If you are a rising senior, you are probably getting ready to fill out those college applications this fall. Choosing the list of schools you will be applying to is hard enough, since there are about 3,978 schools in the U.S.! There are also several factors to consider; a two-year college vs. a four-year college, a public school vs. a private school, whether you want to be as close to home or as far from home as possible.

Then once you are admitted, the really tough decision will come; Where will you choose to spend the next four years of your life?

Although it is nice to talk about this with parents, high school counselors, or with us Admissions Counselors, many students always appreciate learning about the schools they are interested in, directly from current undergrads. That is why you'll be glad to hear that our Summer Representatives will be coming to visit you soon!

The office of Admissions has hired seven amazing students to travel within the areas surrounding their hometowns and bring UIndy to YOU. The Summer Reps are all upperclassmen (two of them just graduated on May 4th, 2013) who not only have more than a year's worth of experience as undergrads under their belts, but are also very involved on campus, and can tell you anything about student life, activities, academics, and what it's like to be a Greyhound.

Maybe you have already done some research about the University of Indianapolis. You have learned that we are a small, private university, in a city that is known for being the amateur sports capital of the world. Or you have heard that many students choose UIndy because of our focus on personal attention and classroom instruction, or the many opportunities for internships through our academic programs and in the city. To get the student perspective, I highly encourage you to talk to one of our summer representatives. They will be meeting with students like you from May 28th through July 26th. If you are a resident of Indiana, you can schedule an in-person meeting with your local Summer Rep. If you are an out-of-state student, you can talk to one by phone or email. Make sure to ask your Rep. about our Gas Mileage Reimbursement if you are interested in  scheduling a campus visit this summer!

To get in contact YOUR Summer Rep., fill out our Contact Form

Remember, although searching for the right college might seem overwhelming, we're here to help you!

Learn more about life as a Greyhound through our mini video series, It's a Hound's Life. Check out the first episode below:

 

College is a great time to explore new interests and try different things. What better way to do this, then to take a Spring Term course! Known as a Jan-Term or Flex-Term at other universities, UIndy's Spring Term follows a similar concept: For a short term (usually three weeks), students can take a course that is usually not offered during the rest of the academic year and receive credit for it. UIndy's three-week session typically occurs just as the school year draws to a close, with classes ending in the first week of May, and the Spring Term happening in the remaining three weeks of that month.

Aside from the fact that all UIndy students are expected to take at least one Spring Term course before graduating, here are 5 other reasons to consider this great opportunity:

1. It's tuition free

Worried that spring term will mean paying additional costs for tuition and housing? Don't sweat it! If you were enrolled full-time during both semesters of the academic year, do not have an unpaid balance with the University, and have never enrolled in spring term before, you will not be expected to pay tuition. Travel courses do not charge tuition. Students are only expected to pay the fee that is listed in the course description, which would mostly cover the cost of your flight.

2. Take a fun class not offered during the school year

The Spring Term courses change every year, depending on what the faculty feel like teaching, and of course, student interest. During the traditional academic year, you would not be able to take a class where you can earn academic credit for, eating lunch and watching foreign films, exploring Indianapolis, learning about the Beat Generation, or doing volunteer work in the city.  

3. It's Required

I always tend to tell my admitted students that with Spring Term, you are able to kill two birds with one stone: You get to take a fun class that would otherwise not be available during another part of the year, and you are fulfilling a graduation requirement!

4. Travel Abroad

Our previous blog posts have emphasized that at UIndy, students do their learning inside and outside the classroom. Yet we can't stress this enough, and it is no coincedence that the most popular feature of Spring Term classes is that some of them involve overseas travel or some other out-of-classroom experience. Of course, we would never require students to go abroad if they don't want to, which is why the course list for spring term usually has on-campus courses to take as well. For those who feel adventurous and want to travel abroad during spring term though, this year's more popular travel courses and destinations included: Hiroshima Peace Study (Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan), Castles, Cathedrals, and Coasts (England and Whales), and Comparative Exploration of the Caribbean (Cuba).  

