The College of New Jersey Top Questions

i have not attend college yet i start in march 8 2010 .i have never been in college i just graduated high school in 2008

I am getting such a rich education at The College of New Jersey. All of the professors here have the highest degree offered in their fields, so they really know what they are talking about. Also, there are no big lecture hall classes here. The biggest class size we have is 48 people. Two of my classes this semester only have 18 people in them, so each student is able to get the most out of the course. At TCNJ, you get an ivy-league education for a public-college price. However, the main deciding factor that resulted in my choosing TCNJ was the fact that 80{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of TCNJ students who apply to medical school are accepted! That number is incredibly appealing to me, being a pre-medical student.

As a high school senior, all I could think of was college, parties, new friends and a whole new world. As I applied for college I did not think about how I would pay for college or that things were as complicated as I soon would learn they were. If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that the new journey I was going to embark on was not all going to be easy and great. I would tell myself that just because someone had a certain exprience in college that means I would have the same. I would have also prepared myself to accept that I was going to be deemed different because the majority of the people in my campus were caucasion. As a high school senior I would have made sure that I would have looked better at a schools diversity and financial aid.

Dear Lauren, Enjoy high school while it still lasts. I know you take advantage of the fact that you're the top of your class and it only takes you 20 minutes a night to do your homework. That will no longer me the case once you go to college. You'll be among all the other top students, so A's won't come as easy. Review the material you're learning and really get to know it. Studying a little bit the night before an exam doesn't quite cut it. Everything you learn here will come back at some point, so the more you know and the better you prepare yourself, the easier the transition will be. Take time to plan out your assignments, go over them multiple times, and seek extra help when need be because this will become the norm in a year. Lastly, cherish the time you have left with your classmates. Despite your best efforts, you will lose contact with some of your oldest friends. It's a part of growing up. So live life, have fun, and prepare yourself. Love, Future Lauren

I would give myself the advice that perseverance is especially important, and to never forget that. Diligence is also another key factor to success and one should always continue to try and exceed expectations.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself during my senior year I would tell myself to take all the AP science courses I could. I would also tell myself not to be as stressed out over getting into college because things will all work out. If I could share one message with all high school seniors, it would be hard work pays off. All you can do is try the best you can and that's all that matters in the end. Some college freshmen once entering college lose all their drive and motivation. Whether it's the notion that they are already in college or not is unknown. If I could, I would remind myself not to stop working hard because out of all the work and effort, there will come that pot of gold at the end of a rainbow that I have been searching for through the journey of the high school years and college years.

The best way of getting into the groove of college life is to meet as many people as possible on your freshman floor, and spend time with the ones you enjoy spending time with as opposed to anyone you can spend time with. It's best to have a lot of friends, but you want to have a core group of friends as well that you can count on for living situtations and eating meals with. Be open-minded about clubs, but don't join them just because your friends joined - trust me, you'll stop going after a meeting or two because any other activity will be more interesting than an obligation you don't want. Finally, I would suggest learning to sleep on a schedule - I don't do this, but my few friends that do seem to be vibrantly more awake than I am all the time even if I slept 10 hours the night before. Something about college is extremely tiring, and sleep becomes your new best friend but can be a time killer during crunch periods (finals and midterms). Also: group projects - avoid them like the plague. You WILL end up doing all the work.

Alright buddy, getting into college isn't really the last thing on your plate. In fact, THIS is the point where you really have to start looking forward. You've declared a major, but it's probably the best idea to have a general idea to know where thats going. Medicine? That's costy. Get on your scholarships, because the loans you're about to make are VERY scary in terms of fine print. Oh, but don't worry too much! While it's the start of a new future, it's also not hyper-speed paced. You're going to have a great time making new friends and breaking into a new environment and making your mark on campus. Just don't forget to keep your priorities straight, okay? Behave!

As co-founder of a Relational Aggression Group, I researched this topic for four years. Our group raises awareness about issues that emerge as a result of relational aggression, while helping teenage girls understand what the behavior is and why it occurs. Girls need to learn how to speak out, which is what I encouraged them to do. Through my college years, I have significantly impacted the school environment. My peers realized that they did not have to be powerless. I am honored to be a leader of this expansion of awareness. I carry this program with me because it occurs through adulthood. I have learned more about myself. My endurance allows me to accomplish anything. Over the years of research, it comes naturally to me to detect these situations. I spread awareness by being committed, communicative, and supportive. I encourage inclusive friendships and accept others. We are programmed by our culture to care what others think and become preoccupied with seeking approval. Thus, this behavior must be unlearned, which is challenging in itself. Being able to cope with everyone's adversities and different personalities is important to consider when adapting to living with people in the college dorms.

If I could go into college knowing what I have learned after a semester as a freshman I would be a very lucky person. I would tell my self that while first impressions are important if you spend too much time worrying about how you come across to other people you'll miss out on the great friends you can make by just being your self. Going to and living at college is like joining a new family that you have to form by yourself, so it is up to you to be outgoing and to hang out with the kind of people who appreciate and care for you. Without friends, college wouldn't even be an experience. You need people to support you and help you get through your transition into being on your own, and the only way to do it is to open yourself up to new experiences. While college is a chance to start anew, it does not mean that you have to change yourself completely. With a little experimentation you can find the right balance between the two. Balance is the key to a successful college life.

