University of Northwestern-St Paul Top Questions

If I could go back in time and tell my high school self something it would be to not expect the best roommates. During my senior year, I envisoned my roommates and I becoming the best of friends and doing everything together. Once I started college, I realized that wasn't ever going to happen. I had such high expectations for roomates that the first semester was a little tough for me. I wish I could go back and tell myself that roommates don't have to become best friends. It would have made things a lot easier and less stressful.

If I could go back in time and give an advice to myself as a high school senior I would probably give an advice to really explore myself or just really give myself time to explore places, activities, and other things that enhances my personality. I think being a senior in high school you should explore yourself since college determines what you will do most of your life. What I learn about college is that you just have to learn how to live and enjoy the moment, so giving advice to myself as a high school senior is to enjoy the moment of transitioning. One thing about exploring is don't force yourself to feel like you have to rush everything. We live in a fast pace world; we should take things one at a time and learn to live. I feel like if I knew that advice college will not be a "smack in the face" but something to enjoy. Not just enjoying meeting new people but enjoying the major that we are going into; having an attitude of wanting to learn rather than forcing yourself to go to school. That is the advince I would give myself.

1) Be you! Don't just do something because you think it will look good on your college application or to please someone else. Sure, getting into a good college is important but not if you have to sacrifice who you are or pretend to be someone you're not to do so. 2) Don't be afriad to test the waters! If something sounds intersting, try it out! High school is the best time to put yourself out there. Think you might like karate? Take a karate class. Always wanted to try basket weaving? Give it a go! Who cares if no one else is doing it. Many of the opportunities in high school are free or relatively cheap, but once you get to college you are paying big bucks per credit hour. 3) Stay focused! One blown-off assignment could cost you your 4.0 (it cost me mine!). The more effort you put into high school, the easier college will be. So, high school self, keep staying true to you, try something new, and keep your focus. You're going to love college, and you've almost made it!

College is a very important chapter. Therefore, it does need preparation and thought. As a high school senior, be sure to have already taken required academic exams such as your SAT's and ACT's. These exams can help in your ability to be accepted into a college. In addition, make sure you are filling out several scholarships. Do not take this advice lightly because you do not want to take out a large student loan. This will make life easier in the long run, I promise. Along with filling out student scholarships, another way to help with finances is to do post-secondary education options, or PSEO. You can get free college credits, but there are some requirements for this. It is best to refer to your counselors about this option and if it is available. You can be a pre-college student and get a feel for what it really like! Last but not least, strive and do well in your high school work. Every assignment and grade counts. Push hard, and do not get into the senior slide. Your senior year matters just as much as the prior 3 years. Good luck and work hard!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school student, I would give myself the advice of developing better study habits. I didn't realize until I got to college how bad my study habits are because in high school I didn't have to study that often. I would also tell myself to become more responsible because once you're in college, responsibility is an important quality to have. Being responsible is important in college because as a student there are many distractions that can cause you to slack on your school work. Also, waking yourself up for class is a major reaponsibility for a student in college.

If going back talking to myself back in high school with going through what i have gone through. I would tell myself that working hard in high schoo is everything. Being in high school and focusing in the classroom is the main and only important thing. If I would had paid attention in high school, I would not be where I am now. Not saying that community college is bad, but just that the possbility of being on my own would have been nice. I should had had goals for myself and accomplish those goals when being in high school. I just thought that going to a good college was going to come to me on a silver plater. I soon realized that was not how the cookie crumbles. Now, I am learning that hard way but I feel that this is what is best for me. Sometimes learning the hard way isn't the worst thing.

