Hendrix College Top Questions

College is not going to save you. It will not rescue you from the torments of socially awkward situations or the horrors of all-night study sessions. And it will not be a simple escape from the real world and the problems that every person faces as they work and learn to achieve a better life. Having said that, college will afford you new opportunities and perspectives on the world of which you are apart. You will be exposed to new people of diverse background and beliefs. Any student entering into college should be prepared to accept that there are more than one or even just two ways of looking at most issues. You will not be able to get by with just an open mind or simple tolerance. A student of the liberal arts must learn to fully accept diverse populations of people as human beings. It is critical that you be willing to rethink and reasssess some of your deepest reservations and taboos. You will not simply step out of your comfort zone. It will be shattered in front of you. It is an experience that is simultaneously terrifying and postively liberating.

If I were a high school senior preparing myself to start college I would first tell myself to start developing study skills and time management behaviors. That was this most difficult adjustment I had to make as I started college. In high school I never had to study in order to make the grades I was content making, therefore I had to learn how to study when I first got to college. I would also want myself to know that college was going to be fun. I was very nervous to start school because I was afraid it would be too rigorous or I wouldn't make friends. However, once I arrived at school I realized that it was a great chance for me to blossom into my true self on my own.

If I could go back a year and tell myself what college would be like, I would definitely tell myself about the study habits that I would need. My high school was not very challenging, and as a result, I never learned how to study. Now that I am in the college setting, I have realized just how critical this skill is. I would tell myself to stop putting assignments off until the last minute and keep a good schedule of what I need to do and when I need to do it. I would remind myself of everything that teachers had told us and explain to myself just how true every word was.

Your mind will expand in ways you never thought possible, if you give it the chance. Doing research papers, homework, and talking with friends will awaken inner callings. With that said, you must let yourself be steered by new joys. Your interests will change naturally, so don't worry about your major. Get a job; you will realize you actually love homework in comparison.

The most important idea to understand before leaving for college is responsibility. In college you need to be aware of everything, there are no excuses. You must learn to manage your time well. Your time spent in college can be the best years of your life if you make them. I'm not suggesting a lack of a social life, I am stressing the importance of finding a sufficient balance for both. College can be both overwhelming and liberating at times, but as an adolescent it is your responsibility to know how to handle your time and your life accordingly. Your planner should become your best friend, the library a dedicated study partner, and after the papers and homework are done, Friday is yours!

I choose to leave all of my friends and go to a college two and a half hours away from them and my family. I thought it might be a hard adjust to; however, I didn't know how the transition would affect me. If I were in senior in high school, I would tell myself to take it easy and don't stress too much about college. It's a great experience, something to cherish. The most important thing when arriving on the campus is to seek out the things you want to get involved in. Because you can meet so many people just by joining a club or attending a campus event. And once you find one friend, keep looking for me. Don't settle on just one group of people to hang out out with, seek to hang out with lots of people. While it is easy to pick up the phone and call Mom or a friend from home and talk for an hour, instead use that time to develop a new friendship or get involved. The transition to college was very hard for me, but the more I became involved the more I loved Hendrix.

College life is not bad and the transition even though hard for me are not a big deal. The question is did I really want to come to college? Is what I am studying want I really want to do in the future. I think I would have given this single advice: Do not go to college because everybody else is going and do not study what you think is popular. Look deep into your heart and follow what you really enjoy.

If I were given the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to just breathe. I would tell myself that some big, unprecedented changes were in store, but that I have the mental and emotional capacity to deal with these changes, as long as I remember to breathe. I would tell myself that I am more than prepared for what's going to come my way. That I have the best friends in the world at this point in my life and that I should cherish them while I still can. Also, I would tell myself to cherish the time with my mom, because she's in her last few months. Ultimately, I feel that I was more than well-equipped to get through everything, as long as I simply take the time to breathe and relax.

I would tell my high school self, "Do not procrastinate of homework ,especially not essays or projects. All nighters are not fun. In fact they make you hungry and not fully functional the next day. Then they make you very, very tired." I would also tell myself as a senior, "Be bold when you meet the new kids. You never know, they may end up being your best friends. Some of your really good friends you won't even meet until second semester because you met them through other friends. Don't be afraid to talk to upperclassmen. They're nice, in fact, they like most of the younger classes. Most importantly though, I would tell high school me, "Don't forget those rainboots. You'll need those down south." And lastly I would tell myself, "Do not mess with the professors who say they won't tolerate lateness, because they won't. Listen to your professors and your advisor. They tend to like you. They may have new ideas for you that you hadn't considered before, about your future, about study abroad, about majors and minors, even TV and radio shows. They are nice people. Talk to them."

The best advice I can give to students and parents is to pick a school that feels right. You will never really know about a school until you start going there. College is what you make it. In reality, most schools are very similar but it is what you make of the expirence that really makes the college.