Columbia College Chicago Top Questions

What should every freshman at Columbia College Chicago know before they start?

Erica

The corse work is a lot of work compaired to high school. It would probibly be best to start off your freshman year with a light load. Once you attend the classes then you can make re-arangments to your schedual and add or drop classes. Since this school is located in the middle of downtown, my suggestion would be to live on campus as a freshman. Dont bring a car because you wont need one. Another thing is that if you plan on going out that weekend take out enough money to cover the entire weekend because atm fees downtown are extremely expensive. Try to get involved and meet lots of people. You will be living down town chicago, so there will be plenty of opprotunities. There are no sports activities because this is an art school so make sure you are ok with that. There is also no school spirit or anything like that because it is an urban campus and artistic school. The people here are very diverse so you need to be extremely comfortable with yourself to interact with others. I have never witnessed any discriminations so be yourself and have fun!

Jessica

I would give myself the advice that their are SO many colleges out there. You need to look at all of them and not settle for the one where all your friends are going, or where your parents want you to go. This is YOUR life decision. YOU have to ultimately live with YOUR choices. In high school you are guarded by many teachers, friends, parents etc. But, going/getting to college is your first step at independence. Take the high road and make this experience a very positive one. I myself think I have choosen a very good path. I am very happy with everything that has happened so far up to this point, And ultimately, that it what you should be looking for, happiness. When moving on in your life you need to make sure that you embark on things that make YOU happy and no one else.

Jessica

Being a senior in highschool might mean taking on a lot of anxiety and uncertainty but if you have gone through any life experience you know that beginning anything is always the toughest obstacle to overcome. Relax and be mindful in the transition from high school to college. College means greater opportunities for a career, knowledge, change, socializing and progress! Understand the preparation that is necessary to succeed, follow through and be mindful of any situation that you are in. When you take on these actions and thought processes you are more than likely going to succeed.

Millicent

If I could go back in time when I was a high school senior I would tell myself it is all going to be okay. It does not matter that I do not know what I want to be. I would emphasize not to put so much pressure on myself to get through school in four years and to take the time to figure out what I really want from life. I would tell myself to enjoy every opportunity and not rush through it. I would let my younger self know that there are plenty peole out there in the world who do not know what they want from life and I should not stick to something because I think it will get me through college faster and make life easier. I would also tell my high school self that I am going to mess up and that I will make mistakes and I better get used to it. If I want to live a happy and adventurous life I better not be embarrassed to be myself and speak what is on my mind. I should never hold back from anything.

lamecia

The college years are some of the best years one will experience in life. It's a time when you have the freedom to explore your own interests, meet diverse people, and learn exciting and new things as you work toward building your future. Some advice I would give myself as a highschool senior: 1. Take time to learn which program/s is right for you - Before declaring a major, do research and ask questions to determine which program fits your goals. I believe if you do what you are passionate about you can't go wrong. Start with your end in mind! 2. Get involved - Interact with others. Take the opportunities to learn not only in class, but also in your environment, from peers, and professors. 3. Be yourself - Each one of us is unique and special in our own way. Don't feel like you need to change who you are to fit in. And try not to be too hard on yourself. If at first you don't succeed keep trying. 4. Show appreciation - Always thank those who support you. 5. Finally, make your education a priority. In all you do strive to do your personal best!

Jill

Choose to pursue exactly what you love and are passionate about. And don't doubt it. Don't be afraid of failing, because you will do that a lot. Stare dissapointment in the face and get excited, because you are growing and learning. Life would be trite if nothing was hard. Surround yourself with people that will lift you up. Don't do what you think sounds the most "practical". Will you be passionate about "practical" in 5, 10, 20 years?? Live in the PRESENT. Cling to your beliefs. Be joyful. Your college experience is what YOU make of it. It doesn't matter if you don't like your proffessor or your classmates; you can take what you want from the experience. So push yourself. Try things. Stay encouraged. Approach everything with great panache.

Markus

I would tell myself to get better grades and apply for scholarships the beginning of my senior year so I don't have to worry about paying back the student loans that I have now. I would also consider my options to the last minute so then I know where I want to go and what I want to do when I reach the school campus.

Alison

"The world that lies ahead is full of love and promise," if I was given a chance to talk to myself as a high school senior, those are the exact words I would tell myself. As I entered college, I immediately fell victim to the stereotypical lifestyle associated with being in college: partying. Today, I have come to acknowledge that college is not about partying, but about finding the love that is within and spreading that love in order to envoke the personal revolutions within everyone. If I were to go back, I would tell myself not to submit to the casualness of partying and hooking up. I would encourage myself to take more initiative in high school clubs, so that I could be successful in college. I believe that student organizations help promote self-awareness and a positive self-esteem. These qualities are necessary when entering college, and if I were to go back and give advice, I would inform myself of the importance of student organizations.

Rachael

You cannot depend on anyone else to help you with school from this point on. As an adult, you are responsible for getting everything together as far as preparing to go to college. Take all the time you need to figure out what it is you really want to pursue career wise. Don't let anyone discourage you or push you to go down the wrong career path becasue this is your life . You'll know when you're ready for college and be prepared for the obsticles that you'll run into.