5. Learn something new

So maybe you don't want to travel abroad, or sit in a classroom watching movies all day, but maybe you still want to learn something fun, or want to get in shape. If that's the case, you will be glad to know that there is something for all kinds of interests, such as basic instruction in cycling, learning to paint outdoors, or the art of English Handbell ringing.

 To find more about Spring Term and other courses visit the Office of the Registrar, 2012-2013 Spring Term General Information & Course Descriptions. 

This past Saturday, May 6, 2013, UIndy celebrated its annual Commencement in Nicoson Hall. The chosen speaker for the undergraduate ceremony was PBS broadcaster and author, Tavis Smiley, who offered the graduates an inspiring message to use their educational talents and skills as a way to tackle current issues that the nation is facing. A total of 428 graduate, and 849 undegraduate degrees were awarded.

So what's next for our newly graduated students? Some will venture out into the workplace, while others will start their graduate education. Whichever path they decide to take, we are confident that they will succeed. In a recent survey, 96% of UIndy grads said they felt prepared for their first job out of school, and 89% reported that they were able to find a job or placement into a graduate program within six months of graduating. But don't worry, we're not just making this up. UIndy students don't just learn inside a classroom, many of them gain real-world skills and experience through internships and summer job opportunities. Here are a few examples of what our students have done so far:

Donnie Strack (Class of '02, D.P.T. '05) Has been working as the director of medical services for the NBA's Oklahoma City Thunder since 2008. How did he land his dream job? A strong academic background, and attending school in a city that is big on sports certainly helped, but this UIndy grad would also attribute his success to the numerous opportunities for hands-on training that he received during his undergraduate years in the Athletic Training program. Of course, Donnie had even more opportunities to apply the skills he learned in the classroom as a graduate student at UIndy's Nationally ranked Krannert School of Physical Therapy.

Joey Myles (Class of '09, MBA '10) also took advantage of some great academic programs, internship opportunities, and even got to travel abroad. Now, he works as an auditor for the Department of Defense. Joey studied Accounting during his time at UIndy, and took advantage of the School of Business' Accelerated MBA , which allows students to complete their Bachelor's and Master of Business Administration (MBA) in five years. As part of the preparation students receive in this program, MBA candidates travel to different parts of the world each year to learn how business is done internationally. Joey got the chance to travel to Europe and South America. Like many UIndy students in different academic disciplines, Joey made sure to acquire some internship experience before completing both degrees.

At UIndy, students learn by doing. Many undegraduate and graduate programs encourage and promote local internship opportunities that allow students to put their classroom skills to practice in real-world experiences. The result? many students leave the university having completed at least one internship or work experience before they graduate, a unique characteristic that has proven to be beneficial when seeking that first job after college.

Want to read more about other big opportunities that are out there for a UIndy student? Check out our prospective student magazine, Inside UIndy.

 

 

Asking a college graduate how they remember their undergraduate years is like opening up a Pandora's box full of memories. You would be amazed at how many stories they can tell you about, those late night conversations with friends in the dorm, those crazy off campus adventures, or the annual campus traditions that everyone tried to check off their 'college bucket list' before graduating. 

Rarely, will they ever tell you about spending hours locked up in the library before a midterm, pulling an all-nighter to finish writing a big paper, or the most stressful for any student... finals week. No one wants to remember studying for more than one exam because the professors decided to have them on the same day, or feeling completely brain dead after the first test, but forcing yourself to go back to the library and prepare for the next final. 

Univeristy of Indianapolis students are no exception. They will often tell you all about those fond memories of the good times they had in school, but no one likes to talk about, or remember, studying for those exams, or writing that research paper. Thankfully, there are events on campus that not only help students at UIndy get through this stressful week, but will hopefully leave them with slightly more pleasant memories of finals week in college. 

