Lewis & Clark College Top Questions

Looking back on my senior year of high school, I can see I did a fairly good job of handling the process. I knew what kind of school I was interested in, I had a solid academic foundation, and a very supportive and informative group of people helping me in the process. Overall, I chose a school that made me feel at home. Visiting Lewis & Clark, getting to know the atmosphere of the school, made me feel at home, and that is how I knew I should attend that school. So, I would give myself the advice to trust your gut, ignore what other people want you to do but understand their reasoning, do not underestimate yourself, make a decision with the expectation of success, and find a school where you feel at home and accepted.

Learn how to discipline yourself to do your homework and study. In college, no one will be reminding/forcing you to do your school work. You have to do it yourself. If you are not focused, you will not succeed. Do not hesitate to go to your teacher's office hours and ask for help. That is what they are there for and they should be hapy to help you. It makes the class so much easier and enjoyable when you understand what is going on. Do not procrastinate. Procrastination can ruin you in college. Practice not procrastinating now. In college there is no busy work to boost your grades, you must take assignments seriously.

I sort of arbitrarily chose the colleges I applied to, thinking that it didn't really matter what college I went to, as long as it was a liberal arts college in the Pacific Northwest with a good English program. I really love the school I go to now, but I think I just got lucky. After a semester of college, and then learing of my friends experiences at their colleges, I am sure I would tell myself not to even consider Christian school's, because the intensely religious atmosphere would suffocate me. In fact, I would push myself to apply to a few predominately atheist schools (even at Lewis & Clark, which was rated the most atheist school in the country in 2008, there are a number of religious activities). Apart from that, I would tell myself not only to look at how great a particular school's English program was, but, specifically, how many poetry classes were offered, and the qualifications of the professors of poetry. I think I would also encourage myself to look at what languages were offered, which I hadn't even thought to consider during high school, but found to be quite important during registration.

You will soon embark on a wonderful journey, one that will allow you to challenge your beliefs, values and identity. This journey called "college" is exciting, yet tiresome and therefore you must be well prepared. Firstly, enjoy your time as a Highschooler, enjoy the time you have with your family. Secondly, accept that the transition to college will be nerve-racking and then dive into the experience with all of your soul. Give yourself time to feel like "yourself". Since it is a completely new place, with new people and new surroundings, it is going to feel odd. However, if you just stay true to yourself and remember why you are there and what you can do to get to where you want to be. Do not let all of these new influences make you lose your sense of self. Once you start to adapt to the environment, get involved as much as you can through academics, sports, clubs, jobs and so forth. This is the time to be an active member of your campus community, because it will enable you to become an active member of the world! Good luck and enjoy!

If I had the opportunity to begin freshman year anew, I would tell myself to not worry about making friends or being social, but to focus on academics. Colleges, especially Lewis and Clark, have arranged it so that regardless of your level of awkwardness or comittment to classes there are social opportunities. While it seems like going to class and taking notes is all that is important to being a good student, there is a certain drive to learn that gets lost in the whirlwind of excitement that is freshman year; enthrallment, intrigue and persistence are all key words I would have written down as reminders for myself. It is important to remember to delve into each subject, discussion, reading, etc., and ask any questions that may arise along the way. I suppose most importantly I would say it is important to go that extra mile for each class, to meet with the teacher, go over the tests, study an extra hour - there will always be another party but you only get one chance for each class. I would tell myself to make the most out of each opportunity - maybe "you're not rich enough to stay in school forever"

I would give myself two bits of knowledge. First, trust your instincts. Second, relationships are paramount. I've learned that going with my gut can sometimes lead to wrong answers. But learning lessons the hard way is valuable. Today, I had to drop a class. This was a result of an early goal I had to do as many things as possible. Three difficult semesters have revealed that overachieving has negative consequences. I was losing sleep and I had reached my limit. However, finding my limit became an invaluable lesson. Because I trusted my instincts, I discovered an indispensible character trait. I had many criteria in looking for schools, including strong political science and music departments. However, I found myself looking for friends upon arrival. I soon felt that my happiness would primarily manifest from a supportive group of friends, not a prestigious degree. Relationships count: they count with your friends, your professors, and anybody that you will ever work with. I certainly value the quality of my education, but had ignored my instincts by mixing up my values, I wouldn't love my school the way I do now.

Students, make the choice of where you go to college your own. You're not bringing your parents with you to college, and you don't have to bring all of your best friends there, either. The choice is yours and yours only. Think about exactly what you want out of your college experience--the resources you need to make it happen, the weather, class size, school spirit--and find a college that fits those criteria. Be sure to visit campuses during the regular school year so you can see how students interact, and go somewhere you can picture yourself being happy. Read up especially on unofficial school literature written by students themselves to get a real image of the school. You should also choose a place where it will be easy for you to try new things, because college is the best time in your life to do so!

Just keep in mind that even though you will go home from time to time, your school is your new home. If you live on-campus at a small school, you're going to see the same people all the time; you'll eat, sleep, go to class, study, and party with them. Make sure you consider the social aspects of the deal, not just the academic or political. This is your new world, not just some place you'll spend a little bit of time at here and there.

I would first recommend looking at schools that fit your interests: big or small university, near a city, certain majors. Next, visit the school and see how it fits, some schools will just feel right. There are lots of factors in choosing a college and in the end, the student must choose what is best for him/her. Parents need to be supportive and involved; help the student out with your own experience but don't overshadow him/her. Remember that the student needs to make the final decision. For making the most out of college, you don't have to figure everything out right now. Take your time choosing a major or career, find what works for you. Be sure to try lots of different things in college: sports, clubs, drama, music, volunteer work and especially diverse classes that interest you. College is so much more than just the general education requirements. Follow your interests and keep doing the things that you really love. There will always be some experimentation in college, but be safe. Finally, get outside your comfort zone, travel, meet new people, try lots of new things and always work hard.

Step onto the campuses you are considering and follow your heart. Get to know a couple of students and remember, it is ultimately the students choice although theere will be several contributing factors. Get away from where you grew up for awhile, you can always return there.