University of Dubuque Top Questions

I would tell myself to care alot more about my course work.

I would look my past- self in the eyes, smile and begin my speech by communicating the most important lesson I have learned from my college experience thus far: "Always... Always, keep your head up." College students are at a juncture in their lives where it is beneficial and critical to make mistakes. We may change our majors four times in a semester, we may stay up too late or get distracted by our newfound freedom. If we did not make mistakes, if we did not fail, we would never learn. People have asked me what I want to do after graduation and I unashamedly say to them, "I'm not quite sure yet." At the beginning of my journey out of high school, I had expected to enter my collegiate career infallibly and I couldn't have been more unprepared. I have progressed to seeing myself as a young woman who is on a journey. Throughout that journey I will make wrong and right turns which will both equally contribute to my ultimate goals. It's most critical to stay on the path, stay positive, through all of the wrong turns that will be made along the way.

“I need to speak to you about the next ten years of your life,” I initiated the conversation with my past self. She looked up temporarily from her paper and sarcastically said, “Yeah, what are you, my guardian angel?” “Your grades are decent and your extra-curricular activities are impressive, but you have to do more.” “My schedule is full, as you seem to be aware, so what do you suggest, genius?” “There are a few things I would like you to spend the next semester looking into,” I explained as I handed her a checklist. The checklist is simple enough: 1.Apply for scholarships offered through specific colleges, essay contests, and promotional offers. 2.Ensure your acceptance to the college of your choice by giving anything you sign up for everything you have. 3.Understand that you will not be the best at everything every time you participate in something and that it is ok. 4.Love everyone you come in contact with- you never know which one will change your life, or which life you will change. 5.Hug Momma every chance you get, you don’t get her forever; heaven needs their angels back.

I would love to go back to my Senior year!! I would do so many things differently,focuse alot more on those important classes specially the ones with college credits.Enjoy high school alot more because the adult world is alot harder then it seems when your in high school.I would tell myself to focuse on a great career that I would like to study in college because it took me a while after high school to decide on what I wanted to study.The main advice I would give myself would be to stay focused because it's so much better to get your education then party and not have anything to back you up.

Don't be afraid to get involved on campus! Getting involved will help you transition into college life by helping you make friends, becoming familliar with campus, and gaining a sense of purpose. Every campus has some sort of student activities program that sponsor student clubs, organizations, and teams. Be sure to find one you are interested in and get a head start in becoming part of your university community! Good luck, and have fun!

The past is the past. It is not something that you can change, only learn from. I graduated with my Bachelor of Science degree in December of 2002. I had applied two years in a row for a graduate program and was denied acceptance. After contacting the schools I learned from my mistakes in undergrad. I am know in the process of retaking a few coursed as a result of not taking college seriously the first time around. What I have learned is that grades matter, grades will follow you if you want to move onto to the next level. I have learned the importance of putting studies first and socialization second, and not the other way around. I have learned that my teachers are there for me and want me to succeed in thier class. They want to ensure that I am able to meet my personal life goals. I have learned that hard work, dedication and determination is something that you have to maintain faith in and work at it. I have learned that it is never a mistake if you don't learn and grow form it. I have learned to believe in myself and my dreams.

My school is a very small university which gives a more personal experience with the professors. I feel like I have had more assistance made available to me because of this. I attend school 1300 miles away from my home and it gives me the opportunity to begin living on my own with little or no assistance from my family starting at age 17. The University of Dubuque has given me several oppurtunities to try new things and be a unique and distinguished individual.

Although I am hoping to transfer next year to a more academically challenging university, just being away at any school living without my parents and with various roommates has taught me a wealth about real life. Since high school, I have led a busy schedule. All my life my mother has picked up the falling pieces I often left behind, but now that I live on my own, I have had to learn to be extra organized to keep my school, sports, job, and RA postition up to my and my superiors' standards. I know this will help in the future when I hope to be a doctor and mother. Both are demanding jobs and I am determined to be the best at both. Beyond living without my family, I have had to learn to live with new people. This has not been easy becuase I like things clean, while many students my age forgo cleaniness of their living space; however, through our disputes, I have learned how to effectively compromise and deal with people I find myself being complete opposites of. In short, I would say college has been the perfect transition into the real world!

