Lafayette College Top Questions

If i had the opportunity to go back in time, I would tell myself to do the research on every school that I applied to. I chose this school because they gave me the most money, but it was not what I was expecting my colelge career to be about. I would tell myself to investigate the hidden costs (books, living expenses, travel, etc..) to make an informed choice about my decision. Another thing that I might tell myself is to not wait to put in scholarship applications. The earlier the better. The last thing that I might tell my high school self is to work harder in both the classroom and on the athletic field. If I worked a little bit harder, i could have gotten a scholarship to play football at school, something that I enjoy doing dearly.

This is your chance to start afresh -- so embrace it! Who you were in high school, the mistakes that you made and the regrets that you have -- learn from them, but don't let them dictate how the next four years will go. Go for the things you haven't tried out before: if you're an introvert, sign up for the Debate club. If you're into your LCD monitor, go hiking with the Outdoors Society. Take that A- on your first college paper, struggle in your engineering studies class, go to office hours for Calc I and love every second that you struggle because that's how you make it count.

I know you are tired of high school...senioritis is kicking in and you're itching to move on to the next stage of your life. Don't get too frustrated- all of the hard work definitely pays off! The big research project and presentation that was part of your independent study was fantastic preparation for the more intensive and scholarly research that professors expect from you in college. All of the relationships that you built with teachers throughout high school are more important than you can appreciate now. Although you might not miss high school, you will miss some of your favorite teachers. Don't forget to stay in touch! One of the biggest differences between high school and college life is that you no longer live with mom and dad, but share a dorm room. The most important piece of advice I can give you regarding dorm life is to live and let live. As long as you keep an easygoing attitude, everything will be fine. Make sure to budget your time carefully- don't forget to keep your calendar up to date and check it often. Stay on top of your work, make friends, and enjoy!

Dear Rachel, Don't be so nervous! I know you can be kind of shy sometimes, butjust be yourself and making friends will be easy! Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and join a club that you know nothing about. You'll end up loving it! Ask questions about things that you do not understand; there are tons of people willing to help. If you don't get the grade that you were hoping for on a test, don't let it bring you down. Use that as fuel to work harder and improve the next chance you get. Spend tons of time in the library, but find a quiet space by yourself to study. Your friends are great, but their jokes can be distracting when they accompany you to the library! Most of all, make sure you take advantage of every moment. Take the time the time to sit back and enjoy what is going on around you. It may seem scary at first, but once you get the hang of college it will be one of the most amazing times of your life. Take chances, work hard, and be happy. Love, You

The most important thing i would tell my self is to stay focused. No matter how smart you are or gifted it wont amount to anything if you are not responsible and obligated to your studies. I would also tell my self not to watch so many party movies about college lol, they help lead to bad attendance. My biggest problem was i didn't realize the importance of having a solid education, i thought a high school diploma would be enough to make it in life. So i would also stress to my high school self the importance of having a college degree, mainly because it shows employers you have commitment, focus and drive. If i knew in high school what i know now going to parties and having fun would of never been on my radar. Those types of activities will always be around in life but the opportunity to fullfill your dreams thrugh having an education might not always be fesiable. So if i were able to go back and give my high school self any pointers about how to succeed i would let my self read this essay.

You can't let the little things get to you. What you are so preoccupied with now will have little to no importance in the long run. You have to take a step back and look at what is in front of you, and you have to put what you are going through in perspective. Don't forget to appreciate what you have, for nothing is guaranteed. Cherish every moment, and don't look back. Embrace life, and don't let anything or anyone hold you back. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to love, for love is what makes it all worthwhile.

Work is tough at Lafayette but it is very rewarding once you are done. But I would greatly stress that students come in to Lafayette with the intention of getting involved in some way. I have gotten more and more involved throughout my years and it has been the best decision of my life

Work is tough at Lafayette but it is very rewarding once you are done. But I would greatly stress that students come in to Lafayette with the intention of getting involved in some way. I have gotten more and more involved throughout my years and it has been the best decision of my life

If I knew in high school what I know now about college life, I would advise myself to take advantage of everything. Although I felt that I was pretty involved in my school community being the captain of the Women's Rugby team, a member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, and obtaining a job with Lafayette's Sports Medicine, after graduation I felt that there were so many other opportunities that I missed out on. For one, until I took a music course in my last semester, I did not realize the number of great performers and musicians that frequented our Arts Center, even some we studied in class. It was amazing to physically see and experience the music styles we read about in textbooks. In addition to the Arts Center, I feel that I missed out on meeting so many great people because I did not do much volunteer work. Lafayette provided ample opportunites to offer services to many diverse populations and causes. I believe that if I would have volunteered more often, I would have left Lafayette with a stronger sense of self-worth and positive outlook on my future. Lastly, have fun. Four years goes fast.

College is a time of learning, of growth, of knowledge. In the first few months of my freshman year at Lafayette College, I feel I have already gained so much knowledge and have grown as a person as a result. I look forward to learning and growing even more in the next four years by focusing on what I love - English and music - and learning as much as possible about these subjects as well as learning about life from the people around me. English and music are passions of mine, and I have already gained a significant amount of knowledge in both areas as a result of the work I have put into my classes and the passion and intelligence of the professors. My writing has already improved and I have learned so much about music theory that I did not know. I have also learned a lot about myself. The people I live with are accepting and friendly; as a result, I am finally happy with who I am and what I look like. This, for me, is the most important lesson I have learned - acceptance of oneself is necessary for true happiness.