Bellarmine University Top Questions

I wish I would have found a healthier balance between school and social life. I was consumed at first by the fear of failure that I did not take a lot of time for myself at first. I would have told myself to try and treat each day more like a 9-5 job and then took time for social activities in the evening or whenever time allowed. College is very stressful at times and you need to make time for yourself and activites. I truely have have enjoyed my college life and experiences. I have had a lot of wonderful faculty and made a lot of life long friends.

I would tell my high school self to take the time to find study tactics that work for me. This would have been helpful to know going into college. Another thing that I would tell my high school self, would be to get into a habit of working out, and stick to it. Not only does a set workout schedule help keep yourself healthy, but it also helps get your blood flowing, so that you can concentrate more when it comes time to study.

I would tell myself to step more outside my comfort zone. I've always been really shy and kept to myself. If you want to have a good college experience, you have to put yourself out there so you can make friends. I feel lonely and out of place a lot and realized that I have to make myself feel uncomfortable in order to fit in. I also need to focus more on the future than be stuck in the past because I really miss home but I know that this is a big time for change in my life and it's preparing me for the future when I really will be on my own.

Don't freak out if your major is undecided. Remember everyone is lost at some point. You'll figure it out. Get your general requirements out of the way to find out your interests. Be yourself and stay positive!

Obtain study habits in high school that you will take with you to college. Studying in college really is different from studying in high school. Back then, there were times where you could do little to no studying and be fine. Now, studying needs to be a lot higher on your list of priorities. Another thing you need to have under your belt is asking questions when you do not understand something. Either ask in class or email your professor while you are looking over the material; ask sooner rather than later because it only hurts you if you put it off and think that it will be okay and that it's not important.

Just because you are the first person in your family to make it to college, do not think your work has been completed. In fact, it has just begun. Positioning yourself to become a successful and happy member of society takes more than acing college level classes. You have to plan ahead; network and find any available opportunities to obtain exposure to the type of work you are interested in doing. In short, be more proactive in shaping your own future.

Hey, I know it's easy to hide yourself behind your work, behind pursuing good grades instead of friendships, but no time in life, not even the dreaded high school stage, should keep you from being all you can be both academically and socially. It is the same with college life. College is more advanced, more pressuring, and more confusing than high school, and you must not underestimate it, but you will find countless similarities between your senior year and your following freshman year. My advice to is: focus on your studies to keep your grades up, but most importantly, keep your chin up and be confident in who you are. You worry too easily about wasting your time, about squandering the time you've been given, but this is a sure way to waste it. Discipline yourself, transition to maturity with managing your time, with your responsibilities, but remember this is a special part of your life - just like every part - to be experienced and to be enjoyed. You know how to be careful, you know how to be safe, now balance on the fine line between that and living life to its fullest.

Take your time choosing a college and make sure you are ready for it. College classes are difficult so don't expect to get all A's. Do your best and you will succeed. Talk to other college students, they can tell you what to expect and can help you through the process, they havebeen there after all. College might seem like something to be worried about but it really isn't. College will present you with challenges, experiences that help you grow, and many new lifelong friends. Embrace the experience and make the most of it. College will be some of the greatest years of your life. Make sure to study and apply yourself and you will be able to succeed and do whastever you want in college. Be sociable, if you aren't then you will likely hate college. Friends can help you through the hard spots and will allow you to achieve more than you could do on your own.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have a lot of advice to give. First I would tell myself to look into scholarships at an earlier time, but I assumed that my 4.0 GPA would get me a full ride somewhere. However I have learned that is not true, so I would say “Sarah, apply for EVERY scholarship possible.” I feel this transition into college would be a lot easier if I wasn’t worrying about how I was going to pay for school, and stressing over the several loans I’m looking at taking out.

You are responsible for your life. In college, teachers won't make you study or turn in work. You are the one paying them whether you do any of the work or not, so take it seriously! Getting to know your teacher andy some classmates really helps you do better and get more out of a class. The most important things to do is keep an open mind and have a good work ethic. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Most of the instructors really want to help you beyond just being a teacher. So strive for what you want, try new things, and work hard in everything you do.