02-24-2026
At eighteen, choosing a college can feel like choosing the rest of your life. With each application cycle bringing changes, the process looks different for every student. While there’s no universal formula for choosing the “right” college, listening to those who have lived through the decision can offer valuable perspective and cut through the noise more effectively.
Hear from a sophomore, junior, senior, a parent and an alumna because as people move through college and beyond, their priorities change, and so does their advice.
For Stewart, the formula was a welcoming environment plus meaningful opportunities plus a chance to build lifelong connections. She was looking for a strong academic program and a place to call home.
“When you’re choosing a college, pick one that sets you up for success beyond your four years there,” Stewart shares. “Ask yourself how a school and its opportunities equip you for long-term career impact.”
With a passion for finance and a desire to graduate in four years with a minor and a concentration, Stewart joined organizations such as Business Ambassadors, Women in Business, and Building CEOs. She attended conferences like LEADS and Monarch Leadership. Through these experiences, she explored different pathways within finance, a field she describes as expansive — while building confidence and clarity in her direction.
Stewart recalls one professor going the distance for her. One night, she emailed her professor for help and received a response within a few minutes. “It showed me that faculty here genuinely care about our success,” she explains.
Nanda was looking for strong opportunities and an effective balance between academic and social life.
“I wanted to go to a school that had ample opportunities for students between clubs, company connections, study abroad offerings and a strong alumni network — Purdue did not disappoint in any of those,” she shares.
Location and cost were factors, but she was open to moving out of Virginia for exposure and new perspectives. The frozen tuition made Purdue an inviting value.
Nanda shares, “I wish I had initially looked at colleges in terms of what would be a good fit for me. If I could give advice to anyone choosing a college right now, it would be to focus on what’s a good fit for you academically, socially and financially — focus on where you see yourself succeeding because your personal growth will take you much further.”
A student who thrives at Daniels is one who takes advantage of experiential learning opportunities.
Daniels has immensely helped me build my interpersonal and technical skillsets. I’ve also developed my leadership skills by serving on a couple of executive boards, which has taught me about servant leadership, conflict resolution and emotional intelligence. — Anisha Nanda
When Vaibz was applying to colleges, she was looking for a school that would truly help her grow and discover her interests.
“IBE sealed the deal for me because it allowed me to study both business and engineering together, rather than making me choose one. Other schools were strong in one or the other but did not offer the interdisciplinary connection that I wanted,” she shares.
The Daniels School provided Chamiraju with rigorous coursework, hands-on experiences and the opportunity to connect with faculty more closely. She recalls a time when one of her professors, Doug Pruim, took the time to mentor and prepare her for an important interview. His guidance went beyond coursework and focused on helping her present herself more confidently. That interview ultimately led to her full-time consulting offer.
When Aubrey DeVries began her college search, she was focused on one thing: carving out her own path. As the oldest of six siblings and someone paying for her own education, financial affordability shaped every decision she made. “I didn’t really know what I was looking for,” she reflects. “I only applied to four in-state schools because I had scholarships to all of them.”
Her research was minimal: “two tabs on Google: IU and Purdue,” and she never toured campus or spoke with recruitment staff. What ultimately stood out was scale. The other school had 13,000 students while Daniels only had 4,000. “Saying yes to Daniels meant saying yes to smaller class sizes and closer interaction with faculty and professors,” she shares.
A smaller school also meant greater access to resources. “Purdue gave me a small business school feeling with BIG, Big Ten resources,” she says. Through Daniels’ funding, DeVries traveled to New York for a finance conference and across the Midwest through her work as a Business Ambassador — experiences she now credits as formative in her professional growth.
Scholarship support also proved pivotal, especially the DCTC scholarship, which significantly reduced the debt she graduated with. She remembers this as an opportunity she likely wouldn’t have received outside of the Daniels School.
Her Daniels School experiences continue to shape how DeVries shows up in her full-time role. From managing time and building sustainable work-life balance to learning how to navigate different personalities and confidently put herself out there — the skills she developed at Daniels remain deeply embedded in how she works, leads and drives outcomes as an alum.
Kapala told his kids: value over cost.
He recommended his children focus on building a data-driven mindset balanced with all the intangibles that make a school the right fit.
Kapala shared with his kids three core principles: “go somewhere where you are wanted, where people genuinely care, and where you can make an impact.”
He explained that being wanted isn’t just about admissions or scholarships but rather about a feeling of belonging and support from staff, faculty and the student community. Within these groups, Kapala explains that it is key to seek a culture that supports resilience, encourages going beyond your comfort zone and finding ways to meaningfully give back to your school community.
It’s important to invest in the school as much as it invests in you. Children should walk the campus, get a feel for the culture and participate fully, because the value of college comes not just from what the students provide, but what the student gives back. — Kevin Kapala
