Savannah College of Art and Design Top Questions

College has been hard and it isn't getting easier, but im trying as hard as I can. The main reason i am attending college is because I want to be someone in life and help my family in Mexico. Through my first year in college I have learned how hard my parents work for money and how independent i should be. This expirience has made me grow more as a person and has made me want to fight for life more than ever. Now i am determined to reach my goal, but money and the economy is bringing me down i need money and thats why I am writing to you because I want to learn more but i can't without your help.

I am a Film/Television transfer student at Savannah College of Art and Design who used to attend DePaul University for Lighting Design. If there is one thing I've gotten out of my college experience it is that I should follow my instincts and let my interests guide me. College is probably the only time in one's life where one is able to find a purpose in the world and explore the transition into becoming a proud citizen. College is a student's catalyst. With the opportunities for exploration and growth as a person, artist, and citizen, students should use college as a jumping point only to land in the sea of fantastic worldly wonders. Students should use college to set goals and determine meaning. College is the beginning of a lifetime of continuing growth. I've found that one must be open to all of this.

So far I have gotten quite a bit out of my college experience. One of the most important things college has taught me is that it individualism is ok. In society and the media so much effort seems to be towards making everyone alike. In college you meet and see and so many people from so many different places and walks of life. Every person brings their own style and ideas to the table to make the college experience not only interesting but educational. College has also allowed me to grow up alittle more and learn how to make it out on my own. Being 9 hours away from home, you can't rely on family or friends to be at your beck and call when things come up. It's all about being able to manage your own time and do what you have to to get where you want to be.

I have wanted to go to ?school? ever since I first visited the leafy, ivy covered walls of Yale as a nine-year-old girl. While I finally attended college many years after that of a traditional student, the rewards seem to be even greater. I feel a sense of accomplishment that is greater than anything else I have ever felt in my life. As a young woman I understood that I had failed in life by not taking the route of my peers. I was so self-conscious of what I considered to be an embarrassing financial situation at home that it nearly crippled me for years, even encouraging me no to even try because I knew that I didn?t have a chance. It is strange to look back and see how some of my earlier choices have shaped my life. As I round my senior year in college, I now know that none of that matters. Everyone around me at school is broke too! I can?t imagine what I was so scared of. I work harder and value every minute in class. Every second is an achievement and I make sure I remember that every day.

If i could go back in time, i would tell myself to think about colleges early, to look at every college and what they could offer me. I would tell myself to explor ever option avalible to me and that time flys by in high school, to enjoy my friendships and be involved in my school. extracuricular activities are very important to colleges.I would also tell myself to work hard for scholorships because school is expensive and financial aid dosent cover a third of the cost. Take the financial aspects more seriously. I would also make sure that i worked on my art more, and that i started to take intrest sooner so i could have got a head start and perfected my skills. Mostly i would make sure to tell myself not to panic. That college is an amazing experience and i am going to make life long friends that feel like family.

If I could go back to talk to myself as a high school senior. I would tell myself study hard, be the top in the class keep GPA as least 3.5 to 4.0. Make good ACT score. Get a job work save money for college, I don't have to depent on my parents of everythings. Looking for more scholarships, 'cause I got good GPA. learn how to write good essay.

I would tell myself to work harder on the things that I dreaded back then as those are things that once I gave them a chance, I fell in love with them. Back then I was always afraid that I wouldnt fit in, and I would make it a point to tell myself that their are many others like me, willing to make this wonderful journey with me. I would tell myself to never underestimate the satisfaction of hard work, the feeling of completing something that I once thought I could never do.

Since graduating from high school in 2007 I've bounced from college to college. I have constantly had to stop my studies due financial issues, which has been extremely frustrating. So through my experience I would have told myself to first look up scholarships and apply, second speak with my chosen school about additional financial aid when i'm not offered enough, and third really research many colleges to know what they can offer me instead of just settling because its the only option.

If I could go back and talk to my younger self I would tell myself to prepare for college more. That seems simple to say, but what do I mean by this? I mean being able to support myself on my own and expand my social skills. I would have told myself to be more outgoing, to join clubs and go for leadership roles. There were plenty in highschool I just never took advantage of them. It took me two whole years to get this, and now I think I'm the happiest I've ever been. I am proud of how much I have grown since I've been on my own. I now have a student leadership position, plenty of friends, a passion for my career, and a wealth of self confidence, but it wasn't always like that. In highschool and my freshmen year of college, I was extremely shy, had very few friends, and was greatly confused on what I wanted to do with my life. Although I do believe the events I have gone though all greatly contribute to shaping who I am today, it would have been a much smoother transition to college life.

Beverly Sills once said, " There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would enforce this statement. I think if I had heard these words from someone when I was still in high school I would have a stronger work ethic then I do now. I would have been motivated to work harder in high school, to make better grades. I worked hard all through high school, however once senior came a long I began to slack off. I would complete what was asked of me but I would only complete it by doing the bare minimum. By doing that, I lost a lot of the study habits that I worked so hard to build. In the end, I got in to the school of my dreams however I wish I could go back and reestablish my work ethic in preparation for college.

The advice I would give myself would be to follow what you know you wanted to do in your heart. It is important not to be preoccupied with how much money you'll be making, but how your quality of life will be if you study what you really want to. I think you should do what I did and tear up the applications to schools that you knew were not where you should go.