If I could go back and give some advice to my high school senior self, I would first tell myself to slow down and treasure all of my final high school experiences and memories with those friends. Next, I would forwarn myself that, regardless of how much one may love a college, college in general is full of transitions that may get wearying and challenging. But each challenge and new experience is an opportunity to learn and grow, beyond academics. Academics are obviously important, but there is far more to college; relationships and varied experiences are just as important for personal and intellectual growth. Be intentional in seeking out other prespectives and opportunities by yes, getting homework done, but also getting out of your room and the library to attend events, both planned and informal. Be willing to change and grow; it may--and will--be painful, but it is more than worth it. When you look back at the end of college, you will see how much stronger, wiser, and well-prepared for anything life may throw at you because you were willing to face yourself, others, and tough questions in college.

Be yourself. Don't compromise for anything. Always know that you're the best you can be and there's no one else like you. Think about how you first came to high school. What were some issues you faced? Who did you look up to for inspiration? I know I looked to my professors. They helped me through when I was struggling with some issues about myself. Not that I always doubted my abilities or self-esteem, but up till now I've always thought of myself as a little less than what I should be. So I talked to them. Nonchalantly, subtly, but privately, and they gave me tips on how to live. Not hard-fast rules as in, "This is how you should live," but rather, "What do you think about this?" and they told me how they see me, how they care for me, and I crumbled under this awe. I found that I am worthy of who I'm meant to be. I'm no longer this gaunt, sniveling mouse. I'm a beautiful, strong woman. So do this: Look at yourself in the mirror. Tell yourself, "Hi, gorgeous. You're awesome." And go on!

Transitioning from the laid back life of a high school student into the chaotic world of a college student can be very demanding. From extra curricular activities to more homework takes much planning and time than one can imagine. Make sure to schedule your time properly. Taking a full load of classes, and sometimes more, needs strategic planning. Buy yourself an on the go calendar where you can schedule your time according to your classes. When your syllabi are available for each class take it and record due dates for assignments, exam and quiz dates as well as any pertinant information for the classes you are taking. By doing this you will be able to stay on track with due dates for all assignments. Study time is very important too. Block off time each week to review what each lecture covered. Most importantly, remember to have funn. College is a learning experience and no learning goes withot life experiences. Get out there and enjoy the college life and what it has to offer. Go to sporting events, pep rallies and fundraisers. Become part of the school and the school will become part of you!

The advice I would give myself: I would advise myself to take more PSEO classes. Now that I am in college, I realize how much money it costs and how PSEO is basically free college. I would advise myself to work hard in all my homework even if it does not count for much of my grade. I would also advise myself to make sure I get enough sleep by getting homework done early. Lastly, I would advise myself to not let anxiety take over when I feel overwhelmed with homework. It is much harder to think when you feel overwhelmed. I would remind myself of Bible verses that can help me deal with anxiety.

Hey Courtney, Put down the camera - the Kodak disposable, the new digital bliss, the snazzy camera phone. Pictures are wonderful things but capturing every moment on film is not necessary. More, much more, happens outside the viewfinder. Tune up your ears, study faces and hands. You don't have to document every second of your life on Facebook. Those pictures you just put up (because you liked your new outfit) WILL be taken down in two years. I guarantee it. Each year is a new chapter in your life. Put more than pictures in your book. If you can't remember the conversation or occasion behind the picture, I'm afraid your focus was only on images which will eventually fade. Don't be too consumed with capturing a moment that you actually fail to know what the moment was about! So put down that camera - a whole new picture will be brought into focus - reality. It is much lovelier than you realize.

I would tell myself to get my butt into college as soon as possible and get my education out of the way.

Through my college experience thus far, I have gained a considerable amount of confidence in my identity and personal value. I have been positively influenced by so many upperclassmen, other freshmen, and professors who desire to get to know me as a person and encourage me in my academic and general pursuits. I have also come to realize the importance of focusing on others, not myself, in my everyday life. This outward focus will help me in every situation that I encounter, in my relationships and in my vocational field. My college experience has made me realize what is really necessary for a successful career. Success is achieved not only by focus and a desire to work hard, but also by constantly seeking to serve others in everything I do.

