Rider University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to get so worked up about college because it's not as hard as some people make it out to be. The key to doing well in college is time management, making sure you complete your work with your best effort and no cramming the night before any midterms or finals because you decided to wait to the last minute to study. I would also tell myself to really sit down and look into what college I want to attend and when making the decision as to what college I want to go to, really consider the cost. College isn't cheap and I'm not rich. I love the college I go to and I don't want to transfer, but the reality of it is my financial aid will not cover my tuition. With that said I would tell myself to pick a cheaper college because no one wants to have to make new friends all over again or have to move to another college just because you can't afford the college you originally came too.

I would advise all seniors, to not rush into this decision. College is a large life change. Do not base your decision on friends decisions or stupid things such as it being a top party school. Your education is important and should be taken more seriously. Having been in there shoes a few years ago i know what its like to be excited to leave home., but it is not all its cracked up to be. The partying will grow old, quick and the end of the semester comes just as fast. Also i would recommend community college. I know to most it sounds like highschool all over again, but there is nothing wrong with doing your first year at a community school. It really is a nice transition from highschool to the larger universities. Not to mention it will save a large amount of money.

If I could go back and time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to slack off as much and to choose a college not for its social events. I spent the first three years of high school working hard to get good grades along with balancing my clubs and job. My senior year, I slacked off a lot and to me, college was just about skipping class, going to parties to get drunk to skip class the next day. I, unfortunately, went to a college where that was the student's main goal, just to go party. After my first year, I did so terrible, I spent the next year trying to pick up my grades to transfer to my second choice college. In conclusion, if I was standing in front of a seventeen-year-old me, I would tell her to continue to work hard because it will pay off and to chose Rider University because that college will help me realize my full academic potential and make the lifelong friendships I never had.

Be ready to explore the many wonders and responsibilities of a college student. During the college years you will experience many changes, those that will help you pursue the right career path and those that will guide you in making your decisions as an independent learner. This is a time in your life where you will better yourself, and steer you?re self in the right direction. You can make a difference in your life while inspiring others just like you.

If I were able to go back and talk to my younger self in high school I would advise myself to work even harder on my grades because there is always room for improvement. I would also say to study harder for my SAT and ACT tests and take both yet another time. And that juggling my after school activities, home work and a job was all well and good but try and get into more community service oppotunites and not just the ones offered by my high school. Then I would say to think even more carefully about my major, which in a field as broad as business, better be thought through thoroughly, especially if your like me and desire only the minimal amount of math possible. I would tell myself that college really is an experience that will change your life you meet so many interesting people that could be potential references in the future so keep everyone close, and lastly, that becoming the professors favorite pupil never hurt anyone, rather it would behoove one to make sure the professor knows you care about the course, you don't even have to like it, just show your gratitude.

High school was my time for immense change and personal growth--academically and personally. Now that I am in college, I know that the growth I experienced in high school is making my college adventure far more meaningful. If I could go back in time, knowing what I know now about college life, I would tell myself to lighten up. I spent the vast majority of my high school career making sure I had perfect grades and a lot of extra-curricular activities, meanwhile losing sight of my goals. Rather than loving to learn and learning to love, I was just doing it for the grades. Now, in college, I see that I can still maintain great grades while enjoying life and the many lessons I can gleen from it. Stressing over ifs and maybes only hinders my ability to learn and my appreciation of learning.

I would tell myself to choose a small, private school. I orginally chose one of the largest schools in the country and transfered after my first semester to a small school with only one-tenth of the number of students. Even though it costs a lot more to attend a small, private school, the sense of community and the friends you make are worth it.

Honestly, if I had the choice to go back in time, I probably wouldn't. I would rather just allow myself to go through the process on my own, without my "college self's" advice. The whole point of college is to go out on your own and learn new things. I liked that I was going out on my own and that only I could make that transition meaningful. I liked that I would be the one to work through my problems and make decisions for myself. I wouldn't go back in time because I feel it would only hinder my first college experience.

Everything that your parents and teachers told you is the truth! Once you step foot on campus you are going to be overwhelmed by your surroundings and the many friendly faces. If being in college has taught me anything it would be that it?s a very rigorous and time consuming place in your life. College is nothing like High School. For you to succeed as a college student you MUST figure out what your priorities are, manage your time wisely and put your schoolwork first, and don't get caught up in any drama. You need to figure out your priorities; no one is going to hold your hand during this time. If you make a mistake your friends are not going to be there to fix it. Your schoolwork is the most important factor of college. You have to figure out a schedule to when you have time to do your work and study. Once you manage you time to where you want it, the rest of the year will be a breeze. And lastly, you are here to make pursue your passion, not make friends. Also, learn to spot the people who only want to use you.

As a high school senior, I was naive and extremely anxious about transitioning to and living at college. I was afraid that I would be constantly homesick, I wouldn't make any friends, and my grades would suffer. I cried endlessly those few weeks before the beginning of fall semester and I teared up as I hugged my family goodbye. Looking back, I realized I overanalyzed and was worried prematurely. Now, I am so thankful I made the decision that I did and I feel sad when I have to leave college to go home for breaks. College seems incredibly scary because of new responsibilities and more freedom when, in reality, it's a blast. New friends, TAs, advisors, and professors are all there to ease your transition. Never be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone and always ask someone for help or support when you need it. When my college anxiety was at it's peak and I was struggling to make a desicion, my mother told me, "The fear of something is often worse than actually doing it." I found this advice to be 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} true and I recommend all seniors to realize this fact.

