University of Notre Dame Top Questions

Going back in time, I would tell my high school self to find a number of clubs that highly interest me. This would have immediately exposed me to people who have at least one shared interest, which could easily become the foundation for a friendship. Had I done this earlier in my freshman year, I would have spent less weekends and meals alone. I also would have told my high school self to find some friends in my year in my dorm. This is especially important as one remains in the same small dorm at the University of Notre Dame for all four years. Having a network of friends in the dorm helps to reinforce the sense of commuity in dorm living, providing support for the transition to college life and throughout all four years of school.

1. Have an organized planner to schedule out your days. You should be able to wisely allocate your time between clubs, activities, homework, and study time. 2. Find a quiet room to study. Listening to music can actually divert attention away from studying and twoard the lyrics of the song. 3. Don't have access to cell phones or laptops when you study. These distractions are tempting to use when studying. 4. Write down what teachers say in class. Notes are very important for study materials. 5. Read the directions carefully. Understand the problem fully before you complete it. 6. Study with a group and study aloud. Vocal memory and memory formed in groups create stronger connections in the brain. 7. Don't cram during the night before the test because it is an ineffective way to build short-term memory. 8. Highlight key words and concepts to easily form mental connections based on the importance of the material. 9. Print out chapter outlines because they are helpful summaries of the reading material. 10. Read the chapters before class to keep up with the readings and to earn participation points.

First, I would give myself compliments and encouragement on the achievements I've accomplished. I didn't get a lot of recognition for my hard work and effort but I was fine with that. However if I could go back in time I would give encouragement because it is empowering to hear that someone believes in you. I would then tell myself to not stress out about silly things such as receiving A-'s on report cards. Any college would be happy to have me and I shouldn't doubt myself too much. Afterwards I would probably rave about Notre Dame and how much fun and different it is from high school. This would be to give hope that there is something to look forward to in the future. Then I would get on the subject of friends. I would tell myself to forget about the people who don't take the time to continue being friends and not to dwell too much time on being hurt by those people. I would have had a better summer if I wasn't worried about unnecessary drama. But I would advise myself to treasure and enjoy the moments with my true friends.

If I could talk to my high school senior self, I would say to stop thinking about college as another academic institution, and instead think about it as an experience instead. Now that I have finished my first semester at college, I've realized that college is less about the grades and the tests, and more about the people and experiences I have. The friends I've made and the friends I'm going to make in the next three years are going to be the ones I treasure after college has ended. Sure I need the good grades to ensure a career after college, but when I look back on these four years, I'm not going to remember that hard chemistry test or those problematic art history essays. Instead, I'm going to remember all the fun, crazy times with my friends, such as stealing trays from the dining hall to go sledding. If I could talk to my high school self, I would say pick a college that has the type of people you want to be around, because they are the ones who are going to make your college experience memorable.

The biggest piece of advice I would give myself as a high school senior is to remember my roots in everything that I do, but to do things I've never done before. I'm blessed with a loving family and parents that have always emphasized strong virtues, the value of family, hard work, humility, and a strong Catholic faith. I would implore my younger self to recognize these characteristics that my parents worked so hard to instill, and to maintain them throughout my college career. At the same time, I would ask my high school self to not be afraid to be uncomfortable, to understand that the world is an enormously rich and diverse place, and to explore it. I think I was too timid my first few semesters; I would urge my younger self to get to know new cultures, to study abroad, to take hard classes, to make friends who don't have the same views as me, and to have more fun, all while remembering my family daily, keeping my faith strong, and staying humble. I'd emphasize that I can keep what my parents tought me, but also be bolder and more adventurous in college.

Dear High School Robyn, I never thought I would say this, but your teachers were wrong. The college professors, that i have encountered so far, are helpful. They work with you as long as you work withthem. Another thing to keep in mind, is the people in college are a lot more welcoming than the ones in high school. You should take AP classes and get those out of the way for college. College homework takes DAYS not hours, so make sure to work on time management. Professors do not tell you when things are due, therefore, stray away from the habbit of teacher dependence. College is filled with a lot of different people, and I know you will like that. I promise that you will love college! Yours Truely, Robyn Craig

There is not enough time in the world to do all of the things you want. It is all about time. How you use it, how you manage it, and how much you waste. You could spend all the time in the world loafing off, slacking on homework, and putting back studying, but that's the only reason you fall behind. Once you fall behind, catching up becomes the main issue and we both know that isn't a fun game to play. After making all the mistakes in the world during Freshman year of college, I'm now putting in every strand of effort to make up for lost time. The thing is... if I had known how serious college was, how terrifying it is to fall behind, and how worrying a low GPA could be, I would NEVER HAVE slacked off. Although I'm focused and ready now, Ive been through too much struggle and had to solve too many problems. Make it easier on yourself past me... just stay focused on your goal. If you truly want to achieve your dream with a smooth ride, take the time to manage your time.

May 10 was the day I moved out of Cavanaugh Hall at Notre Dame after finishing my freshman year. It was also the day I realized that life is short and time has a way of absolutely flying. If I could go back and speak to myself as a high school senior, I would tell her several things. Of course, I would stress the importance of AP exams for college credit, and urge her to keep up with activities. But most importantly, I would tell her to enjoy every moment. It didn’t hit me until I was putting on my prom dress two days before graduation that that was really it – the end of high school, and good-bye to life as I had previously known it. I would tell myself that these are the memories to be cherished always, and to fully experience them as they are happening. From receiving my diploma at graduation, to driving away from my house with all my belongings packed into an SUV, to meeting the girl who would become my best friend at Notre Dame – I would encourage myself to cherish every one of these moments on the road to growing up.

