College of Staten Island CUNY Top Questions

When I was a senior in high school I got pregnant with my son. I graduated when I was 5 months pregnant. I love my son to death and he has changed me for the better in so many ways but it is hard going to college and raising a child. I think if I could go back in time that I might tell myself to wait until after college to have a child. It is very hard to tell my 3-year old to be quiet while I study or do homework. He doesn't understand that I'm going to school to better support him one day.

Take advantage of all the resources your college has to offer, whether it be financially,socially or eduationally. There are many programs and groups willing to help you and guide you. Seek them out, take heed to their advice and allow room for improvement. The truth is ,its not about freedom to do what you want to do, allow yourself to be held accountable, college is about operating in the best of your ability and much more. Stay focused, set the bar high and know that in college you are your own motivation, it is a privilege and a neccessity that you go and succeed. Communication with your professors is key to getting the most out of your time with them, it also leads to networking which is a crucial social tool for life. Renew your attitudes,mindsets and thinking daily, be open to change and learning new material in new ways. Life does not begin in college, it has already started but it is the tool used to help define what kind of life you intend to live out. Do all that you can today and leave nothing for tomorrow, tomorrow is not promised to anyone.

Make sure to stay focused, and do not think that the hard part is over. The hard part is just beginning. A college education now-a-days is a blessing to be able to attain.

I would advise myself to pursue aide from the many schools I was accepted to. I would advise myself to pursue a school outside the five boroughs where I would be able to dorm and take part in a campus community. I would also encourage myself to take it easy, that I don't need to establish myself in the very first semester of college.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would have many things to tell myself. For one I didn't realize how much you have to balance your time in college. Students have a part time job and going to school full time have to balance out their schedules in order to study and make time to write papers. In high school my teachers were there to push me to do my work when I needed to, but in college it is a different story; you are on your own to do your own work and to have it in on time. If I could go back and talk to myself the most important thing I would tell myself is to do the best I could and to get all of my work out of the way instead of waiting until the last minute so that when the work is done you could go out and enjoy life.

I would tell myself to do research on my college choices. Everyone should find out exactly what the college is made of and its teaching methods. I would also tell myself to make a schedule that suits my personality and life. In college time management is key. It is crucial in having a successful college experience

I would tell myself that picking a college major isn't always about what field interests you the most or that you happen to be the best at. It is extremely important to research the area you are planning to live and find out what jobs are available for those persons holding a degree in your field. I assumed that with a college degree, regardless the major, there would be opportunity for careers. This was not my reality and with a bachelors in psychology I was only able to find employment paying a dollar more than minimum wage. I failed to research what was in demand in the job market. I had to continue going to school to get my master's degree in order to make myself more marketable. You must be realistic when choosing a major and determine the type of salary you wish to earn and the possibility of it happening with that degree. I would encourage myself to reach out to professionals who hold the job I want and ask them what type of degree you need to have that job- chances are it may be completely different than what you think.

Being the first in both families to attend and graduate high school and college, it was very difficult for me to become knowledgeable about the many steps I had to take in order to get through college. I did not know about academic advisement or financial aid; I did not even know what a "major" was. I worked my way through college independently and made my family and myself very proud to have achieved such a milestone. I remember speaking with one of the psychology professors who told me that I would never make it into graduate school and that my GPA would have never gone up to a 3.0, which is the minimum for getting into a graduate program. I was nearing graduation at the time and I was upset, lost, and hopless. I knew I was strong, independent, and intelligent and I knew that I would always be that way. Here I am today; a graduate student despite all of the discouragement, time spent, and hard work. I am glad to be where I am today, and as I near graduation once again I have one last wish to fulfill; a PhD in neuropsychology.

David apply yourself like you have done throughout your high school career. Take your studies seriously. Do your homework and read the chapters ahead of time so that every class will be most beneficial. Make a schedule and follow it. In it put the days you plan to study and set aside time to excercise so as to ease your mind of your studies. Do not waste your time partying or fooling around. I'll say it again...take your studies seriously, you only get one chance at life. In the real world it gets tough. In order to succeed you have to work hard and promote yourself. You are no longer in high school yet still make the best of it. I know you will succeed and you have to believe that yourself. I will conclude by advising you to network. By networking I mean stay around positive people and meet and greet as many people as possible. Those who can help you get ahead in your field of interest. Exchange email addresses, phone numbers and try to get your foot in the door with internships. Remember as long as you remain confident and work hard you WILL succeed!!!

College is a higher level of education and we have put a lot of effort into it. We will learn how to challenge ourselves for college work independtly and plan for future career.