Mesa Community College has been personally valuable to attend for several reasons. First off, from coaches to advisors to teachers, everyone I have come into contact with has been very accommodating and willing to take the necessary steps to assisting me. Also as a person that feeds off her environment, the college has provided a wonderful academic atmosphere to not only make me happy but also successful. I feel I have received several benefits from my attendance. Educational growth, lasting friendships, positive instructors, and great support top the list. One of my fond memories I take from the college is the funny, yet enlightening instructors I have come across. Not many people can say they have laughed constantly in any educational class but I have had multiple of these great experiences. This has made the educational process entertaining but has not taken away from the challenge and productivity of a college course. When I first enrolled, I wondered if I would regret going the community college route. However, looking back, I do not. I have Mesa Community College to thank for this.

Throughout the three and a half years that I have been at Northwestern College, I have been growing both as a person and as a future teacher. Here I learned what it means to depend on God, not my parents. Here I learned the strategies and methods associated with education. Here I learned about different cultures and about city life. Here I have developed some very strong friendships. My teachers have been supportive and encouraging, and my friends have been good influences on my life. I have learned the meaning of dilligence through 10-page research papers and unit plans, the importance of personal health (specifically enough sleep and food), the value of listening to the advice of professionals in my field, and the practicality of how to manage my limited time in a way that gets what I need accomplished on time. My world has grown immensely at college, in a way that will help me to better the world that I will be entering upon graduation: the field of education in the Midwest. At the same time, my core values have been both probed and strengthened. Lastly, I will take with me the continued flame for lifelong learning.

At Northwestern College, the community of christian students is amazing everyone is so welcoming. The faculty truly cares about your success as a student and as a human being. I'm so happy that i chose to attend Northwestern because it has helped me grow as a person, but more importantly in my faith

In 2007 I attended Kaplan College, where there I've gained most of my medical experience. I love knowing that I'm taking care of people.

The first year in college as a freshman, tests a student's independence and allows the young birds to truly stretch their wings. Completing my first year of school was a definite growing period in my life; it opened my eyes to who I really truly was, in comparison to who I thought I wanted to be. Coming into school, I saw it as a clean slate; it was a new opportunity to become the person that I thought I had always wanted to be. New groups of people allowed me the opportunity to branch out and to become this ideal "new" me. Although I was having fun with these new people, I was not being true to who I really was, and would always feel empty at the end of the day. To make a long story short, I finally stopped the fake charade, and actually became honest with my self and became so much more fulfilled and confident! Now, although college is definitely a place for academic growth and academic challenge, it is so much more. It is a place that teaches you knowledge of the world around you, as well as knowledge of the person inside you.

Although the college that I chose has not been the most ideal in my personal experience, I have learned many valuable things from attending. Accedemically, I learned how to balance assignments from multiple classes and produce work that I could be proud of. It didn't take long for ten-page papers to become part of the norm; I was really proud to receive A's on them. Socially, I matured and made friends very easily. I gained a lot of practical experience through job searches and interviews, as well. It became very easy for me to communicate effectively with different types of people. College presented me with many different challenges that I was able to grow from and mature, and for that I will always look back fondly on this experience.

Upon entering college, I was exposed to a whole new world of understanding and critical thinking that, for the first time in my academic career, I felt had a direct impact upon my life. I have learned to appreciate and take a great interest in the human experience itself. With this new direction and attitude towards my education, I am able to apply what I learn in my courses directly to what is happening in my life, my community, and the surrounding world. As a Sociology major, the study of the complex yet changing social world will allow me to achieve the knowledge and insights into the human existence that I am so eager to gain. It will allow me to take my interests in traveling and living in different societies and experiencing new cultures to a whole new level. I was apart of two Honor's Socities, which helped me to create and maintain strong relationships with faculty, students, and people from all over the world. I was proud of Santa Monica College and all that it had to offer me. As a team, we raised awareness for local and worldwide issues that affect the larger world.