California State University-Channel Islands Top Questions

My college experience has taught me how to think and reason. I have learned a plethora of other valuable traits but I use this one because people take the idea for granted. The difference I notice when I meet someone who has gone to college and someone who has not is that the those who have gone think for themselves. A person who has gone to college does not take "facts" or ideas at face value but questions the world around them. My college experience has taught me to keep questioning and to continue learning because the pursuit of knowledge does not end after the final is over and you receive a grade. What seperates humans from animals is our ability to learn and reason. It would be a waste to become complacent with a life style that did not include an ongoing challenge to expand my own knowledge of the world around me. What we learn and discover today is what will define the world of tomorrow. My college experience has not just taught me the skills to suceed in a job field but to live a life of leaning and discovery.

During high school I was too concerned with the present and not enough with the future; I made decisions without any concern for how they would impact my future. That being said, if I could, I would have a few things to tell my senior self now that I have lived through the consequences of those actions. First of all, I would tell myself to participate in extracurricular activities while I still had time. A lot of high school students don?t realize how much time they have and how it will disappear in college. I would also tell myself to fill out as many scholarships as possible. I regret not applying for any because I have wasted several hundred dollars that I could have gone towards university. I should have accumulated enough money to pay for everything so I wouldn?t have to worry about getting enough money each semester. In conclusion, even though I made several mistakes in my senior year of high school, I did indeed pull through them and came out on the other side a better person. I still wish that I had done things a little differently, but that?s just how life works.

If I could go back in time to my high school senior self, there would be so much to relay to her. I would start off by telling her to calm down about choosing a major. She may not know what she wants to do yet, but she has time before she needs to know. To go ahead and try out different kinds of classes before making that decision, especially classes she normally wouldn't really consider. I would also recommend that she get involved in the school however she can. She may think that school work is a full-time job in itself, but she wouldn't have to go to a club meeting every day, just do something simple, like make a poster for an upcoming event or attend a major workshop. Even small activities will make her feel like a part of the school community and be more determined to work hard, meet new people, and grow as a person. I'm sure as I progress at the University, there will be much more advice I could give my high school self, but I have already learned so much, and hope to continue doing so each semester.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to join as many clubs and organizations as I could senior year to gain a better understanding of what I would enjoy majoring in. I would also apply to more schools and take more campus tours to see what campus I could envision myslef attending. Applying for scholarships earlier on would have helped me financially. The last thing I would tell myself is to enjoy every minute of my senior year of high school and freshman year of college because you can only go through it once.

the advice that i would give myself as a a senior would be to keep the momentum i had since junior year. keep all the working skills i had and apply all of them non stop throughout high school. also i would tell myself to take advantage of all the resources that my school had to offer. another piece of advice i would give myself would dont give up any dreams that i have. no matter what obstical that came my way. that last bit of advice would be to have fun and enjoy the four years of high school that i have, they go by so fast and without any notice, its over

The four years that are spent in high school are a time for self-discovery. The progress I saw from those first days of my freshman year to the last moments of receiving my diploma signifies a time that will never be forgotten. Thinking back on my senior year, though it seems like a lifetime ago, I have come to realize how my fears of growing up hindered choices I made for my future. If I could go back to my senior year, I would tell myself to appreciate being young and enjoy growing up. Don?t fear the unexpected because it will hold you back. Meet all the requirements on time but don?t let yourself stress. Everything will work out; just be patient. When you do get accepted and find yourself making the final transition from child to adult, don?t forget to let your family know how important they have been in the entire process. That their support and love means the world to you and you understand letting go isn?t easy. But, the biggest thing I would tell myself? Go all out. Apply everywhere. You are good enough, no matter what anyone tells you.

Hey Kathryn. I know that you think college is some hard deadful place but it really isn't. College life is nice. The GE classes aren't that bad. Some are easier than others. The transition itself is easy to make. In my opinion college is better than High School. In college you have two or three classes a day, which you get to pick. You can also schedule classes so that you have a break between each class and relax on Friday. Hardely any classes you take are on Friday, which is really nice. The homework load is bearable. Essay can be a pain but the sooner you complete them the sooner you can relax. You are really going to enjoy the downtime in college. Depending on the class tests can be hard but again don't worry about them. If you pay attention to the lectures you will do fine. Studying isn't too bad. I know that you are going to enjoy college when you get there.

I would start at a community college and transfer to a four year after that. I went straight to a private school and racked up a large amount of debt. I tansfered to a community college after attending two private schools and still got an equally as effective education there. Be sure to stick with one school - transfering too much can make aquiring your degree a much longer process. Make the most of where ever you go. All schools have something different to offer. Most important piece of advice: get involved, stay active, and keep a smile on your face!

Dont be afraid to take a class you might think would be difficult. Push yourself to do the best you can and become involved in school as early as you can. Meet students and faculty early on. that is how you make your connections. Have fun but stay focused on the what you came here to do. Ask questions and stay positve. Stay on the weekends in housing that is the only way to meet people and start off as a freshman working hard and putting more effort rather than putting too little effort.

