Concordia College at Moorhead Top Questions

Out of all the advice I'd give my high school senior self about what to expect and prepare for in college life, the most important two would be to apply for more scholarships and to not procrastinate so much. Applying for scholarships is something my high school senior self didn't take as seriously. I applied to some, but should have applied to far more than I did. I felt okay my freshman year, but after my mom lost her job this past year it is hitting me much harder that the extra financial aid would have greatly decreased money-induced stress in myself and my family. Student debt is something all college students face, but it's really something I should have thought about more back then to help circumstances now. Procrastination is another thing that all college students face. It's a very easy habit to fall into, and I would urge my senior self to keep focus on what's important. Have fun; but don't let that hurt your grades. Some general advice I'd give myself is to be more open to people; make friends, college is a great time to do so.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would stress the importance of studying and time management. I have learned that in college half the battle is learning how to manage your time and do an efficent job studying. I would prepare myself by not being such a procrastinatior and trying to get into a good habit of getting my work done early, instead of right before the deadline. Studying is a big portion of college as well. I did not study a great deal in high school but when I got to college, I was soon taught that I can not go into a test without studying.

As a high school student, I made a point to take a lot of advanced placement courses, focusing on college preparation. I was also involved in sports and music--two things I really enjoyed. As a result of spending my time on those efforts, I didn't have a chance to take many elective courses. If I had the benefit of hindsight, I may have taken some elective classes as a way to explore other interests. Things such as business classes, computer science, courses in the medical area, and other electives may have broadened the scope of my knowledge for pursuing a major in college. In addition, I would have made a point to take advantage of every job shadowing opportunity available and sought out community members who worked in professions that sparked my interest. In essence, I would have taken the advice from our school counselors who provided opportunities for us to seek out and develop career interests and gone a step further by making this my priority! However, since my focus was on college prep coureses, I didn't get a chance to take some of the elective classes

I would tell myself not to worry so much, but to work more. I would tell myself that college really is better than high school, but it's lots more expensive. I would tell myself to believe in myself, because I really could succeed. I would tell myself that college is just the next stepping stone to somthing greater!

I would tell myself that I really should have found scholarships earlier and finished them earlier, because my choice of schooling was expensive and I would need all the help I could get. I would tell them that double majoring and double minoring was nigh impossible, and that I'd better choose what I really wanted. I'd tell them that there was unlikely to be any space for Japanese and that learning it would be easier said than done. I'd tell them that hey, that Studio Art major isn't that bad yet--it's nice to be able to sit down and make art, to get away from the normalcy of the college homework load. I'd tell myself not to overstretch myself, and that while striving for perfection can be good, it doesn't mean that breaking down upon not reaching that perfection is okay. I'd tell them that hey, working is good for you, but don't work to the point that all you do is work and school--having time off is good for you. And then I'd tell myself, "You can do it! Keep it up."

I would tell myself to relax. I remember being so worried about applications and scholarships and deadlines and scary roommate stories that I almost forgot to look forward to the actual college experience (and I certainly forgot to enjoy my last year in high school). Not that all of that isn't important, because it is. But I honestly love where I'm at and it's been worth all of the struggle, efforts, financial strain, and other stresses that it might have caused. I would tell myself that even though everything seemed scary, it would all work out and be better than I was even hoping it would be, and that the friends and experiences I would create in college would be totally worth the stress it was causing me at the time.

Denton, Im coming to you as yourself in the future. LISTEN to me bro. Take that one law class they offered at Liberty, dont listen to what your parents, your teachers, or anyone says about you man. TRY REALLY REALLY hard in school. Dont go get on the minimum plan find a way to get help on Pre-cal tutors whatever you got to do. The ideas and philosphies you have on life are that of a modern day Mahatma's Ghandi, or Martin Luther King Jr. thats why there looked upon so weirdly by people above you, or others who are materialisticaly rich. Thats why you find yourself at peace with yourself unlike them. The way you see the world is the right way in spite of what your told. ALWAYS strive for the senator job and eventually a presendiatal office man. You can do it! DONT GIVE UP

