Elmhurst College Top Questions

Knowing what I went through as a high school senior, I believe that i would have changed several aspects of my last year. FOr one I think I should have perservered more in following some more scholarship offers. I believe that would have helped me more. I also believe that I should have been more organized in the aspect of keeping and maintaining an everyday scheduler. I think that would have helped me the most in adapting to the tough scheduling in the college life.

Keep track of everything that you do. There will not be a guidance counsler or parent looking over all of your decisions, therefore it is up to you to be organized and know your own path to success. This is especially important in picking your classes, schedules, and activities. Don't over plan your class or activity schedule, and make sure that the classes you choose pertain and apply to your major.

Going back to myself as a high school student would be very interesting because although I am only through my first semester at Elmhurst College I have already changed and matured in so many ways. I would tell myself to be ready for change, to work hard, and to have an awesome time. I'd make sure to mention that getting involved and being social are essential to a fun and rewarding year at college. Otherwise it is easy to get stuck in a rut, just going to class and hanging out with a small group of people. When this happens the learning, maturing, and everything else starts to slow. The last piece of advice i would give my high school self is to study. Although it may not have been necessary in high school it definately will be in college.

Can you ever change the past? Would you want to, if you could? I was told, in high school, never to open an essay with a rhetorical question. Since entering college, I've heard from various professors all kinds of nutty statements that I will disregard before graduating--but I have learned other things which I hope I will never forget. The first of which is perhaps the harshest: yes, he really did just use you for sex. And he'll keep it up if you let him. Guys suck in high school, but especially in college. The hardest lessons to learn are the ones that hit closest to home. Once you learn that one, you'll quickly learn when to take a drunk friend to the hospital--if you aren't sure, take them. And if you go out on a week night, set at least 5 alarms so you can make it to class the next day. The classes you'll take your first 2 years may not teach you anything conceptually (they aren't like high school APs) but they will teach you how to learn, which is more valuable in many ways.

I would advise myself not to worry. Even though college is stressful, if you stay focused and determined, anything is possible. College is a time for discovering yourself and reaching new limits in your academic career. As long as you are serious about your school work and remain focused, college can be easy. College is fun, exciting, and full of new surprises. College is a place where friends are made and life careers begin. I would go back and tell myself that college will be a wonderful new experience and there is nothing to be afraid of!

Save every penny now for future tuition and related expenses. Going to college is expensive, but it's the best investment you'll ever make, so don't hesitate to make that expense, just be well prepared for it.

I would tell myself to go to college and be the person that you really want to be. In high school you tend to feed off of your friends and have a little of their personality in yours (especially in a small school); you may gossip too much or get into too many fights or drama, and it may not be the person you really want to be. Go to college and join clubs, make new friends and make your own personality stand out. And don't forget to change the world!

Do not think that senior year is a blow-off year. It is really important to put effort into all your classes even though you are almost graduated.

Enjoy every minute you have! Don't take your education for granted. This is a wonderful opportunity I have to attend college. Meet people, make connections, and absorb all. Afterall, these people and my education will be with me for the rest of my life!

I would advise myself to participate in many activities on campus and join a sport as well. In addition, I would tell myself to look out for any opportunities to find friends and interact with more people on campus. I'd also tell myself to use more resources open to students that need help with school work.

I was very focused in high school because I knew what I needed to do to get to college. I wouldn't do anything different. One thing I would say is not to be afraid to get involved.

College is an intimidating venture from being dependent upon others to being an independent individual. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to take that leap of faith into an unknown world and be confident that I am not the only ackward or apprehensive person partaking in this new experience. The transition between adulthood and childhood is not defined by the age you are or the year of school you are in, but how you handle the insecurities and the unknowns. I would stress most importantly that you are never too old to get and strive for an education, but it has great benefits to take the path at an earlier age. Being aware of your goals, strive to be the best, and never succumb to others' pressures and influences that could adversely affect your future.

