Ramapo College of New Jersey Top Questions

Back in highschool, as a seventeen year old single mother, and recovering addict, graduating highschool seemed like an unattainable goal for myself. With enough motivation and inspiration from teachers and counselors I was able to graduate highschool on time with hopes of also attending college. Two weeks after I had graduated from highschool, I began to attend summer term, 12 credit hour classes at Mt. Hood Community College. I was able to keep a 4.0 GPA with my first term, but was not able to be as successful the following term. Since having started at MHCC I have found myself more open-minded and passionate in learning about everything and anything. I feel like optimism as well as a willingness to learn is key to success in making the world a better place. Im glad I decided to start out at a community college because I am able to meet a diverse group of people in age and ethnicity, and through these people were able to gain knowledge, wisdom, but also share their experiences of why they had decided to attend college. Attending college has so far been one of the best life changing choices I have ever made.

I have gained a truly expanded sense of self. Ramapo has spectacular literature professors who truly challenge you to attack, dissect, digest, and love literature, and the historical and psychological factors that compose the complex beast that is the human psyche. Through in class and real-life experiences, I have learned how to embrace simplicity, find the beauty in humans, let go of grudges, and how to breathe without burden. I have learned the cultural wealth and beauty of the city, and the absolute freedom found in the untainted depths of forests, where there is only the quiet hum of nature and my active mind. Ramapo has provided me with something I will value far more than any degree. Ramapo has given me the amazing opportunity to learn what it means to have compassionate, loving relationships. It has taught me how to find passion and inspiration in the smallest things. It has taught me how to do something I believed unachievable: here, I learned how to love myself, all of my beauty and all of my flaws. Without that, no degree could make me a happy, thriving person. That is the most valuable gift I could ever receive.

My college experience has been a constant progression towards greatness. I have encounterd wonderful friends and professors who have enlightened me with their expertise. It has given me the opportunity to achieve my life goals that stand before me.

I have become very involved on campus, participating in greeklife as a sister of Theta Phi Alpha, being an athlete playing field hockey, becoming inducted on the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, and being named editor-in-chief of the school's yearbook. Everyday, I think of my father as I begin my busy days who said, "you would rather be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond." Being a student on a smaller campus is valuable because it gives students more opportunity to get involved therefore exploiting collegiate opportunity and fulfilling our potential to its fullest.

In the past two years, the only thing I have gotten out of my college experience is and introduction to my future career and some knowledge throught the academics. I was hoping to have gotten a lot more out of the experience especially for attending Ramapo College of New Jersey for two full years and living on campus. I would not reccomend anyone who wants a true college experience to go here. As a nursing major, I will not be able to take full advantage of "college life" for the last two years because of the rigorous academic program. I guess I just learned the hard way and can only pass my knowledge down to those applying to colleges.

Whatever you do, do not slack off your senior year of high school! Doing that only makes getting back into a good work habit that much harder freshman year of college. Also, do not get caught up in the price of a school. There is always financial aid and different scholarships you can apply for that can let you achieve your dreams. Listen to your parents and guidence counselor when it comes to anything with college. They know more about it than you because they went through it before. Also, try and visit every college you are interested in and really seek out infromation on each college. College is the best time of your life, you want to be at a place where you will be able to enjoy yourself but also achieve your degree.

College life can be a stifling and intimidating experience for some students. If I could go back to senior year, I would have made a few changes to increase my preparedness for Ramapo. I would have gone to a college program that let students spend a few nights on campus so homesickness wouldn't be so severe on move-in day. The program would've helped me feel more secure because I would be used to living on campus prior to move-in. The feeling of security is important when on campus, and because I did not spend a few nights on campus before the start of the semester, I felt homesick for the first week and a half. That was wasted time that I could have spent making friends or joining clubs, a very important thing to do as a college Freshman. I have settled in quite nicely in the rural area of Mahwah. I made up for lost time and became the Secretary of a Technology club while pulling a 4.0 average. However, I feel like I did the best I could for a Freshman student entering an unknown place with a sea of unknown faces.

I would tell myself to be strong and independent. That making friends is easy once you find the right people. That you are here to study and become the person you want to be. Since I was in a very bad car accident three months before going to school, some days I was in so much pain I could barely walk. I would tell myself to take care of my body and use Ramapo's resources to heal quicker. I would take better care of my body and mind. I would tell myself to join more clubs and make sure I become an active member in my community to help benefit the lives of others more often and to have a meaningful college experience. College is sometimes portrayed as one big party, but the richest, most valuable lessons are the ones that you take from the classroom and from helping others.

Don't hesitate to socialize but manage your time so that you get your work gets done in a timely manner so you don't have to rush last minute. Get started on papers when the assignment is given and don't be afraid to ask the proffessor to clarify what he/she wants. My biggest word of advice would be use the library. The dorm room can be too distracting to get work done in. This may sound uptight but make a plan as to how you will manage work and fun. it will help things go much more smoothly.

I would tell myself that there is no reason to be anxious about the transition; everyone go and gets through it. I would advise myself to work on study habits and time management because it is imperative to have a balanced life in college.