Saint Norbert College Top Questions

What should every freshman at Saint Norbert College know before they start?

Alyssa

Knowing what I know now, I would give myself a few pieces of advice. I would tell myself to consider all of my options before choosing which school to go to. I would tell myself not to choose a school based on others' opinions about it. I would also tell myself that being close to home is not always the best reason for choosing a college. As far as transitioning to college goes, I would warn myself that living with a roommate is a difficult situation and to be more open with my opinions and feelings, or else nothing changes. I would also tell myself that, even though the trasition would be difficult, I would still have an amazing first year of college, despite differences between my roommate and myself.

Alex

College can bring about frustration through student debt, difficult classes, and struggling grades. Although you will have these difficulties, college is designed to help you prepare for your life and your career. Anytime you may be overwhelmed, just remember what lies ahead after college. Graduating from college can provide you with a secure career path you enjoy, as well as a developed work ethic to get you where you want to be. As bad as some of this may sound, through the years you will realize it is not as horrific as it may seem as an eager high school senior. Similar to any doubt you may come across in life, you must realize you have the full capability and determination to succeed in college as well as your future career. So all the obstacles you will face in college will only build you into an experienced hard working person that is looking for the most in life. In the end, remember to never doubt yourself, always stay determined, and enjoy every year in college. These three keys will help you become a successful student and a successful person in life.

Norma

If I could go back to myself as a high school senior I would advise myself to take dual enrollment classes while in high school to get some credit out of the way and make the transition more smooth. I would also advise myself not to overload myself the first semester like I did, taking five classes your first semester in college and working thirty five hours a week is not advisable. Also, I would tell myself to really sit back and enjoy senior year and my fellow classmates' company because before I knew it we were graduating and going our seperate ways, which was very sad and hard to look back on. Another piece of advice I would give myself is to stay away from the fast food because the infamous "freshman fifteen" is real and it will get you! Plus, I would tell myself to take advantage of college syllabi and begin studying for tests and working on papers far in advance of the deadlines to avoid unnecessary stress on myself.

dillon

If I could go back in time to give myself advice about the college life, I would definitely start with telling myself to work as much as I could to save money. Things get expensive and you never know when there will be an emergency. The amount of money you need to spend on supplies, books, classes, food etc becomes hard to manage. But, if I would tell myself to save money things would be much different. A nother key factor that I would give myself some insight on would be to get myself ready for hard work and dedication in the class room. Not a lot of people get to attend college, so making the best of what you have in front of you pays off in the long run.

Taylor

Make sure you are super involved. College can be great if you let it. There are many clubs, just go out and try them! Don't not do something just because your friends aren't doing it. Be yourself, and be outgoing. Study hard and remember to keep a good head on your shoulders. Always remember who you are and where you came from.

Elizabeth

I would advise myself to not let the tuition deter me from a school that I love. It's intimidating to be touring school and looking at the prices of tuition. During my senior year I debated between attending Saint Norbert or a much cheaper state school. I knew that St. Norbert was where I really wanted to be, but the price was overwhelming. I decided that I would do whatever it takes to be able to graduate from the college I fell in love with. I know that was the best choice I could have made. I didn't let the money stop me, and now I'm thriving at St. Norbert. If I could give advice to my high school senior self I would have said to not let the cost hold you back. I would have made my decision much earlier as to which college I would attend.

Samantha

I know that this transition is scary and leaving home seems like it will be a challenge, but I want you to know that everything will work out better than you realize. You will meet a ton of lifelong friends that will change your life, you will learn how to be a strong and independent individual, and you will gain more self-confidence than you know. There will be ups and downs, but you will always have family and friends to get you through it. Always remember to work hard and manage your time according to your priorities, you can do anything that you put your mind to. Get involved in a social group or something that makes you happy. Be willing to take risks, especially if they are scary, because you will never regret taking that leap of faith. Express your opinions, don't fade into the background and let life pass you by. Never be afraid to step outside your comfort zone, you will discover so many new opportunities and be a better person for it. Don't let the opinions of others influence you, keep an open mind, be yourself and be proud of who you are.

Benjamin

The biggest thing is - do not procrastinate. Deadlines come up sooner than you think.

Brianna

I would tell myself to be more dedicated to my studies, to be more passionate about what I want to do, more outgoing and be more sure about what I truley want to do in life.

Brittany

I would tell myself it is understandable that change is a scary thing, but it is what makes us grow and come into our own. As a high school senior I did not plan to go away to college, I wanted to stay with my family. I would tell my high school senior self that I would not be the adult that I am today without embracing the changes I moved forward with in my life, including leaving the nest and flying to a new place. I would tell my high school senior self that change is imperative to become a successful adult part of our society.

