Loyola University New Orleans Top Questions

I would tell myself to focus on critical thinking skills and prepare myself to be ready for lots of writing.

Take this last year of high school slowly. After high school, your world flips upside down and you can never go back to the routinely comfort of high school. Take advantage of the relationships you formed with your teachers and friends; learn life lessons, not only school lessons from your teachers, as they have already completed college and have valuable advice. It is okay if your plan does not work out; they rarely do. That does not mean that you will not achieve your dreams, you just have to get a little bit more creative and pursue them from a different path. Keep your options open. College is much more about exploring yourself and your relationships with other people and the world than it is about making your career. Be open-minded and willing to accept random and new opportunities.

Enjoy it enjoy it enjoy it! Make sure you stay on top of your school work because it will catch up with you, but enjoy it. Get as much financial assistance as you can especially if your family does not have much to contribute. You do not want to end up in mountains of debt. Really look at what major is going to get you a job or jump-start towards a career. Because in the end, this is preparation to work and survive in the real world.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would come prepared with a bucket of water and scream, "Pay Attention!” I entered High School as a straight-A student and by the time my senior year rolled around, I was barely able to graduate. My high school days were spent doodling on my notepad, text messaging under my sweater and keeping up to date with all of the latest drama that roamed the halls. I somehow managed to sit in a desk for four years and learn close to nothing. As soon as I entered college, reality hit. I felt four years behind everyone else. I was missing the building blocks to my education and couldn’t pass even the simplest of classes. Now, five years later, I am a straight A-student but I cannot even begin to express how hard it has been to play catch up. As a high school senior, I wish I had understood that people and drama will come and go in life, but your education, or lack of, will stay with you forever.

It gets better. But, as it gets better, it also gets harder. The more you learn, the more problems you discover. The more problems, the less you feel capable of making a difference. Don't let this cheat you out of becoming the strong-willed, compassionate person you want to be. Allow your professors to inspire you, your peers to challenge you, your coursework to expand your worldview. Get involved in the rebuilding of New Orleans, dedicate your free time to serving the greater good instead of yourself. Read outside of the classroom, ask questions when you don't understand something. Don't waste time with the television or social networking, as these days are passing more quickly than you realize. Be appreciative of the opportunity you have to attend such a great school, as many people don't. Know that it's ok to be unsure of where you are going and that every decision made is an experience. Your first job out of college probably won't be the one that shapes your career, and the economy will get better. It all gets better, even you.

If I could give my highschool self advice it would be this: Concentrate on the basics. I would tell myself to do more independent studying instead of relying on just what my teachers tell me. I would also have done alot more volunteer work and tried to join more clubs and make friends with lots of types of people. I've discovered that in college you really do have to buckle down and study. In highschool you can get by doing a minimum amount of work but in college you really need to spend a couple of hours a day studying. I would tell myself to not be so nervous, work hard and look forward for the great things to come in college.

There are three things I would advise myself of: not to do too much at one time, have fun, but don't let your friends talk you into shirking your responsibilites; and fight the burnout that you begin feeling at the end of your time at the community college. All of these things go hand in hand. By not doing to much and having fun, you can hold off the burnout for a tad longer than if you go in full force and only take serious classes. With the personality that we have, shirking your responsibilities will only make you stress more and therefore cause you more trouble than its worth, so when Amanda asks you to go to a party resist the urge to blow off that homework and go. If you take this advice you'll not only graduate honors, but also with that 4.0 GPA that you strive for.

I would tell myself not to sweat the small stuff. The problems you're facing right now in high school are nothing compared to all of the stresses of college. I would also tell myself to appreciate the full nights' sleep I got in high school...because those are extremely rare in college.

The best advice I could have given myself would have to be enjoy the time you have left with your graduating class. I do not now how many times I found myself missing the friends I had made during my senior year. I would also have told myself to apply for more scholarschips, especially the ones that were sent out through email by the guidance counselor. The last thing I would have told myself would be put more work into the college decision. I almost wish I had chosen a school closer to home and one that was one that was not as expensive, but I love Loyola and would not leave it after all the network connections I have made.

Highschool Samantha had no idea what to expect from college. I would tell her to get ready to be yourself. Everyone is very accepting of who you really are. Do not worry about making friends because everyone is in the same boat. You should start challenging yourself academically now because college work is very different from Rahway High School work. Your independent mindset will do you good in college and do not begin to allow other people to make your decisions for you. Keep your motivation to follow your dreams and aspirations and they will come true. Save up as much money as possible now because once those monthly tuition payments start, you are going to be very tight on money. Get ready to work hard, have fun, meet amazing people, and find out who you really are. Don't worry about this highschool drama, you will have bigger things to wory about in college.

Apply to more scholarships if you plan to live on campus rather than pushing it off due to the massive projects of senior year. College life is beyond expensive to handle.

