Butler University Top Questions

If I could give my-senior-self advice about college I would say to apply to a ton of schools, to keep my options open, and to apply to a ton of scholarships to help out my parents. I feel like even if I had 1000 options for colleges I would have still choosen Butler, but I do believe that more options would have been a nice thing, to ensure I could get everything that I want/need from the school I would choose. Also, I have been trying to take financial responsibility for myself and some scholarship money would make things a bit more possible; and applying for them in high school when I had more free time would make more sence than trying to apply for them now. I guess I aould tell myself to listen to the advice of others. They have been through the college experience and they know what they are talking about. Also, I would also tell myself to stay true to myself and it's ok to be wrong. Stumbling into sticky situations and being hurt by friends is all apart of who you become. While it will suck, it's worth it.

Choosing a college was a scary decision, and I always thought that I had to choose the "right" school. I realize now, however, that there are probably many "right" schools for each person. I wish I could go back and tell myself not to worry about whether my school is prestigious enough or whether I am getting enough scholarship money. Now I understand that what was important was that I simply make a decision and explore my new environment. No matter where you go, there will be programs and people you come to love. There will also be aspects of your school that you hate. The important thing is to discover for yourself what you like and do not like. Through this discovery, you come to know yourself in a way you cannot experience until you live on your own. You have the opportunity to take responsibility for your education and your future, and your college or university is merely the vessel you use to accomplish that transformation. I would have faced the same challenges at any institution in one way or another, but what is most important is that I became much more aware of who I really am.

I would tell myself to choose the school that feels right. Dont do anything because you feel like you should, instead make your decision based on how you feel when you walk through the hallways, sit in the classrooms, and meet the other students. I would tell myself to ask questions about the faculty and how they run their classrooms and their relationships with the students and ask students how they feel about their experience at that school. Basically, I would tell myself to be open to anything and everything when considering a school and most importantly, go with my gut because if it feels right then it probably is right!

Make sure that you stick with your homework progress it is very easy to let your studies slack and then it is a huge task to try to make up the grade. Live on campus, it is very challenging to live at home and balance school work and a job. Doing well in classes is the most important thing and any friends who try to get you to slack off with them are not worth it. People you meet will not always be with you the rest of your life, but your grades will follow you. Study as often as possible, but make sure you leave time to do something for yourself, like get into the gym or go see a movie and go out to eat with friends.

Don't be afraid to get involved! Stay busy too because boredom will drive you crazy! And make sure to socialize, don't seculde yourself for convenience.

The advice I would give myself is to retain the study skills that helped me in high school and try to enhance it if necessary because sometimes the way you studied in high school won't apply to college. My first semester experience proved that point towards the end because I had to put more effort into my studies since college classes are tougher. I would also have advised myself to look at the financial aspect of a university because, in the economy we live in right now, a change in circumstance (i.e. job loss) could change how much you can afford a particular school. Even though it is not usually evident freshman year, people from a lower working class family circumstances' can change and students can sometimes be forced to leave school. Lastly, I would advise myself to take advantage of the extra-curricular activities and clubs that are offered at a university. If you were not active in the social aspect in high school, you sometimes have to push yourself to try something new or something that you could have done in high school (I did!). But, remember to balance between your studies and extracurricular activities!

If I were still a high school senior, I would advise myself not to stress so much about the college process. Even though I did not get into my top two schools, I still ended up at a school which was a good fit for me. I also would have advised myself to to AP Statisitcs since it was a better fit for my major than some of the other AP classes I took. If I could redo my college search over, I would also advise myself to make some decisions about what sort of school I wanted to go to. I tried to keep an open mind throughout the college process and as a result I ended up in a Midwest non-ranked business college. After a semester here, I realized that I wanted to go to a east coast ranked business college and as a result I am transferring next semester. If I could redo the entire process over, I would have decided what kind of school I wanted to go to at the beginning of the college process. I would also advise myself to be more organized and submit my applications earlier.

If I could say one thing to my high school self I think it would be: "Be open and learn to let the little things go." I think most people would tell you that college is supposed to be a time of new experiences and learning about yourself. I think that this is true and that college is also about learning to find the balance of living in the moment by having those experiences or trying different things and planning for the future. I think the advice I would give my high school self is a good start at finding that balance.

I heard a lot of people tell me as I was searching for the right college, "Oh, you'll just know once you're on the right campus. It will just feel right!" However, I never got that feeling. Throughout the whole process I felt really confused because I wasn't sure what I truly wanted in a college. I really had to dig deep in myself to figure out what worked best for me. I needed to think about the class sizes, on and off campus opportunities, professors, advisors, campus living, safety, networking, and so much more! Now, for making the most of the college experience--get involved and be social! Honestly, there are so many different organizations, volunteering opportunities, greek life, jobs and more, to experiment with while learning more about yourself and what drives you. However, don't overwhelm yourself to the point where you're no longer enjoying the things you are associating yourself with. Balance and time management are the keys to success! Try and stay positive and don't stress out! My first year at college flew by faster than I could have ever imagined. Don't worry, plan ahead, and be happy!

My advice would be to check out and see if your colleges have programs where you can stay on campus for a night, and follow someone in your respective major. At Butler, we have True Blue, and this solidifed my choice where i wanted to go. To make the most of college, my advice would be "Yes, You can!" Don't think you can't do anything. College is a whole new place to expereince new things,.. It's your opportunity to show people that you can do whatever you want, when you put your mind to it!