Franklin and Marshall College Top Questions

-Take as many AP classes as possible. I would have died in General Chemistry if I had not taken AP Chemistry in high school. If I could go back to high school, I would definitely take more AP classes, not just three. -Take classes in different areas. My high school experience was focused on only math and science, so I did have hard times in art, music, and similar classes in college. -Go to private college if possible. I always thought private colleges would be very expensive, and there would not be fun with a lot of activities as at public/state schools. But now I love my school-a private college. It gives me wonderful financial aid, I have good relationships with my professors, and there are tons of activities and clubs available on campus. -Packing for college. Start a to-buy-and-to-pack list as soon as the summer starts. -Living with roommate(s). If there are any problems, talk to each other. -Build strong relationships with your professors. Go to office hours, talk to professors. Be honest and respectful. -Get good study habits and know when to say no.

I would tell myself that I must study longer, harder and attain a sense of pride in my work. I would not rely so much on treatises and quotes and notions that other people have given but instead reflect on what I, myself, has done. I would try not to rush though events and work and take the time to really understand the material rather than just breeze past it and get a b- when i could have gotten an A. I feel that I should have listened to what my friends told me to an extent and relied on my gut instinct rather than what some philosopher wrote in a treatise long ago. I should have been more decisive and also not rushed with my thinking. Trying to be less of a compulsive thinker has certainly made a positive impact onmy college life now. I feel that with this sense of thinking, I am more competant in what I study and how I study rather than to rely on other people and other notions. I have foudn that relying upon one's own mind and instincts is the key to success in all aspects of life.

I would take more AP classes that fulfill the GE requirements at college. Also, I would know what classes to take coming into the college rather than taking classes for fun. I would finish college in less than 3 years if I had known what I know right now coming into college.

Vicki, You should study less my freshman year. Coming into college, three of your four classes are review (intro to chemistry, calc 2, spanish), so going to the library every night isn't necessary. Your freshmen hall is using this time to make friends and you should definitely get to know them. Also, if you break your back this year, you won't know how much you actually have to study. Also, this year will be the easiest, so relax a little! I would also avoid dating anyone freshmen year. I started dating someone as soon as I got there. You're going to change so much this year; it's better to be alone to deal with that, instead of confusing some poor guy. He'll only be angry when you're not the girl you were in September. Lastly, don't be afraid to be a college student; it's not nearly as scary as you think! Love, future you

My college experience has made me into a new person ­ one that I doubt I could have been otherwise. The past two years at college have made me a collected and confident young woman, and though I am still passionate about the things I loved in high school, I am now turning that love into an exciting career-path. The constant support and gladly-bestowed attention of my professors have helped me become comfortable in my own skin and taught me to believe in myself. There have been many instances where I doubted my ability to achieve what I thought to be impossible; yet with my teachers as support, I have not only acheived these things, but I have gained recognition from the local community for them. As well as a stellar education, Franklin and Marshall College has given me a chance to make loving and lasting friendships with the people I lived with as a freshman. Without F&M, I fear I would still be too shy and timid to take charge of my life and fully experience the world around me.

I will be attending the New York Institute of Massage starting January 2011. I am very eager to start school because Massage Therapy is an ever expanding field of work that will always be needed. Attending college will help me become a more successful person with a better future in this falling economy. College, I feel, helps people understand the value and quality of a hard days work, and will give me great satisfaction in my personal achievements. Seeing that I will be the only person in my family who has attended college will help set the standards for my families future generations. College is the next step in my life that will give me many useful lessons in business, finances and communication. Stability and tranquility are the building blocks to a better future, which a college education will lay out for me. Please consider me for this scholarship so i can start my professional career at ease and out of debt.

My college experience afforded me a diverse education that has enabled me to excel in the work force. I was able to expand upon both my personal experiences and my comfort zone to enrich myself and become more accepting of others. While the facts I learned were important, I feel that the communication and interpersonal skills I developed were the most valuable part of my education. These are the skills I use every day, and they tend to be the most difficult to cultivate. It was important for me to attend college both for educational and social aspects. I love to learn, and college allowed me to choose how to augment my high school education. I was also able to participate in activities to which I had never been exposed that led to discovering new passions and interests. My college experience was vital in shaping my youth and I know that my experiences will greatly influence my adulthood as well.

It empowered me to feel capable and intelligent, well-prepared to do anything that was asked of me, or know how to find out if I couldn't.

What have I gotten out of college? Management skills. Of course one of the most valuable things I learned was to manage my time. After all, my parents aren?t there to tell me to study. However, I have gotten much more out of college than just time management. The value of attending college lies in the fact that you learn to manage things you?ve never considered before. In college you realize to manage your money. After months of cafeteria food, delivery sounds delicious. Although ordering out every night becomes irresistible, you quickly blow through your money. What I have gotten out of college is calculating how many hours I have to work at my work-study to pay for that Chinese. Two hours? I think I?ll go to the cafeteria. Perhaps the most valuable lesson I have gotten out of college is how to manage myself. Your parents leave you at a school where you know no one. Exams and essays loom in the distance. You share a cramped room and you run on little sleep. It?s hard not to become overwhelmed. College taught me to manage my emotions and remain composed when life gets stressful.

I entered my freshman year with a general idea of what science major I wanted to pursue. By the time I had graduated from F&M I had completed two majors, the first in environmental studies and the second in ecology and natural resources, which I was able to personally create from three departments on campus. I also completed a summer internship in Washington, DC at an environmental non-profit and earned course credit from a summer environmental field program in the Alaskan backcountry. I was then fortunate enough to have a fantastic experience during my semester abroad in Tanzania with the School for International Training?s conservation and ecology program, which helped to reinforce and develop my career aspirations in international biodiversity conservation. At F&M I felt surrounded my highly motivated and academically focused individuals that created a supportive and nurturing environment. The professors are mentors and friends to the students. F&M helped facilitate the transformation of my early goals and aspirations into realities, possibilities and attainable accomplishments in the future. I am now enrolled for the fall at the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, University of Kent in England for a masters in conservation biology.