University of Advancing Technology Top Questions

I would give anything to go back in time and talk to myself when I was a high school senior! If I could I would tell myself to stop concentrating on my job so much, pay attention in high school, and apply for college. I?m 30 years old now and although I?m very thankful for all my experiences. I know that I should not have taken a break between high school because it made it much too easy to keep putting off going back to school with all of the work and life distractions. It makes me sad to think that I could have graduated by now. I know that I can?t go back so I?ll just keep going forward and get the degree I should obtained years ago!

College will be no problem for you. Academically, you can handle whatever they dish out, but you need to choose a major that will actually take you places. You have some time to experiment the first couple years, but you need to gear yourself toward a particular field. Consider something with broad applications as a base and then pick up specialized training later. You should have a handle on the practical concerns, but we need to talk about the social aspect of college life. This loner act of yours, knock it off. You're going to have to learn to work with people out in the real world, so you better get to practicing now. I would hate to see you find yourself in the Army and learn to rely on other people that way. Fix that personality flaw of yours and you might just come out of this a well-adjusted individual. You can do this. You might even be crazy enough to go back and do it again.

The advice I would give myself, is the same that my mother was trying to get me to see which is; taking college courses while in High School at our local community college so that this would help me by not paying for these courses at the college level. Also, I would add that taking any AP courses while in High School is a big boost as well. I can see now that; if I had taking action to obtain these courses, then my over all cost to my education would be much less. I did however, elect to take my General courses at the community college so my cost would be less than at the private level. I would not only advise my self this; but others as well. I would also try to work more hours and save more for college expenses.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to pay attention, study more, and to get better grades in school so that I would've been eligible for more scholarships and financial aid. I would also tell myself to fill out as many scholarships as possible.

Make sure that you really want to go to school for whatever you choose.

If you can have an idea of what you want, that make a huge differance. If you don't know pick a school that has a lot to offer to increase your chances of findind something that messes well with you. If you get along with your family try for a school that is far enough away that you are free to live, but close enough you can visit. Take the classes you sign up for seriously, you're paying enough for them. If at all possible don't skip classes, it only hurts you. Another reason not to skip classes is: Take the amount you payed for this semester (x) and divide it by how many classes you have (y) and you get (x/y=z) where (z) is how much you spent on each class, and if you skip you just tossed that amount of money in the trash. College gives you freedom to learn what you want, but you need to make the extra effort to go beyond the bookwork, this isn't high school, no one here is going to hold you hand.

Figure out your priorities. If you wish to just get a degree and get out then find a college that will have minimal distractions. If you want to get that "whole" college experience then I would suggest a school that is balanced among all degrees and cultures. And If you want to party go to ASU. Also, be sure to visit the college before you make your decision. Talk to a professor, sit in on a class, and stop a random student in the hall and ask them what their favorite part of the school is. If they blow you off that will tell you a thing or two about the student body. When you get to college, take it seriously but also enjoy it. College is so vastly different from both high school and the work world and is a crucial stepping stone between the two. But most importantly of all, find a college that you can picture yourself in and be proud to describe how college is going when your friends parents ask you how college is going while on break, believe me, they will.

If you know what you want to do for the rest of your life then look for a college that provides the right materials and classes. College is a very serious part of anyones life and my advice would be to always aim high and never give up. At times the financial stuff will make you feel overwhelmed but when you recieve that degree in your hands you have officailly made something of yourself and you can live to tell your children of your success.

Don't be lazy, it's been my biggest flaw, now I have to work 10 times as hard to catch up and my GPA looks like a 5 car pile up.

Know what you want from school before starting. A clear objective makes for a focussed mind.

Go for what you will enjoy not what makes money.

Research to death. Look at every aspect of the school and make sure it fits what you want. Know what it is you are looking for, and don't settle, colleges are everywhere, there is no reason to settle for a school that doesn't fit your exact needs. Make sure it works out financially as well, don't choose a school that you know you can't afford, and don't go very cheap if you know you can do better. Make numerous visits and ask everyone from graduates, new students, and ones who have been there for a while, as well as teachers and staff to get a complete view of what every aspect of the school is like. My biggest piece of advice is don't settle, be completely satisfied with your decision. College is a very important part of a person's life and since not everyone can go to college, make sure you will have the best experience that you can have while furthering your education so that you can be the most succesful person you can be.

Parents should be supportive and helpful with their children in finding the right college, even if they do not agree with their children's choice. Instead of leaving their kids high and dry, parents should offer advice, and let their kids know that they want to help them work towards a bright future. Students, on the other hand, should appreciate their parents support, but not to be dependent on it. Any disagreements in money or location are miniscule when compared against the knowledge of having a parent's blessing and support with a final choice. When it comes to examining specific colleges, it is important to look beyond an academic reputation, and to examine the social atmostphere that the student will be immersed in. The college lifestyle is one of both academic learning as well as social maturing, and thus a decision should not be derived purely based on the academic benefits that a student can gain. Another important factor to consider is the level of independence a student will have at any given college. This feature is often times overlooked and leads to excessive amounts of stress when a student fully realizes the true scope of their evironment/situation.

Search for a college that is friendly, and has a nice atmosphere. If you go somewhere that you don't like the facility or people then you will most likely end up dropping out. Also check for accreditation in the field of study you want to pursue.

Finding the right college is as much a decision of the right program for a student as how the student feels on the campus and in the surrounding areas. If the student is not comfortable with even one of these, it does not matter how prestigious the school is, the student will probably not achieve their full potential. To make the most of the college experience, the student must balance and manage their time so that they can succeed in school, but also take advantage of the events, activities, and offerings of the school as a whole and the town/city the school is located in. The last thing anyone looking back at a time in their life should be thinking is that they should have done more with the time they had available to them. That would be my advice for new college students.

Know what you want and take every locial step to get to your desired goal.

Go to the school for a tour and activities, ask a lot of questions about every single detail of the school.

Do what you love. College is not about how many frat parties or how many soroity chick you sleep with. College is about getting the qualifications to do what you love for a living. Finding that "Perfect" school is really not that hard. Just google what ever you love with college after it and most likely you will find something. College is supposed to get you into the field of working and getting on with your life. To do that you must take classes that will be beneficial to yourself and your future career. find a school that will cut most of the crap and give you what you need to know how to do what you love. i.e. my girlfriend has to take a texas history class to become a dental hyginest. How does that make her a better dentist, well it doesn't. One phrase, find that school that will help you know what and how to do what you love.

Self motivation and determination are the qualities that will carry you (or your child) into their chosen career fields. Pick a college that suits you and your needs. Travel to as many colleges while in high school. Apply to twice as many as you visited. Know that the college isn't going to hand you a job or a degree without hard work and dedication.

When searching for the right college, make sure you visit it. Visiting a campus can give you a certain vibe on what the school is like and whether it is right for you. To make the most out of the college experience, I would have to say you should work hard and be involved with the school community. Being apart of clubs (even if it is one) gives you a sense of belonging that is priceless, being apart of the school Student Government is really rewarding because you can help change the school to be the perfect school. Also, I would say, don't try to attent parties on a weekly basis unless you have time for it, stay focused on why you came to the college and what you want to get out of it.