Centre College Top Questions

Transitions are scary. When you're 18 and heading off to college for the first time, it is normal to feel a strange mixture of excitement and fear that you've never felt befoe. This is your first chance at independence. Your first chance to get out of the town you've spent your whole life in thus far; a chance at new experiences, friends, places, and knowledge. It is also your first chance at heartbreak, possible failure, and hurt all while you're hundreds of miles away from the comforts of home. But don't be scared. While the uncertainty of it all is most definitely unsettling, you are in for the greatest adventure of your life. During this time you will make lifelong friends both professors and peers. You will get the opportunity of a lifetime to live and learn in a foreign country. You will find a passion you never knew you had for a subject you had never even heard of that will become your career. So don't take it too seriously, but treasure every moment. These are the years you'll look back on most fondly after graduation and for many years to come.

If I could go back in time to when I was a high school senior and provide my past self with information about making a new transition after graduation, supported by the intelligence and experience I know now, I would overly convey the importance of self-determination and confidence. Emerging from a background of Mexican grandparents that never completed high school, parents who never completed college, and being the eldest of two children, the daunting challenge of attending a university or college was one I didn’t believe I could accomplish. I ended up settling for attending a community college ten minutes from the campus of my high school because that was all I considered myself to be capable of. With the wisdom I encompass now, I would tell myself in my senior year to just believe in my own capabilities and have confidence in my academics, because with that kind of self-determination, any achievement is possible.

Get your life together girl. You're smart, but not smart enough to think you can breeze through life when you go to college. Its hard, harder than you ever imagined. Your brain will be tired all the time, and making new friends will be stressful beyond compare, but it'll be okay. College is where having a work ethic comes in handy, but that's not all you'll need. Learn to manage your time now, because you won't have time to figure it out later when you barely have time for sleep. There are a lot of things high school doesn't prepare you for, college seems to be one of them. P.S. You don't need twenty-five pairs of pants. Trust me, the drawer space has better things to store. Like food.

Knowing what I know about the college life and making the transition , I would advise myself to be confident in my capabilities and to use my available resources to be as successful as I want to be. When I was a high school senior, I decided that I could easily pass all my classes. Therefore, I didn't push myself beyond what I was expected of, as I should have done. Entering college , I kept up with the same attitude, and something tragic happened in my family back home, and this made my transition harder throughout first term. If I kept up with my capabilities, and told myself everyday that I would be successful, and I could do anything I put my mind to , I would have been one hundred percent more successful during my first semester. My advice to all high school students: Use what is available, to better yourself. No one expects you to be perfect, but in college , they do expect you to push yourself. With perserverance and self determination , you can go ANYWHERE in life, and you WILL be successful !

Dear Kate, As you embark on your collegiate adventure, I urge to consider the following thoughts: First, please remember how blessed you are to be a part of Centre College. Being able to attend college puts you among a minority of people around the world, and you must cherish every moment and opportunity. Secondly, never conceal the fact that you love to learn. The gift of knowledge is never something to be ashamed of and should be celebrated and explored. Being a part of the Centre community will give you the time, resources, and opportunities to explore concepts you never considered possible. Thirdly, attend each Norton Center event, each convocation, and each guest speaker lecture. You will have the opportunity to learn from a variety of intellects, performers, and speakers ? many people you will have never heard of and many you will never forget. Lastly, please have a copy of your car key made. It is inevitable that you will lock your key inside your car on a snowy Sunday morning and AAA will be unreachable. Continually remind yourself that you are blessed and love every moment ? academic, personal, social, and spiritual. Best of luck, Kate

The best advice I could a student about choosing the right college is that you will know the right school when you visit it. College is something that you make it of it. As much as I believe that a parent should have a say in the college process let the student decide because that school will be where they are spending the next four years of their life. I always beleived that there is a always a college out there for everybody, you just have to find it. You'll know the school of your dreams when you visit. Let the college experience take the wheel and just enjoy the ride. Expect nothing and learn everything.

Parents: Don't limit your childs college options simply because of money or distance. Allow your child to explore his/her options. There are ways around all of life's difficulties, so give every opportunity a chance. Students: Talk to friends and relatives, and use different college search engines to find schools that fit your interests. Look for schools that will be intellectually challenging and that will allow you to expand your mind. Studying abroad is also another opportunity that may be of interest. It is important that you make sure the school offers it's students as much as possible. The worst thing is to realize your school doesn't have all the programs you are interested in. Also, don't limit yourself to a school based on one academic interest because chances are you will re-think your major. Parents and Students: VISIT the schools of interest (preferrably while the school is in session)! This is the best way to find out about a school. Parents will have questions that can be answered; students will be able to see their future possibilities. Lastly, students, follow your instincts - you can make the most out of the college you choose.

Go there to learn and grow as a person. Do not be fooled by prestigious names or locations. Go where they will give you enough money to not be burdened when you leave, and enough support to help you succeed while you're there.

The most important step to finding out what college is right for you is visiting the campus. Without getting a feel for the community, lifestyle, and student population at an institution, it is impossible to make an informed decision about college. Choosing a college is about choosing where you feel comfortable. As the expression goes "If the shoe fits...wear it." Even more, making the most of your college experience means that you must always remember the reason you came to college: to get a degree. By keeping academics at the forefront of your priorities, everything else (social life, extracurricular activities, etc.) will fall into place and become even more enjoyable. Never lose sight of the academic tasks at hand, but always remember to cherish the little things.

Deciding on the right college should be an exciting experience for everyone inolved. It is imperative to be thorough and consider everything the student desires in her college experience. Picking a college means it is time to leave highschool and being highly dependent on others in the past. The best lesson that can come from college is how to become accountable for your own actions, and take control of your life. It is a balancing act between the education you have to take seriously, and the social development every 18 to 21 year old needs. Every moment you spend living life to the fullest during college, is a moment that you prepare for incredible success in your future. Many say that college will be the best four years of a person's life. If you pick correctly, by considering what you want for the future, what you desire from a college, and where you want to be in four years, I think it only prepares you for countless years in the future that will undoubtedly be more enjoyable.