Knox College Top Questions

Don't waste your time trying to plan out every single detail; every single class, what extracurricular you will do, what your dorm will look like, etc. because IT WILL CHANGE. Go with the flow of things, take classes you normally would not take, try new clubs, meet new people and watch yourself at parties. And although many college students will maintain their highschool maturity, do not let others stop you from being who you are and doing what you want. Live life for you and enjoy it! Also do not pass judgments on others- they are not worth the time of day and college IS way too short. Be more confident because you will do great things. :)

"Julia, you have to stop being such an introvert. All those orientation events you're thinking about not going to? Go to them. Trust me, it'll make your first night on campus easier. Also, sign up for more clubs. The Anime Club is not only good for watching a great show every Thursday evening, but for meeting some potential friends. They are a very wacky group. You'll love them. Try out the Ballroom Dancing Club, too. You may be a bit awkward at first, but you'll get the hang of it. Plus, it makes for good exercise. I also suggest you get a job on campus your first year. I can't help but feel that getting a job my first year would have made getting a job this year a lot easier. Besides, it's actually quite fun working. The people you work with are patient and entertaining and you feel extremely accomplished. Oh, and maybe learn some computer programming over the summer. It'll be a big help for when you decide to minor in computer science."

Stephanie- try your best, even though it may seem like a better idea to follow the beat of a new drum, stick with the beat in your heart. Don't forget how strong we started in freshman year! I know that all the AP classes might begin to take too much of your time, but please for our sake just keep pushing through it. Start looking for scholarships early, mom and dad will have a rough time in a year or two and we will lose almost everything. Start taking biology classes and listen closely in chemistry class; it will help you so much when you graduate. Most of all listen to the voice inside of you, no matter what anyone else tells you or how much someone tries to influence you-the only person and opinion that matters is your own. You don't need friends that will not cultivate your needs to grow. Let the people that hold you back go, you will make it through everything without their help. P.S. Don't forget to tell mom how much you love her- she needs a little extra support right about now.

I would definitely say to myself remember to have a balance between school, work, and fun. If push comes to shove then ALWAYS choose school, because a degree will look a whole lot better than a dead end job or a picture on facebook. Another thing I would tell myself is that I'm doing this for me not for anyone else, so do your best which is all you can do.

There is some useful advice I would give myself if I could go back in time to talk to my high school senior self: start your applications early, learn to take useful notes, practice effective studying, get into the habit of sleeping early and learn to maintain a schedule by making a temporary schedule and following it.

Back then, I would've told myself that mistakes are inevitable, and also that while college might not be the experience I expected it to be, thus far it has provided me with all the tools necessary to go out into the world as a strong, independant individual. I wouldn't change anything I've done in college, even if it did take me until this year to get a grip on what I want to do with my life. The only thing I wish I would've encouraged my younger self to do is to join some of the literary magazines on campus, and get more experience in the writing/publication process. I would also congradulate myself on doing a good job picking out a college that is perfect for me!

I would tell myself not to sweat so much over the small things. I wouldn't have worried so much about fitting in, my high school GPA, and picking the perfect school. I think you can be happy and fit in at most schools if your attitude is open. I would have been more independent and learned to do things on my own (laundry and cooking) before I arrived on campus. The transition was fairly easy because Knox College made an effort to bring the freshman in early to introduce them to college life. I would just enjoy the last days of high school because you don't travel the same path again.

My biggest advice for students and parents that are looking for the best college is to VISIT THE CAMPUS. If the student is planning to live on campus, then it is essential to take a tour of the school, sit in on a few classes, and even stay overnight with a host student if possible. Your college will be your home for the next 3-4 years, so it is important to be familiar with it before you decide to enroll. After you select your college, please be sure to make the most out of your experience. The years will go by extremely fast and you do not want to look back on your college experience and say "Gee, I wish I had done this or that." It is a great idea to fully participate in your college's "new student orientation." This is a great way for you to meet new people and develop lifelines while you are away from home. Also, be sure to join a few extra-curricular activities. Most of all, study hard, read your books and go to class! College is a place for you to learn and academia should be your biggest priority.

To find the right college, it is necessary to visit the college first. If you don't know what it looks like, how the students interact, how classrooms are set up, the odds of you enjoying your experience are so much lower. Know exactly what you want your experience to give you (a proper education or best friends or a career opportunity or fabulous networking) before you choose. If the school doesn't have your major, don't even bother applying or visiting. Take into account what racial, political, and socio-economic diversity means to you, and if it could make or break your decision. If financial issues are a problem, find a school that makes that problem disappear. Remember that talking to students, professors, and alumni helps you get a guage of what sort of school you are considering, and if you fear peer pressure, try to make friends during orientation to keep form falling into the wrong crowd. The goal is to get a great education and have a good time -- otherwise, you can always transfer, but that takes more time the second time around. :)

While the school I chose was not my first choice initially, over the course of my senior year I started to grow more attracted to what my school had to offer. The school seemed to offer more opportunities to acquire scholarships and receive financial aid then did the other schools. And during my visits, I was always encouraged to have individual meetings with the admissions counselors and the faculty members making me feel that the school was looking for my best interest and that they wanted me to attend their school more than I may have wanted to at the time. If I could give a parent or a student advice about finding the right college is to keep all your options open until the final decision deadline and definitely go and visit the college and the amount you learn, see and hear about the college during a single visit is worth more than any information you can find on a brochure or a website. Consider all the aspects the college has to offer when choosing a college. Academics and rankings may be important to consider, but it doesn't mean anything if you end up not liking the school.