Hamline University Top Questions

The biggest thing i have learned is to manage my time. This has helped me greatly with juggling two jobs and classes, this also helps my percrastination problem. I am learning to just get things done early rather than later. I am also a very shay person, but through High school and college experiances I have learned to be a bit more out going. Even though I am still learning how to be more opened, I have learned that being to timid will get me no where.

Since I haven't started my college experience, I'll write about what I hope to get out of it and why I found it valuable to go back to school. I really hope to be able to take every opportunity that comes my way and make as many connections as possible. I want to reflect on my experiences when I get older and not regret leaving any stone unturned. I don't want to look back at my life with fear of things left undone, which is why I am going back to school at 27. I am hoping that I will find a path that is rewarding and can drive me to keep exploring and growing for the rest of my life. Through college, I am not only looking to gain new skills but have my mind opened to new ideas and possibilities. I find it valuable to know what you are passionate about and do that thing for as long as possible and this is what I hope to accomplish with my education.

I would attend the school that gives me the most financial aid. I wanted to play hockey in college so that influenced my decision on where to attend college. I no longer play hockey. I had another private school in Minnesota offer me more financial aid. I liked both schools equal. The other school took into consideration the tough classes I took in high school. Hamline didn't take that into consideration when figuring financial aid. I have been on the Dean List every semester at Hamline, met with the head of the business college but I've still been unable to get more money. I worked for a leasing company my freshman and sophomore years during the entire school year. The winter of my sophomore year I started my own fishing guide business. I was told by Hamline they would reward me because of my GPA and strong business sense. I have felt once they had me attending they didn't feel it was necessary to give me more money. I should've attended the school that offered me the most money in the first place and not worried about sports.

Knowing what i know about college life and making tranition, the advice that i would give myself is to take that step into college life and take advantege of a higher learning and go for my dreams and goals while i am in college. Things in life are not always given to you it has to be earned and going to college , studing and learning to the best of your ability is something that no one can take from you and it is something that you have earned. Your course of study is very important making sure of the major your goining to study is what you want to do don't wait to the last moment to change majors . Work close with your advisors and to use all the resourses yuo have to help you while in college. Have fun while in college, but don't lose focous on your what you are in school for . Having a college education is a gold that i wish that every one would reach for in life. As the commercial says for the United Negro Found " A mind is a terrable thing to waste". Enjoy the college life and have fun.

Having spent enough time at my chosen college to fill out the paperwork to transfer to another, I definitely feel that I have a better grasp on college existence than I did last year. Had I the opportunity to give myself a few words of wisdom, I'd have said merely, "Do as you want to do, keeping in mind who you are, what you've done, and where you're headed," which sounds terribly vague and utterly unhelpful. As much as I believe in aiding others with the wisdom we've acquired, I've found that some things must be stumbled across on one's own. I know that Concordia isn't the right school - too close to home, hypocritical emphasis on a motto that doesn't mean anything - but having not known that a year ago gave me an experience you'll never hear me regret. What's important to me now - meeting new people, experiencing city life, immersing myself in a psychology department that knows what it's doing - isn't the same as it was a year ago, but the trip from there to here taught me things that can't be merely spoken, but acquired.

apply sooner to Hamline so I could have gotten more financial aid, and work more in high school so I could have had more money.

Apply to more colleges

No matter how scary applying is and how excited you are to graduate, always try and keep focus and know that you can do it!

I would tell myself to develop better study skills early on and apply for as many scholarships as possible!

Don't be afraid to be the smart one. It helps you and others learn. You also ask questions that others have. Hamline teachers have been good about answering in a helpful way thus far. Oh, and step out of your box or just make it bigger!

I would tell myself: You need to go to where you want to go, to a place where you are happiest as a person, and not to a place where your friends are going or where you are most comfortable. You need to get outside that comfort zone, do things you never would've done before, and revel in your ability to break free of your previous standards and enjoy it. Don't worry so much about the cost, but more of the experience. A lot of people are in debt, but it is what they gained while garnering that debt that sets certain people apart. Most importantly, everyone regrets certain choices, so don't be afraid to reconsider your options if you are attending a school you don't love or pursuing a major that isn't right for you. Take the time to truly know yourself, and then be yourself.

My advice in finding the right college is to go look at the place! Universities can be deceiving when reading about them in a borcher, so go on a campus tour/visit. My favorite was when I did an overnight stay on campus to get a feel of what students did all day long. I went to a few different classes that I was interested in and I stayed with a student that lived in the dorms, so it was really interesting to have like the 'insiders' view of what college was like before I actually went there. And while being apart of the overnight program, I met one of my closest friends that I have now when being apart of this activity. I've learned a lot about culture and diversity by just giving things a try and experiencing them - it really blows your mind that 1) you never thought you'd like this sort of things and/or 2) how many different people you meet from just being apart of something. So get involved!

I would encourage students to think deeply about the basic questions: what class size most appeals to them, what setting they want their institution to be in, the quality of on- or off-campus housing, the level of social involvement that they're looking for. After thinking about all that, students should visit their institution(s) of choice and stay with a student if at all possible, becuase while the administration does have the students' needs in mind, they are also trying to attract students with their own financial gain in mind. A student provides an honest, altruistic point of view about what life will really be like at a specific institution. Most importantly, start looking early. Scholarships and financial aid are much more accessible earlier in the college search.

First, shop around. Apply to a few and visit your top choices multiple times. Participate in weekend visits or welcome events if possible. Look for a college for YOU, not your parents. Let your parents give input but if you make a choice based on their wants and needs, you will likely be miserable. Once you get to college, JUMP IN. Forget whatever you did in high school and try new things, don't visit home every weekend. Don't be afraid to change your major, or double major, and take advantage of minors, you will want to be able to spin your degree to as many different fields/jobs as possible when you leave college. The first few jobs you get might have little to nothign to do with what you majored in. Take advantage of every opportunity given to you, study abroad, do internships, volunteer, it gets much more difficult to get those opportunities once you graduate. Lastly, have a blast, even if you go on to graduate school nothing will be like your undergrad experience.

Find a college or university that will accomodate your needs. If you become unhappy at how the school is functioning, productivity will decline and your GPA will suffer.

It helpd to know what career you would like to persue before going thorugh your college search.

Make sure you are cautioned that merit scholarships don't go to well-deserving folks as much as they will go to the trustee relatives and alumni children. Money talks at Hamline and if you don't have it , don't expect to be getting it.

Make sure the school fits in with as many intrests as you have.

Look at the fields you are interested in and the cost of the school and the distance away from your home. Small schools are more individualized, as well as seem to be more privatized and may be more expensive if you don't get a good scholarship. Tour a lot of different schools and ultimately, let the kid decide which one is most comfortable and accepting and warm to him. This, above ALL, is the most important factor.

The best advice to a student beginning the application process would be to actually visit each college or even stay overnight with a student. This allows you to get a feel for the atmosphere and the typical daily life of the college. Also, listen to what your heart wants to do and not what makes the most economic sense. Also, pick the school that is most comfortable to you and not just the school that your friends are going to, because you will find that your friends will change in college. To get the most out of your college experience you need to be involved in more than just academics. Try a sport if you can or get involved in the intramural sports program. If you are not involved in any sports there are always tons of clubs and organizations that you can get involved with. Realize that college is not only about getting a degree to advance your career, but is also about creating long-lasting friendships and relationships that will last for the rest of your life.