SUNY College at Brockport Top Questions

Choosing a college was the most important choice I've made in life thus far. Looking back on it, I wouldn't change where I picked because I love my school. However, there are a few things I wish I'd known beforehand. First, I needed to realize that a SUNY school does not mean it will be cheap. It means you are attending a state school, that is it. SUNY schools offer a lot less aid, because they have more students to cover. A private school may seem expensive, but usually offer more scholarships and aid to help you afford it. Also make sure you visit your campus and feel like you belong there. I visited five different schools, and as soon as I stepped foot on campus I knew it was meant for me. Go somewhere where you can be you, and feel comfortable doing it. It's important to accept who you are and have others around you accept who you are. College has been the best part of my life so far, there's so many great experiences, so really put forth the effort into checking out your school to make sure it's for you.

I would advise myself to do something with the year that I took off of school to find out what I wanted to do with life. I would have picked a different college from the outset because Medaille wasn't right for me, but Brockport was. I would tell myself to go for a four-year school instead of a community college first, because I can deal with the pressure of "big-girl" schools. I'd know to be easy on myself and trust my knowledge and desire to learn, because it isn't as bad as I'd feared. Most of all, I'd say that I would make friends in college, and I would learn that it's okay to be a part of a group - that I didn't have to be alone.

The advice I would give to myself is to relax about the change and transition, but worker harder than ever on your schoolwork. You may be an A student in highschool, but in college if you work the same as you do now, you will likely drop to a B grade. College puts all of the responsibility on the student. You are an independent person that answers only to yourself, and the police, so you must take care of everything on your own. It is okay to ask for help sometimes, but the classwork will be much more difficult and there will be more of it. That means that you must make schoolwork your number one priority and put effort into all of your assignments, especially since in some classes, you may only have four assignments for the entire semester. The transition to college life is not too hard because you are so busy that you don't think about home much, but you have to keep your grades up and take a break everyday in which you can just relax for a moment.

College is such an awesome experience but there are many little tricks to help you succeed. The best way to make friends and become comfortable at your new school is dorming. Meeting people in your hall is a great way to start out, especially because everyone is starting out fresh just like you. Be friendly and outgoing and try not to stay shut up in your room. When it comes to classes, try to stay involved in class and talk with your professors before and after. It's a good idea to have them get to know your name, especially when planning for recommendations after school. At the first sign of trouble in a class, seek out tutoring sessions or professors' office hours and utilize the assistance they can provide. Don't wait until it's too late! As for out of school activities become as involved as you can; that is as much as you can handle without hurting your grades and spreading yourself too thin, to the point where you don't know where to turn. My best advice however, is to plan out your semester as soon as you get your course outlines and refrain from procrastinating!!

I would tell myself to relax and enjoy the transition instead of being stressed about the change. And to take the opportunity to join and participate in all the activities that interest me.

Don't give up - and don't take classes just to fill time! Pursue the classes you WANT to take, and forget what you SHOULD do.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to remember that ANYTHING is possible and that it is important to listen at this point in life. College is an adventure and is important not to get caught up in the myth that you can go to class somedays, party everyday and get by with a "C" or "D". Unlike high school where that may be acceptable, in college once you choose a major, most of them require a specific GPA, with no grade below a "C" in order to stay in the progam you choose. Try your best to put behind feelings of people you think you don't or won't like because you will encounter people from all walks of life that may be your classmate, lab partner or college professor, and without being able to put any prejudice aside it will make this trip through life very difficult. Most importantly though is that you should never give up! I struggled through high school, never believing I could make it through college, and I am now getting ready to finish my junior year.

Apply to as many schools as possible and think about what activities you would like to participate in. I am in a sorority and I wish that I had looked for a school with a bigger Greek community. But knowing what I know I would still have chosen Brockport because I love this campus, I like my major and the learning I recieve in the classroom, and my sorority sisters. I feel that my transition went smoothy so I would not have to give myself advice accept for that I will do fine.

Dont do drugs

Make sure you go to the college. Talk to people. Find out what is really going on. Don't trust the words of just college officials. Make sure it has just what you want. Don't settle.