I would tell myself to stop worring so much about my classwork and go out and have a good time. You only get four years here and when its done, its done. I would tell myself to get involved earlier than I did and make friends outside of your team. Don't let your whole life revolve around one aspect of your life cause when its over you will feel like you have nothing.

I would tell myself there's no one to keep you entertained. Sometimes between rehearsals and homework you're going to feel overwhelmed but that feeling doesn't last long. The work may not be as hard as it was in high school but it will definitely require more attention and detail and will NOT do itself. Have fun. Meet new people; explore the new world of friendship because you?re going to be spending a lot of time with these people over the next four years of your life. Don't be stuck in the world of "I came here knowing people." Enjoy the semester it will be over very soon and you will wonder where it went. Make study guides and learn the art of studying every night instead of only for test. But most of all have fun, enjoy the time you have at school but it will be over very quickly. Make the most out of the experiences in college, whether good or bad; they make you a stronger more cultured person.

Don't panic. As a high school senior, I feared attending college for two prominent reasons, but during my college freshman year I found those fears weren't as realistic as I had expected. The first hurdle overcame was homesickness, and it was conquered (surprisingly) with ease. My college matched me with a fantastic room-mate, and I was immersed in a dorm- community filled with friendly people pursuing majors similar to mine. Most students (both freshman and upperclassmen) were socially open to me, because they were or already had been dealing with social adjustments I was facing. The second aspect of college that provoked dread was an increased workload. Though the thought of higher education delighted me, I had this terrible assumption that I would be given too much coursework to manage, everything would snowball, and that my future would be forever scarred by academic failure. To the contrary, my university actually enabled me to succeed with the combination of free tutoring and a low student-teacher ratio. Also, I was allowed to drop courses early-on if I felt overwhelmed taking them. Overall, I became comfortable during my first semester of college, and advise attending college with confidence.

If I were able to go back in time, I would be sure to tell myself the importance developing time management skills. Balancing class work and studying while trying to hold down a job and trying to take advantage of the many clubs and organizations offered by the university can seem very overwhelming. However, with a little planning and some organizational skills everything becomes much more manageable. Being able to manage time well makes the college experience less stressful and more enjoyable.

In high school, I hadn't a clue who I actually was, let alone who I wanted to be. I was terrified of not having a plan, so I did a very good job of convincing myself that I wanted to be a music teacher. After a month in the music ed program at TCNJ, I knew that it was a wrong fit for me. However, I thought I had to keep going with it, just to have a plan. Well after a few years and a good many bad grades, I finally 'faced the music' and realized that I needed to start over. Rider was one of the few schools that would accept me with my GPA. If I could do it again, I would have given myself the chance to come in as an undecided major. I also would have asked to see syllabi for a variety of courses and program planners for multiple majors before matriculating. If I had a chance to see whether or not professors were lecturing on topics I care about and whether the courses offered would truly prepare me for a career, I would have made a better deciscion and saved myself years.

Be a more well rounded student, join clubs, organizations and do a lot of community service. Paying for college is an expensive proposition, and if you arent fortunate enough to be born to a wealthy family you will be applying for student loans. When you are done paying it off you will be in debt to the tune of about 200,000 if you go for a masters degree. I am in the unenvious position just now of scrambling to get the money to stay in school because I didnt listen to my parents and advisors in high school. Honestly the hardest lesson ive learned to date wasnt one learned from a teacher, it was humility. It is an incredibly humbling experience begging for money to complete your education. Honestly your parents know more then you do, they have been around longer and have accumulated more knowlege so LISTEN TO THEM.

I would have enjoyed high school, but would have cracked down harder on getting really great grades. I am smart; and fit into the average catagory of the student body. I am not into sports because I am little, and not into art/theatre, so the only advantage I had for myself was to get better grades. I think the high school students today want to enjoy their high school life and are afraid to miss out on the growing years of high school and they don't take it seriously; we took grammer school more seriously! I enjoy where I go to college and it fits me as a person; but in the teaching of getting ready for college, I tell my brother you need to study and work harder than I did in high school. I feel as though you can be a great student in college even if you aren't that well rounded student, being involved in clubs, associations, etc. You can work at your grades, your friendships and try to hold down a job and the college itself should respect that idea as well. I am fortunate that I can go to college today.

Commuting to college is the best way to go to college. Living at college creates too many distractions for people on learning.

Choose a collge that you would feel comfortable at., the worse thing ever is to be attending a school that makes does not fit your personality. While visting colleges interact with the people to get a feel of who you will spending a great majority of your time around. If you can talk to teachers as well as students. Ask as many questions as possible. Figure out a plan to pay for the college you select. While at college get involved join clubs to make new friends. Make sure to attend any events that are happening on campus. This wi;; give you a better sense of community and make you feel more comfortable your first year at college. Parents should as about the security at the school. In order to feel at ease while their child is at school.

Do not look for the most popular univeristy/college because you would probably end up partying which will cause you to slack on your grades. Look for the university/college that supports your major and provides professors that are available to assisst you. Make sure its in a good area.