To the parents, I would like to say give your children all the resources they need in choosing the right college. Make sure they know that the possibilities are endless when applying for colleges/universities. also be sure to let them know that it doesn't matter where they go but that your just proud that they are going. For students, i would like to say that you should do your research on every campus you plan to attend. Try and go to as many campus tours as possible and if accepted to the school of your choice immediately get involved so in the fall it will seem as if you a second year student and you will be able to help out the other freshmen. You also may think about seeing which university will give you the most financial aid, that is very important. Overall find a great school for whatever reason you think it is great and hope for the best.

Find out what works best for you. Do you like big classrooms where you can get little to no attention from professors or do you want a smaller school with les people in your classes and more attention from your professors. Also, take in mind the distance from home. Detertime early on, if you want to be close to home or if you will do fine with being far from home. Also, pick a school that provides co-curricular activities that your passionate about so that you are able to make the most out of your college experience. Much of the learning is done outside the classroom.

When searching for the right college, it's best if you make a list of things that you want and things that you don't want at your future college. That way, as you are completing your research for different colleges, you can check off items from your list(s) and see which colleges have the most things that you want as well as the least things that you don't want. Then all you have to do is visit the remaining colleges and talk to students and faculty there, check out the dorms and cafe, see where the classrooms are, and then follow your 'gut instinct.' You'll know which college is the right college because it will FEEL 'right.' Once you are in college, the best way to make the most of it is to get involved! It is the easiest and most fun way to meet people and to learn new things. Join every club that sounds interesting, and then see where that path takes you--you'll be pleasantly surprised by how quickly you feel connected to your new college!

Make sure you find out what kind of students attend the school you are looking at and be sure it is an environment (in and around the school) that you will be comfortable living in.

Research a lot of colleges before you decide on one. Keep your options open and never be close minded. There is always room to change your mind, but keep in mind that you should choose a college that best fits you and your interests.

Make sure you know what is most important to you first. If you love the arts, look for an art school, if you love science, look for soemthing more technical. Even if you don't know what exact major you are interested in, having a direction can make headaches of being halfway through school without knowing what you're doing minimal. Visit schools, don't always be next to your parents, talk to other students, go to a party, figure out what campus life really can be like.

Look for something that truly feels like it fits you. A university should offer a well-rounded lifestyle to help create not only well-rounded students, but well-rounded people who are successful in life. Enjoy all aspects of the entire university environment. Check out every event, you may learn that you don't always enjoy them, but you will be opening yourself up to being involved and making new friends. A good portion of college is the social life, so learning how to create opportunities to be social opens doors throughout college life.

When selecting the right college for yourself you must think about a range of subjects. For one, very important subject, academics. What is the major that you want? Does this college give you everything you need? Now this could narrow it done quite a lot. However, you still need to look at what the cost of housing might be, is there a lot of students on campus, and if not do you want that? Think about who you are and how your personality might fit into the right school. Go to a tour and meet people that already attend there. If you just sit and talk with a current student they might help you realize wether this school is right for you. If that isn't enough, talk to a teacher and see what they have to say about the school. This would give you a great idea of how they teach and how you could learn. I would recomend these steps to find the perfect school for you.

College is where most young people find out who they are and/or who they want to become. This makes the decision-making process very crucial. Very often it is the student's first move away from home, which means the student needs to be able to feel comfortable, safe, and challenged in order to succeed. The time spent in college is typically a student's last run before they get shoved into the real world. I believe students should make their time in college as enjoyable as possible because before they know it they are walking the line with a diploma in hand. I recommend getting involved in clubs, sports, and possibly even a study abroad program to really take advantage of the education offered at their chosen college. Learning does not always take place in the classroom and I believe stepping outside of the classroom to further their education should be strongly encouraged.

My advice would be for the parents to allow their child to pick a couple of schools that THEY want to attend and then you and your child could do research on it and see if its the right one for them. Then maybe you can suggest also some schools that you might think your child would like. Also to get the most out of your college experience, you should get involved with as many fun activities on campus and especially live on campus. It's the best way to meet people and still get good grades : )

I went to four colleges and it wasn't until number four that I finally felt at home. My advice is this: GET INVOLVED. It's cliche, it's overrated, but it is so true. I'm certain I would have felt more accepted at my first three schools if I'd taken the time to join a club, a leadership organization, or Greek Life, if I'd taken the time to find a cause I was passionate about, or just go see the city. Let yourself admit you miss home, and acknowledge that you're bummed, but also know that if you go home every weekend and you don't try to make new friends, your experience will be miserable. I look at the amazing friends I made at my fourth school and I am so lucky to have them, but I also think about all of the others whose friendship I missed out on because I wasn't willing to make a new life at my first three schools. Don't be afraid to have fun and laugh. It's crazy and it can be stressful, but these four years are literally the best years of your life.