Millsaps College Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, the most important piece of advice would be to trust myself. I remember the difficulty I had in making choices and in considering the ins and outs of various schools, and for me, what the whole decision truly boiled down to was my confidence in myself and trust that my path would feel right when I encountered it. Now, I am not advocating that one should sit back and do nothing at all, expecting your dream school opportunity to fall into your lap - no, that is not how it works. You have to hussle, you must push yourself, you must take advantage of any and all opportunities that come available during your application and search process. However, I strongly advise that you pay attention to your gut instincts when choosing a college; stress as little as possible and trust that out of all those possibilities in front of you, the correct opportunity will present itself when the time arrives. After all, college is a process, but it only begins when you truly accept that you're ready to have faith in yourself.

I would tell myself to prepare to study much more than I could have ever dreamed of in high school. I would explain to my younger self how to study and how much to expect to study. I would also tell myself to be ready to spend long amount of times studying and to prepare for long nights working with differents types of people on projects.

I would tell myself to recognize that Millsaps is nothing like high school. I would tell myself that although I am going to college to have new experiences and to widen my horizons that I should never loose focus at Millsaps, because the courseload can be overwhelming at times. I would remind myself that alhough the transition will be hard at first, it is only temporary and that great things will come my way.

first and foremost, not to worry. i was too nervous about college as a high school senior to really enjoy the time i had left with my family and friends at home. since i go to school about 5 hours away from home, it is harder for me to go home as much as i would like, and therefore im not able to see my friends from home or my family as often as others are. i wish i had not made such a big deal out of going to college. i went to the same school, all the way from kindergarten to senior year, and so it was my first time starting at a 'new school'. i think i was too nervous and anxious the first couple of weeks of college to really enjoy them, and sometimes i wish i could go back and live them again, knowing everything would turn out fine.

The best piece of advice I could possibly give to parents and students is financial and research-based. What I mean by this is that you should never consider money has a factor in pursuing that ideal education. There are scholarships available if you look in the right places and nothing can replace the education you always dreamed of. In order to be sure about a college the best way is to visit the colleges and think about the little things such as the campus,classes, food, and students. The attitude and demeanor of the students attending a college say a lot about that college. Like Ralph Waldo Emerson once said ; "Character is higher than intellect." One college may have more academic credentials or years under their belt, but the character of the school could still be severely underdeveloped. All of this advice is what I considered in selecting the college I currently attend.

I'm a huge advocate of campus visits! Parents, let your students get a real feel for the colleges they're considering. For me, college visits made all the difference in my final decision. Choose a place where you feel welcome, and where you can see yourself being happy the entire time you're there. Get to know upperclassmen and go to incoming Freshmen events. The more people you meet before you make your decision, the more people you can talk to to help make your decision easier.

Know who you are! Go into college with confidence and expectancy to do great things. Get to know people who mean you well and if people don't like it, dont take it the wrong way, just keep on moving. If you go wanting to learn you will.

Choose a college based on YOUR experience with the college and not someone elses. Try to take not only a formal visit to the college, but also an informal one, where you go and stay with a current student who shows you around. Campus tour guides can make any college seem like the best place in the world but a regular student will tell you like it is.

When deciding upon a college, first it is important to create a list of attributes that you desire your potential college to possess. Once you have created the list and evaluated your academic capabilities and financial situation, it is time to start researching which colleges seem like a good fit. Once you have compiled a list of a few colleges, the most important thing is to VISIT each of them. One will never know the true atmosphere of a college without visiting. I believe after visiting, one will know where he or she belongs. In terms of making the most of the college experience, just be yourself! There is nothing like meeting people and showing them your true self and having them respond positively- it's called making real friends! Also, don't hesitate to try new things and take advantadge of everything your school will have to offer. College is a great period of time in an individual's life, live it up!

Visit several colleges! And start early! Only by walking on the campus, talking to students and professors, will you be able to feel if it's the right place for you. Before you narrow your list, it helps to visit large and small campuses to get a feeling of the type of school you would feel most comfortable attending. Weigh all the factors - distance, size, and cost, but remember that investing in a solid undergraduate education is the best investment you can make!