University of North Alabama Top Questions

Don't think you're "grown up" just because you're going to college. Yes, it is a taste of the "real world" but you're still a new fish in a big pond. People will treat you differently because they don't know you. You're still going to be learning life lessons about friends, significant others, and life in general. Don't worry about what other people think about you. You just do what you came to school to do. As long as you're happy then nothing matters. Don't fall into any peer pressure because you may feel like they're having more fun, however you'll be having more fun when you're more successful. Surround yourself with real people. Not those who just think of themselves. Surround yourself with people who want to change the world even if you don't want to. Be different and stand out. You'll get noticed sooner or later.

Spend you time wisely. The more time you focus on your studies the better your grades. Don't be afraid to go out and socialize, but try to keep it to a minimum so it will not affect your studies. Make sure you choose your friends wisely because some friends will drag you down. During finals, make sure you take a break every now and then to keep from losing it. GO TO CLASS! Missing one day of class is liking missing a week of lectures. Never be afraid to ask a professor for help. You will be surprised how many teachers actually care about their students. Do not be afraid to be yourself. Do not feel like you have to be something you are not to make friends. The best advice of all is be a leader instead of a follower. Being a follower can end up with you going in circles trying to figure out what you want to do with your life.

Focus, Alex! Focus! The transition is not hard. In fact, it is easy and fun. There will be so many opportunities to go out and experience the joys of being a college student, and it is great to experience them, but do not forget that studies must always come first. The rules haven't changed! It is easy in the short run to goof off with your friends every night, but, around finals, all the stress will be concentrated into a few short days and, chances are, you won't be able to get everything done and study adequately. The consequences of blowing off your schoolwork will be subtle, if not nonexistent, until the end of the semester when it will be too late! Do not let this happen. Focus, study a little every day, and go goof around on campus when you're done. If you do that, college will be both a fun experience and a learning experience all the way through. That's what college is all about anyway, isn't it?

Stay committed and be involved in campus life. Talk to your teachers when you are having trouble and most of all believe in yourself

Looking back I would have encouraged myself to start looking at schools early as a sophomore, junior, and senior. Especially being a college athlete it is important to visit schools and start looking early and take the recruiting process very seriously. Furthermore, I wish I would have picked a school that had a specific undergraduate program that I needed for my desired graduate major. I recommend going to orientation as a senior and trying to get to know incoming students other than athletes because alot of athletes get wrapped up in only their sport. Likewise, I would encourage high schoolers to take the ACT and SAT tests seriously and retake the test several times to get a desired score. I recommend first year freshmen to live on campus because it is easier to meet people on campus and get involved in campus life, as well as, for freshmen who are not used to being on their own and being self motivated, it encourages students to go to class and easier to make it on time by living close.

DON'T WAIT, I would without a dought tell myself to not put it off. I am a 27 year old full time mom of two beautiful girls along with being a wife . I would tell myself to finish college straight out of high school and not get distracted by other activities in life. I would stress how important a college education really is ! I would explain to myself how I do need a college education inorder to be not only happy, but to be able to provide for my family . I would explain how important it is to be able to provide my children with what not only they want but with what they need. I would sit down with my much younger self and explainthat if I want to be able to travel and do all the things I dreamed of doing that the only way to do it would be by having my college degree. I would tell myself how hard it is to be a college student , mother , wife, and full time house cleaner . . Go to college and become the person we both know ourself to be. Thank You ...Heather Begley

Living on-campus, at least for your first year, is a great way to get to know people and acclimate yourself to the school. Dorm life forces you to get out of your comfort zone (it's hard to be shy when you share a bathroom with 20 other girls) and is probably one of the easiest ways to make friends. Take your schoolwork seriously and learn to prioritize, even if it means ordering Chinese and studying while your friends go out. Get to know your professors and build relationships with them; you will be glad you did when you get your grades back or you need a recommendation letter. Most importantly, be yourself, even if it's not what everyone else on campus is doing. Diversity is a good thing.

In finding the right college, students should be aware that it takes time and effort and that it's something that will remain with them for the rest of their lives. Therefore, when finding the right college, parents and the students should visit at least three colleges of interest and compare/contrast each one of them. This system usually helps weed out one college that will not be suitable. Also, students should make sure the colleges offer programs in which they are intending on pursuing. Finding out from the start if the college even offers the program can save alot of time and energy. Furthermore, when choosing a college students should keep in mind the social life on campuses. If the student is very interactive and wants to be involved with extracirricular activities, then schools that are greek affiliated should be kept in mind. On the other hand, for those students who are looking to get in and out of college quickly should focus more on the schools that are not so much greek oriented.

make a list of what you want, then pros and cons of each school that the child is interested in. also, use free scholarship websites. one is fastweb.com. you dont need to pay for people finding websites. its a scam.

My advice to the student is that they should visit the colleges of their choice. They should get a feel of what campus life and activity is like for that particular school. They should also consider their financial status before making the decision on what college to attend. College can drain you financially and some might not find that comfortable. Most of all the student must include their major/course of study as a part of the decision on choosing a school.