Organize yourself as well as possible before your freshman year in college. Take your senior year as an opportunity to sharpen your time mangement skills before learning the hard way.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to change my attitude and my priorities. First, my attitude, in high school, was that of intolerance and self-centeredness. I expected to do things my way when I started college, and living with a roommate was a burden, and, thus, our freshmen year was a burdenin terms of our living experiences. Second, although my priorities included excelling as a student, I should have taken into consideration that I needed to take care of myself better. This would have included getting enough sleep, undertaking academic challenges I could more easily handle, and saying no to people. Recognizing limitations has been my biggest challenge as an undergraduate student, and, although we often like to blame an entity such as our school, I must admit that it was my fault I had a rough transition those years ago. Once I settled in as a sophomore, I really enjoyed school and appreciated the learning experience.

“Make every job a desirable one,” is the lesson that I’d intone to a younger self. When I first arrived on campus, I took one of the few jobs readily available: early morning shifts at Subway, chopping vegetables and prepping meats. Despite the lackluster appearance, I soon discovered perks to the work: not just finishing my shifts before class, but chatting, laughing, and bonding with full-time employees whom most students barely see in passing. By focusing on the desirable aspects of this job, I maintained a cheerful outlook that, combined with reliability and dedication, made the appreciation reciprocal among manager and staff. When the opportunity for better employment presented itself, I moved on from Subway. But recently, as current coworkers boasted about sitting around, skipping shifts, and still having “the best job on campus,“ I found myself biting my tongue and do the work of two employees during peak times. Despite the stress on my already full course-load, enthusiastic feedback from my employer reminded me of why I do it: to be not just an employee, but a desirable one. A desirable job isn’t just found: it's what you make of it.

http://www.thingsnotredamestudentslike.com/ This site is a hilarious blog about the quirks and stereotypes of Notre Dame students. As a student, I can tell you - it's spot on. If you have been accepted and want to know if you will fit in, check out this site. If two or three of the blogs seem like you - welcome to the family! You can learn funny and interesting insider stuff that the typical freshman won't know...unless they're a legacy. So they will all probably know.

One thing I know about college is that there is more work that needs to be done in less time. If I could be a high school senior again I would tell myself to work harder and challenge myself more academically. Although, I challenged myself much through high school, I was very burnt out by my senior year. I still challenged myself, but not as rigorously. In college I feel like I just kept going and going. It was very intense and I was not ready for the intensity. College is fun, but you have to put in time to work in order to keep having fun.

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As for my choice of college, I'd tell myself to stick with my gut-- that's basically how I chose Notre Dame. It was a hard decision; it was the last campus I visited, and I had great offers from other schools, but something about it just felt right. I took a chance and followed my instincts, and it ended up being the best thing for me. In terms of paying for college, I would tell myself to spend more time looking and applying for scholarships. I have an academic and athletic record that most definitely would have earned me much more money to go to school, but I didn't look for any outside scholarships. That was a mistake; I want to go back to graduate school now, but I'm faced with debt from my undergraduate education, and it's the one thing making my second-guess this decision. Every little bit helps, and if I had looked for more, I am confident that I would have won more scholarships.

My college experience has been very fun and exciting. From the football games to the amazing teachers, there is always something to look forward to every day. I can soundly say that I love Notre Dame. The students have been friendly and the campus has become to feel like home every day. The campus is perfect for helping students learn about their majors and the teachers help steer you in the right direction. I cannot wait to make an impact on other people's lives after I graduate, but when I do I know that I will miss Notre Dame and it will forever be in my heart.

The college experience has been a learning one. I learned not everything is as easy as it seems. You have to put in the time to get the results you want, if you want an A or B you have to study. It is also great at settings you up for the work place , even if you don't like someone sometimes you have to work with them to get the job done. Although it has not been easy I'm glad for the experience, the things I have learned, and the people I have met.

Although my college experience is just beginning, it is beginning to influence me already. For example, I've become way more independent, although I still have a long way to go. I've learned how to study, and how to learn, especially at a higher level. I have a different understanding of the world than I did before, and I'm ready to continue soaking it all up.

Through my college experiences I have learned how to be more outgoing and independent. I should explain that I was homeschooled from the fourth grade through high school. Prior to my enrollment in college, I would have described myself as very introverted and timid, especially around those that I did not know. However, after two years at a community college and now my transfer to a four year university I feel as though I am more at ease on campus, and in my community. It is valuable to attend college because of the transformations one can undergo throughout their college experiences. Also, college prepares students for their communites and provides them with the opportunity to become responsible adults. Because, in college, no one will call your mom to see why you did not come to class, instead students are expected to be adults and simply show up on time.

I have gotten so much more than I could have ever expected out of my college experience thus far. I have not only recieved one of the best possible college educations that is available in the world, but I have also met some of the most phenomenal people whose relationships will be invaluable to me throughout my life. The staff is incredibly knowledgable, and truly cares about their students. My fellow peers are some of the smartest, highly motivated, and most well rounded people I have ever encountered. Furthermore, one is able to find themselves in a way that most people never think possible. Notre Dame provides a safe, nuturing, family-like environment to not only every student at the University, but also to their families, alumnus, and visitors of the school as well. Although there are many schools that are equally academically and athletically impressive, it is the overall package that Notre Dame has to offer academically, socially, athletically, and religiously that results in the most unique and ideal experience that is unsurpassable by any other College of University.