State University of New York at New Paltz Top Questions

College provides you an enviorment that allows you to grow and come into your own.

In my college experience I have learned to be open-minded and to never let anything distract me from what I am doing. I have learn that being serious at school means being focused and yet still be able to enjoy life and have fun. I have put passion behind every work that has been given to me in school because I know that, I need hard work in order to achieve my career goals. I have also become more enthusiastic about school and the many different subjects and lessons that I am learning. It has been valuable for me to attend college because I am learning the importance of hard work. I have come to realize that any short cut that does not require being hardworking will not bear fruits!

I've taken many things away from my college experience, so many that it's difficult to narrow down specifically what those things are. Perhaps most important is a greater understanding of myself. To give an example, think of a coffee-snob who doesn't know he is one, until one day he sips on a horrendous and foul brew; he is changed forever. Now, I don't mean to say college is a bad experience; don't get me wrong. What I really mean is that it is something without which one wouldn't really understand oneself. It is an 'experience' in the full sense. It is something one thinks back to forever-after. College allowed me to become concious of what I like and what I don't; of who I am. And that knowledge in itself is worth the time and money spent there. Again with the coffee-snob, not only did that bad cup of coffee illustrate how much more was to be desired. It allowed him to fully enjoy each and every good cup more fully. It is best to think of the experience more as an investment than a sacrifice.

When I entered college I was a typical high school student. I want more interested in who was dating who and what I should wear to school than what is going on in the world and how I can help. Things that did not affect me directly did not matter to me. College has really opened my eyes to the important things in the world and changed my values. In high school classes, I spent most of my time memorizing useless facts that I would later forget. College classes have been very different for me. In many of my classes we spend our time formulating opinions, analyzing information and becoming involved in the subject. Simply memorizing the facts is not enough. The other students at SUNY New Paltz have also opened my eyes to many interesting things. At New Paltz, people share their opinions and learn from each other. Through these interactions, I have become much more aware of issues such as poverty, the environment and political issues. As I have become more aware of these problems, I have also become more involved in fighting these problems. College has been a very eye opening experience for me.

Through the college experience I have realized why I love education. In college I have the opportunity to learn just about anything and everything. I want to grasp this opportunity and gain all of the knowledge possible. Then again this is my flaw, also. I want to know little bits everything rather than a lot about one thing, but that is the great thing about me being in a Community College. I have taken so many classes and it brought me to the realization of where I want to take my life. I will be pursuing a major in music with an emphasis in Vocal Performance. I decided on this path because again I have had many opportunities to take many classes in any subject. I experimented in voice, choir, dance, acting, piano, even Student Government. I found out that I love all of that, but I enjoy singing the most. It has been a priceless experience because with my new found knowledge and passion, I am now ready to plow through any obstacles to reach my goal. College has given me the push that I needed to discover new talents and strengths and now I can accomplish my dreams.

Out of my college education I have learned how to tackle the responsibilities and obstacles of the real world. During my 4 1/2 years of undergrad I became patient with the responsibilities of school work, extra curricular activities and financial matters. I have applied my leadership skills that I've learned in college to my efforts in seeking jobs of my choice, and I have also applied my leadership skills to the jobs that have employed me since I graduated. College does not make you smarter, It makes more aware of all the wonderful opportunities in the world. Once you obtain your degree, you are put on a pedestal higher than those who have none, however you do face the same problems of those who does not have a college degree as well. But here is where you futher exercise your patience. Not only do you obtain a degree in college, you accumulate load of wonderful friends who have been through the struggles of the college life, and graduated with a vitorious outlook on life after college.

So far the most valuable aspect of my college experience has been the life experience that I've gained. Honestly- its been tough. I have had to face challenges (travelling/flying alone for the first time, adapting to a non-vegan friendly town, navigating a huge city by public bus, etc.) while balancing a ridiculously intense program. (I'm in Mechanical Engineering at the "best engineering school in Canada") But these challenges have made me somewhat fearless. If I encounter a challenge now I might be upset about it for a little while but I have learned to overcome that and attack the challenge head on. College has changed me into this person that never gives up.

I would tell myself to stop and think about my future and what do I really want out of life and a education. I would also tell myself to enjoy being a teenager in high school. I think teens have so much pressure from each other to be someone they are not and they should try being themself. High school is the last stage in life where you don't have real responsibilty and no worries about the stresses of reality. I can remember how many times my friends and I sit and say how much we miss high school. Students should not take for granted the time they have there and they should stop an enjoy it. It is also important to be responsible and do your work. I would advise myself on researching on scholarship and filling out as many as you can because that is one thing I regret I did not do. If you are undecided about a major maybe you should go to a community college and explore your options before heading out to a major university. Also, be aware of your resources and take full advantage of them.

If I encountered myself during my senior year, my high school self would probably be studying for the SATs. Last year, I took that test twice, as well as the ACTs, to give myself the best advantage. I stressed and stressed over those tests, constantly practicing and learning vocab. If I were to give my former self advice knowing what I know now, it would be not to stress as much and to take advantage of what the campus has to offer. During my first semester, I started to feel extremely overwhelmed. I was not satisfied with my grades at all, I was barely getting any sleep, and I got sick fairly frequently. If I could go back, I would tell myself to visit the Writing Center on campus or go for student tutoring to get my grades back up in English. I would tell myself to visit my professors during their office hours and be proactive in getting help for myself, bot academically and physically. I would say that even though getting good grades is important, taking care of myself is far more valuable. Overall, college is stressful but the campus has lots of resources to help you deal.

I would give myself the advise to consider whats most important to me when deciding which school i would choose to attend. My whole senior year of high school i was set on a different college and i've never regretted changing my decision because in the end i made my decision based on whats most important. I chose to attend new paltz because of how close from home it was and being close to my family was something i wanted. I also chose it because of how good of a school it was and i liked the fact that it wasn't a university. I would also advise myself on how college was different than high school. I would tell myself that it requires much more responsibility and hard work. I would stress the importance of studying because the fast pase of college makes it more than necessary. i'd warn myself on how quickly each semester goes.