The advice that I would give myself as a high school senior knowing what I now know about college life and making the transition, is to dream big and forge lasting relationships with teachers, students, and students outside of the dorm and my comfort zone. It is important to form bonds with the exceptional professors provided, building a network of support that gives one inspiration and the thirst to dream big and accomplish your goals. It is important to make friends with students who will help you along your path and give you memories and experiences that only college can bring. Most of all it is vital that college is a place where higher thinking can transpire, participating in new activities as well as using the opportunities available to further development in an interest already realized. My advice is to be aware that as an individual and a community, great tasks can be accomplished. One should not settle for being mundane or ordinary, but strive to be extraordinary. College is a time to take charge of ones personal potential and recognize the need for hard work and passion to reach that potential.

Were I given the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, my speech would be something to this effect: "First of all, relax. There are things you should stress over and things that aren?t within your power to change; know the difference, and don?t sweat the small things. Right now, you've already sent out applications, and you?ll hear back soon, this is when you have to start searching for scholarships; getting accepted to college is not the difficult part, it is paying for it. This summer will be a busy one with all the preparation and packing, enjoy it. Once you get to college, there will be a big transition, but I promise you will love it. The first week or so, you might want to call home every night, don?t. Go and meet people instead. The best things you can do are: smile, be friendly, and be open to new experiences. You?ll meet all sorts of people and form intense relationships with them. You?ll realize once you return home for Thanksgiving how much you?ve grown, and how much you miss your college family.

A seed from a brawny oak tree quietly descends through the air until it gently strokes the moist warm earth arriving at its final destination. So small and precious this one seed has so much untapped potential just as I had in high school. Even though I graduated in the top twenty percent of my high school class in 2007, I left feeling that I had settled and never truly pushed myself to the best of my abilities. I had never taken an advanced placement course and now wondered if that was a mistake. Would have I excelled? Would more rigorous courses have helped to build my confidence and thus become more involved in clubs, sports, and other activities the school offered? My advice would be to break out of the shell that I had created for myself...an unnecessary barrier. As I enter the spring semester I plan to join a student club called DREAMS in which I will be afforded the opportunity to tutor underprivileged children in nearby Trenton, New Jersey. The DREAMS club will allow me to inspire elementary school children to meet their full potential...even when they themselves may not recognize it exists.

If I could give my high school senior-self any advice about the transition to college, I would be sure to emphasize the necessity to get out there, and be involved on campus. One of my hardest transitions was not knowing any of my classmates, and feeling like I didn't make friends right away. If I had just been more involved - gone to programs, attended concerts, or joined a group - I think I would have enjoyed my first year a lot more than I did. I realize now how important it is to just get out there, even if you think the event isn't quite your style. You never know who you'll meet, what connections you'll make, and the resources you could build by just broadening your horizons around campus.

I would not have made such a huge deal about going to community college. It saved a lot of money and gave me time to decide what I wanted to pursue. I would tell myself to not get my hopes on going to a 4-year school right away, to not be so pushy about going to pick out classes and getting my hopes up in the end. Having an associate's degree from a community college also makes the transferring process a lot easier. I also would tell myself to embrace community college more; try to make friends instead of just going through the motions. These are the years to make lasting relationships, not after it's all over. These three years have gone by much more quickly than I could of ever imagined and without memories, a degree is just a degree.

The one thing that strikes me about the transition into college life is that it is only as hard as you want it to be. Just relax and see what life is going to be like. D o not worry, everyone is nervous, but everyone is going through the same thing. The one thing you should not do is try to keep the exact same life you have had. That is how you will become depressed and lost, trying to to find a life that does not exist in college. Embrace life, of course still be yourself and stand by your decisions, but keep and open mind and let yourself adapt. As long as you are willing to accept a new life it is not as drastic of a change. Just let life happen for a little while and be yourself, do not worry about anything, everything will work out somehow.

Getting settled in college has been a real challenge for me. It was a really stressful process. Among all the things I learned in college, the most important is decision making. During my first semester in college, I learned to be responsible and more mature; I learned to take my own decisions. Most importantly, I managed so far to make the right decisions. Whether it?s as simple as to wake up and go to class, to take the time to exercise and eat healthy, to be active and social, to avoid drugs and alcohol, to make the right friends or even to manage time for studding and doing school work, one has to be able to decide by its own what is best for him and others. When parents are not by our sides to guide us in every step just like before, it?s a necessary skill that every college student should develop. It will help in college if earlier people took the time to start taking care of themselves and making their own decisions, if people started to act as responsible adults. After all this is how everyone is treated as in college.

The transition into college life is also the transition into adulthood, which brings unique personal challenges that no one is immune from. I would advise my high school self to treasure the friends who will aid her in difficult times, and to always remember to give back the same love and support in return. College is a time to be selfish as she focuses on her personal and intellectual growth, but it is also a time to build communities and forge friendships that will last a lifetime. More often than not, the emotional workload of college life far exceeds the academic workload. I would tell her to study hard, while still remembering to look up from the books at the new world around her from time to time, which is full of future friends who are eager to lend a hand. Those connections will form the foundation of who she will become.

Don't be shy; try to meet as many people in the beginning as you can. Once people form their groups it's a lot harder to make new friends, but in the beginning it's much easier. Savor freshman year because there will never be anything like it again. It's very unique from the rest of college. As the work gets harder and real life sets in you will never fell the same freedom and carefreeness again. Most of all relax because college is the best four years of your life and no matter where you end up you will like it if you keep an open mind!

I would give myself the same advice my parents gave me: always be myself. I did not need to change anything about myself to make new friends at college, or join a club or a sport. Knowing that I applied ot eight schools and that I did not really have a first choice, it was difficult for me to choose a college. However, my mother told me to pick whatever felt right. Although finances played a large role in my decision, I would perhaps emphasize that money should not be the most important factor in choosing a school. Taking out a loan is not the end of the world, and attending a school with good job placement can help alleviate that worry. In short, choose the school with the academic program that best fits your needs and make that your number one priority in choosing a school.