Stephens College Top Questions

In high school I didn't do my best. I didn't think it was important and would slack off on my work. I got below average grades and am lucky I even got into college. If I could go back in time, I would let myself know that those grades do matter. That if I would've gotten better grades in high school, I could have gotten more scholarships for college. If I knew that I would love college so much I would've had myself apply for more scholarships so I could stay in school.

Hello past Sandra, I am your future self and I am here to talk to you and maybe save you from a life of meer survival and encourage you to choose life of success. I know high school is full of drama, choices, friends, boys, excitement, and craziness but do not give in. Yyou love school, do not ever let anyone tell you, you are silly for wanting to get good grades and do well in school. You will be tempted with social situations, remember what your parents taught you and do what is right. Despite what think, they really do love you and want you to live a full and happy life. Stand up for your beliefs and stay strong. You will get your feelings hurt and you will cry, but know that this is just a moment and it will pass. So press on, get good grades, and perservere. You are an intelligent amazing woman. Do not let any convince you otherwise. Good luck and perservere!! Best Regards, The future Sandra

Back then, when my senior year first began I was definitely thinking that I would be able to make my choice really quickly. As time went by my senior year had really taken a toll on me, the scholarships were just frustrating and to just apply to so many and not get them really started to discourage me. I knew before my senior year that schoalrships would be hard to find, but I didnt know that it would be as hard as it was. What I would love to tell my old self back then is to keep on pushing and doing all that you can. Your capable but you just have to believe that you can do it. I would also tell myself not to get overwhelmed with everything that was to come and to make sure that you are ready and willing. This is the time where your life begins and your future is definitely in your hands and you have to be the one to mold it into what you want it to be. Also, just make sure that you dont let anyone tell you that you cant do something anything is possible with determination.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school student I would encourage my younger self to be more involved in programs and activities in and outside of school. Whether high school student realize it or not the people you encounter on a daily could possibly be someone you work with in the future. It is definitely a good thing to keep those connections and network with other people so that you stand out as an individual.

Defining the value of a college experience with no real relativity against which such a gift can be measured – impossible! Yes, perhaps, there’s an “official transcript” that suggests a result, but the success of any worthy venture can really only be realized in the integrity of the journey. To hold a degree in hand knowing a clear delineation was made between right and wrong, and purely for the purpose of the greater good substantiates the rudimentary stirrings that inspired the original transformation. Logically, one cannot help but emerge "not as before." And, more importantly, not because it was inherited by default from those empowered to influence, but through the process of allowing expansion to move the mind, mold, shift, and infuse every cell of ones "being-ness" until it’s intoxicated by this new moral compass. Could anything be more satisfying than arriving at this leading edge destination via individual merit rather than the gratuitous virtue of imprinting? No. Yet, the real evidence lies in the conveyance -- having endured the obstacles and beaten the odds, can my gift of education inspire enough to affect universal change to unrealized potential? My response resides in the opportunity to continue this path.

Attending college has been the best experience of my life so far. I decided to attend school outside of my home state, Arizona, to study theatre at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Leaving home was the most terrifying thing I have ever had to do, but it has also been the most rewarding. That decision has allowed me to become more strong-willed than I would have been if I had remained close to my family. When I first started college, I felt lost and had trouble adjusting to my newfound independence. Eventually I settled in, and now Columbia is my new home. After only one year at Stephens College, I have learned more about both the world around me and myself than I ever thought possible. I’m highly involved in my theatre program and I even made the Dean’s List! While I still have my moments of insecurity and homesickness, I know that my education at Stephens is invaluable and it is making me a better artist and a more well-rounded person. I am proud of my accomplishments and I am anxious to see what the rest of my collegiate career holds for me.

I went to college to gain a valuable education. I received more than that at Stephens by also gaining invaluable experience in my field. I graduated school cum laude and a resume I've been told looks more like that of a graduate student than an undergrad. My time at Stephens has prepared me for a job as a professional stage manager and also allowed me to choose my own destiny. Now I am able to continue onto graduate school to gain even more education on the next level.

I have gotten pure knowledge through education and learned many things about myself. I've learned to work in places and enviroments that I am not use to. I also learned about myself and ways to improve to become a better person. It has been valuable to attend because you learn so much and meet new people who you will later run into in the future.

I am not a tradition student at this point in my life. I graduated with my associate?s degree in 2002 and worked in the industry of Interior Design and here I am seven years later back in school to finish my bachelor?s degree. If I were to give myself some advice I would recommend walking away from credit cards. It is very easy as a poor college student to get the immediate gratification credit cards provide. I would suggest only buying what I had cash to pay for. It is no fun to pay on a credit card with up to 32{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} interest. I would also advice myself not to be as judgmental of other people. Looking back on life now I realize that a book cannot be judged by its cover. Being friendly and putting yourself in a position to meet new people and get to know them opens up a whole new world of opportunities.

I had a rough time transitioning to college. I had a roommate that was big into partying and I'm not. She started to complain to the other girls in the dorm about how I liked to go to bed before midnight and was always in the room. I was having a hard time making friends with the girls at my school. I remembered that one of the upper class men told us incoming freshman to smile at everyone you pass on campus and they will smile back. I tried it and out glared at by majority of the girls. This caused me to consider transfering to a different college but, one day, I was met with a group to do a presentation and this is when I met my two best friends and made me feel more at home. I'd tell my high senior self to keep your head up, converse with as many people as you can, and keep a smile on your face. And remember that better days are coming, it just takes a few hard ones to begin. The most important of all, get a room to yourself.

Don't worry about going so far away.

