St Catherine University Top Questions

College life and making the transition back to school Well, being 32 and going back to school is a very hard thing to do these days. Being out of school and the academic life for so long doesn't help either. So if there?s any advice I would give myself is, "Don't wait to head to college". Double up on your English and Math. Those two skills are very important in college. Apply for your college grants or scholarships at least 1 year before heading to college. This will help pay for schooling and programs you may wish to join. To help with living expansive, books or other items you will use for college. Have faith in your ability to pass whatever they school may throw your way. Enjoy being apart of the school and what it has to offer. These are the things I would tell myself in the pass.

I am an non-traditional student, following high school I attend a career focused school to obtain my Associates Degree in Massage Therapy. A few years passed and I decided to enroll at Saint Catherine University to obtain a dual Bachelor Degrees in Marketing & Management/Pyschology. If I had the chance to talk to my high school senior self I would tell her do not doubt your abilities and knowledge becuase others cannot see your potential. I was not a D student in high school but I was sightly below average and my counselor strongly questioned my ability to handle the work load and responsebilites of a four year college. This really shook my confidence level because out of all the people that should have supported me at that transitional period exhibited a lack of faith in me. Through healthy support, defined goals and accomplashing my AAS Degree/working on my Bachelor Degrees I have rebuilt and reenforced my self confidence that my counselor so casually and thoughtlessly destroyed.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to rush out and try to do to everything at once. I would remind myself to work hard, but pace myself and take opportunities as they appear. Life isn?t a movie ? not everything is going to happen at once. Also, I would inform my past self that there would be times in my future that I would be overwhelmed, but if I work hard, make time for breaks, fun, research, and mistakes, everything would find a way to work out. I would especially emphasize on making time for fun, research, and mistakes. I would remind myself that making time for fun makes me an overall happier person, and it is easier for happy person to work hard. As for making time for research and mistakes, I would tell my past self that I can get the best opportunities if I am able to learn from past mistakes rather than repeat those mistakes. Additionally, I can avoid making major mistakes if I allot the time to do extra research on the project or problem.

I would tell myself that I need to be clear about what I want and tell people that there is no way I will do what they want me to do if I cant do what I want. Its important to get your own needs met as well as trying to meet the needs of others. I would say that you are a strong woman and that holding down a job, going to school full time and having your son is going to be hard but you can do it.

I cannot stress enough how much easier it would be to attend college right out of high school rather than waiting. I am a transfer/returning student with a family and one of my biggest challenges is trying to juggle my family life with my college life. I would not trade my family for anything but I will say I often feel as though I am missing out on many social opportunities this campus has to offer and much of the true college experience because of my committment to my family. Making the decision to go to college was one of the best decisions I could have ever made. I am an older student here and upon entering felt I knew most of what there was to know about real life simply because I have experienced much of it. However, I was wrong! I have learned just as much, if not more, here in the last three years than I could have ever learned through life experiences alone. My college experience has offered me the opportunity of a lifetime so I embrace any learning challenges because I know I have become and continue to be a better, more educated person.

As a senior in high school I knew I would go right into college. Those few months between high school graduation and college orientation were a blur and I didn't take the time to switch my mindset about what the purpose of education was, why I was going to college, and what I needed to do while I was there. High school was an expectation, a grade that needed to be passed. College is preparation for the rest of your life. Not just a grade to be passed, college should be viewed as a place where you can get the necessary social and educational tools to prepare you for your future. Merely treating classes as a means to an end ("I need to do this to graduate") is not enough. Professors design classes to help students learn the tools they need to succeed. I would tell myself to be prepared to read and learn long-term lessons. Studying for the grade is not the proper mindset. Be a sponge, soak up that knowledge, and use it for your future. Though the grade gives you a benchmark for progress, the knowledge is what you will carry with you forever.

Look at more schools with Sign Language/Interpreting Major and that offer volleyball, just to give more of a selection. You can always go back to a vocational school after you get a degree.

I would advise myself to take more dual-credit courses in high school. As a high school student, I was able to slide by without doing much studying or real work. I could cram the night before a test for a few hours and still score very well. I think most importantly, I would tell myself that, while college is often full of hard work and stress, that settign expectations of myself and knowing my limitations is the most important aspect of doing well in college.

Don't slack off your senior year, it will affect your 1st year in college. Save up money for college, don't use cause you think you need new things. Beware of the loans. Talk to your parents or someone who understand the effects of getting a loan. Start building up your credit score. If you get a credit card, only use it when necessary or because you have to. Be more active during your first year on campus, don't lock yourself in your room. If you have a roommate you should talk to her everynow and then for everyday; or else things get ackward. When you set up rules for your room-make sure to mention about time to sleep and their signifcant other. Clean your room since it'll get dusty very easily. Don't procarstinate too often. Plan times to eat with friends in the cafeteria because it gets lonely eating yourself.

If one is not sure what they want to study in college, I would find a college that makes them feel comfortable, engaged and wanting to participate in campus activities. I would visit the college and get a feel for what its like, its atmosphere, classes, teaching style and the student body. The best thing is to find a college that helps one realize there passion and interests. Ambition can bring one only so far, but the excitement and exhilaration felt after a problem is solved or goal completed will take you all the way and keep you going. Find what you like and start a club, get involved on campus and look for new experinces. Create the college experince you are looking for, but don't forget to be open to new ideas and I promise you will have an unforgetable experince. In the end what one gets to take away with them all the friends and acquaintances made during college for a life long experince.