Chapman University Top Questions

Be patient and open minded. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there in the world because nobody else will do it for you. Stay focused and be on top of things. You will be more independent than you think, it is difficult to have no one to depend on. But that is life. Don't depend on anyone, you need to go out there yourself and make it happen. Also, don't rush into certain deicisons because the most important thing is for you to be happy. If you are not happy with what you are doing, it is not worth it. Therefore, you need to make a change and don't let anyone influence your thoughts. Be strong minded and don't let anyone put you down.

Everybody tells you that you're going to change, that you'll act stupid and that you might not recognize yourself over the next few years. Embrace that and welcome the change. It can be a scary thing, change, but if it's executed correctly can open up all the doors that your teachers, parents and elders have been telling you about all these years. Make sure you are a little reckless, that you do skip a few classes here and there, but also make sure you know when to stop. There is a time to have fun, a time to buckle down and a time to blur those lines and live life on the edge. Make sure, though, that you know exactly when those times are and when you need to come back to reality. The next four years will be crazy and fun and crazy fun, but remember that after the four years is up, there's a realm of "adulthood" waiting for you. It's a realm that only your self change and the crazy antics during that self change can prepare you for. Biggest words of advice from me to you... just live.

Say yes Kayla. Say yes to meeting new people. Say yes to going to class. Say yes to asking questions. Say yes to homework but also do not be afraid of pulling all nighters. Say yes to going to parties, but also say yes to an early night in bed with a movie and a good friend. Say yes to calling your parents at least once a week. Say yes to work. Say yes for early starts to your day and late nights with the people that have joined you for these four years. Say yes to travel. Explore the depths of what this world has to offer, you will recieve so much back in return. Give back to your community and explore your passions while doing so. Let others inspire you, and in return inspire the ones around you. Make relationships with your professors and tell them thank you every chance you get. Take risks that challenge or frighten you, this is the time when you have the least to lose. It are those risks that you will remember and define you from the inside out. Finally, let the knowledge you learn trickle from your head to your heart.

I would advise myself to take the time to relax. I would tell myself to prioritize my life with faith, family and health at the forefront. I would say not to worry about the petty obstacles in life but to set my eyes on the future knowing that all adversities will pass. I would tell myself not to be afraid of being different--to be open to being myself and accepting the person that I was instead of trying to fit in with others. I would advise myself to stray from a negative self-image and instead to stay true to my values. I would tell myself that God has a plan for me and that I don't need to worry about the future. I would tell myself to let loose sometimes, to act spontaneously and to be a kid while I had the chance. I would tell myself to not be afraid of making mistakes.

Make sure you have good study habits and continue to use a study planner. Things move faster in college and you need to keep up. make usre you know hot o plan your time carefully. That is helpful in college. Learn how to aks questions so that you don't miss out on good opportunities. Be prepared with a good resume at all times so you can easily apply for jobs and internships. Learn how to play and enjoy down time. you can only study so much. Be a good friend and others will be a good friend to you. Learn how to do laundry. Learn how to check prices so that you don't spend all your salary on unnecessary things. College is an important time of your life and so you need to make sure you pick the right college. I am glad that I did that.

In the first year of college, I can almost guarantee that you will make more mistakes and learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible. You WILL get homesick but it WILL NOT last forever. You WILL make friends no matter how lonely you feel on the first day. And I promise that you WILL survive regardless of the repetative meals in the cafeteria. But the biggest piece of advice I want to give to you, aside from encouraging you to learn from every mistake, is to seize every opportunity and try anything and everything that interests you even if it's something completely new. You could fall in love with something you never expected or you could fall out of love with something that has been a part of your life for as long as you can remember. And both are okay. College is a time for you to experiement and find just what you want to do with the rest of your life. I've heard it's unlike any other time in your life, and I definitely believe it. College is incredible. Don't let that just pass you by.

There is nothing wrong with walking in clueless about where you want to end up. Don’t be afraid to switch majors and don’t be afraid to switch back. High school lets you try on the clothes; college lets you do that too, but it also lets you buy them and wear them out of the store. Ultimately, the major you choose won’t affect the person you become. But avoid choosing a major just because it sounds like a TV show you’re currently into. Political science really isn’t anything like The West Wing. Trust me—don’t learn that one that hard way. You will get out of college what you put into it. Most every school offers internships, company tours, presentations and conventions if you take the time to look. It’s easy to walk out of a college with a piece of paper that says you were there. Be one of those that get something worthwhile out of it. Lastly, the transition between high school and college will happen while you’re busy doing other things. You’re going to have a great time. So get to it.

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I have always been resistant against change and college was no different. I was hesitant about becoming engaged and meeting new people and as a result I was timid and shy. I was distraught being away from my friends whom were changing and I constantly talked to my parents instead of meeting new people, as they were the one thing that had not changed in my life. It took me an entire semester to open up and meet new people because I finally grew sick of feeling alone and staying in my dorm all day. Now that I have opened up I have been able to regain my confidence and become an active member within Chapman. Looking back I wish I had told myself to be more open and excited for the transition to college. I feel as if I essentially wasted my first semester of college due to my hesitance. There is nothing to fear when going to college. Your experience depends on what you make of your time and I have discovered that in order to be happy you have to explore whatever lies in front of you.