If I had the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, I would pass on the wisdom of determination and patience. I would stongly reiterate the fact that you must remain diligent if you intend to succeed in this world. The real world can be not only cruel, but very giving to those who remain passionate about what drives them. If I truly had this opportunity, I would remind myself that music and teaching are the true joys in my life and that I must work harder to accomplish the goal of becoming a teacher. Your senior year is the stepping stone needed to grow into a caring, world-conscious, passionate adult. I would remember that these descisions are for MY future and no one elses. Senior year, for myself and most others, is the 365 days we have to decide, "What am I going to do with my life?" I would remind myself that I made that decision a long time ago, and that I should stick to it and whatever makes life worth living. I would tell myself to be happy.

I would have told myself to paymore attention in school. More than anything I would have stressed the importance of doing well academically, if only i had really appreciated how nescessary my high school grades were to my getting into a good school. I definitely would have told myself to save money too, because you never know when something might happen and in the end nothing is more reassuring than being able to rely on yourself, but the most important piece of advice I would give myself is just dont be afraid, I know its scary and new but just because something scares you doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.

Everything happens for a reason, right? I wouldn't want to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, because, if I did, I might change something that happens between now and then, disrupting the chain of event that has lead me to where I am now...28 and finally starting college. However, if I didn't care about disrupting the timeline that is my life, I would tell myself to clean up, get better grades, not mess around in school, and go to college! I would explain to myself that society demands that you have a degree to get anywhere in this lifetime, and you will earn more money for it as well. Of course, I know that my 17 year old self wouldn't listen, so unfortunately it would all be for nothing anyway. Bottom line, don't mess around with the fabic of time.

As I transport back to a time when I was a year younger, anxious, yet eager to meet college, I would tell myself "Don't worry. Believe and work harder." I have found that the transition from high school to college was not a big academic or emotional gap. What I was confident in, I achieved. In my first quater I earned a 4.0, and made new friends, the best start I could hope for. I wish, however, that I could back and tell myself to work harder. My younger self would most likely reply, "But I do work hard. I'm graduating as class Salutatorian, I'm an officer and member of several clubs, and I'm part of a dance company..." " And I would say, "Yes that does sound hard... but push where you haven't, earn more scholarships, research more about what you dream to do, not just what looks good." I have learned that I should have applied for more money opportunities because my grades would not guarentee anything, and that as long as I have confidence in myself I can achieve my goals.

The most important thing would be to save up money because art supplies are exspencive. Also, it wouldn't hurt to bring your own food because the cafateria food can mkae you feel really sick, and if you have more than four abssences in a class you fail, so you have to becarful what you eat before class. Invest in a mini vacum, because your roomate might not keep the room as clean as you would like. Bring your chair from hom. The stools are murder on your back. Don't worry about not makeing any friends. You'll find life-long friends in places you wouldn't expect. Be prepared for the work load and learn to manage your time so you won't have to pull any all nighters. There will be times when you feel like you are about to go mad and that everything is about to fall down and consume you, but you will get through them. If you fail, you can try again, so relax a little and remeber to have fun.

To start off, I would have to tell myself that slacking is one thing that you can not expect to be able to do. The time required for class is exponentially longer than that needed in a high school class. All nighters become a casual thing that happens to everybody, there's pretty much no avoiding it. I was worried about maing friends in college, so I would have to tell myself that everybody else is in the same situation, and are friendly and will actually strike up conversation with you, unlike in high school where there are so many cliques that maing friends can be hard. I never imagined that I would take naps during the day, so I would have to let myself know that naps become a natural part of life that everybody does on a daily basis. So to sum up, I would let myself know that going to college really helps you discover who you are as a person adn what you want in life. You learn mportant skills such as managing your time, effective communication and networking skills, and how to less loose and not worry so much about what others think of you.

Remember to stay focused about why you are in college. Sure, it's the first time you will have been away from home and you are going to feel like you need to spread your wings and experiment with some things, find out what you've been missing. Peer pressure will be appealing in most circumstances and you will find yourself thinking that you are having fun. Next thing you know you are getting behind in classes, skipping classes, grades slip and you don't really understand the gravity of your situation - that your future is in jeopardy because you are about to lose the scholarships that allow you to go to this awesome college. Pick your friends wisely and don't fool yourself into thinking that eventhough they might be doing illegal things and getting you involved with those things, that they will not turn on you in a heartbeat if they get caught. Remember you just met these people. They have not proved their friendship, loyalty or integrity to you in the very short time that you have known them. Remember where you came from, where you want to be and how you need to get there.

Listen, I would tell myself, it will be hard at first in college but it will get better. Things will change, you'll learn things and experience things you never would have dreamed of staying at home. You'll meet all kinds of people who will make you laugh and cry, who will support you when you feel like you can't finish a project. You'll feel like giving up at times but keep at it. Don't be afraid to ask for help, all your professors want you to succeed, it's why they are going to push you so hard, because they know you will be better for it. And in the end when all is said and done and you're sitting here contemplating your time spent in college, you can rest assured that you picked the college that was best for you, the one that would make you into the person you wanted to be.

Save your money now. College is tough and jobs are so hard to come by. Work hard until you can't stand it and then get up and work some more. No matter what anyone says or thinks of you, do not ever give up on your dreams. There will be times you want to quit, and times you wonder if you're better off doing something else, but never give up on those dreams. Make them a reality so one day you can look back and tell yourself you did a good job. Your parents and grandparents had a tough life. Learn from their example and don't make their mistakes. Make your own. Learn from your own mistakes and the mistakes of people around you so you can make your life everything it's meant to be. No matter how hard things get, never give up hope.