Southern Adventist University Top Questions

Think hard about what you want to do with your life. You're about to go to college, and college is a lot more serious than High School. It's good to know what you're doing, and the sooner you decide on your major the better off you'll be. Try this: Imagine that your life is paid for. Your house, your clothes, your car, your entertainment, everything is taken care of. You're not super rich, but you are comfortable and content. What one career could you see yourself choosing to work in for the rest of your life, and never EVER get paid? What would you do simply for the enjoyment of it? That is where your major should take you. Confucius said, "Find a job you love and you will never have to work a day in your life." That's not to say you won't work hard, it's just that it won't seem like work because you enjoy it so much. So, be prepared to work hard and be willing to accept constructive criticism. Be willing to love what you do, and be prepared to do what you love.

I felt like I went into the college experience blind, not knowing what to expect. My first year, however, I learned so many things. I recommend to everyone that they first find a college equipped to make them a professional in their field of study. Second, it is necessary to find a college that is in a location that works for you. Whether a student who needs to live close to home or a student who just wants to get away, it is so important to be in an enviroment where one can feel comfortable and grow to be the person they want to be. College is meant to be exciting; full of risks and the unknown. Embrace the sense of adventure that comes with going off to college. Embrace the fear, the nerves, and the anxiety. It is all of these things that help one grow and succeed. Whatever you choose, choose something different. Volunteer, get involved, and live it up! Give yourself room to learn, explore, and blossom into the wonderful human being you long to be. Set your face, and don't stop running until you reach the finish line.

First, I would say to pray. Pray about your life goals. Pray about where you want to see yourself in ten, twenty years. Second, I would say visit as many potential schools as possible. Sit in on classes. Stay in the dorms. Talk with students and professors in the department you was looking into. Visiting and getting a feel for a school as well as knowing students and faculty's views of life on campus will be very helpful when making a final decision. Once you are in college, join extra-curricular activities that you think you can balance with your school work. That way, not only would you be getting to know the students in you classes, but students in other majors than you that have the same past time interests as you. You will have friends all over campus! And if you want to have a great relationship with your professors, talk to them. They like to know their students outside of the classroom. And when recomendations start to happen, it will be easier for them to write good things about you. And of course study a lot! You have to pass your classes to stay in college.

Look around and do not settle because you don't think you can find anything better. Find something you like and students, listening to your parents advice is important, but focus on your own dreams! Do your homework and participate in class, as well as extracurricular activities. Get to know your professors and make the best of every situation! Keep a positive attitude and try your best!

I would strongly encourage both parents and students to physcially visit the univeristy or college that they are contemplating attending. It is vital to see the environment that they will be learning and living in. Some schools look great on paper and on the website but until you set foot onto the campus there is no sure way of knowing if you will be comfortable there. It is also important to make sure that the school you choose to attend has the best education possible in the area of study that you wish to recieve. The college experience can be difficult but choosing a school with an excellent education system as well as a social network is the recipe for success.

Do not select just any school that has the degree you wish to study in. Take time to look at the number of people who graduate per year. Also take time to find out what type of people attend the school. You want a school that is friendly and helpful. You will need a school that has a good counseling system for when you feel down and out. To make the most of your school life, don't sweat the small stuff. Give class all that you've got, then be satisfied with the outcome. Don't belittle yourself over every single mistake that you will make. Call home and talk to your family weekly. The most important thing for you to do in order to make your college life experience the best; find some good dependable friends and stick with them. You need people like them to talk to and have fun with. Never give up no matter how things may turn out.

Choosing a college is as easy or difficult as you make it. It is important to define what exactly you are looking for before beginning your search. When you have decided on a field of study, a price range, a student population, a guy:girl ratio, whether or not you want to live on-campus, where in the country you want it to be, and whether or not you want a particular religious affiliation, you will probably have narrowed the options down to just a few choices. Try to talk with students at or alumni of the colleges you are interested in; meet the professors you might be working with; visit the campuses. It is much easier to start at the right college than to try to transfer once you've begun a program. Listen to people and consider all your options; decide what aspects of college life are most important to you and find a college that matches it. As important as the location of a college is, however, a good college experience depends mostly on you. You will get out of your college what you are looking for; your grades and your friends will reflect your efforts.

My advice would be that they make sure that the school they are thinking on going to provides a balanced education. It is a good idea to go and visit the campus, and see how is like to study there. It is good to look at the differnt clubs the school have and get involve in some of them not all of them. Participating in community service is great and a wonderfull oppotunuty to meet new friends.

Pray.

My advice it to prepare ahead of time, know your options, balance you life, and stick with it. I think that one of the biggest mistakes that students make is the failure to look towards college while they are in high school. Many students would have an easier time in college if they had prepared by getting good grade, working on scholarships, saving for college, and getting to know what jobs are out there. Get out there shadow people, know what jobs are available and what type of jobs you want to do and would be good at. Then get to know the colleges that offer the degrees that will get you where you want to go. Look at all the aspects of the different schools. Once you are in college it becomes a balancing act. You have to learn to balance your academics, work, social life, health, and whatever other responsibilities you may have. Once you are on the road you want to be on do not give up even if you have to take some time go back and finish what you started. And finally give back to your community.