The week before finals, the UIndy Counseling Center sponsors the annual Dog Days event for students. Faculty and staff who own a dog, bring their four-legged friends to campus for students to play with during the lunch hour. Since the university mascot is the greyhound, there is also a Greyhound Rescue group that brings some dogs to the event. In the last three years, Dog Days has also been part of the Counseling Center's Wellness & Relaxation Fair, which includes tables with information about managing stress. During the actual finals week, students always look forward to the annual Midnight Breakfast, where the faculty/staff volunteer to serve them a hot breakfast in the campus dining hall. This year, the students camped outside of the dining hall from as early as 8pm, and were entertained by a live DJ, prize giveaways from the Residence Life staff, and a student-organized flash mob. In the fall semester, students have one additional event to look forward to during the first finals week of the year. Dessert Diversion, which happens on Tuesday of finals week, is an event hosted by the Student Alumni  Association. Students are invited to the Steirwalt Alumni House for desserts from The Cheesecake Factory and the chance to win great prize giveaways. Each student is asked to bring a canned food item, which are then collectively donated to a local food bank of choice.

 

 

 

Gone are the days when the only college majors with 'practical' and 'marketable' skills were those that lead to pre-professional programs. One thing UIndy Admissions Counselors always emphasize to prospective students is that they should select a major that caters to their interests. Students, keep in mind that virtually any major has practical and vital skills that can be marketable to any employer. In fact, here is one to consider.

The Experience Design (XD) major at the University of Indianapolis is an interdisciplinary program that fuses skills and concepts from different academic fields of study like art, theatre, communications, and business. XD majors research and create fun and interactive experiences for diverse audiences to enjoy. Whether these are virtual or real, themed programs or presentations, they are designed to entertain and engage participants in a way that will also draw meaning from the experience.

Similar to other majors offered at UIndy, students in this program really get the chance to 'learn by doing.' Many XD classes are project-based, allowing students to gain hands-on experience by implementing the concepts and techniques they have learned in the classroom, to real-world programs and events created by them. A Special Topics class, with a different theme every semester, provides a specific focus that guides students during the creative process to determine the type of program  and style of event that is most suitable. Among some of the themed programs created by XD students are those inspired by Heroes & Villains, the 1920's, and Futuristic Worlds. Something new this year, the undergraduate program has recently launched a student-run agency called the Imagination Emporium, that will serve community clients by creating custom programs for them.  

With a degree in Experience Design, students can use their acquired event planning, research, design, and other problem-solving skills to work in a variety of professional settings like museums, or hospitality fields at tourist destinations and resorts.  

If you're interested in learning more about the XD major at UIndy, check out the department wesite:

http://cas-orig.uindy.edu/experience-design/ 

 

 

What do Nursing, Communication, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy all have in common?

They are all among our strongest academic programs at the University of Indianapolis. But what makes these programs so great?

• The School of Nursing’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) includes three years of clinical instruction, during which students receive hands-on experience in local health care facilities
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• Most faculty at the Krannert School of Physical Therapy continue to practice on a part-time basis, allowing students to gain exposure to real-world situations through presentations with live patients.
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• For undergraduate students who are interested in jumpstarting their graduate education, the schools of Physical and Occupational Therapy also offer special programs for early admission.
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UIndy’s Department of Communication also fares well in preparing students for real-world jobs. Majors like Public Relations, Journalism, and Sports Information are each complemented by great opportunities for students to get hands-on training during their undergraduate careers. At UIndy, students have the chance to work for the campus newspaper The Reflector, the campus radio station WICR 88.7 FM, which reaches 22 counties in the state of Indiana, UIndy TV 5, or the student-run public relations agency, Top Dog Communication.

 

If you are a high school junior, and are interested in learning more about any of these programs, come check out our Spring Preview Days:

Health Professions Preview Day: Monday April 1^st, 2013 8:00a.m.–1p.m. EST

RSVP Now at: http://admissions-orig.uindy.edu/rsvp/fhpd/

Nursing Preview Day:  Wednesday April 3^rd, 2013 10:00a.m. EST

RSVP Now at: http://admissions.uindy.edu/visit/son

Communication Preview Day:  Wednesday, April 3^rd 2013 8:30a.m. EST

RSVP Now at: http://admissions.uindy.edu/rsvp/previewcomm

Each of these events will include academic presentations, tours of the facilities, and opportunities to hear from faculty and current students. Come and learn how our excellent faculty, programs and opportunities can help prepare you to achieve your goals!!

