Admissions

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.

Apply as early as possible, most of the financial aid is awarded first come first served! Valpo is expensive, but most people I know are here on pretty hefty scholarships.
If you're unsure whether you like a school, come visit the campus for yourself! Then you'll truly know if a school is right for you. I recommend scheduling a Valpo Overnight Visit, where you'll stay with a current student (usually a freshman) for a night. I did that and it solidified by decision to come here. :)

Don't decide on a college [either for or against it] without visiting it first. When I first heard about Valpo, I didn't want to come here. I was dead set against it, but then on a visit [that I had to go on against my will] I feel in love with this place! The campus just has this feel of great energy.

I think when you get here it is easy to get off on a bad foot because for the first time you don't have your parents telling you what to do. If you stay focused it is not that much harder than high school. It is just going to be a little bit more reading, and you have to get used to shorter school days, and you might have classes at night. If you fall behing go for help as soon as you get confused.

The advice I would give any prospective student is to look around at several colleges (both big and small, public and private, instate and out). This comparison can really help, so go and visit the schools as well. Making the actual decision can be very stressful, but just weight all of your options and pick the college which fits you best and where you truly feel like yourself at!

Valparaiso University is a home away from home. It is a small school, both in numbers and in physical size, so one learns the in's and out's of the school and gets close to its students and faculty very quickly. This intimate understanding of the university really makes it feel like home. Because of its smaller size, the class sizes are smaller so that the professors (many of them being being some of the top experts in their fields) can provide more individualized learning and care for their students.

If you are looking for a smaller campus with tons of student involvement, Valparaiso University is the place for your face! I suggest going onto the school website to find out more! Plus, there are tons of college visit days you can schedule. The school really tries to make a plan that works for you.

www.valpo.edu

Visit the university! You will decide after an overnight stay if Valpo is right for you. Also, work hard your senior year. If you struggled with your GPA like I did over the previous years, the positive grades will help with deciding if you can handle the work at the university.

Don't wait on applying! Prepare and prepare some more! Start saving and start thinking about what you want to do. Email any prospective professors and schedule a meeting with them to discuss your academic future. Come for a campus tour, eat in the dining hall, and meet students that are currently enrolled. Ask them their opinions, see what they think. Try to get a feel for the wonderful environment of this campus. Experience it first hand by sitting in on a class and observing the teacher/student interaction. ASK QUESTIONS!! Lastly, be excited! You're about to start a new and glorious chapter in your life, and Valparaiso University is a GREAT place to do that!

Do not come here thinking you can blow off school and not go to class. Most everyone here cares extremely about their grades and were good and accelerated students in high school. You make your own fun and get what you put in.