San Diego State University Top Questions

Well, because my dad had been laid off when I came to college, I didn't plan on living in the dorms. I was going to be living with my sister and commuting, but upon meeting some new friends, I realized I had made the wrong decision. Living on campus gives a student the full college experience. I definitely would tell myself to work harder on getting scholarships, grants, and loans, so that I could have started the year in the dorms. By getting more scholarships and grants, I could have had the money to live in the dorms without having to ask my parents. Now that I live in the dorms, I wouldn't change it for my freshmen year, or anybody's.

I would definitely tell myself to explore my options more fully by taking all the classes that were of interest to me. I would have taken as many concurrent enrollment classes as possible, giving me the possibilty to graduate from high school with an associates degree. I would have been more diligent in actually learning to love to learn. Thus, by doing so, I would be able to more fully enjoy the subjects in school, rather than just trying to get the course work finished. I would have tried to pull more life lessons that could be applicable in my everday life from each class that I attended. Finally, I would advise myself to look for what principle of learning each teacher was trying to portray and glean more fully for those things that help them succeed in the world.

Take more Advanced Placement classes. I would have taken AP Statistics, AP Economics, and AP History. It would have helped me get a head start. Get a job freshman year that would have substained throughout college.

The college experience is about more than just classes, exams, and grades. It's about building relationships and finding out who you are. It's about making the right choices—and learning from the wrong ones. That's what I got out of my college experience. Initially, I chose classes based on my interests. Then, I realized that they weren't very interesting after all. I changed my major three times before getting my degree! Although this set my graduation date back, it helped me develop my character. It made me who I am today: someone who contributes to society. Attending college has been valuable because without that experience, I would have never discovered where my true strength and passion lay. I would have likely remained closed-minded to a world of possibilities. The interaction with like-minded individuals, as well as the not so like-minded, can only be found in a college setting. It’s a direct connection to those who crave fresh knowledge. Author Tom Clancy wrote, "Life is about learning; when you stop learning, you die." My college experience was a learning process, one that has taught me that I can never stop learning.

So far out of my college experience, I think the most valuable thing I've gotten are my friends. There are so many different people here and most everyone is extremely nice. Living in the dorms, I've been lucky enough to create a little family with everyone on my floor. We look out for each other and I know we'll be friends for life. I've also learned many new things and have stumbled upon new interests due to the fun (and sometimes good-looking) professors and staff. Overall, I'm really enjoying my time and I plan to stay for the rest of my academic career.

After only a semester I can't fully grasp the benefits my entire college experience will provide. Thus far, I have made quality friends, learn valuable time management skills, and learned how to live on my own. Not exactly what I expected to learn or experience from classrooms and a new campus, but they are extremely valuable lessons none the less. Attending university has been valuable for many reasons. The previously stated are valuable life lessons that I have already learned. I expect to continue learning and becoming more educated toward my desired major, Biology. With that degree and the valuable knowledge I will gain, in and outside of the classroom, I plan to provide myself with the greatest number of options and open the most doors I can in order to attend Medical School and have a successful career and family.

My college experience thus far has been great. I am attending a local community college in my hometown and will be transferring to Saint Cloud State University next fall. It has been nice to take classes at CLC. I have gotten to see what I really want to do for the rest of my life by taking a class for a low rate and seeing what I do not want to do. I currently work at a local coffee shop making minimum wage and working 20 hours a week. It doesn't take long before all my money is gone and I have only ten dollars for food until next pay day. Having this money would be really helpful.

Where I come from, it is expected that students will graduate from high school and continue with college. Whether that college be a 2-year, 4-year, public, or private university, it is much more common, and therefore, expected, for boys and girls to attend college after high school. However, this does not mean that the experience of college is any less valuable. Since attending college has become more mainstream, so to speak, it has consequently become a more competitive environment. For me, this means I'm in college because I want to be, taking courses that I want to take. I am not in college by anyone's drive but my own. Although I am not even halfway finished, being part of a university beyond high school has introduced me to people with similar interests, ideas, and ways of life that I would probably have never encountered otherwise. The courses offered in college are courses taught by passionate experts, leading to a completely new intake and absorption of information that I wasn't ready to experience in high school. Attending college has enabled me to view knowledge as a privilege rather than an obligation.

From my college experience I have gotten a since of community. I value this because I do not feel alone at my school but more I want to participate and make my school better. I love that I have a place where I feel is my own. Feeling a part of something bigger than myself makes me feel great inside.

First thing that I have gotten out of my college experience is the perpetual taste of independence. I realized that I had more freedom in my first week of college than I did in high school. When I mean independence I am not relating back to the thrill of finally leaving the nest, but rather pertaining it to my high school friends. In college I could be by myself, and explore the campus and all the opportuinites that San Diego State Univeristy had to offer. I was able to expand and meet new students along the way. It was enjoyable to meet a variety of mature and open people compared to my friends in high school. College life has given me a chance to form a new person; a confident and mature young adult. Of course I will never forget the friends I had made in high school, but college has given me the opportunity to venture off and explore everything on my own. Attendance at San Diego State University, has been most valuable to me in that it has given me the chance to interact, explore and meet intresting people.