The study of psychology  includes  understanding the relationship between brain functioning and behavior and cognition, including learning and memory. Some psychologists  study personality and social relationships, while some focus their studies on how we change as we age, or on organizations, families, or clinical conditions.

Many students major in psychology to prepare for a master's degree in psychology or a doctoral degree in psychology. Some psychology students seek  graduate training in social work, occupational or physical therapy, or similar fields. Others use their knowledge to help them become more effective nurses, managers, marketing professionals, or teachers. 

The University of Indianapolis offers small class sizes at a faith-based college that allows for personal interaction and discussion with professors.  With insightful research experiences, the University of Indianapolis helps prepare you for graduate school or employment after graduation. For more information or earning a degree in psychology, visit psych.uindy.edu. For more information about the graduate degree programs at UIndy, visit www.uindy.edu. 

It is never too early to start searching for scholarships! You can start searching as early as your freshman and sophomore year of high school.

Collegeboard.com and Fastweb.com are just two of the many free scholarship resources. There are a plethora of scholarships with different criteria. While some scholarships are based on GPA, others are based on community service, background, and potential area of study. It is important to read through the scholarship information and take note of the deadlines. Your guidance counselor can also steer you in the right direction of places to look for scholarships. Admissions counselors at the University of Indianapolis will be able to give you information on Indiana scholarships, Indiana student grants, Indiana college financial aid, and financial aid in Indiana.

Here are four national scholarships that you may consider applying for: 

The American Fire Sprinkler Association Scholarships
Description:To provide financial aid to high school seniors and introduce them to the fire sprinkler industry. Applicants must be high school seniors. Students must read the Fire Sprinkler essay online and take an online quiz. Award $2,000

Billy Welu Scholarship

Description:  Applicants must be amateur bowlers who are currently attending college. They must have a 2.5 or higher GPA. Award $1,000

Coca-Cola Scholars Program

Description: Applicants must be high school seniors. Selection is based on character, personal merit and commitment. Award $4,000 to $20,000

Best Buy Scholarships
Description: Applicants must be graduating seniors residing in the U.S. or Puerto Rico, live within 75 miles of a Best Buy store, have a minimum GPA of 2.5 and have community service or working experience. Award $1,500 to $10,000

At the University of Indianapolis you can expect to find excellent academic advising by professors in your field. A critical element of any education—and in a teacher education program in particular—is gaining experience in a real-world setting. The  School of Education will offer you extensive opportunities to work with children and youth as a part of your four-year preparation sequence.

During your senior year at UIndy, student teaching will give you an opportunity to practice, in a real classroom setting, the theories, methods, and techniques you have learned. These experiences vary in length, focus, and location. While student teaching, University faculty who visit you on-site will provide extensive conferencing, seminars, opportunities for reflection, and an ongoing assessment of your abilities to teach.

The faculty in the Department of Teacher Education have teaching experience in K-12 schools and maintain close ties to schools. Though they actively pursue scholarly interests (presenting papers in local, state, and national venues and writing journal articles), they nonetheless maintain a firm commitment to teaching and active involvement in schools. You’ll find the faculty to be both qualified and highly accessible.

Whatever education degree you pursue—whether elementary, secondary, all-grade, or even a master's degree in education—you won’t be lost in a crowd. If you're looking for colleges with personal attention and a university with small classes, come check out the University of Indianapolis.

Clearly the economy is affecting all of the financial decisions that we make and you may be concerned about how you will pay for college or acquire Indiana college financial aid. Here are some facts that may help you put the financial aid and college financing issues in perspective.

1. More than $60 million in financial assistance was available to University of Indianapolis students, of which about one half was scholarships and grants.

2. More than 80% of UIndy students receive some form of financial aid, including Indiana scholarships and Indiana student grants.

