Fairfield University Top Questions

In high school, all I could think about was being in college. I could not wait to get away form my family. I was so ready to be on my own. Now that I have already finished a semester, I have a completely different mindset. I love my college life and all my friends here, but it isn’t home. I don’t have my mom cooking me my favorite foods and if I am sick I don’t have her to take care of me. It’s only after you leave that you realize how much you miss your family. That is something I would definitely tell my high school self. In high school I tried as much as I could to be away from home. If I could talk to her now, I would tell her to appreciate the time she has left. I would tell her to appreciate all the memories she had. Now that I am in college, I realize that the experiences my family gave me because no one else has those memories. And those memories shaped me into the person I am today.

Do not listen to anyone else. Make your own decisions. Who cares about anyone else's opinion but your own.

My college experience has been ok. My school is not the biggest on diversity which is something i miss. I would like to go to class and see people from different cultures not the same faces. Everyone looks the same here, if anything , i stand out. Other than that, the scholl is very active with creating activities for the student body, the party scene is good but gets boring after a while. The college is in the middle of nowhere which makes it hard to go out but there is a campus shuttle, even though it is the size of a mini-ban and only goes to town. You would think you would get more out of the school since you ar paying 53,000 a year.

Good experience for my future career.

What I learned most in college is not only about my field of study but of what is experienced outside the classroom. The interactions with people, the social atmosphere, and the genuine care of everyone around you is hard to come by. I feel that sometimes you learn the most from classes that you were forced to take. It challenged you to self motivate in order to succeed in something you don't particularly enjoy, which tends to happen in the "real" world. It allows you to be knowledgable in not just your expertise, but in current events, or philosophy, or any other passion. I have learned that both nothing and everything is the way it seems. Always question life, your existence, and your compassion. Always have a plan for the future but live today because tomorrow may never come.

I have returned to school after a 35 year absence from higher education. I have overcome many obstacles including Chemotherapy 2008-2009. I have disabling AIDS. I am recieving my AS next month with a 3.4 GPA from City College San Francisco. I have applied for my Associate Teacher's license for Preschool in February for the state of California. I am an AmeriCorps Alumnae and also am on the board of a not profit organization that provides quality housing for low income/ senior/ disabled residents. TODCO. Even though I have started later than most students I truly want to get my BA/BS and work with Preschool children. I am an Acolyte at my parish church St Ignatius San Francisco.

Assuming I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to stay strong, and keep an open mind. College is an extremely hard adjustment, and I almost didn't come back to school after my first semester there. I was so negative about everything that I found myself hating the college and with few friends. I spent the first semester telling myself that I was going to transfer as soon as the semester was over. But during winter break, my parents urged me to stick out the year at least, to give Fairfield University another chance. I came back from break, with an open mind, and ended up loving college. Perhaps if I had kept an open mind, I would have gotten the most out of my first semester in college, rather than counting down the days until the end of the semester.

I would ask myself, first am I mature enough to handle all the possible situations that I can be confronted with i.e. soical environments, drugs, alcohol, a relationship, living with a roomate. I would tell myself to go abroad, some place foreign and try and get to know people in order to experience social networking. This would also help me walk in other people's shoes to get their perspective allowing me to see how and why they act. I also would have told myself to maybe take more time to look into my major and ask high school professors, college professors, or people in the workforce about what it entails. In addition, I would have to tell myself that I would need to be less high strung in order to handle situations much better. Overall, had I been able to give myself this advice back then, it may have made a huge impact on where I am now.

Dear Kristin Who Is Ready to Go to College, I know your senioritis is in full force by now, but there a couple things you should know about life at Fairfield U before you start your first chapter in college life. First of all living with a roommate is a game of compromises. Don't just do whatever she says, but also let her know things that would make your life in room 103 better. It's ok not to be best friends with your roommate, don't try to change yourself to fit in with her and her crew. If people make you feel uncomfortable and give you attitude, they aren't your friends. Don't forget about all your high school friends from back home. In the end when you come home or you have a terrible day at college and have no one to talk to, your friends from home are always there. Join Student Council and get involved. You'll meet your best friends there. Don't procrastinate because you will have a 48 hour day and it won't be fun. Love always Kristin the Frosh P.S. Be Proud of Your Jersey Roots!

You need someplace where you feel comfortable. College is a wonderful experience once you choose a place where you think you would fit. Weigh your options; decide what kind of area would be best. Decide how big of a school you would like to attend. While big schools can be exhilarating and could be a nice change from small-town life, it may also seem overwhelming when familar faces are rare. Smaller schools typically have a stronger sense of community. Decide what type of place you would like to attend in terms of values; do you want a religous school? One that promotes sororities/frats? What fits your personality and where could you see yourself starting a new life? Which school provides options for financing? What school can you afford? What types of financial aid does this school offer? Evaluate these aspects as well as the scholastic arena and the professors in your potential field of study, and decide what school would be optimal. Most of all, approach college with an optimistic viewpoint. In the end, college will most likely be an unforgettable and amazing experience if you choose a school with care.