Bryn Mawr College Top Questions

I had actually thought of this a couple of days ago-- in high school, I attended an extremely competitive school where people would always try to intimidate you, which affected me in numerous ways. I would always worry about what I had to do to get ahead, but I realized that this action of trying to beat someone else was always wrong. I should have strictly focused on just 'me' and not worry about someone else or trying to beat other students around me in my high school. It was just as important that 'I' did well for myself, not to just beat someone else. That is no way right in living my life. By attending Bryn Mawr, with such an amazing group of women, I have learned to not worry about everyone else and to just worry about 'me,' making sure that I do the best of my ability. So, if I were to tell myself any type of advice while still being a high school senior, I would have said to just take care of myself (and to get a few more hours of sleep here or there!)

After an intense 4 years of high school, I wish I had known to take a break. When classes started at college I realized not only were they harder than high school, but I was not excited about the academic challenge. I was burnt out by the stress of high school, and the all the changes in my life, yet I felt pressure to jump right into college. I wish I knew that gap years are common and can be incredibly beneficial to many students. At college, I tried to do too many new things and didn't have the courage to reach out when I needed help. I found out too late that my professors actually weren't that scary, and really did want to help. Through taking second semester off, I was able to realize that it's okay to take a break, and it's sometimes necessary to ask for help. On my semester off I worked retail, which helped me make money and take a break from intense academics. Now the new school year is about to start. With my energy renewed, I am ready for the challenge!

If I could go back to high school and give myself a single piece of advice, it would be: “Don’t worry, you can handle it.” This statement is vague but incredibly applicable and, as I have found in college, accurate. I have discovered in my now three-year experience of higher education that certain classes, assignments, and social situations can be daunting. I have also discovered that these anxiety-inducing areas of my life are completely manageable and that I excel more often than I fail. I can be resourceful, creative, innovative, and confident even when I didn’t think that I could. The discovery of this independence has been not only exhilarating but comforting. There is a security in knowing that in any situation it is entirely within my abilities to seek help, restructure my strategy, and take the time to work through a problem or challenge. In high school this kind of independence was not absent but rather fledgling, so my feelings of autonomy and personal security were absent. I appreciate everyone in my life that supports me but I’d like to go back and assure myself that I am definitively my greatest resource.

Everything happens for a reason, especially with college, so do not be disappointed if the end results are different from what you wanted. You are the person who will be going through the college experience, so apply where YOU want, and make decisions that are best for YOU. If this does not equate to your dream college, that's okay! There are surprises everywhere, and college is what you make it. There are always other alternatives if you are unhappy, but don't wallow. Be proud of where you go, and try not to dwell on what could have happened. Be excited for your future!

Enjoy every moment! When the stress crops up, you always feel like, "This is the worst! I just want to fast forward through everything!" No. Savor that moment. Every second, every minute that goes by is a second and minute we will never have again. So live life richly, and look back with as little regret as possible. Give yourself lots of stories to tell your grandchildren :) And for goodness sake, smile more, the SAT isn't all that hard :P

The world awaits you, my young self. I know you’re excited and you should be! Everything changes, but most of it is up to you on whether or not it’s a positive change. High school was a hard journey both emotionally and educationally. But college doesn’t have to be the same. I made the mistake of bringing so much of my high school emotional baggage with me over to college. I should have just let go and saw the start of community college as the new beginning it really is. I’m begging you to do it in my stead. Let of go of the hurt and open up to the possibility of new friendships. Try to trust others and see the good in people. As hard as it can be at times, just be yourself, people will love you for it. Get involved! Yes, you need to study and keep up with homework, but there’s so many clubs and organization you could get involved in. Join one; it would be good for you. One last thing, you know that planner you have stuffed in a desk drawer? Get it out and use it!

If I could talk to myself in high school, there are three pieces of advice I would give myself. The first piece would be to take a study skills course and study. College is so different then high school and you can't pass if you don't do the work regardless of how smart you are. I flunked out of the first college I went to because I had no idea how to open a book. The second piece of advice I would give myself is to take Jacob with me. I had my first child at 16 and left him at home while I went to school. I didn't have any reason to take on the responsibility of my life and left that to those around me. I think that had the responsibility of my life been something I had to take seriously, I would have taken many other things in life much more seriously. The last piece of advice I would give myself is to respect myself and my time and to know that both are important. By not believing these things, it left room open to believe that nothing I did was important.

Advice I would give my high school self would have to be, decide to go to college soon, start appling for scholarships and grants long before graduation, and last but not least study more.. Attending a vocational highschool I thought I was all set for the workforce. I decied to work because I didnt think I could afford college. Since graduation I got a full time job welding. Talking with all my friends about when they leave for college and how excied they are to leave our small home town I soon regreted not even trying to get finacial aid and apply for college to persue my dream career. I took the second best choice to my happiness and no one should settle for less when it comes to the rest of your working life. A job wont be a job if its what you enjoy and I never understood that until working in a job I was good at but just wasnt what I was truly passionate about.

