SUNY Polytechnic Institute Top Questions

I believe that i have gotten many rewarding things out of my college experience, but I would ahve to say that life lessons were probably the most I learned. I learned about the mental toughness and persistent nature that I have inside. There were many occassions in which professors pushed and pushed and things life were also pushing , but through it all I was able to rise above. My college experience helped prepare me for the courage to rise above any and all hardships to get to the next level. It prepared me to be able to communicate more effectively with not only my speech but with my writings as well. College allowed me a chance to explore opportunities and people I would probably never have met living in a suburban/rural area as I do. It also reminded me that you never ever stop learning whether in the classroom or on the job or in the "real world" called life. You are a life time learner forever and ever.

As a senior, I wasn't one to listen to anything that anyone else had to say. I was smart. I knew where I wanted to go, what I wanted to do, and how I was going to do it. So here I am, 6 years later with a Masters degree, right? Not Quite. Here I sit with an Associates degree in CIS as I pick away at the courses I need for my Bachelors. What would I tell myself? First, I would drill into my head that college is the most important thing at this stage. Getting that degree will put you in a position to do whatever you want in life. Prepare yourself for the unknown, college is much different from high school. Do things early! Get registered, buy books and look for scholarships and financial aid, it all helps. College is a huge step in life and a lot of things will be new, but keep your head up, look towards the light at the end of the tunnel and keep a positive attitude, those few years will be over before you know it and you'll be ready to take on the world.

If I could go back and talk to myself I wolud say stay in school. I would let myself know of all the struggles I have to face. My first struggle is I have a wife and two young children to take care of and support. Also I have to work full time in order to make sure my family is well fed and have a home to live in. Plus I'm trying to go to school to make more of myself so my family and I will not have to struggle as much anymore and to make a better life for my children. Finally I dont regret any of my life lessons I just know it would have been a much easier road to take if I had stayed in school.

Make sure you visit every school your interested in because colleges sound good on paper. When visiting the campuses try to sit in on an actual class so you can get a real feel for what your future college days hold. On your spare time apply for more scholarships because when you get in college its harder to win them. Start managing your money and make sure you save some of it. Apply to summer internships/jobs early because the longer you wait the lower your odds of landing a job are. Although college parties are going to be going on, sometimes you have to stay in your dorm and do whats more important; your schoolwork. One big thing is communication. Make sure you talk to your teachers so they know your focused on your education. Find out what it takes to get an A in their class too. Make sure you also ask about extra when you talk to them, so that their are no missed opportunities. It also doesn't hurt to review your notes after class. Last but not least keep in mind that there are no stupid questions, so don't be shy in class.

I would tell myself to not move so far away from home at least for the first semester because it is hard moving someplace where you have no one but yourself. I would also try to prepare myself a little more for the amount of homework I was thrown into my first sememster. I would also tell myself that it is ok to break loose and have a good time but not to the point of my grades slipping. I would recommend to myself that I get a job on campus at the begining to save money because being a college student without any source of income just does not work. The final thing I would tell myself would be to see my advisor more than once a semester so that I can stay on track of what I am supposed to be accomplishing. If I knew all of these things before I had to experience them myself, I think I would have succeeded more in my college academic career.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to visit every school I am interested in attending before making my final decision. Once I have chosen a school based on its facts, I should spend a day at the campus in order to have a certain feel for the environment in which I would be spending most of my time. Making friends in college is very important, so I would have told my self to look into the diversity and the ratio from girls to boys of all the schools I am interested in. Another contributing factor in choosing for college is the distance. I would have told myself to pick a school close enough to visit and far enough that my parents will not ease drop. Sports play a huge role in my life, therefore I would have spoken to the baseball coaches, find out their record and decide if I really want to play for their team. Now that I know what college consists of, my decision would have a been much more wiser.

Pay more attention to class work. Take more math classes. Plan on getting at least your Masters degree right away, don't wait so long in getting pursuring your dreams.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to become active in the community during the summer prior to entering college. Throughout college I have realized that an easy way to get ahead in life is by giving back to the community. I have not done too much community service or been active in my community and feel like I have missed many opportunities to improve my resume.

