Santa Barbara City College Top Questions

What should every freshman at Santa Barbara City College know before they start?

John

If I go back and talk to myself as a high school senior first of all I would tell myself to prepare for my future. Preparing myself for a future involves taking college serious and realizing the importance of a quality education. How an education lays the foundation for the rest of your life. I would tell myself to dedicate myself to college and to make the best grades possible because it's important. I would remind myself how expensive a college education is but in the long run it's an investment in my future.

Marissa

These past two years living away from home have been a huge learning experience for me. Since senior year I have attended two schools; my freshman year at University of Colorado and my sophomore year at Santa Barbara City College. Certainly, having an open mind about everything would have been the best advice I could have given myself. , I learned that I needed to make the best of the situation and have a good attitude because I will be encountering people who I am not used to in addition to surviving a year in freezing Colorado. Making new friends two years in a row is also difficult so I would have advised myself to be very social and get involved in as many things as possible. I realized that although I came across numerous situations that did not enthrall me, they helped me grow and mature as a person and helped me become the woman I had always wanted to be.

Amanda

Wow! Oh what a grand thing it would be to go back in time! I would advise to stay steady on the course of creating a better life for myself, my children and my husband by obtaining a graduate degree. Don't get caught up in the drama of circumstances; high school years are great but graduation from that time period should be the gateway into responsibility and ultimately to becoming a positive, contributing member of society. In becoming a psychology major, I would advise to make sure to have great emotional support from family, friends and therapist; if for nothing else than just to check to make sure there are no mental meltdowns in the near future. Never take more than two or three psychology courses in a row. This will ensure maximum learning and healthy processing of ones own life. Overall have fun as you trudge the road ahead to adventure, knowledge, and power through education. It is something no one can ever steal from another. :o)

Irene

I would tell myself to take high school more seriously, from the first day of freshman year or better yet, freshman orientation. What I realize now that I wish I had then is that school determines your future, it is how serious you take school that will reflect your future and where you will be. I would have planned more, aimed for higher goals, dreamed a little more had I known that college would be this challenging. It's amazing how much we take for granted in high school where we have counselors telling us what classes to take and where to go. And now, you are your own counselor and you have to take the initiative to seek help and advice, it's in your own hands to plan for your future.

Natalie

I would tell myself to utilize all resources to get information about different schools to attend and to start saving up money for college. Now the prices are going up, so I would definatley tell myself to start saving money for college. Everything is so expensive right now and the prices are still going up, so the earlier money can be saved up the better. I would tell myself to see counselors at least once a semester, maybe even twice. To take advantage of all the work shops, tutors and other resources available at school. It is so important to familiarize yourself with available resources. I would also tell myself to start looking for scholarships early. Financial aid and utilizing resources would be the most important things to tell myself to figure out early.