Hindsight, is 20/20, or so I've experienced. I am 34 years old. I graduated high school almost 17 years ago. I would have told my "younger" self to buckle down, stay focused, and study hard..... save your money, and figure out what you want to do with your life, because before you know it, life passes you by, and you may end up in a dead end career, wishing you pursued other avenues or disciplines. My advice would be, to not regret any decisions, but learn little lessons from each situation and experience. Live in the moment, but never lose focus of your goals. Be good to people, and be good to yourself. Develop short termm, and long term goals for yourself, and make steps to accomplish them. Being proactive for your future, whether seemingly insignificant at the time, will reap large rewards in the future. You will never fail with attaining an education.

Katie, Everything currently feels hectic and overwhelming. Just know that feeling doesn't last. Once you go off to school, you'll find your niche and be surrounded by intelligent, open-minded, wonderful people who will support you and become lasting friends. Keep up with your schoolwork and try not to fall behind. Know that you can always talk to a professor if you are struggling, in or outside of class, and they will do their best to help you. The professors you'll meet are incredibly caring towards their students and passionate about what they teach. They are always willing to help. Don't pass up all of the great resources on campus. If you need some extra help emotionally, go to the counsling center. If you need help acadmically, go to the professor, the writing center, or a tutor. If you need support, go to any of the places/people listed above as well as your classmates and your family. Do not forget to call and talk to your family. They helped get you to where you are today, and they miss you. Be thankful for all that you have and always push yourself to be better. -Katie

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself a few things: First of all, I'd tell myself to not rush into buying textbooks and other "required" items for classes. Sometimes you won't even use them, and it's money down the drain. Third, I'd tell myself to get involved with the school! I wish I had been involved in a club or a sport, looking back. Also, ACCEPT the invitation from the Honors Society! I'm regret not doing so. Most importantly, I'd tell myself to just go through school and not complain! Don't consider quitting, and stop thinking college is pointless and a waste of time. It's not. Education is a powerful, beautiful thing. Embrace it from day one. Your degree is something that will stay with you for your entire life, and nobody can ever take away your experiences and knowledge away from you. Also, realize how lucky you are to even have the chance to go to school. Many people in the world do not have that luxury. Be more grateful, be more involved, and enjoy the ride.

Even though you are smart and think you are ready for college, nothing can prepare you for it. Everthing will change, some for the better and some not, but it will all make sense in the end. Working hard is the only way to get through it all and maybe you will keep your major or maybe not. Just go with what your heart says, because after college you are stuck with whatever you chose. Do something that will make you want to get up and go to work everyday. Stay true to you and don't change yourself to make others like you. The people who like you for who you are will be the ones who stay in your life. If you continue to work as hard as you are right now, you will make it. There will be those days when you think there is no way you can do it anymore, but you will surprise yourself with all your hard work. Good Luck!

I would have told myself to take the morning ITV Sociology and Psycology class. I would have also said to work harder in my AP class so I would get credit for it.

The first thing I would tell myself is to not stop applying for scholarships, because now that I am in college I am realizing that I really need scholarships to pay for my private education. I would then tell myself to not give up during my classes even when they are difficult because it will pay off in the long run. AP Calculus was one of the most difficult classes to get through and I would just tell myself to keep plugging away and get more outside help. I would say that college is not that difficult and the transition was not bad, however I need to be prepared to have a lot more indiidual responsibility put on my shoulders. I would say to work as much as possible because there are so many travel abroad opportunities that should not be passed up. The last thing I would say is to remember to have fun, but at the same time do my work. If you find a way to make studying fun or interesting it makes it a lot more bearable to get through. Just try to relate it to something you find intriguing.

