Colorado College Top Questions

I am a fourth year English major and Scandinavian Studies minor. As a result, I spend a lot of my day reading poetry and prose, people's life stories, troubles, genius and woe. Everyday I fall in love, but with little old men in coffee shops reading novels and cute shy girls scribbling notes in scrapbooks over their coffee. Life in a university has taught me - is teaching me - about the infinite quest for knowledge, and how to appreciate and respect that quest for knowledge in other people. Sure, getting a diploma is important to succeed, but that is a minimal concern when I think about how much I am learning about myself and the world around me. At UCLA, I've learned how to grow up, how to embrace passion and be utterly taken away with a perfect sentence or prose that flows like a saxophone. College has taught me how to appreciate the beauty in humanity, and above all, I've realized that I have a duty to do good in the world, and cultivate harmony in the world, as well as my own self-culture.

It goes at a much faster rate then highschool, which I really like. The teachers get to know you on a different level than in highschool as well. Not only are the classes geared towards what I want to learn, but I got to pick them rather than have a set number of classes I need to take in order to graduate that are basic math or english classes. I can now take shakespeare rather then basic english, or a zoology class rather than a biology class. I get to pick my future, and thats what I value most about my experiences so far in attending college.

I have just started college and I am learning alot. It is a challenge, but it is causing me to think outside the box and explore areas that I didn't think were important. This experience is life-changing because I am learning more about who I am.

College helped me grow up into a responsible, thinking adult. It opened my mind and my heart to a lot of different possibilities and ways of thinking and feeling. It helped me sharpen my communication skills, and it taught me the value of diligence and hard work.

Since my very first class at Colorado College, my eyes have been opening to the conditions of the world. We, the students, are taught that although we are living in this fun, safe bubble while on campus, we cannot close our hearts and minds to the people and the issues outside of our little utopia. Nearly all of my classes have encouraged me to stay informed about the events happening in my city, my country, and in the world. Although currently I may not be a person of great power and authority making decisions that will affect the lives of many, I must be prepared and well-informed for when my time comes. I choose not to remain a naive child, totally dependent on those around me. I will educate myself and no longer be oblivious to everything that's happening - the medical and scientific discoveries, the political controveries, the countless crimes, the silencing and ignoring of those in need. My college experience has inspired me to become a surgeon who is not only extremely knowledgeable is the medical field but also an intelligent participant in society.

College has been a great place to get to know myself better and to continue the process of discovering what I am passionate about and what I want to do with my life. So far, I have been drawn to the possibilities of non-profit field, working for greater international compassion. My time at college has offered me incredible opportunities for knowledge and experience that will be beneficial to me in international service. Colorado College offers workshops on fundraising and grant writing for non-profits which I have taken eagerly. I have centered my class choices on cultivating for myself a greater understanding of unique cultures and word-views. My hope is to use my college experience to advance my creative problem solving and organizational skills as well as my knowledge of global conflicts and resolution techniques. I also hope to go abroad at least once during my college career to gain further knowledge and appreciation for international work. In college, I have found an environment full of opportunities for learning and experience that will help me reach my goal to cultivate compassion in the international community.

I would take more AP classes.

If the high school senior me were to meet my college freshman self, I'm sure all she would want to talk about is how her whole school situation panned out. I would have to tell her that I'm still learning, but I'm doing it in an ideal way. I would tell her that she gets really lucky because she ends up in a place that "fits" her, which isn't something everyone gets on their first try. My advice to her would be not to get discouraged by rejection letters from scholarships. Applying and reapplying and applying again is a necessary process for getting what you need, and not just in college. A lot of people are going to say no before they say yes, but the more you ask, the better your odds are of getting something good. Then I would tell her not to worry about what happens or doesn't happen because in the end it didn't matter how much I stressed over application and admission and rejection. What mattered was the work I had done for the last four years and the people who thought that was worth something.

The best words of advide I could give to myself looking back would be to go to a college that is in a location you know you can be happy in. Although the beach can never be replaced, the mountains in Colorado are a pretty good second. Also, look at the typical person who goes to the school and see if you fit in with those kind of people. Being surrounded by people very different from yourself can make fitting in in a new place difficult. Look at the academic rigor of the institution and see if you fit in with that as well. If a majority of people at the school have the same priorities when it comes to studyinng and doing homework as you do you will most likely succeed. If you make friends quickly and get bored of them quickly, go to a bigger school. If you want a lot of close friends that you will keep forever, go to a smaller school. And most importantly go to a place where you know that you can have fun for four years.

Do not be afraid. People in this world are not as frightening or malicious as you might think. Listen to them. They have things to say that you could not think of yourself. The only way to grow is by listening to others and being patient. That is not to say that being loud is necessarily bad. Sometimes you need to shout. Release. Search for what you love academically. Do not waste your time with things that are purely practical, or your life will fall in shambles sooner than you thought possible. Go to the wilderness often. Like Ansel Adams said, "No matter how sophisticated you may be, a large granite mountain cannot be denied - it speaks in silence to the very core of your being." Never forget the beauty of books. They can transport you, bring you places you could never have dreamed of. People, mountains, books, love.