SUNY College at Potsdam Top Questions

I would tell myself that it is okay to branch out and meet new people. The worst thing you can do is get stuck in a friend group in which you can't be yourself. Do not settle. You can always be nice and say hi to the nice people you meet, but don't settle just because they are nice people. Find the people that make you laugh so hard you start crying. Be brave and try new things. It is okay to do things by yourself. College is a time for new adventures, so go out and try whatever you want to!

Stop being lazy! To be honest didn't care about school nor did I try. I was lazy and I just got by with everything I did. I didn't even think I was going to college until my senior year. I expected to be a used car salesman just like my father. Knowing what I know now about college if I can go back in time I would defidently give school my all. Sitting in chemistry class I have to work twenty-times harder then the person next to me because I didn't learn the basic terminology that you learn in highschool. It's hars for someone to feel like they don't fit in with others. That is the way I felt when i first came to college. The transition was really hard for me. If I could do it all over again I would.

I would tell myelf that this transition is going to be one of the toughest things you have ever done, but you shouldn't worry about it because in the long run you will be able to provide for your family and make them proud. I would also tell myself that just because you are independent now, you should learn how to use your time wisely and make sure to concentrate on your studies. A life lesson that you should keep in your mind always is that friends come and go but your family is always there for you because there will always be people who don't like that you are succeeding further than them. I would advise to join clubs based on your own interests not other people because you never know if you find friends.

The best advice I could give my high school self is to not be afraid, embrace all that college has to offer, and be confident in your abilities. I know now that I am capable of so much more than my high school self expected. I would tell that scared, timid girl to break out of her shell and do as much as possible. Above all, I would say to my younger self, remember to write. Write all the time. I was a writer in my heart before going to college and the professors at SUNY Potsdam helped me to become a great writer. I would tell my younger self that the writer you long to be is trapped inside that shell and when you embrace it with confidence and passion you will accomplish so much. So, to that timid girl who was teased for reading rather than doing what all the other kids were doing, keep going, keeping reading and writing because it will all be worth it in the end. Remember to be you no matter what others say and keep writing.

I would have a long discussion about money. When I left college I had no credit, which is better than bad credit, but not helpful when trying to buy big ticket items like a car. I would tell myself to get a credit card and a wallet with a special pocket in it. The card would come out of the pocket for gas and go right back in again after. Making simple purchases and paying the credit would have slowly built my credit score over the years. Also I would tell myself to save money. When I was in college any extra money was spent on beer or cigarettes. I wouldn't say I abused either of these but when I look back and think about how much money I spent on them it seems like a huge waste, especially because neither is a significant part of my life anymore. There are ways to have fun without spending money and I would tell myself to explore those options.

My advice to my high senior self would fall somewhat outside the common demeanor of thought. Even though college is a huge leaping stone in a person's life, I believe that directing one's focus towards the future will cause this person to miss out on what the present has to offer. Sure, receiving extremely high grades and getting a top score on the SATs may get you into that top school, but there's so much more to life than just a number on a test. When we wake up and step into that school for seven hours of our day, that footstep resembles this person learning the necessary skills to progress through life as we know it. The number that one receives on their report card does not resemble oneself. Rather, the progression of a person's skills and relationships with others is what drives a senior to excel in life after high school. As I always say, "High School is not defined by what is written in an English or History book, but rather the messages that are conveyed in between these lines." This is the most vauable education one could ever receive before entering college.

I would tell myself to truly listen to our teachers in high school. They were not lying when they said they were just trying to prep us for college. Also, start studying because in college there are some classes that you will not pass if you do not study for tests and quizzes. I personally am not a partier but for my friends I would make sure to let them know they better be able to balance both their social/party life and their academic life or they will fail out (like one of my friends did this year).

These Rules or more like Guidelines, will get you through College: 1) Your roommate may seem unbearable at times, but trust me, she will be one of your best friends and closest confidents. 2) DO NOT buy your textbooks....they're like unneccesary and you can easily get them through inter-library loans. 3) Never buy a dell laptop, they break consistentley (just ask your future roommate). 4) Don't give a guy the time of day unless they're gonna take you out on a date off campus. 5) Do not take any classes with Dr. Wetts. He's both a horrible teacher and person. 6) Eat healthy and exercise regularly! Trust me you will go down in sizes and you're gonna look great no matter what your do!!!! 7) The friends you're gonna make are really awesome and quirky! And they will always be there for you when you need them. 8) This one is really important!!! You're gonna graduate a year early and not know what to do with your life. It will all work out and maybe it's best to stay in school all four years since your friends will be there.

I would tell myself to study for at least 30 minutes every night. I would also tell myself the best way to manage my time.

Having gone to a wonderful college prep school I would simply reasure myself that my high school education would indeed be so very helpful when it came to going to college. I would have told myself not to be so scared to go off to college! I would also have warned myself that there is not as much money out there to pay for college as teachers made it out to be.

In college, you can be who you want to be. You have the opportunity to be a leader, make a difference, and be the best you can be. You can excel no matter who you are, where you come from, and no matter what you want. You learn what you want in your life - in all areas, not just career oriented ones. You learn who you ARE and who you will always be. You learn what is most important to you and what you want to fade into the background. You grow up, but not in a sad way. It is a completely rewarding experience. College is the perfect blend of your past, present, and future. You make friends, you gain a new community, but most of all, you find yourself. It's valuiable to attend because of career opportunities after, but also because it is a self discovering journey that is important to everyone, no matter who you are.

