Dickinson College Top Questions

As a high school student, I did not have the easiest time. I stressed a lot about grades, but did not really think about what my education could do for me outside of getting into a good school. After taking some time off in between high school and college, during which I traveled throughout Central and South America, I now realize that grades do not accurately depict what I have learned. I did not learn how to mix cement by hand in my AP Calculus class; I did not learn how to salsa in my AP World History Class; I did not learn how to harvest quinoa in AP English class. Though I am grateful everyday for my formal education and all I have learned in the classroom over the years, I now understand that my grades are not what define me, but rather my experiences in life. Good grades are great, but you're only in school for so long. Being able to apply what you know in new settings and being okay with being out of your comfort zone will sometimes get you farther than that A you got in your math class sophomore year.

I would tell myself that while you won't make best friends overnight, or even in the first semester, you will form friendships that you want to last a lifetime. Don't worry that everyone else seems to love college and have life figured out becuase, first of all, they don't. Second of all, you don't have to keep up with anyone else. Honor what you feel and know that you're doing a good job. Relax and smile. Stop thinking about transferring colleges because Dickinson is going to be the perfect place for you. So, get excited about what is going on around you, becuase more exciting things are coming your way if you just open your eyes and trust yourself.

My advice would be to work on time management. I will admit that I slacked occasionally with my work in high school and I am finding quickly that that cannot happen here, nor should I want it to happen. In order to make the most out of my college education I need focus and truly prioritize my work so that I can efficiently get everything I need done, done. This encompasses all aspects of life such as sleeping, proper eating, socializing (which is hard since I live with my friends), and scheduling extra curriculars. My academics come first so I should spend the most of my energy on that, but because I tended not to do that in high school I have realized that I need a lot of catching up. This education is important to me and I don't want to jeopordize it by not focusing enough on my school work.

You will be absolutely fine! You were totally made for this! You know what you want out of life and matriculating into college is the best thing you can do for yourself. It's what you've worked so hard for. You can't worry about those who doubt your ability at this institution. Success is the greatest revenge for those who doubted you! You must sail your own ship and do what's in your heart. You've got to do what you HAVE to do in order to do what you WANT to do. Although this experience may bring some tough times, remember that it's only temporary. You will look back on those tough times and laugh. Those tough times will help you through your work experience and through the real world. You are loved and have such a great support system! It's time for you to shine. Continue to run through the rain and splash through the puddles. The world is waiting...

My name is Noel Beatty and I am the first generation to go to college, I am the first to break the cycle. When I was in high school things were hard for me. I had four siblings and lived in poverty. My parents fought very often and didn't teach me how important having an education was. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school studentI would make it clear that my education is my future and that's what I need to concentrate on. I would tell myself how dangerous it could be to rebel and that could come back to haunt me. I would let myself know how important an education is by telling myself to develop good academic habits for college, absorb the information being taught to you, and walk out of high school with a good GPA. If not, you are making waste of the most important function of high school. Last, but not least I would tell myself that fitting in isn't everything. I would covey the message that it very important to always be determined, trying your best at everything will make a huge difference .

Looking back, I would tell myself to engage with more students and professors sooner in order to build up a stronger social network. In addition, I would tell myself to talk more in class and find one campus club or activity that I really connected in and stick to this throughout my four years. Lastly, I would tell myself to have had studied a little less and dated a little more.

My college experience has allowed me to discover myself and blossom (as cheesy as that sounds). When I first arrived as a freshman, I had no idea what I wanted to study. I studied economics, philosophy, environmental science, chinese, french, creative writing, business, and probably a couple other subjects I no longer recall. I didn't do very well in those classes (with respect to my standards -- around a 3.2 GPA), mostly because I wasn't motivated. Then one semester I took a computer science course to fill a lab science requirement. I loved it. It didn't even feel like work to me. So, evidently, I took the next course -- and I loved it as well. I decided to declare my major. Now, I'm well known in the computer science department, I have a 4.0 major GPA, and I'm currently taking graduate courses while studying abroad in Toulouse, France. Sure, this school has cost me a TON of money -- but I think it was worth it. Without the small class sizes and the flexibility to test many different waters, I might never have become the computer science geek I am today.

My college experience has been the most influential on my life to date. I came from a home-schooling high school situation and the first improvement to my life came in the form of social interaction. I arrived at college shy and introverted and within weeks I felt accepted and included. This prompted me to participate in classes and ask questions. It greatly improved my self-esteem and from the onset I integrated well into the diverse student body. Living on campus allowed me to transition from adolescence to young adulthood in an environment that granted freedoms but expected responsibility in return. We were given sufficient room to make the mistakes that lead to maturity; mistakes that might be devastating in a “real world” environment but on a college campus are somehow softened. I also took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad in Italy. That has been the most life changing and invaluable choice I have made. I experienced different cultures, traveling, communications challenges, personal budgeting, among many other things. The results have made me more patient, understanding, open, culturally sensitive and intelligent.

College has been valuable, as I see it as an experience I could not get had I gone anywhere but college. First, the resources available are of a great magnitude, very useful and accessible. The professors have been hand picked as specialists in their areas of study, so they are a great resource from which I can obtain knowledge and experiential wisdom in whichever concentration I'd like. The library is full of books that have been reviewed and confirmed as reliable sources, and are organized in such a way that I don't have to take much trouble of finding the best book. There are centers for all kinds of help from academic, to fitness, to sex, to mental health. Groups on campus are what I think have been the most enriching part of college. I've been able to unite with people of similar minds to work towards a common cause and discuss important problems. Funding from the college enables groups to activate change and bring the discussion to a wider public. Living on campus enables relationships that would have otherwise been contained to the classroom. College presents a myriad of opportunites that I am willing to take.