3. Federal, state, and University financial aid funds awarded to UIndy students will continue to be awarded at or above previous year levels.

4. UIndy will continue to award scholarships and grants based on merit and need.

5. Stafford Federal Loan limits were increased by $2,000 this year and are accessible for any and all students who need to borrow. 

6. Federal PLUS Loans will continue to be available for credit-worthy parents up to the full cost of attendance.

7. Families should apply for federal loans first, but supplemental private loans are still available to credit-worthy students or parents if needed.

You must take the first step toward receiving financial aid in Indiana by submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online no later than March 10, 2009!  The UIndy Financial Aid Application, available from the financial aid office, must be submitted to the University to supplement the FAFSA. Call the financial aid office at 800-232-8634 or (317) 788-3349 if you have questions.

It may become confusing to parents and students when applying for Indiana college financial aid. However, no matter the income of your family household, each student should apply for aid and search for Indiana scholarships. By completing a FAFSA, the Financial Aid Office at the University of Indianapolis can determine which aid you qualify for. Here are some important factors to keep in mind when applying for financial aid in Indiana or across the country:

1. Students should apply for aid and submit a FAFSA each year. Be sure to turn in all applications on time. Deadlines are important. Be aware that different colleges and universities may require different aid forms.

2. Students should be knowledgeable that there are different forms of aid. Federal, state, grants, and loans are all considered a source of aid. Upon receiving an award letter, be sure to note if this aid is renewable on a yearly basis.

3.There is a difference between eligibility and need. For instance, a student may be eligible to receive a grant, but the institution may not see the student as being need- based on their aid rankings.

4.Merit aid is primarily in correspondence to academic performance. Merit aid can also be based on criteria such as having a particular major or residing in a certain location.

5. Parents and students should take into account all cost intended when entering college, which includes tuition, books, housing, and transportation.

If you're looking for financial aid in Indiana, you may be eligible for some of the scholarships and grants that are offered at the University of Indianapolis.

The Frank O'Bannon Grant (formerly the Indiana Higher Education Award) and Freedom of Choice Grant offers assistance to eligible full-time Indiana resident students attending public, proprietary, or private institutions.

The Indiana State Part-time Grant is awarded to eligible part-time undergraduate students who are committed to furthering their education and show financial need. 

The scholars program Twenty-First Century offers a scholarship that is awarded to high school students who meet scholarship guidelines and are enrolling as full-time undergraduates.

These three Indiana scholarships and grants are based on financial need, though additional Indiana college financial aid may be available. The annual amount of each scholarship and grant varies. Don’t forget to have your FAFSA and University of Indianapolis aid application turned in by March 10!

The campus visit is an invaluable piece of the college selection process. A firsthand account of any college or university, from meeting with students to checking out residence hall rooms , the campus visit often provides students and parents with more information and more insight into the campus experience.

While websites and brochures are helpful, neither carries the impact of actually experiencing a university and meeting its faculty, staff and students. At the University of Indianapolis, students and parents are encouraged to schedule individualized visits, which can include a campus tour, lunch with a student ambassador, sitting-in on a class or meeting with a professor and/or a coach.

 
To schedule a visit, contact the University Of Indianapolis Office Of Admissions at 1-866-421-7173 or schedule online at admissions.uindy.edu/visit. Check online for special visit days and open houses as well, including High School Day, School of Nursing Day, School of Business Day, Future Teacher Day, and Campus Camp-In!

 

The University of Indianapolis is a private university in Indiana and ranked among the best universities in the Midwest. It offers a range of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral programs as well as accelerated degree programs for adult learners seeking a bachelor’s degree through Indiana night classes. UIndy is a top choice among students wishing to attend one of the state’s faith-based colleges, but who desire a campus where all students are welcome and diversity is celebrated. Internship opportunities are readily available due to the university’s proximity to downtown Indianapolis. Athletic scholarships, Indiana scholarships and Indiana student grants, in addition to federally sponsored grant and loan programs, help make college affordable; students are encouraged to explore a variety of financial aid options.