College life and the transition will be harder than you think. A lot harder. Coming from Hawaii, there will be culture difference. It's hard to explain, but it's going to be very different. I'm still trying to figure out how to explain it to others. One of the biggest differences is that people aren't as accepting of you here. Yes, even in California. It's not as laid-back here and people are more harsh with the way they act and talk. You are a multi-ethnic woman coming from Hawaii. You will find that at times bringing such diversity will be one of your strengths and at other times it will be where you will meet many difficulties. You will be discriminated against and it will not feel good. You will feel defeated. Get involved with diversity initiatives on campus and I promise you will find that the world isn't such a bad place after all. Also, be vulnerable. You grew up thinking that vulnerability is a weakness. But it's not, it makes you strong, brave, and POWERFUL. It will free you. Be free and live with your heart open. Love you.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would make sure to tell myself that uncertainty is a part of life and it is competely okay to not know what you want to do. I would also tell myself that everyone has a different college experience and it will only be a positive one if you actively choose to make it that way. I always had a specific vision of what college was supposed to look like, and when that vision did not come to life for me in my situation, I was upset and always down on myself. In the end, choosing the community college route ended up leading me to a wonderful job opportunity of working with children with special needs and it allowed me to take the time to decide what path is really right for me. So I would tell my high school self to be patient and open to new experiences. Not only will you run into exciting opportunities, but you will also meet people who share the same passions, and that is one of the most important things you can get from the college experience.

If I could talk to my highschool self about transitioning into college, I would say to have more confidence. It was not until recently that I decided, yes, I can persue both Graphic Design and Game Programing minor along with my Digital Arts major, and I can have time to study abroad. I may have to take an extra year, but that's okay. Taking an extra year in college isn't something to be ashamed of. It means I am doing everything I can to make the most of my college experience and education.

Dear Cailyn, College is coming soon and senior year is coming to a close. Don't be afraid, I promise that you will be okay. College is great and exciting; you will learn more in one semester than you have in all four years of your high school career. Join clubs and get involved because these will be some of the most important ways to meet people. Don't be afraid to branch out and try new things. Live on campus, join a committee, join a sorority even though you've told yourself you would never do it... I promise that joining something and leaving your safe-space will be rewarding. Although you may want to sit in your dorm with friends all day or go out and stay up until three in the morning, which can be fun and adds to the learning experience, make sure you don't miss class. Class is important and it is so much more interesting than high school classes. Professors will inspire you and you won't want to miss it. Good luck, I know you can do great things. Smile and hold your head high; you can do it.

Really take time to research colleges and go on campus tours. As a junior and senior, I took advantage of the college websites and based the colleges that I applied to purely off of numbers. I was a big "label" school. I wish I really looked at my capabilities and assessed better schools to apply to based off of my standards, not just whether or not my friends applied to that school. Also, you don't really prepare yourself for college. I was the kind of person that always needed to know things. Needed to plan my future every step of the way. College is meant to enjoy the now and appreciate the "now". My advice to my old self is that I wish I would have allowed myself more time for the college process, because it is really something that should have a lot of thought put into. The college process should not be rushed. Prepare now so you can enjoy later.

I would first tell myself not to be scared to beat to my own drum. In college, everyone is on their own path to happiness, and what makes me happy is not going to be determined by what society thinks.

First, make sure that you talk to a college advisor about your career goals and degree plans. The advisor will be able to help you decide how to proceed toward your goals. Another important step will be to fill out your fafsa and talk to someone in financial aid. This step is really important. Financil aid will help you can understand and plan how you will finance your education. If the college offers an orientation, go. The orientation will explain the college process and answer most of your questions. Finally, before classes start be organized. This last step will make learning easier because you won't be crazy trying to figure out what, where, and who.

I would say to myself "Julieta it is not as hard as people make it sound. You will be fine. Yor first semester of college will be easier than your senior year in high school. You are going through hell right now because of all the college applications you are working on, but hard work always pays off. Allthe AP courses are preparing you for college, so the transition will not be as hard. There are students from all over the world and it is interesting to be in small classrooms and learn about their cultures. It is easy to make friends because people do not judge you. You can be yourself. And the best part is that college is a process that is preparing you for the future and be the successful woman you have always wanted to be and break a chain in the family."

As a high school senior, I had different views and ideas of what the college experience should be. At first, I thought the best college experience would be to attend a huge state school with over 30,000 students. I wanted to attend a bigger school to meet more people and focus on having a social life. After 2 years of attending this school, I realized that I was wrong in what I needed from my college experience. I did not actually want to learn in a auditorium with 500 other students, instead I needed a more focused environment where my professor actually knew my name. I did not need the crazy party scene filled with strangers, but instead a local hang out spot with all my friends from class, who shared the same interests. After transferring to Chapman University, a much smaller private institution, I received the best business education which led me to start my new career. My best friends today, all Chapman Alumni, share cherished memeories from our time at this school. If I could change one decision in my life, it would be to have attended Chapman University for all four years of my undergraduate career.

Dear High School Self, I know you are excited, but also scared of enrolling as a freshmen at university soon. Do not waste your time looking upon transisting to a four- year university s a stressful and nerve-wracking time. Savor the time to think about what you really love doing and what you can see yourself enjoying to do your whole life. Starting university opens a lot of doors. To new friends, new places, new classes, new worries, new experiences, new exciting aspects of yourself you did not realize you had before. Do not be afraid of putting yourself out, asking questions, meeting interesting, and having fun! College is an unique and life-changing experience where you are around peers from all walks of life, interests, and personalities. Jump on this chance to learn about others and gain life-long friendships. This is the time to learn from your professors, stimulate your brain with interesting information, and achieve various skills needed to succeed for years to come. As cliche as it may sound, your time at university really will fly by before you know it, so experience each and every moment, find enjoyment in little things, and take chances.

Do not have things from high school holding you back from what you want to do in college. For example, having a boyfriend is very difficult especially your freshman year, and if you notice they are hindering you from having fun or joining things on campus, it may be smart to reconsider the relationship. And also get involved in extracurricular activities.