Northwestern Michigan College Top Questions

Study hard, research your college of choice very thoroughly and work hard. Look for scholarships and apply to as many as possible because college is expensive.

Pay more attention in school and have less of a social life!

I would advise myself to take a chance and research more schools. I entered NMC as a non-traditional student and am disappointed it took me as long as it did to finally find my path.

There is no doubt that out-of-state costs are incredibly frightening and on the opposite side of the spectrum community colleges appear more pleasing than in or out-of-state prospects, but at the end of the day, tuition is just a number. Focus your selection process simply on you instead of the costs. Do you want a big or small school? Are you interested in living somewhere new? Does it have hospitality programs? Put sincere effort into researching different places. Don’t just say, “Michigan is a good school, I’ll go there.” But once you’re there, you’ll figure out the costs, you’ll make friends, you’ll stress eat, you’ll fail your first paper, you’ll pull all-nighters, but most of all you’ll grow. As scary as some of these things may seem, don’t take life too seriously or you’ll miss out on the good stuff. If there was a MasterCard advertisement for the next four years of your life it’d go like this: “College, twenty-five thousand dollars a year. Cute university sweatshirt, fifty dollars. Six pack of PBR, four dollars. Best memories of your life, priceless.”

If I could give my highschool-senior self some advice about college, I would say try your hardest and don't be afraid to make mistakes. I missed a lot of opportunities because I was unsure of what I wanted out of school. I would say take advantage of campus resources, professor’s office hours, and learn from fellow students. Make friends. I’d say be open to new ideas, and ideas that you previously thought were wrong. Talk to strangers. I’d tell myself to apply for more scholarships, to make friends with the financial aid staff, and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to try and fail. Doing honors projects was hard, but I’d do them all again, even though they were difficult and not always successful. The most important thing I’d tell my highschool self would be this: your education is what you make it. If you want to learn, grow, and improve yourself, it’s up to YOU. Alternatively, if you want to just slide by with a 2.5 and an easy class load, that’s the kind of person you will be when you’re handed your diploma. So do your best.

Take college more seriously, its a lot of work, more papers, more reading, more research. School has always come really easy to you but college is different. Start out with 2 classes your first semester to ease yourself into the transition. Make sure that you give yourself more time than you did in high school for homework and studying because the material is more challenging.

If i went back in time to talk to myself I would tell myself on the bus that I should marry my highschool sweetheart because it would make my college transition easier without all the drama. After years of not knowing what happened to the love of my life after the highschool romance I got a call from her. She was just as beautiful and we felt every emotion just the same as we did before, but we both had someone else. If I had just married her my intellect would be the same but I would be better off. In life it doesn't matter what you have, it's how you are remembered by others that counts.

In my college experience i have learned how to cooperate with others on projects and study harder. I have had to earn my grades more than ever while enjoying a fresh air campus. The work ethic needed to succeed in the college environment is somewhat suprising while refreshing. I know that i will come out on top with a new respect for the working folk of this country.

High School seniors are faced with huge decisions that are overwhelming and life changing. Unfortunately, many schools are not able to provide adequate counseling for such decisions. If I were able to go back in time and advise myself, I would be finished with school already; not having to return to school after many wasted years. There is too much stress in the school system nowadays, and no real way of helping students decide on what to do or where to go to school. My advice would be to take as much as a year off school. This break would be the ideal time to de-stress and earn money. Searching out one?s talent or passion would be a great way to spend the time between high school and college and give the student a better outlook on which college and profession to study while in school. The school counselors and advisors I have been introduced to do not take their jobs seriously, or do well at them. While this is a problem, if more seniors would take time to explore life before they return to a school environment, there would be a higher number of successful college students.

The first thing I would do is shake my hand, give myself a pat on the back and say, "I never knew I was this handsome." Afterwards, however, I would address more serious issues I believe many students make poor choices of in their young age. I would tell myself to take my time. I would tell myself to listen more to what I wanted in life instead of what my peers and family told me I needed to do. Never lose sight of your dreams, and try to stay a little more focused this time... ok? An education pursued without true determination and passion is an education squandered, and a real, true happiness lost. Don't base your educational goals around money, base them around having a career you enjoy so much you never truely work a day in your life. Do what you love, do what you're passionate about, do what your heart is telling you to do... and please, do pull pants up, you look ridiculous.