I've learned that getting your education is valuable and important for me in the future. With this recession going on, I can see some people who have their degrees constantly losing their job and having to struggle to find another one. While in college, I have been able to work with different people and have enjoyed it. Not only do you meet new people, but you also learn new things about them while trying to make friends. I plan on getting my bachelor's degree in Psychology and continuing on to get my master's and perhaps my PhD. While working in those groups in some of my classes, I have been able to see how different people are living and how they feel about certain things. I take that oppurtunity to try to at least help and or encourage them that they can make it in life and accomplish their dreams just as I am. My goal is to make a difference in this world and I am starting at my school as a backbone to me moving forward. I'm so thankful and blessed that I have this oppurtunity to do that and perhaps change the world.

I have learned alot from being at this school. This school is diverse with people from all over the world and you get to view a lot of different cultural backgrounds that open your eyes to many different things. I chose this canbus because the proffessors work with you to make sure that you are gettting the education you need and to make sure you can use your skills to find a career. There are so many opportunities at this university that you can take advantage of and I really value that at this university. Last but not least, the school is the perfect size. You dont ever feel like you are drowning in a class or like you can't handle the amount of work your given. There are many academic help programs that are free and right at your convenience.

I thought that college was all about making new friends and memories and leaving my old life behind. I found out that I was wrong. My past always needs to be a part of my present and future. I should not have lost contact with old friends from high school, as someday I know I will need them. Actually, I need them now. I wish I could tell myself that in college friends will come and go. However, true friends that I grew up with will always be there for me. It is not going to be worth getting upset about because it is bound to happen, but that doesn't make it any easier, I know. I also wish that I could tell myself to work just a little bit harder. My present educational standing may have been a little better if I would have put in the extra effort in high school. More time spent on scholarships would have helped me out a lot, and so would have studying more for the ACT test. The best thing to remember is that your past will make your present and future, so make every day the best it can be.

I would have tried a lot harder in high school in order to get better grades. I would have liked to have gotten into a better school but the better schools are usually a lot bigger and therefore a lot more intimidating. I liked going to a smaller school because it was a lot like high school in the way that there wasn't a lot of students. I made the transistion pretty well so I would have to say that you need to try and make as many friends as possible but don't let people take advantage of you.

Visit as many colleges as possible. Find a school that offers the most extra curricular activites because as college student we do have a lot of free time and its really nice to get involved. Also i attend a private school and i like it a lot better than my friends who attend a public school. I got 1:1 help from my professors where they even gave out there home phone numbers for extra help. Also there were not too many people at my school to where i was ever lost in the crowd.

The best advice I could give would be to go out and visit the schools. It sounds cliche, but when you see the school that is right for you, you will know. It should feel like home, and you should feel welcome and safe there. You will only know this if you go through a campus visit.

My advice for students and parents on making the most of their experience is to expect the unexpected. I feel if you are willing to try new things your experience will be that much better for it. College is the time for you to really understand who you are. In order to do this you need to challenge yourself and explore all the possibilites. One think I am proud of is that my school allows you to be as involed as you want. I am able to play varsity sports and participate in many other activities as well. Finally I would want you to remember to treat other as you want to be treated. Please do not judge people because you never know who they really are untill you get to know them. College is an amazing experience, one that I would never trade.

Do whatever feels right in your heart, regardless of cost. It will be the best decision you ever make.

My advice to students and/or parents looking for the right college is to look for one that the professors are not just there to make money, they are there to give students the knowledge they need to be successful in life. Go to a college that the professors work one-on-one with the students and will openly take time out of their day to see a student understand the course better. As for the college experience, make the most of college. College has been the best years of my life, because I have gained so much more confidence in myself and my knowledge, that I can take with me going into a job. I also think that you should try out fraternities/sororities, because it gives you opportunities you don't usually get if you were not in the group. I am in an Aviation Fraternity and it has helped me to gain confidence and also acquire contacts that I can rely on when looking for jobs after graduation. So definitely make the most out of your time at college, it only happens once.

Find a place that will help mold you in the way that ypu want to be

I would want to tell them to choose a school that will help in your career the most while still providing a good balance. Choose a school where you feel your professors are teaching you something that you couldnt have learned on your own. Look for a place where you can make friends that share your political ideas becuase if you are liberal and everybody is conservative..visa versa, it makes getting along extreemly difficult.

To find the right college you need to go onto the campus and sit in on your major classes. At the end of the day, I truly feel you get a sense of home when your at the right campus. Another thing to do is talk to the students that currently attend the campus and see how they feel about the college (this will give you the insiders look not the written up speech you're suppose to get). Any school can be a party school but not every school feels like home. So make your decision wisely. In addition, to make the most out of your college experience you need to engage yourself into activities. Not only will it give you something to do but you will meet people that have the same interest as yourself. But the most important thing is be yourself. You'll be much happier in the end.