I would tell myself to get more organized and to try and find an off campus job before coming down here. I would also try and convince myself to fill out more scholarship applications. Mostly I would talk to myself about meeting new people. It is really scary to be in a new city, in a new state and not know anyone or have anyone around to lean on. I'd counsel myself to go out and try to make friends as much as possible. I'd also tell myself to be careful not to limit my options and not to spend all my time cooped up in my room studying. College is about a lot more than academics and I think my senior-self should have known that. I would have told myself to be more outgoing and get involved with more on-campus activities and groups. The ability to make friends and create lasting relationships with people is an important skill one learns in high school and develops fully in college.

As a result of attending Centralia Community College I have learned a lot about myself and decided upon a degree that suits me. I could have done this anywhere but I could not have the same experience anywhere else. I started college and life on my own at the beginning of 2010, because my parents moved away. This provided me with many challenges such as finding housing, food, job, etc... At Centralia I made many friends and connected with the faculty. The faculty provided me with many leadership opportunities which led me to my job on campus. My new found friends provided me with temporary shelter, advice, and so much more. I am now about to get my AA and go on to a four year college with the help of the Student Support Services who helped me plan my degree, classes, and select a university. All this has been possible thanks to financial aid which allowed me to go to Centralia College. I have developed skills in leadership,public relations,and experienced life on my own,working two jobs and being a full time student. Now I know what I want to be and where I want to go.

I have gotten an extremely valuable education from my college experience. The experience has opened my eyes to the views that different people have and to learn to accept those views for what they are and realize that while I may not agree, just because a person has different views than I do, does not mean that I cannot be friends with that person. I have made a lot of new friendships and have had some experiences that will last me a lifetime. For me college has not been all about partying, I have learned to become a more responsible and respectful person. I would not change my college years for anything.

I've gotten amazing experiences out of my time at Loyola that I wouldn't have gotten if I had chosen to stay in my home state to attend college. I've met so many interesting people from so many different places; I have gotten to see tons of my favorite bands perform live which I never would have had the opportunity to see otherwise. The professors here have really made the difference, it's obvious that they enjoy what they do which makes it easy for me to enjoy learning. Of course, leaving home was a huge step and has made me a much more independent person, I can take care of myself much more easily. The value of coming to a school that is so rich in culture and puts such a focus on the development of the entire person is incalculable.

Before I went to college, I knew what my values were and there was nothing or no one was going to change that. Now that I have finished my freshman year of college, I can say that while I have been exposed to different ways of viewing things, I am still true to myself and what I believe in. Staying true to self is something that I find very important, especially when you are introduced to a enew environment with new people and new freedoms. The most valuable thing about college so far is being in a place surrounded by other bright individuals where I can continue to form my opinions and beliefs.

Dear Us, As you read this you may be wondering who wrote this letter. In short, you did. Or rather the future you will. Your next question shouldn?t be how, as much as it should be why. It?s because the next few years are going to be some of the most exciting and challenging years that will inevitably help shape the man you will become. You are about to be one of the first in your family to ever leave your small town and go to a four year college. You are going to be walking into a new world of people with experiences and knowledge vastly different from your own. You should listen and learn from all those around you. Because what you learn in college goes far beyond what you will merely find in the books. It?s also a social journey. Befriend and learn from as many around you as you can. You never know if your peer sitting next to you will one day be your boss or the social connection you will need. Just remember, true luck is when preparation meets opportunity. So go out there and make our dreams come true! Chris

Waste no more time worrying or even being afraid of the unknown, but welcome the changes that are taking place before you. Don't think, don't hesitate, just do it; cause regrets will be unmerciful. Go nourish and expand your mind, meet and make lifelong friends, be open and ready for all experiences, and see and seize your future once and for all.

The most important bit of advice I would give myself as a highschool senior is to be prepared for change. When I first moved onto campus, I was surrounded by a community that had a lot in common with me, so socially, the adjustment came naturally. I was unprepared, however, for the disparity in coursework. In highschool, I had achieved high grades without much effort. In the new environment, I found myself struggling but unsure of how to go about garnering help. Rather than ask professors or friends, I attempted to wallow through on my own and ended up with grades lower than I would have liked.

The advice I would give myself would be to be to take advantage of the all the help that is offered from the school, community, and loved ones when dealing with scholarships, tutoring, and extracurricular activities. People want to see you succeed and embracing their help only makes you stronger both academically and personally. Embracing the help of others is not a sign of weakness but rather a sign of perseverance. Everyone in college is going through the same transitional barriers and by receiving a helping hand; one can easily surpass their obstacles. Another very important thing I would advice myself would be to be confident in the choices I have made. Be confident and immerse myself into the world I stepped into without hesitation. People's hard work is truly paid off in the end. A little confidence can be very helpful.