Housing

I've been trying to keep track of the questions that students and families ask me most often, so that I can share them with you here on my blog. One of the most frequent questions I get is about HOUSING. My main piece of advice is that when you visit a university ask if you can see a typical dorm room (it's usually part of the campus tour). I stress the word typical, because while a university may have gorgeous suites for their upperclassmen, you also want to see what your living environment will be like freshman year. Ask about what you can and can't have in the dorm room (televisions, refrigerators/microwaves, lofts, pets, etc.), and what kind of amenities the buildings have (lounges, kitchens, computer labs, laundry rooms). While I don't think you should make a college decision solely based on which school has the fanciest dorms, it is important to consider where you'll be living 24/7 for the next few years. I'd say as long as a dorm is comfortable, clean, and fairly up-to-date you're all set!

Here's a little more about Residential Life at Valpo--

• -Valpo currently has 9 residence halls and 2 apartment complexes for our students.
• -Students live on campus Freshman-Junior years, and have the option of moving off campus for their Senior year.
• -Freshmen CAN choose their roommate, if they'd like. If you have a friend from high school, church, or camp that's planning to attend Valpo as well, just request each other as roommates on your Housing & Tuition Deposit Form. In addition, housing is not finalized until later in the summer (after Valpo's June orientation, FOCUS), so if you meet someone at FOCUS you have the option of requesting them as your roommate as well.
• -Free 75-channel cable TV in all dorms!
• -Each residence hall has student lounges (used for studying, group meetings, or just relaxing and watching movies!) and laundry facilities.

To see photos and floor plans of Valpo dorms, as well as more Housing info, check out the Residential Life website here.

Well that's it for today... as always, good luck with the college search!

-Laura@Valpo

Study Abroad

Have you ever traveled outside of the United States, or would you like to someday? I think travel is a great way to learn about other cultures firsthand, while also learning more about yourself. During my time in college I spent a semester abroad in Granada, Spain. I not only learned about Spanish art, politics, and culture, but I also perfected my Spanish speaking skills. International travel also pushes you out of your comfort zone, helping you to mature and learn more about yourself while living in a new environment.

Every year hundreds of students from Valpo study all over the globe. VU has study centers or partnerships with programs in England, China, Germany, Mexico, France, India, Japan, Spain, Namibia, and Greece. As a part of these programs students participate in classes, internships, and service projects. Click here to see some photos taken by Valpo students while studying abroad last year.

Asking about Study Abroad options is a great thing to keep in mind during your college search. Diverse programs not only show the university's interest in global learning, but also provide you with an excellent opportunity to gain "real world" learning experiences outside of the classroom. If you'd like to learn more about any of Valpo's programs, or if you'd like to hear more about my time in Spain (warning: you better have a few hours to spare!), just let me know!

As always, keep up the hard work with college searching and decision making! I look forward to seeing lots of you on campus soon for Admitted Student Days, Junior Open Houses, and personal visits!

-Laura@Valpo

Welcome!

Welcome to the first post on my new Valparaiso University Admission blog! Let me begin by introducing myself...

My name is Laura, and I am the Admission Counselor at Valparaiso University that works with students from Ohio and the Northeast (check out the listing of all the states I work with to your right!). I was born and raised in Valpo, and then moved to Pennsylvania to pursue my undergraduate degree at Bucknell University. After my four years in PA, including short times living in both New York City and Spain, I moved back to my hometown of Valparaiso, Indiana. I really enjoy my job, especially helping students at tough points in their college search while they're trying to find that "just right" school that will become their home for the next four years! I welcome any questions you have regarding Valpo's academic programs, campus activities, or student life. I'd also be happy just to give advice on your college search based on my work here at the Office of Admission, as well as my personal experience choosing a college not too long ago!

I'll be posting on a regular basis, keeping you all updated on--

• -important dates/forms/things to remember
• -exciting Valpo events happening on campus
• -when I'll be traveling to a high school or college fair near you
• -as well as some fun along the way!
  

If there's anything you'd like to know more about, please leave me a comment-- I'd love your suggestions!

Until my next post.... best of luck with your college search, keep up the good work!

-Laura@Valpo