I would tell myself to approach every day as though it was the last day before I would be kicked out into the "real world". Something that took time for me to understand about college was the incredible pool of resources available to every student lucky enough to attend a school like Dickinson. College students are protected from life's harsh reality. They are given a privilege that so many others are excluded from, and I believe that with that privilege comes obligation. An obligation to utilize and exhaust every resource and opportunity available in their four years. The chance to attend college is by no means a right. It is an amazing privilege and opportunity to gain access to valuable knowledge and experience that can further prepare you to impact the world. If I were given the opportunity to talk to myself I would stress the privilege I have been given. To be able to attend a four year private college in a world where families are starving in Haiti and poverty and homelessness continue to be major issues within the boarders of this great country. I would tell myself, appreciate what you have and work your ass off.

If I could go back and speak to myself as a high school senior, I surely would take that oppurtunity. I would counsel myself on what a privilege it is to enter into a school of higher education. I would motivate myself to make sacrifices to wake up early and to take this gift by the wings and fly with it. I would tell myself to be open minded. I would face the challenges of being in a culturally diverse setting and not to stay within my comfort zone. I would build my confidence in knowing that I can accomplish all the goals that I have set for myself. I would encorauge myself to stay focused on the "big picture" and not worry about the present struggles going on around me. I would tell myself to never give up. FInally I would say to myself to enjoy this time in my life and to have fun.

I would tell myself that you will know what college you want to attend by going to visit and doing an over night. The process can be very stressful, but it will be okay in the end. I would also suggest that you have one big calander to write down all of the due dates, so you can time manage accordingly. Also work hard on your essay because it is a way for the admissions officers to get to know you personally.

Don't pick a school with a psychotic cross-country coach.

If I could go back in time and give myself advise regarding my college decision, I would have told myself to place more emphasis on the location of the school rather than the ability to play college baseball. Although the academics at Dickinson are top notch, the location leaves little to be desired. I was raised fifteen miles outside of NYC and I am used to an active lifestyle that is not available in the Carlisle area. I would also encourage my high school self to be more involved in clubs and activities in addition to playing sports. Getting involved in different areas enables a person to be well-rounded and allows for more diverse experiences. Finally, I would advise myself to take advantage of the advanced placement courses offered at my high school in order to gain college credit prior to entering school as a freshman.

As a young high school senior, I would advise my young, naive mind to prepare myself for the many things to come in college. For one I will ask myself to mature in the time I have before attending college because of the things I have seen while I have been in college. Secondly, I would advise myself to prepare myself mentally for the rigourous education I will receive. College is a place where you are able to find yourself and your interests, so I would ask myself to be patient and let things come on their own time not force things to happen. I will also ask myself to continue to dance and never stop dancing because being active in college is very important to make new friends and create new social networks. Thirdly, I will ask myself to begin to have better time management because of the independance that I would have while I am in college. My final request is to be open minded because there are many people who do not have the same beliefs or mentality as I do and that can cause some conflict if I do not prepare myself before hand.

My advice to my high school self is simple: Become comfortable with being uncomfortable. This phrase is applicable to many of the transitions that I faced when I entered college. I saw so many of my peers resist the changes around them during my freshmen year in college; they didn't want a new set of friends, new professors, new kinds of homework assignments, new expectations, and new activities. However, by my senior year, high school had become a routine with very little change, and very little stimulation. I would tell my senior year self that, by accepting--and even embracing--that everything is new and different in your first year of college, you open yourself to thousands of experiences that will shape your four years in ways you can't even predict. Being comfortable with being uncomfortable also means taking risks. I would tell my senior year self to enroll in a 200-level course as a first-year, and to choose a challenging but fascinating topic for a final paper. Being comfortable with the uncomfortable and taking risks will make your transition to college scary, yet exciting and, ultimately, extremely gratifying.

As a nervous high school senior, going to college seemed like an overwhelming step to take. At the time, it seemed as if everything was a life-or-death question. The school, the major, the location: it all was so final. However, within my first week as a freshman at Dickinson College, I realized that college is just the beginning. So many new and exciting opportunities were waiting for me. With its wide assortment of clubs, extra-curricular activities, recreational sports, Greek life, study abroad programs, internships, and on-campus jobs, Dickinson provided me with possibilities. I could pursue my lifelong dream of studying in Australia or even my newfound love of ultimate frisbee. College is a place to learn and grow. As a liberal arts college, Dickinson makes sure that its students are well-rounded and experienced in all subjects. Although I am a Dance & Music major, I have also been able to study Environmental Science, History, and French. I feel well prepared to enter the "real world" with my Dickinson education. I wish I could have known as a high school senior that college is a place for exploration; it is a place to learn more about yourself.

In order to succeed in the future you really need to utilize your resources. If you find yourself at a dead end, try again. You may just need to find the right person to get the answers you are looking for. Funding will not fall into your lap, and beauty school is not the answer, just another path which will lead you back to a 4 year degree. College is a great experience where you will learn to really find out about yourself, what you like and don?t like. Talk to people, and don?t be afraid to speak up or say something stupid. That?s what life is about, getting dirty making mistakes and learning from it all. It?s about what you take with you. Enjoy, grow, and look forward to each new expereince, as it only lasts a few short years.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a highschool senior, I would tell myself to stay involved in college. After my experiences, I would tell myself to allow more than a single year to adjust to college life and not to move on to something different just because it does not feel right at first. Getting used to a big change like going to college takes time.

Visit the school as much as possible - the best way to get a feel for a campus is to be on it. Talk to the students - real ones. Not tour guides, just kids in the cafeteria, or in the HUB, or even just walking around. Tour guides are there to advertise the school, not necessarily give you the real deal on the place, whereas students have no vested interest in making you particularly come, and are thus more inclined to give you an honest answer.