Money will be a problem in college life. Take as much courses as you can in high school to be credited in college. It will help you deeply. Always be on top of things. Don't procrastinate. Do good in school to get a good job in the future. Your success in school will determine your overall success in the real world.

make sure the college fits you!

Its all about where both the parent and student is most comfortable. ( LIKE HOME) A place where they both can relate, and can discuss easily about their options. Although the choice should be determined by the student, if the parent is providing funds, the choice should be only influenced by the parents minimum. If the student does not feel comfortatble within their major selection as well as their surroundings, usually the outcome does not end well.

Find out the demographics of the school. The ratio of men to women can make a difference.

Parents and students should really think hard about what school they wish to enroll in. Every school is different so taking the time to visit and get to know the faculty before making your decision is a very important part of the school selection process. Students should set their sights on a school that has what they are looking for in all areas of campus life: housing, meal plans, classes, class size, extracurricular activities, and other students. Parents should look for schools that would give their children a good degree and that fit within the familys budget. When both parents and students settle on a school that works for both of them, chances are that would be the best choice for the student.

To find the right college you need to visit the college, talk to students there, and actually go see the dorms and eat the college food. From a college student, the food that they will give you on an orientation day or on a special day is not the same as an ordinary day at college. To make the most out opf a college experince, look outside the box. .my Friends and i every Sunday go on a hike in the woods. We dont follow any paths just walk the creek and take a few hours off campus to just enjoy life. We do alot of stupid things out in the woods but we always have fun and Record alot of it. College is supposed to be Fun yet you still need to Focus on Learning. Make sure the Campus has a Good Tutor program and has a great staff willing to help you when you have problems and are there when you need them for afterschool work. Working during college for a job is hard to do, so try to work jharder all summer so you can relax during College and not worry about financial needs.

Finding the right college was my main goal throughout my senior year. I am the first in my family to attend college and therefore had no idea what I was looking for. My only focus was being able to afford the tuition and soon realized that living at home would be the cheapest, so I needed a school close to home. For the past three years I have worked full time and have attended college full time in order to remain debt free and to make the most of my college experience and have unfortunately missed out on the typical college experience. If I could give any advice to students it would be to focus on your dreams and goals. Look for a college that can help you reach your fullest potential. You want a school where you can feel safe to pursue your dreams and to expand your knowledge and ideals. College is a great chance to expand your horizons, meet new people, make new friends, experience different cultures, and to learn a lot about yourself. Make sure you spend as muc time needed to make sure you and your parents find the right school for you.

I would tell a student to choose a school based on location first. No matter where a student may go, if he or she becomes homesick or doesn't want to be too close, that student will be miserable while on campus. A student also has to think about diversity. If the student keeps meeting the same type of people, when he or she reaches the workforce, the student will experience a culture shock.

Talk to you guidance counselor in high school to fiind out what you want to do. Then search for colleges that meet your academic and athletic expectations. When you narrow down some choices, go visit the college. It is okay if you have more than a few choices because this is your future. You need ot ba able to make an informed decision. Ask students who go to the school and meet faculty when you visit. When you find the college you like, embrace the experience. Engage yourself in all activities of interest and hit the ground running academically. Enjoy your college experience and make the most out of it. Get to know your felow students and professors. You will be seeing them alot and they become almost like a second family.

In the past four years I have attended several different colleges. For many reasons I could not decide on a degree that I wanted to partake in. Jefferson to me was a good choice because it was a community college offered at a third of what most state colleges cost. They offer the same education as any other college would especially since your first two years at most college, is going to be Liberal Arts courses anyways. But the main thing is that even though the college is cheap; do not under estimate the coursework. In most cases we all tend to pick schools that our friends go to. I found that if you?re going to pick a college find one you like and that you re going to feel comfortable with for two to four years. On top of that make sure that you use every bit of help offered to you. In help, I mean tours, websites, and people at the college in general. Hopefully they will help in everyway possible to pick the right college. Just remember that even though college may be tough at first, things always work out in the end.

Make sure you visit many different schools to make sure you chose the best possible one for YOU.