Through out my last semester, I have grown as person. I am no longer a high school student, I am now a part of something much bigger. SUNY Potsdam is like one big community, and I have never felt more welcomed in my life. I have learned that you can always find the good in a person. Though we all have our flaws, deep down there is a part of us that means well. Through group seminars, I have learned that you should give every one a chance, and that you should never judge with out knowing the person. The school teaches about diversity, and teaches us to embrase the differences in one another. We have a whole weekend devoted to diversity, and I got to learn about places and people I had never heard of before. You learn of their culture and their way of living. It really is truly fascinating, and made me want to learn more. This school has taught me to see the beauty in everything, whether art, a performance, liturature, or the way one expresses themselves. I feel as though this school has opened up my eyes, and helped me see the world more clearly.

After working so hard to become college ready, most people could not understand why I chose not to enroll in college after graduating from Holy Names High School in 2008. I applied to a few colleges but my heart was not in it. After a six month break from academics, my desire to go back to school was stronger than ever. I was eager to get back into a classroom and learn! In the spring of 2009, I enrolled in my local community college, Contra Costa College (CCC). CCC has been a valuable resource to me. It has allowed me to move forward academically while giving me time to mature and to make some very important decisions for myself. While CCC did not offer me the experience of dorm life or typical college sports, it did offer me the coursework required to transfer to a four year institution. CCC has provided me with the academic foundation to pursue a higher education. With the skills that CCC has instilled in me, I am now ready to transfer to a four year institution, bring my education to the next level, and see what the future holds for me!

After my fist year of college, I began to realize how important it is to take things in life seriously. I began to see the world through a different perspective, and rather than attending college because I had to, I started thinking along the lines of attending college because I wanted to learn more. I never thought that I would be aiming for a goal of taking more than one major, and trying to fit in as many classes as possible into each semester until college showed me that there is more to education than just learning essentials about a potential career. College has been a huge value for me to attend because it showed me that, while I can never know everything, I want to strive to know as much as possible, even the things that I do not have to. It showed me the true meaning of knowledge, and in the process, made me a more responsible and aspiring student.

My college experience has offered me a chance to experience the carreer I want while I'm still studying my degree. SUNY Potsdam offers many observation and interern oopurtunities in the teaching field. You have to complete two practicums in a school, and student teaching before you graduate. Besides those there is mentoring oppurunities and other optional practice with teaching. SUNY Potsdam also has many clubs, and i have gotten to participate in the running of three different clubs. I also have been working in my SGA (student government) and the school offers leadership confrences that help you gain skills for the work place.

I have gotten a lot out of my college experience. I have grown so much through my experiences. I have had some of my best memories during my years at college. I will cherish the times I shared with my friends and professors. I?ve learned a lot from them inside and outside of the classroom. Whether it?s finishing a paper on time, being in my college's fashion show or studying abroad I have changed for the better. These experiences made me more responsibility, outgoing and confident.

For me, college so far has shown me some amazing opportunites. I have been able to meet many different kinds of people from all over the world for different reasons. I have met actors, scientists, historians, I even learned how to spin a rope from a Chinese circus artist. So many things have happened because of college. I been able to open up more in social situations, I have gained confidence that I lacked before in my ability to handle situations, I have grown as a person and an artist. Most importantly, I have discovered my love of learning. Every single class I have taken has taught me more than what is outlined in the course syllabus. With each class comes fellow students and an instructor. And in each person there is a different viewpoint and experiences. It helps us all to learn when we can see the problem at hand from other peoples viewpoints. Sometimes, I only was able to grasp an idea because someone elses vantage point. To me, college is more than an education, it is about learning how to be around other people and learning to absorb as much as possible when you can.

I have found myself in attending SUNY Potsdam. By going away to school, I was able to break free from high school and create a new name for myself, something I have greatly enjoyed. Meeting new people and making new friends has been great. Everything I have experienced at SUNY Potsdam has been wonderful, and I've learned a lot of good life lessons.

I am currently attending Anthem College in Beaverton OR. It is one of the best experiences i have had the teachers and staff are very supportive and do everything possible to make sure you succeed. Its a family atmosphere and its an open door policy with and of the staff members from the counselors to the dean of education. I love that they not only teach you your core classes but they also prepare you for the professional world.

Beginning college after some traggic times in my life was the best decision I could have ever made. This was such a wonderful college that helped boost my spirit and gave me a stronger sense of self. I raised three children on my own for several years and continuing college at SUNY Potsdam has been a blessing for my family. My oldest son will be graduating from high school in June 2010 and now he is deciding to pursue his education into this college also. He has seen the strength and wisdom I had gained from my duration within this beautiful college and he wants to have the same. Education no longer appears to him as a chore but as something fulfilling and enlightening. SUNY Potsdam has not just brought me progress and education but a sense of peace that my children believe that if I can still struggle with obsticles and make it, so can they. It was a win, win situation due to my choice of attending SUNY Potsdam.