In order for parents/students to find the right college they need to take their time. Be sure to visit many colleges to get a feel for the campus life. Also, I would recommend starting at a community college in order to take general education courses at a lower cost. This will also give the student the opportunity to learn about their interests which should help with selecting a major and area of concentration.

The advice that I would give to students about finding the right college would be to follow your heart. When choosing the right college, people are always hesitating due to cost and distance and other factors that hold them back. Following your heart to the right college is the best advice I can give. Finding the school that is best for your personality, comfort, and learning abilities is important. Being in the right environment is important because if you aren't comfortable where you are learning and trying to grow, you may never be able to reach your full potential. When it comes to the cost, distance and factors that lead away from your potential home, I believe it is important to push through and know that everything will work out for the best. I believe everything will work out because if the place you think you can call home is right, then fate will get you there so that you can learn, grow, and become the person you've always strove to be.

Finding the right college is all about how a person feels when they visit a school. Personally, I would suggest that parent and students visit different schools multiple times so they can figure out whether or not they will be able to fit in and adjust nicely to the surrounding enviornment. Once the students have picked the school and start to attend in the fall, I believe it is beneficial to just always be looking around and absorbing information from various places. Some of the best ways to get involved or to find different groups or activities it to look at the sidewalk because there are almost always chalk on the sidewalks with various events. Also, looking at bulletin boards are a great way to find out what is going on around campus. Lastly, always try to make friends. I always think that with a solid group of friends in college you will have numerous experiences that will be worth while and also that you will learn from. The friends you make in college usually become your friends for life.

Make sure you go to the college/university for a tour and take to the admissions officers and students equally. The admissions officers might have a reason to lie to you about things but the students don't have a reason to lie. If the students like the school, they will tell you why and if they don't like it they will also tell you that too.

It has been my experience that research and full disclosure of your goals and financial means is most important when deciding on a college or university. I am an active duty member of the US Navy, I decided to apply for a military program that would allow me to go to school full time to obtain a BA in nursing and further my Naval career. Through perseverance and hard work I was accepted, then came the hard part of choosing a school that met certain naval requirements. I thought I had a grasp on what was needed until I got the first bill and financial aid award. I struggled through the first year borrowing and worrying through each term. Although I have the goal and desire to achieve great academic success it is extremely stressful to deal with the glomming cloud of debt. My best advise to any potential college student would be to research all financial options available to you and go into this part of your life fully aware of the financial investment you are making into your future. Set realistic goals toward a career path that will benefit you in the long run.

Large schools have more options. Small schools have more one-on-one opportunities. Find a school that balances between education and extra curricular activities. Typical advice I don?t find to be the most important or helpful. The best advice a current student can give a prospective student about selecting the right school is to tell them; look for a school that allows your individuality to shine through. School and friend pressures will try to sway you to change some of your values and behaviors. But remember, the college experience is really all about finding out who you really are as a person. So much emphasis is placed on selecting a school that offers the best chance for you to succeed in the major you?ve selected. Well, the odds are you?ll change your major at least once during your college career. Four years of college will go by in a blink of an eye. Don?t be in such a hurry to get out. But don?t take that time for granted either. Enjoy school for what it can do for you; the real world can wait. Use the college you select as an opportunity to find yourself.

Pray that God leads you to where He wants you and that He will help make a way possible for you to be there. Don't let the cost of the school defer you from going to it. Look at the opportunities that each of the schools provide for you, not only your next 4 years, but for the next 40 years. If you pick a school on the price alone you could be jeopardizing your experience of college and your education. You have to like where you are in order to want to do well, and sometimes it turns out that where you are happy isn't always the cheapest option; however, it could be the best place for you to be successful in whatever it is that you desire to do after college.

Make sure that you look into what college choices you have and make sure that you are getting the max amount of financial aid. Also make sure that you go to orientation so that you can make some friends before school starts.