everytime you miss class. Enjoy every minute of college because it flies by!

Students must find a college that they intuitively feel comfortable in. The focus or emphasis should not only be on scenery, friends, or what activities are available, but on the quality of education and the devotion of the professors in their field of choice.

Just because the school isn't your first choice doesn't mean it wont be the right one for you! Western wasn't my first choice but it definately was the best one for me! Also college isnt like high school so make sure to get involved because it really changes your whole college experience! If you go to a school with a greek system GO GREEK! Best thing you can do in college in my opinion!

Parents, guide your children but do not decide for them. Students, don't choose a school based around reputation. Research, visit, look at as many schools as you can and talk to as many faculty members as possible.

The advice I would give students would be to go to all the colleges they are interested in and talk to students and professors there. Drive arounfd the town and get a feel for what the town and college life is like. Join clubs and organizations to meet people and get involved with them. Do not feel afraid to ask for help from professors or students. Everyone is willing to help with anything that you might need.

Don't go with the trend, go where you want to go. Enjoy college, it can truly be the best time of your life.

I would definitely tell the students to pick a school based on what they believe the school can provide for them. Pick a school where you believe you will gain the most knowledge, the best friends, and become as successful as you possibly can. And by successful, I do not mean take the easy way out. Don't choose a school because it is easy or because it's a party school. Pick a school because it has great extracurricular activities or because it has an excellent reputation for the major you are going into. Make sure the visit campuses because sometimes something that sounds great on paper may not be at all what you're looking for. You'll be spending a lot of time there so if you don't like the campus you most likely will not be happy there. Number one thing, do not allow anyone else to make the decision for you. If you decide on the school, for the right reasons, not because you have friends there or because it's a easy to pass, then you will be successful and you will be happy.

Make sure you visit , and don't only look at the stats on paper. Talk to the people who will be your professors, they make all the difference.

Look for a college that has a good program for your specific major. Also having the college somewhat close to home is always nice as well. The size of the campus makes a difference too. The bigger the campus, the less attention you get from professors as a student. I suggest living on campus because it's usually cheaper and you get to know a lot of different people. Look for a college that offers a lot of scholarships and apply for them early.

My advice would be to take the time to htink about what the student really would like to do in thier life. if they have a certain major they would like to go in they should look into schools that have great programs for that certain major. also they should look at finacial issues. I chose western illinois for many reasons. one being i kept in mind that i would be moving out of state after going to school a couple months. this school tution and fees were not going to increse after moving and so i toke that into consideration. there are many things to consider and all different campuses posses many different things. if one is not happy with their decision... then they are most like not going to be happ with their grades in said campus. therefor it is crucial to pick the right campus for the student.

I would tell them that first you should expore all your options. Tour as many schools as you can. If there are people who have gone to a certain school that they are interest in then ask them questions. Just make sure that they college meets your needs and yours only.

Balance everything, sometimes it seems like it is hard to do but in the end it is all worth it!!!

When trying to select a college for yourself or child there are many factors that should be looked at. First would have to be location, being far from home or close can have a great affect on both the parents and child. Second will be the field you are trying to go into and how good their program is rated. The third factor would be the enviorment and interaction that is involved on that campus. A good way to tell whether the school you would want to attend is the place for you is to go and visit the school. Flyers and pamphlets that the school send you might look nice and appealing but actually seeing the school helps you make the right decision. When you do find a school, it should make you feel like you fit right in and gives you the most opportunities to successed.

I would suddgest that in the first year you should take easy classes and make sure you get in the habbit of going strait to the library after class and get your homework and READING done after class. If you go to the student union, your dorm or your apartment after class you will not get anything done simply due to all of the distraction that a college provides. If you do this every day then you will be able to go out every night. So make sure you get into that habit. If you don't have any homework I KNOW you will have reading to do for every class that day so do it and be the smartest kid in class in a Jiff. Parents should not send students ANY money for spending money, make them get a job while they are in school its a good idea.