Kerri

Save money and stay focused. i wish someone would have told me to save more money for college. depending on where you go it can get kind of expensive.

Kelly

The advice I would give myself would be not to stress out the entire year. College is important, but maintaining your sanity and health is more important. I would tell myself not to set my mind on one specific school; it just sets you up for disappointment if you do not get accepted or cannot afford it or cannot go because of some other circumstance. It is not what college or university you go to but about the experience you have there. The college experience does not make you, you make the college experience. Also, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as I could. Yes, it takes time to apply, but the outcome is totally and completely worth it. The more applications you fill out, the more chances you have at winning scholarships. Finally, I would tell myself to truly appreciate my family, friends, education, and surroundings. You are only at home for so long, and you really need to appreciate everything your home offers before you leave and build a new home somewhere else. You need to take advantage of the time that you are given, because you do not have much time left.

Dantoine

I would tell my self that education, my education is the most important thing for a better future. I would tell myself that school is a very serious situation its important to do your best. My education is not something that can be blown off as if it were not a major goal or issue in my life. I would tell myself that It is not even that hard as long as you focus and dedicate time to your studies. I would tell my self then stop being afraid to fail and take a chance because if I dont try thats when I really fail. I fail my self. I let fear of failing hold me back in the past so I would make sure to get the point across that is ok to take a risk and worry about failure but its not ok to let fear keep you from taking that risk, when it comes to something that can imporve my life so much an education. I would tell my self by doing well in school I improve things not only for my self but for my family and friends. Giving them better oppertunities with dedicated hard work

Jenna

I learned a lot of things in college, much of it in the classroom, more of it in the clubs I ran and activities I planned, and most importantly in the real world of work and friends. It is hard to pick only one thing I would want to tell myself before college, but the ?Big Dumb Smile? (BDS) definitely wins out. The big dumb smile is a skill I learned to keep my boss happy when I was having a bad day. He would get upset when the customers weren?t smiling, so I had to learn the art of smiling no matter what. What I have learned since, is that the BDS is not only the key to a happy boss, but also a happy professor, and happy people who want to be your friend. I would tell myself that no matter how sad, scared, or insecure I felt a BDS will always pave the way to friendship and support. I would tell myself there are many scary things in the transition to college life, but a smile will help dispel them. And, that the BDS often brings such wonderful things to my life that it becomes real.

Steffani

Honestly, I would have had a better social life in high school. In my experience at Columbia College Chicago, I do a lot of networking to get job and creative opportunities. It took a while to develop my social skills to the level that I needed them to be at to be successful. I would have also had a better part time job, because I have a ton of loans to deal with now. Other than that, I am exactly where I need to be, and I couldn't have made a better decision than to come here.

Elizabeth

If I could go back to my senior year, I would tell myself: Don't wait to make a decision. I took so long to decide on what I wanted to do in life and where I wanted to go to get my life started, that I put myself in a hard situation. I will have years of dept to pay and will not be able to start my dream as soon as I had hoped. Procrastination and ignorance are very bad things that not only put myself in poor situations but my parents and family as well. I left them at home with my old life and never want to see that side of my behavior again.

Kim

Study harder and don'r grow up to fast!

Lisa

I would tell myself that I don't have to rush into making a decision on my major. I should take my time and explore all my options. The first year of college should be fun but know that you still should keep up your grades and if you need help don't be ashamed to ask for it whether it be from your parents or from a study group or counselors. I would also say that you can always change your mind. Never look at your decisions as final and that changing your direction is often more couragous then staying on course. No matter how far along you are in your decided major, if you want to change, go for it, and it is never too late. Take a chance and you might suprise yourself. This is the time where you learn the most about you and who you are as a person. Be confident and ambitious and you will meet and exceed your personal goals.

Candice

Assuming I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise mysef to save up money for tuition and try harder in all my classes for a better GPA. Although my GPA is good I'd rather push myself to achieve better. I would also tell myself to apply for financial aid as soon as possible and look at all my options. Looking back, I would tell myself about all the classes and which ones to try hardest for and which I shouldn't waste time on. I would describe the campus and all the wonderful things and tell myself to get involved in groups and demonstrations for my freshman year of college to make more connections and friends. Lastly, I'd tell myself that networking can be started early on and that it's best to network with lots of different people with different interests.

Alicia

There is so much advice I would give to myself back in high school that would have completely changed my transition to college in the past. First, I would tell myself to start applying for scholarships and grants as soon as possible because there is alot of money that goes unclaimed. I would also say to be involved with everything in my community and school that I can. It not only helps others but it helps yourself as well. Another thing that I would say is to not be afraid to talk to my teachers and counselors about getting help and guidance for college. Sometimes they can help you out the most. Also the library will become one of the most vital resources when you go to college so make sure to get a library card and look for all the books I need there first. I would also tell myself that if possible, try to stay in the dorms for at least one year. Staying in the dorms helps you stay in touch with other students and your school. Last but not least, I would tell myself to enjoy high school while I can and always be myself!

Gordon

Don't worry. Everything really is going to be okay.