Catholic University of America Top Questions

Growing up in a generation filled with pandemonium and turmoil, strong ethical and spiritual values are essential to endure many of life?s challenges. These principles can only be nourished and strengthened through proper education and daily experiences within the work force. At the Catholic University of America, both the faculty and community strive to achieve their mission statement in establishing Core Values that will ultimately contribute to the future endeavors of their graduating students. These Core Values all challenge their students to ?learn, lead, and serve in a diverse and changing world.? My parents taught me that one must work hard to accomplish their goals, but at the same time must never lose sight of their own spirituality. At a young age I began to volunteer my services, and by doing so I realized that helping others, especially children was what I wanted to do. At the Catholic University of America, volunteering and giving back to the community is vital in accomplishing ones goals . It makes you humble yet brings one to the realization of what the rest of the world is like outside a distinguished university. It helps one decide where they are meant to be in life.

I would tell myself to study hard, work hard, exceed expectations, and be more outgoing. Being a commuter is hard, but meeting people will be worth it.

I would tell myself to participate in activities and take courses in things that interest me at that moment., rather than taking courses or making decisions in an attempt to meet a desired or predetermined career. Following my interests in the present will naturally lead me to a career or life that I will be satisfied with in the future. It is better to make short term goals that have long term effects, rather than making a series of short term decisions in an attempt to have them all match up and lead to something so far down the road that it cannot be seen. Doing this prevents you from trying to predetermine what should be a natural path your life takes. Trying to map out your entire life when your a highschool senior is only going to cause you to get lost, a series of small steps can take you a long distance.

Whether or not you know what you want to do, find a school that fits you academically first and foremost. The weather, the city, and the people matter, but if the school doesn't fit you academically than none of those things will make up for it. Find people with similar mindsets, similar goals, and similar dreams for their futures and you'll thrive in that environment.

It is extremely important to remember that going to college allows one to expand one's knowledge of the academics and of society as well. If a student sincerely wants to learn more in any subject, they need to find a school that understands the student's personal needs and sees them as an individual, not another statistic. And of course, the school campus itself must be comfortable for the student, with people they can relate to and a campus that feel safe (as it is most important for any human being to fulfill their social needs and safety needs before doing anything else) as well as faculty that positively encourage them. However, I feel that the parents and/or student must also look for a campus that challenges them: includes new ideas, differing philosphies, different traditions, etc. so that the student can have a well-rounded sense of their surroundings, which, in turn, will help them stay open-minded and empathetic with others in the world. All of this is essential in cultivating a student and giving them the ability to reach their fullest potential in their careers and life in general.

In finding the right college for a student, three key things must be taken into consideration: the student's major, the location of the college or university, and the student themselves. Selecting an institution that has a strong program in the student's major is desirable but also important is the location of the school (a 10 minute car ride or a 10 minute plane ride?). Finally, the student should especially consider what kind of experience THEY are looking for. Are they very social? Do they want a college in a city or in the mountains? Are they academically driven? What kind of other students are they looking to make friends with at their school? The student must be happy at their school in order to succeed.

The Advice that I would give to parents and/ or students is to start looking for colleges early. As early as the beginning of Junior year, because visiting schools is very important, it can actually decide a yes or no of the decision making of schools to attend. Apply early and apply to several different schools, make sure to have safety schools too. Its not to early for these things because time flies by. Look into what the college offers, anything you might be interested in from majors to activites and keep it in mind. Making the most of college experience is a tough question because it depends on the person, but I will say to participate in different activites to see what you like best. Participating in different school activities is a great way of meeting friends and people who have similar interests. Dont be afraid to take the initiative, for example a Spanish group desperately needed a new president at school and no one wanted to take the job, I am now in my second year as president of the Spanish Club and love it. Good Luck in your college decisions!

Make sure you visit the campus before making your decision and engage in conversations with students and faculty at the campus. Ask as many questions as you can, no matter how stupid you may think they sound.

Attending a college or university is one of the most important decisions a person can make in his or her life. There are many factors in making such a decision, too many to consider in detail here, but I will highlight three. First, consider the amount of financial aid available and your own financial situation - there is nothing worse than being overwhelmed by college expenses. Second, think about whether you would be more comfortable in a state or private institution - the experience can make or break you. Finally, reflect long and hard about what you want to do with your life - there are colleges and universities that specialize in different majors and going to one that does so can boost your own love for your studies. In saying all of this, the college experience is filled with opportunities for every person to grow in ways unimaginable; I would recommend that each person take his or her education very seriously, not for the degree, but for the sake of learning. Treat the college experience not as a means to an end but as an end in itself. GPAs fade in time, but the knowledge is yours forever.

I think the right school is easy to find if you know what you're looking for. Make sure that you have a clear vision of what you want, the location, programs, and social life being top priorities. Making the most out of the college experience really depends on you. You have to really seek out the good times and be present for the times that can change your life forever.