I advise any parent and/or student to do some extensive research on multiple universties before choosing one. After narrowing your choices through research, make campus visits instead of taking someone's word for it. At those campus visits be sure to ask questions in order to find out everything you want to know. Also, get to know yourself and your interests, you do not want to attend a school that will bore you. Finally, remember that college is for academics, therefore do not get caught up in the social/drinking habits of others. Find responsible ways to hang out with friends and enjoy yourself while putting the main focus on your grades. Overall, go with your gut, you will know what college feels right to you once you have done your visits.

Choosing the right college is a monumental event in students' and parents' lives. Make sure you know what you want. If you need a small work environment to do well, then make sure that you find a college with small class sizes. It is ok to change your mind and switch majors, but make sure you keep a close relationship with your advisor because they can help you stay on track and they know the most about the courses offered on campus. Do not procrastinate! You are in college so make sure you are being responsible and turning in assignments on time and allowing yourself plenty of study time for an exam. Get as involved as you can. There are so many organizations on many campuses so you can surely find something that you fit in with, and if you can't, many times you can start your own organization. Finally, do not forget that you are supposed to have fun while you're in college too. Check out the town your school is in and make sure there are activities and things to do that excite you.

Once you have determined the college is good academically, look at the town or city it is in. Location is prime and so are the activities that go on around campus. There needs to be something offered where you can get away from your academics, have a good time, and stay out of trouble. I am from a small town and i never thought id want to be in a larger city but small town college towns are not fun at all. It drives students to drink and lose focus on what they are really here for.

I would just advise the person to remember that your financial situation does not always matter when you are choosing your college. I think that the most important thing when choosing the right college is to know if your college of choice has what you want to study. You also should make sure you do a college visit and if you are comfortable with the college and feel like you are at home then that is the right college for you. Being at home at college is exactly how you want to feel. You will never feel comfortable, happy, or even concentrate on your studies if you don't feel right at your college. You also need to make sure that distance is not an issue with you. There are many colleges around the world and you are the only person that will know if one college is right for you. I would suggest just seeing what is important to you in a college and see what colleges have what you want. That's my best advice I can give anyone wanting to find the right college and making the most of the college experience.

Finding the right college is a difficult process. It takes knowing the basics of what one wants and needs from a school; size, location, offers desired major. Research and visit the schools that appear to have what one thinks is right for them. Once the choice is made it's trial and error. But it cannot be an expectation that it's going to be just as college is portrayed in the movies, or that personal comfort will be found automatically. It's very necessary to understand that it isn't easy to make the transition into the college life. It can be very difficult. It helps to know and use the resources available in order to smoothly facilitate that transition. Trust the resident advisors, use the counseling centers, talk with the advisers, and make an effort to GET INVOLVED. Research extra curricular activities to find what suits the individual best and don't be afraid to try new things. College can be one of the most enlightening and fun experiences in a young adult's life but it is up to them to make it so.

Be open to meeting new people. Dont be afraid to talk to people, and to go to different events that are going on around campus. Be friendly and approacable, have an open mind. Also, study hard and make sure you have your head on straight and your priorities in order, because its really easy to slip behind. When looking at shcools, make sure to ask your self if you could really see your self going here, and if you could really picture your self sitting in the buildings, and spending time at the library. Try and place yourself there before you committe, it will really help your decision process.

I believe that both students and parents need to be prepared for all the costs that are not included in the school's billing sheet. College can be very stressful and expensive, and I believe that parents really need to assist their children when a student especially decides to go away for school.

Don't pick a school based on price. Go to a school where you will 1. grow into your own person, 2. have fun, 3. learn something beyond the textbook. College should make you a more mature and confident person, not just earn you an affordable piece of paper.

Follow your dreams not your heart

Find out where you will be comfortable, don't go somewhere just because someone else is going. Make sure it has what you want to do in life and it's really where you want to go. College can be one of the best experiences of your life if you let it, find new frineds because you never know they may last a life time. Don't be too shy speak up in class, your opinion matters. If you don't play sports try intramural activities, they can be very fun. Most of all, enjoy your college experience, get out and enjoy life, don't just study.

Make sure the college actually offers the program(s) you want before signing anything. Make sure you visit your school of choice on a weekend during the semester to get the view of what things are really like. Also, if you are going to live in the dorms on campus I would recommend living with someone you know or getting to know the people you will be living with before you move in.