University of Arizona Top Questions

I have learned so many things in my college experience. Living on my own especially has been the best lesson I have learned. Knowing that I need to do my school work, study, and attend class by myself in addition to budgeting my money has truly been the most valuable lesson I have learned. Furthermore, I have been able to take a variety of classes with teachers who are experts in their fields in a large class which allows me to interact with many different people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, exposing me to a group that paralells the real world. Ultimatly the main lessons that I have learned from college are not necessarily academic, even though I have learned a great deal from the curriculum of my classes, but the overall interactions with the general student body as well as living on my own, as I grow to be my own individual.

My college experience has been an absolute roller coaster at best. My freshman year was spent fully engrossed in my sorority and my friends, and not much else. My sophomore year was tougher: I became unhappy and depressed, and ultimately decided to remove myself from that situation and I went home to California for the spring semester of that year. When I came back, I had a brand new sense of purpose and focus on my academic career in Retailing and Consumer Sciences. I took advantage of all the opportunities the Retailing program offered me, and I, a girl who always sat in the back and kept to myself, decided to apply to be a Student Ambassador for the Terry J. Lundgren Center for Retailing's Student Advisory Board. This incredible position paired me with Corporate Advisory Board partners and gave me great exposure to the professional Retailing industry. This year, I have been elected Vice Chair of the Board, attended the Global Retailing conference, and spent my summer in downtown Chicago as an intern for The Store at WPP. This school and this program have so much to offer, and I am so fortunate!

If college has tought me anything its that its extremely hard to transition from a once full time worker to a part time student without a job. These days money makes the world go round and if you are broke you arent going to get very far. Its hard enough trying to find a job but when you have to pay for books and classes you end up in debt. Im sure i can speak for everyone when i say that being in debt sucks. College is very important these days and having an education is what gets you a job.

I am currently attending Mt. San Antonio College in Walnut, California. As a freshman, my experiences are few but very beneficial. First off, they offer a program that allows incoming high school graduates priority registration. This is so important due to the fact that it is so hard to get classes with the recession, nonetheless as a freshman! I was able to pick the perfect schedule before my older friends with more seniority. Another thing that I love is the pre-nursing program. It links your classes and allows you to complete prerequisites within a year. If you try this anywhere else, you could be waiting years just to get a few of these classes. Also, there are so many events going on at campus that it’s easy to become a part of the school. The campus is near stores, housing, and beautiful mountains. The counselors have proven more than helpful and truly want you to succeed. With all of these benefits, I am far ahead of my peers that are currently attending other local schools. I am on schedule to graduate from the nursing program years before my peers and am able to enjoy the university-like environment.

Easily the best thing that I have gotten out of my experience so far has been my greater independence. After moving out of the house and into the dorm I feel like I can really take care of myself and make decisions on my own. The freedom, and challenges, that comes with college life have really helped me to mature and grow as a person. There are so many opportunities in college to experiment and gain a deeper understanding of yourself, I am planning to study abroad next year which is a dream of mine. It is an opportunity that I would never have if I was not going to college.

Before attending college, I worked a few jobs as an administrative assistant. My work ethics and skills always led me to the top, but because I did not have a college degree or even some college education my opportunities were limited. Had I not taken a financial risk to further my education, I would never grow professionally. Attending college has been life changing for me. Now that I have transferred to the University of Arizona, my opportunities are infinite. I am able to connect with professionals in my career field. I also have more confidence about the future of my career. In the end, my education will benefit my life and my family to come. A college education is something no one can take away from you. The amount of professional skills gained during college cannot be taken for granted. When I graduate, not only will I have overcome a personal challenge, but I will have an education that will last a life time. The value of my college education is priceless.

College is like a spiritual journey. I was lucky enough to enroll in courses that became life changing. In a religion studies course (Love in World Religions), my professor emphasized the relationship between higher education and volunteerism – how the two go hand-in-hand. The true goal of post-secondary education is to not find a job and make money, but rather to use the information I learned and resources I acquired to help others. The more I learn, the more capable I am as a volunteer. No matter race and region, all religions have the same core concept – to help those who are incapable of helping themselves, to have compassion, and to be selfless. This idea stuck like glue and has completely changed the way I view college education. My major in psychology further emphasized the relationship between volunteerism and education. We innately are social creatures. If I can learn more about how we can successfully interact and communicate with others, the more I can use it to my advantage in my volunteer activities. This lesson I have learned is one that I will value for life.

I have gained a sense of self. When I first started college I was thinking how much the classes were just like my high school, yet I sat in my room after class and watched TV. It wasn't until the second semester that I started working in a lab, this gave me the opportunity to take charge of my path and to really get into the academics a lot more than I originally started with. This led me to challenge myself and to really understand what psychology is about. I know now what I want; it is a Ph.D. in cognitive neuropsychology. Knowing what I need to work towards put me on the fast track to graduation. I know that when I am in graduate school I can begin the research I will hopefully be working on for the rest of my career. It is amazing to think that this all happened when one lab decided to let a freshman work for them. I now have taken a step towards being fully independent; I plan on actually studying abroad next fall in Asia, Australia, or Europe. My options are now endless and I love that feeling.

I have learned how to live on my own away from parents, and how to be a responsible person. Those two things alone make it valuable to attend my university. University is a stepping stone into the real world, and it gradually lets you know what being on your own is like, without being overwhelmed.

My college experience has helped me grow up into the independent person I am today. I came into college thinking I knew who I was, but didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. However, throughout my college years the person I was and the person I am today are two completely different people. I am now a much more independent person and am more tolerable of people who partook in activities I considered bad/immoral. By attending college and being away from my family I have learned of different walks of life and am a much more confident person. I, however, am still making many mistakes along the way, but I now know that these mistakes are continuously shaping me into the person I will be proud of being. I have a clear goal of what I want my life to look like in the future and I know the steps I need to take to reach my goals. If it wasn't for my very positive college experience, I'm sure I would still be lost and confused, walking aimlessly through life without a purpose or goal. For that I am grateful.