Macalester College Top Questions

There is one piece of advice I would give myself, and dear God, I wish I had followed it my senior year of high school: "Calm. Down." College is not just a phase of life, a transitional period from teenager to adult. It is not a time to be rushed through or to have unrealistic expectations about. Maybe it won't be "the best time of your life." But you know what it will be? It will be a time of learning--true learning, learning not only from books, but about the things that you truly care about. You will learn more about yourself than you ever thought possible--and some of it will shock you, and some of it will impress you. Don't worry about grades (you are going to do FINE. Your grad-school career will not be ruined by a B or even a C), you will feel so much more fulfilled and content if you do your best in the classes that don't interest you and truly make your mark in the areas that do. Do this, and when college is done, you will have grown into the best person you can be.

I never thought about reflecting on my transition from high school to college for fear that I would regret something in my past. Not having finished my college career I am in a unique position to look back at the beginning and to look forward to its completion. When I was in high school I would ponder incessantly where I would be once I got my high school diploma. I would tell my high school self that nothing I would do would cause great agony as I believed it would. I would ensure myself that I would find my place on my own and that I should not look to others for guidance. I would surprise myself by knowing that in college I would find time to do community service and get involved. Overall, I would remind myself not to focus and agonize much on the transition process, and instead focus on making sure that those around me are aware that I am happy with my decision. Finally, I would shake my younger self by the arms and make sure that he understood the importance of forging new relationships wherever I go and deepen the ones I already made.

In my college experience I've learned that the important things to remember from my college classes are not necessarily specific facts; instead, it's the way of thinking--the way of learning. In my future, I will need to be trained (and retrained if I change my occupation), and the specific facts I learn in my classes won't help much with that--although they may help me pass a midterm at the present time. What will be useful in my future will be knowing how to learn and think in order to accomplish any goal I set for myself or my job or others set for me. Thus, making connections between facts and their applications is most important to gain a full understanding of the subject and of the surrounding world. Self-motivation and determination are vital in college as well as beyond the college experience. The learning mindset I gained will stay with me for the rest of my life.

I have gotten a lot out of my college experience. I have been challenged in my ways of thinking and I have learned a lot from every course I have taken so far. In high school, I've been used to always been given the answer but in college I have had to learn to think for myself and while it's frustrating at times because it's a hard habit to break, it's also refreshing. While the academics have been the most valuable reason to attend Macalester College, I have to say that extracurricular activities are the next best thing. With my involvement in The Bonner Scholars Program, not only have I met other students with the same passion for service in the community and who come from all walks of life, I also had the opportunity and the privilege to work as a tutor for third and fourth graders at an elementary school freshman year and to now work at a nonprofit organization for the latino community as a tutor and teacher assistant. The fact that I had the opportunity to go to New Orleans for a learning service trip during my freshman year was also amazing.

I didn't think terribly hard about what college would do for me when I was a student. I loved being surrounded by people -- both faculty and fellow students -- who challenged me and made me think differently and critically, who expected my best work, who encouraged me to try new and different things. This kind of intellectual development led fairly automatically to some of the richest connections I have with people still today. Now that I'm a PhD student and teach undergraduates, I see a lot more focus from students on their future professions -- everyone wants a degree to get a job. While this is great, I think that college provides its most valuable effects in the communities it builds, and in the ways in which it teaches students to think and express ideas. Getting a degree is just one part of your future plans. If you want to stand out, you learn how to work in a team, how to articulate original ideas, and you build relationships with the people who are not just your friends but also your future colleagues. Education is so valuable, and that value increases exponentially the more you actively engage in learning.

The thing I would tell myself most, over and over, is to be more outgoing and to take advantage of the programs like oreintation that the school provides to help you get to know people. While it is definitely important to keep your high school friends, I think I made the mistake of being too shy my first year of college and not making as many new friends as I could have. That first week, everyone's in the same boat - not knowing anyone. It's a lot harder to make friends after the first year because everyone seems to have their own groups already. I'm also very independent and like to do things on my own or be by myself a lot of the time, but I would tell myself to sacrifice that sometimes in order to make friendships that could be lasting. Along with that, I would remind myself not to rule out getting to know certain people because I'm afraid I won't be friends with them forever. You never know who will become a close friend, and sometimes you have to let yourself take that leap and let people in.

Get ready. You are about to do things you never thought you would have the chance to do. You are about meet people that are more amazing than you can imagine. You are about to be challenged and pushed constantly. Take advantage of everything! There are going to be times when you will cry uncontrollably, and times when you will laugh uncontrollably. Even though you will wonder sometimes why you ever made the decision you did, there will undoubtedly be times when you know you made one of the smartest decisions you could. So be ready. You will be afraid a lot of the time, but know that where your fears are, also lay your potential greatest triumphs. Find comfort in small things, like coffee in the morning and the sun over the trees. These consistencies will help pull you though the challenges you'll face. Saying goodbye is never an option. It is always 'see you later'. With this in mind, be ready for the unexpected. Be willing to be uncomfortable. Be excited for the new. Be open to the unexplored. You'll do just fine.

Recently, I have had feelings of insurmountable doubt. Not related to my original choice in applying to Macalester, I?m very glad I was able to get in to my first choice school, and even more appreciative to know I would not have done it any other way. My issues of recent uncertainty extend from not being sure about my academic path. When choosing classes, but I still can?t help thinking, ?Is this the right choice?? and ?How will this course benefit me later in life?? The advice I would pass on to my high school self would simply have to be, relax and enjoy the learning process. Though it seems like a simple piece of advice, appreciating a course and pursuing your interests is what college is all about. It?s easy to have doubt about the path you are on, but always know that deviation from your path is allowed, even if you only slightly intrigue your senses along the way. Who knows, maybe your diminutive travels through the underbrush can open into a field that you will appreciate for the rest of your life, or at least until you find something new to chase after.

I would tell myself to prepare for the best four years of my life that are to come. I would tell myself to erase the label I was given in high school and to be my true self, as this is the beginning of a new chapter in my life in which I can become any person I want to be. I would tell myself to remember my parents, as they are the two people who supported me throughout my entire life. I would tell myself to keep in touch with my friends from high school as best as possible, but there is a possibility that some will slip away. I would tell myself to be open to new experiences and opportunities becuase there will never be a better time to figure out the person you are. Finally, I would tell myself to not hold back, and to give my all in every situation becuase these four years go by very quickley and it would be unfortunate to enter the real world with regrets.

Look at many different kinds of schools, because your preferences may change throughout the college search and application process. Don't pick your college to impress anyone. Pick the school that feels like a good fit socially--you can get a degree anywhere, but the people you meet at college are what can make the experience amazing. Once you get to college, be outgoing. You may be intimidated by your classmates, but chances are they're friendly, and ready to be your friend. Everyone's looking for friends in college, so you've got nothing to lose by striking up a conversation with someone. There aren't cliques in college like there are in high school. Don't strike someone off your Possible Friends list because they don't look or act like the people you hung out with in high school. People tend to be open in college, and making friends with people you wouldn't normally spend time with can open your mind and give you access to all kinds of new perspectives. Most of all, don't try to model yourself after anyone else--the point of college is to figure out who YOU are.