I would advise myself not to worry about the transition. Although it is different, college, especially at Stephens, is not so scary or threatening as high school teachers like their students believe. Academically, there will be work, and there can be a lot of it, but ration it out so it's not left to the very last, and you will breeze through. Most importantly, know that what you're doing is what you love. If you love your work, it will be fufilling, no matter how hard it is. Accept the unenjoyable bits: the research papers and readings. They will never be fun, but neither will teachers cease assigning them. Don't stress about papers; you have the skill, and it's always improving. Socially, it is undoubtably daunting to plant yourself , alone, in an unknown group of people 300 miles away from everyone you know. But it's easy to forget that they're in the same position, and your classmates at Stephens are to become your greatest supporters. Finally, take enough time to relax and regenerate energy. Prepare to explore yourself. Your time in college is your time to locate your philosophy and begin living by it.

It may seem silly, and you probably don?t want to hear it, but listen to your parents. They know far more than you give them credit for. Be careful which crowds you start getting involved with. Stand your ground when it comes to your beliefs and morals. Don?t change any of it for anyone. Start looking now for what you want to major in, and keep your options open. Then narrow down all your choices, always ask yourself ?Do I really want to do this for the rest of my life??. Start looking into 4 year universities now, it?s never too early. It?s also never too early to begin looking into ways of paying for college. Scholarships, Grants, and other forms of aid are out there for you. Student Loans should never be your first choice. Check the security on campuses and crime rates around the campuses, knowing those details can give you a peace of mind. Avoid being too shy, and try to open up a little more to your new classmates. Don?t let anyone keep you from persuing your dreams. Have a great time in college!

Hello Michael, I am from the future and while you probably won't take me seriously, so to prove it your fasicination to chocolate milk stems from not enough money to buy milk as a child and being only allow to drink kool-aid. To provide for the future embrace what you like in computers and electronics to learn all that you can to become a top earner and provider for your family. Beleive me that you will have a wonderful girlfriend that will give you everything you want. Make every attempt to learn from your father as he is a computer programmer and a wealth of knowledge. while your father can help you to get to where you want, your beautiful girlfriend will be your inspiration. To once again prove ... in the near future you will get bored and drop out of school, but will get a GED before everyone in your class. Computers is the future ... be a nerd and you will be rewarded. Also remember those close to you will call you Mikey and no one else. Mike M. Mahoney II

High school is not even close to what college is, u have to prepare to the real life. Do not take high school as a joke and a easy way out.

Save, save, and save your money! There are so many little things we never think about having to buy in order to function from day to day. On top of the tolliet paper, textbooks, and other misc. things students have to buy, we also want to have fun and go out with friends. I wish I could have told myself, "Don't go spend that extra cash you have on those nice jeans. You'r going to need it for food later."

As a high school senior, I believed that my schooling would be paid for. Whatever wasn't covered by scholarships, my parents would help me with. I was wrong. My parents hit financial difficulties and the scholarship money just didn't stretch far enough. It is hard enough facing a new lifestyle without having to juggle a job and school work. If I could go back to my senior self, I would tell her to fill out more scholarship applications. I would tell her that every little bit counts. Don't count out the $100 scholarship just because you don't think it will cover anything. It will cover a lot. I was not very money-wise as a senior in high school. One year of college has changed all that. I now look at every dollar I earn as a key to my education. I have learned in this past year that education is not a right, even for those who love it. I love to learn, and if I had filled out more scholarship applications, and had earned more money, my education could be my main focus again. But instead paying for my education is my main focus.

If i could go back in time to tell myself something that i know abou college life is to just start early on getting things ready for college. With taking your ACTS and really getting free money wth going to college and really knowing that math is not my strongest subject in college or as it was in high school it would b to ask for more help then so that it would not effect me now thats really the thing. those would be the the things that i would tell myself and with going to college i would tell myself that studying is like the biggest thing in college and thats something that i need to do more of and making sure that I don't put things off til the last minute thats the one thing in college that you really don't want to do at all seriously it will put you behind on things and in college its some thing that you don't do it can and will mess up everything mostly your GPA and you must keep it up in college. Those are the things i will tell myself in college.

"Hello, Caitlin. This is Caitlin 2010. I know you think you will coast through the transition from high school to college. I am going to give you some advice anyway! First, let me congratulate you on your choices in high school classes. Your AP work will ensure that you will have no problem adapting to the academic rigors of college. You definitely should focus on picking up as many hours as you can at both of your jobs. There are so many hidden expenses. You can't always rely on Mom and Dad for funding. You will want extra money to enjoy the off-campus social activities a small city offers you. There are so many cultural activities, festivals and restaurants to enjoy. Also, make a point to enter every scholarship contest and sweepstakes you come across. You'll find that picking up $100 - $1000 through smaller, lesser known sweepstakes and awards really helps offset your incidental expenses including books and sorority fees. Most of all, realize you'll be in a new environment, and you will get homesick. It's okay. You will make new friends, and you will adjust! Just give it a couple of weeks."

The transition to college is not easy for anyone and no two people have the same challenges. I grew up in a small town in Colorado and moved out of state to a small college . At first, I felt free and alive. Shortly after the midterm a High School friend of mine passed away. I felt alone because nobody else knew my friend and therefor I felt they could not be there for me. While these people were getting to know me, they did not know me ?when? or how it was that I came to be me. I guess the best advice I would have is not to try to hard to compare your new friends with the old ones. Every friendship has its purpose. With patients in yourself you will meet friends for life. I would also say to give any opportunity the college offers a try. Join clubs and go the study groups. Get involved and have a great time. College is actually one of the best times of your life. And while they may not have known you ?when?, they will watch you grow into the woman you will become.