I wish i could go back to High School and have done a few things differently. First of all i would try harder academically. I was a pretty good student over all; i had a 3.3 GPA and i have only missed 6 days of school in my 4 years there, but i know i could have done better with my grades. After attending college for 2 years i see how expensive it is and having better grades in high school would really help me get more financial aid in college. The second thing that i would have changed would be being in more after school activities, organizations and sports. That really makes your high school experience much better and enjoyable. It is good to be involved in after school activities. It allows you to meet more people; you develop leadership skills and working as a group is crucial skill in today’s job market. The third that that i would change would be talking to a lot more people in high school and not just my group of friends.

Only after a semester and a half of college, I have gotten so much out of my college experience. For one, I have completely stepped out of my comfort zone in order to improve my academic and social abilities. Through stepping out of my comfort zone, I have gained many relationships that I would likely not have been given if I had not chosen to attend college. These relationships with professors and students have given me the ability to listen to others and understand other perspectives on life. My college experience has also given me the strength to be independent. Being approximately 750 miles away from home with no relatives or friends from home nearby, I have gained more self-confidence and reliance. I have learned how to live on my own and make decisions that benefit my future and well-being. Attending college is profoundly valuable because not only does it give you a chance to gain your own indepdence, but it allows you to experience that growth with others. College and the experience it entails, provides you with responsibilty, relationships, independence, growth, knowledge and a chance to make your life one that you will love every single day.

As I near the end of my two-year degree program at Ocean County College, I am positive that I made the right choice in continuing my education beyond high school. For me, the future is not all about how much money I will make. I used to think that the best thing I could do would be to enter a high-paying technical field and make lots of money regardless of my interests. However, my short time spent at a community college while I gave my future deeper thought revealed that I would not be happy with that goal. I have since decided to follow the riskier path of getting a degree in English. I know that I will need to work harder to stand out, and that finding a job after school will be much more difficult, but my time in college thus-far has shown me who I really am. If I had not taken the initiative to enroll at Ocean County College, and struggled to find a way to support myself financially in the process, I would not be working towards turning my passion for books into a career I can love.

Attending graduate school has been an extremely valuable experience, because it has allowed me to set and achieve goals I previously assumed were beyond my grasp. I was laid off from a job in 2008. This unfortunate turn of events turned out to be the ignition I needed to further my education. I decided to pursue a masters degree in speech-lanugage pathology. Since beginning my program, I have developed a strong passion for the field, and anxiously await the day I can begin serving a diverse range of clients. Personal benefits I have received from my current educational experiences include greater confidence in my academic abilities, more finely tuned interpersonal skills, and the knowledge and insight imparted to me from expert and enthusiastic faculty. In a relatively short amount of time I have had opportunities to research, teach, successfully rise above challenges I would have formerly considered impossible, and make a difference in the life of a child with severe communication limitations. My experiences have inspired me to work beyond my limits. For the first time in my academic career I have achieved a 4.0 grade point average. I hope to similarly inspire others in the futute.

What have I gotten out of my college experience? A lot, that's for sure! I am so much more independent now that I'm off to college. I used to rely on my mother a lot of the times to help me figure stuff out or even do things for me, but now I'm all on my own. And going back home for the summer was just weird, I was used to all my own decision making and rules, that it was hard to ge t back into the old routine of things back at home. This is also the reason why college has been value to attend for me. I needed to start learing how to do things more on my own, and become more of an adult making my own decisions. It has also been valuable because I'm educating myself for my future and slowly progressing to what I would love to do in life.

I have gained significant knowledge in my field of study and have been thoroughly prepared to advance my career as a graduate student. College has given me a great network of people that continuously support me. I have made lifelong friends that always encourage me and push me to achieve more. It has been so valuable to attend college and I wouldn't trade my experiences for anything. College has given me the courage, confidence, and experience to succeed in whatever I choose to set my mind to.

My college experience has allowed me to truly discover who I am, and it has prepared me for success in my job and in my community. At college, I met my closest friends and learned what it means to be actively and thoughtfully engaged in the world. The value of college has extended far beyond simply preparing me for my career. I have become passionate about education and am currently preparing to earn my graduate degree. College opened doors for me. If given the chance, I would absolutely do it all over again.