College is a time where you learn to live on your own and care for yourself. At Bryn Mawr, you are expected to be responsible and have strong moral character. There is a great amount of trust from staff and faculty to the students. Living in the dorms with or without roommates is a learning atmosphere equal to that in the classroom. You are expected to manage your time, to attend class, and to take care of your needs, such as hygeine and healthy eating. College is a transition between living at home and living on your own, a time when your basic material needs are provided but you are responsible for their proper utilization. It is a time to learn to work hard and also find time to engage in activities that you enjoy and to spend time with friends, who you will keep for the rest of your life. It is a magical four years of exploration, self discovery, and time to make mistakes and to learn from them. Enjoy!

I would tell myself to never be afraid to take advantage of an opportunity.

I would tell myself to become more active. To get involved sooner and to things today! Don't put of things until tomorrow and seize the day. There is so much you will lose out on, but it's not to late. Get out there and do the best you can, you only live once. The sooner you get stable the more fun you can have. Don't be afraid to get out there and meet people socialize and make connections with people. And most of all be happy with yourself. Don't worry too much about what other people think as long as your living for you and doing what is right you can't go astray. PS, the Patriots win the Super Bowl in 2002 ;)

I would tell myself to never be close-minded and to work for what I want. I would also tell me that I should take advantage of all of my options and to explore new opportunities.

Having gone through my first semester of college, I think that the best advice I would give myself if I could go back in time, is to simply trust myself and the skills and smarts that have taken me this far. I would tell myself that college is a new setting and it is inevitable that not being the best of the best right off the bat is not at all unlikely, seeing as you need time to adjust. I would encourage myself to go onward despite any future bumps in the road, for nothing is impossible.

Be honest with yourself and search yourself for you priorities and inclinations, both natural and fostered, from now. Lay out a path so that when you're feeling lost or tired you can just take it one step at a time. Regularly reevaluate your path, and don't be afraid to alter your path in a healthy way. Don't sever your ties with your family and the community in which you grew up. They can support you on your path and help you figure out your goals once you have your diploma in hand. For graduation is rarely accompanied by an AHA! moment. Also, it is so important to GIVE BACK. People's strengths are brought out when they serve their neighbors. Get involved with tutoring younger students--you'll be surprised how much advice and friendship you can offer! You'll remember when you had those same questions, reflect on how far you've come, and continue to set your goals higher. Learn about the cultures around you and across the globe. Always do your best and remember to keep the innocence and creativity of a child while learning to be responsible.

Apply to colleges that fits you. If you hate the place you are going to, you won't be able to do what you're supposed to! Do an overnight and talk to current students. Get involved in a LOT of activities, they're the best way to meet people. Oh, and facebook is a wonderful site to meet other prospectives. Relax and have fun, you're approaching the best years of your life... but remember, college is hard work. Don't have pre-determined opinions, go with it! Discover new passions, interests and meet everyone, network like crazy!

I would probably tell myself, "You know what your morals are, don't let anyone question you when you know what is right and wrong or just not right for you personally, go to Small Group more often and make sure you do all of your class readings."

I would tell myself to slow down and really think about where I'm going and where I want to go. I would take the list of colleges that I was planning to go to and cross out every one that I was applying to just because of the name. Then, I would create a completely different list based on where I really wanted to be and where I felt my heart was. Despite everyone elses opinions of where I should go and what I should do with my life, I would make myself work toward and really feel what I (emphasis on I) wanted. Then I would let myself know that when I did get in college, wherever that may be, that I would need to take care of my happiness as well as my school work, that I didn't need to be close to the first people I met (i.e. my roommates) and that there are plenty of very interesting people at school that are worth meeting and getting to know. Most importantly, I'd tell myself that even though I went to a small public school, I'm smart and talented and should believe that.

Don?t commit to one school or one career path too soon. College is a time to explore all available options, and you should be aware that many students will change their minds about their passions at least once during their college careers. College will expose you to options you may not have known about, or classes you may not have thought you would like, that may become your passion. Take school seriously, because this is training for your life. Do not waste your time partying or drinking every weekend if you know you should be studying. That being said, make sure you have a social life! Spending too much time with your nose in the books is not healthy.

Dream, wake up, work for it! Always work hard, no matter which college you go to.

I would advise keeping a journal. I have found, in the process of working on transfer applications, that writing about my day to day experience helps me to understand the aspects of my life that I enjoy, and what I shy away from. Visiting colleges with those journal entries in mind helped me to see how I would potentially react in that environment, and then further journaling about the college visit helped me to solidify what I like or did not like about the college. The writing process really helped me to hone what was troubling about my college experience, and what I wanted in its place.