University of Northern Iowa Top Questions

Embrace your future and let go of the past. This is a bold and valuable new opportunity in your life. You will always have the close friendships you've developed up until now. However, you will make new friends with new shared experiences that will be richly rewarding. As for your education, you cannot make a bad decision when it comes to attending college. The colleges in the United States are some of the finest in the world, in all price ranges. What matters is that you are challenging yourself in order to connect with a brighter future filled with more choices than you would have if you didn't go. Don't worry about the money. This may sound naive but it's not. When you realize that you cannot make a bad choice, you can go to the school that best fits your schedule and your financial situation. If it takes you five or six years to get a degree, it's still worth it. If you can afford to go directly to a four year college, then do that. Whatever your choice, remember that your education can never be taken from you.

There are quite a few things I wish I could have told myself in college, but the number one piece of advice I wish I would have know is that, "YOU WILL GET HOMESICK AND IT'S OK!" I came to UNI thinking I would adjust instantly, make my new best friends in a day, and not miss my family at all! Boy, was I wrong. It's a whole new ballpark at college and adjusting takes some time but it's worth it to stick it out because it WILL get better and you will end up thinking of it as second home!

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high school senior I would emphasis the importance of budgeting and money management. I would have told myself to apply for as many scholarships as I possible could in order to not have to take out student loans from the government. I'd tell myself to be mature and not be "normal" by taking out a bunch of student loans and ending up in thousands of dollars of debt right out of graduation. I would also tell myself to visit and research careers by job shadowing and interning. Furthermore, visit colleges to see what they are all about. Is the school a good fit with what you want to achieve? Lastly don't pick a degree thinking it's what your parents' want you to do. It's your career, it's your education, it's your life. Pick a major that you like and have the necessary skills to succeed.

"If you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right." That quote by Henry Ford sums it all up for me. Will power is what will get you through your first year of college. Having the will power to do your homework while your friends are all hanging out together can be difficult, but it will pay off when you get the grades you want and need. Having the will power to get up every Sunday morning and go to Church, even by yourself and when you really want to sleepin can be hard as well, but your perseverance and love for the Lord will eventually shine through and lead other people to Christ or get them to go back to Church. Plus that is the place where you will meet your best friends. You know who your friends are when you can tell them things and they won't judge you, they won't try to change you or get you to do anything you don't want to do. If they do then they aren't your true friends. But the most important thing is to remember who you are and never give up.

Megan - you are a fun, friendly, loving person. You should not be afraid of who you are. Be yourself and just have as much fun as humanly possible. ALWAYS take up every opportunity in order to meet new people. Work and schoolwork are going to take over your life in a couple of years, so fun times need to always be had. There are people who can be your friends outside of your small hometown. Life is short, enjoy every moment, especially when nothing but school is to worry about.

The experiences I have gained just this year so far at UNI have given me memories to last a lifetime. The education I'm receiving is going to give me a bright future in a career I feel I will enjoy and have a passion for. The classes I've been in have helped me become a more well rounded individual. By attending UNI I have gained a world class education, friends to last a lifetime, and made connections with professors and community members that will help me reach my goals now and in the future. I strongly believe that UNI offers a quality education with small classes that have helped me gain more than I thought possible.

Where do I begin? In these first two years of college, I have experienced tremendous growth both in and out of the classroom. When I first attended college on an athletic scholarship for soccer, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I was just so excited for the opportunity to further my education and ready to experience all college had to offer. Preseason training was my first college experience. I soon found that most of my teammates were bilingual and from families who lived outside of the United States. It didn't take long for me to become fascinated with different people and their cultures. I have since forged strong friendships with a variety of my peers. I learn from them everyday. It's amazing to me how we can become so divided by our differences when in reality they make us the unique human beings that we are. It's because of my experience in college that I have been inspired to pursue a degree in social work. I want to help people of all races, ethnicities, creeds, religions, etc.

College has certainly been an eye opener. Working your way through high school becomes so very monotonous, and every student drems of the day they are free. In college I am free to create my own schedule and have become the master of my time. I have been able to work more hours and save up money to pay for my own education. I have learned that money is certainly more valuable when you work hard for it. I have also learned that education is so very vital to the life you will live, and I am thankful that I can attend college and am thankful for every moment I am there.

It's all about time! There are so many ways I'm growing in my college experience. In some ways, I've taken some steps back in order to grow. Once too cool to walk anywhere after getting my drivers licsence, I'm back to walking. The dorky snow boots from grade school? They're not only a necessity, but a fashion statement. And similar to starting Kindergarten, I've re-discovered how to be assertive and put myself out there to meet new people. But time management is the most valuable skill I've learned during my first semester at college. My mother no longer is there to keep my priorities in check. It's all on me, up to me. I'm proud of me, that I've been able to manage both classes and work, learning studying techniques to use my time effectively and earn good grades. I'm learning how to learn.

I have gained a thirst for knowledge in college. Not only knowledge in the classroom, but knowledge of the world around me. I have come to realize that it isn't all about me. My life is a small part of this amazingly fast paced world. Here I am discovering how I can make my miniscule life matter. We can not value what we do but rather who we are, and this school is helping me realize how important that is.