Russell

Sweet! I have gone back in time. I think I will go talk to myself as a high school senior and tell him how college will be for us. Well I'll start off telling you SNC definetly was a great choice. All the people are great. Oh, and don't worry about not making friends because we meet a bunch of awesome people. All I have to say is try to open up a little sooner, don't hold back like we normally do. As for the girls, remember to pace yourself. There are a lot of pretty ones but don't become too caught up in all of them. Eventually we will meet the right one. Now for classes make sure you focus a lot more. Like everyone is saying, college is not as easy as high school, so don't slack off and when I say that I mean cut back on the video games. Oh, by the way, put more effort into that Theology class. I know it will be tuff but we can do it. The most important thing I want to say to you is slow down and relax, we are only here once.

Alyssa

I love going to St. Norbert. We are required to take certain general education classes, and I enjoyed all of the classes I was "forced" to take. I probably would not have taken courses such as philosophy or theology, but they were fun classes to be in. Because the school size is so small, I have been in classes with the same people so it was easy to form friendships. St. Norbert is a great fit for me, and I like it a lot.

Joshua

When one talks about college experience, what comes to mind? To me a college experience is nothing more than the journey of finding myself and who I want to be for the rest of my life. This realization itself is an important step in any effective college experience. In other word it is more about the journey than it is about the destination. I quickly found that if I can do this whole college thing and be on my own I can do anything. Weather this is true or not is not important; what is important is that this "college experience" is meant to give students the confidence to continue through their life, while having countless smiles and successes on the way. To sum it all up, the values of being a college student come from nothing more than the self-discovery and self-purpose that one reflects upon while attending.

Emma

Knowing myself I would tell myself to make sure i had plenty to talk about with my new friends and would be open to sharing my past freely with those whom I bonded. I also wish I knew that college would be so splitting of those who are truly motivated and those who skate by. You can not let other peoples success' and failures affect how you think about yourself.

Tasha

Out of the many things I could share with myself, I would first remind myself to eat healthy and stick to my regimented workout plans, reminding myself that as you grown older, your metabolism slows down?.fast. Next I would reassure myself that college is awesome and a wonderful time to grow and experience new people who aren?t stuck in clicks and ridiculous high school drama. After all those important facts were relayed, I would encourage me to continue reading and studying up on topics related to my major even after I graduate. Then I would finish off with advice along the lines of: ?gets lots of scholarships because college is hard on your pocket.? There would be so many things I would love to tell myself about where to be at what times, what not to do, or people to avoid, what stocks to buy into or simply to enjoy life, but since I only have 200 words, that would have to do.

Paul

The major advice I would give myself is to finish off strong in high school. A.P. classes are incredibly beneficial in getting college credit. Also, I would say it's important to keep an open mind especially with those who may have very different opinions and backgrounds. As an athlete I would say that making the jump from high school soccer to college soccer is extremely more physical. I would have liked to prepare myself more for that experience. As a student who pays for my entire education, I would say that it is important to start off strong because the amount of money I spend each semester and the three jobs that I work to pay for it, need to have a positive result.

Alexis

Never let anyone tell you that you aren't smart enough to do something, try your best in every way possible., and don't be ashamed to ask for help because no question a dumb question.

Kelley

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would share several key pieces of advice with myself that I have gained thus far in my college career. First, I would stress the importance of time management. Both the workload and the class schedule in college is very different from high school. One may not have the same classes every day, yet keeping up with work is crucial to performing well in college. Tools like a daily planner for assignments, and a calander marked with important tests and papers are helpful for staying on track. Next I would advise myself to hone my writing skills. Paper writing is emphasized on a much greater scale in college, and professors have high expectations. Efficient paper writing is also key, for deadlines tend to be abbreviated. Finally, I would love to be able to tell myself to take a deep breath and relax. College preparation can be so stressful that it is easy to miss the wonder and grandeur of it all. Appreciating being a college student and embracing the new phase in life is just as important as attending class or making the Dean's List.

Rebecca

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would persuade myself to take the process of choosing a college more seriously. I did not take the time to look at the wide array of options available when selecting a school. My choice didn't match my personality. I somewhat regret going to St. Norbert College because of how small it is, the athletics, the social life, and proximity to home. Recently I have had the opportunity to visit a friend at the University of Kansas, and I felt at home. I realized that's how college should feel. I am amazed by the community atmosphere, endless amounts of extra-curriculuar clubs and activities and the resources for academic success available for students. I tried almost everything I could to transfer to KU, but it didn't work out financially. I know a lot of people that like St. Norberts, but it's not for me. Knowing what I know now, I would have put more effort into finding the right school for me instead of just settling for something safe.

Olivia

Looking back on my descion process considering college, I would not do it any differently. I followed my heart, and knew St. Norbert was the best school for me; I truly felt at home and always will. The transition was tough and if I could go back to a year ago before starting college I would tell myself to focus , do not become attached to people and do not be afraid to get involved. Sometimes within the first semester of college I would obsess over my future and what I was going to do. It is overwhelming to feel like you have to decide what you will do with the rest of your life and thinking the first friends you meet will be there forever like people say. The advice would be to focus on the task at hand; study, go to class and talk to your professors. I did what I thought would be enough but being on your own for the first time everyone makes mistakes. Do not think you can be involved with too much, do not be afraid to make new friends, everyone is in the same situation of discovering themselves, and be open to change.