Valparaiso offers a great honors program that usually has a group of 80-100 freshmen in it. They compose music, choreograph, write, and act in a drama production each fall, which definitely brings the whole class close together! In general, however, the classes are interesting and as long as you plan, you get to take all the classes you need in order to be prepared to graduate in your major while also having the chance to take some fun courses.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
There are lots of activities to get involved in on campus, and you will definitely get a lot of invites the first semester of college. The freshmen dorms are all close to each other and the Union as well, which is nice, and there's always something to do if you look hard enough, even if it means joining the group in the lounge that's playing a game or getting friends together to go on a late-night slurpie run.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
Tuition is kind of pricey, but if you apply early in the year and make sure to fill out all your paperwork, Valpo tends to offer a lot of financial aid. I have a friend who actually chose another school based on cost, and when her admissions adviser found out, he talked to his boss and called her back with an even better offer than the other school!
Your adviser will also work really hard to make sure that you can graduate in four years - especially if you know from the outset what you want to major in. They don't want to make you pay tuition for any more years than you have to, so they guide you through each step of the scheduling process.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
If you get an invitation to join the honors program, apply! I know quite a few kids who turned them down and regret it now.
If you can, make direct contact with someone in your department or the person who will be your major adviser. They can definitely give you a feel for what classes you'll have to take and how flexible your schedule will be if you want to graduate in 4 years.
Be sure to visit the campus before deciding to attend. Be aware that the campus is not in the middle of an exotic locale - sometimes it may seem like there aren't a ton of things to do, but you'll be surprised how many things there are to do if you look.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Honor students, engineers, meteorology students, nursing majors, people who don't want to go to a big, impersonal college
Valparaiso offers a great honors program that usually has a group of 80-100 freshmen in it. They compose music, choreograph, write, and act in a drama production each fall, which definitely brings the whole class close together! In general, however, the classes are interesting and as long as you plan, you get to take all the classes you need in order to be prepared to graduate in your major while also having the chance to take some fun courses.
There are lots of activities to get involved in on campus, and you will definitely get a lot of invites the first semester of college. The freshmen dorms are all close to each other and the Union as well, which is nice, and there's always something to do if you look hard enough, even if it means joining the group in the lounge that's playing a game or getting friends together to go on a late-night slurpie run.
Tuition is kind of pricey, but if you apply early in the year and make sure to fill out all your paperwork, Valpo tends to offer a lot of financial aid. I have a friend who actually chose another school based on cost, and when her admissions adviser found out, he talked to his boss and called her back with an even better offer than the other school! Your adviser will also work really hard to make sure that you can graduate in four years - especially if you know from the outset what you want to major in. They don't want to make you pay tuition for any more years than you have to, so they guide you through each step of the scheduling process.
If you get an invitation to join the honors program, apply! I know quite a few kids who turned them down and regret it now. If you can, make direct contact with someone in your department or the person who will be your major adviser. They can definitely give you a feel for what classes you'll have to take and how flexible your schedule will be if you want to graduate in 4 years. Be sure to visit the campus before deciding to attend. Be aware that the campus is not in the middle of an exotic locale - sometimes it may seem like there aren't a ton of things to do, but you'll be surprised how many things there are to do if you look.
Honor students, engineers, meteorology students, nursing majors, people who don't want to go to a big, impersonal college