University of Notre Dame Top Questions

I have made the closest friends of my life, finally been in a place where I am surrounded by people just like me, feel like I fit in 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} for the first time, have gotten the most amazing opportunities for education and work and research experience through my professors which would be rare any place else, and have been part of a tradition that is WAY bigger than myself which is a great feeling. I go to Notre Dame and now I am part of the legacy.

People always say that college is the time where one can break out of their shell and discover themselves. I always thought this was such a cliche statement. That was until i actually showed up on campus at the University of Notre Dame. Nervous, scared and a little nauseous I jumped head first into this new life. If anything college has taught me not only how to derive polynomials or deprotonate an acid but also how to adjust to new surroundings. I was forced to start completely over. I had to make new friends and become accustom to this new place 1000 miles from my home. No one ever really prepares you for the adjustments you have to make every time you go to a new place. And it is especially difficult when you show up to a place not knowing a single soul. Somehow I managed to figure it out. Life can take you to many foreign places. Whether it be for a job, my family or simply because I want a change in surroundings I know that I will find myself in many new situations where I will have to adjust. College has prepared me for those opportunities.

College is usually seen as a time to party, or a time to study, but it is never really seen as much in between. To me, college has been about experiences. As cheesy as it sounds, I've learned so much more through my experiences in college than I could ever learn in a classroom. Through meeting new people, I've learned to see the world in so many different ways. From seeing new places, like the mountains of West Virginia on a spring break trip, I've learned to appreciate what I have and to remember that other people and places exist outside of my little bubble. College has forced me to see the world around me, not just differently, but to actually realize that it exists. No price tag can be put on the experiences college has given me. They have not just made me into a better person, but forced me, sometimes against my will, to grow.

In 1971 college was the ability to run cross country and track and I was not really serious about grades that ended up a 1.3 GPA. I attended NCCC and the last two semesters I spent trying to join the Air Force. Now I am attending Rogue Community College with a theater arts major with a 2.92 GPA. I aced drama in high school but I never really persued theater, and I am glad I did. I have written one play and am on my second screenplay. I want to attend Full Sail University and see my screenplays be produced. I am at the point right now that I have taken all the theater arts classes that RCC offers. I want to go to SOU localy but that 1.3 GPA I have from NCCC I rather have destroyed; SOU are still using it. Now I do not have a sport to go out for and am putting full time into my studies. My college experence has been valuable for in theater arts it is tough to get a audition and be chosen in a part if you do not have the experence.

College has been a great growing experience for me. Besides learning through my classes, I have also become more independent and confident in my own abilities. College has taught me a lot about management-- how to manage my time, my money, and my choices. It is preparing me academically for my future career, but also for adulthood in general. I am learning how to balance classes, homework, a job, volunteering, and extracurricular activities. The responsibility of decision-making is left entirely up to me.. I learn though experience by making good and bad choices. Despite this independence, college has also made me realize how much I depend on others. Because I am not required to consult my parents for all of my decisions, I have come to value their input much more. Living on campus has also shown me the importance of an interdependent society. Students have many different backgrounds, majors, career goals, and interests. This is necessary for our world to function-- we need doctors as well as teachers, lawyers as well as business managers. Seeing the world in miniature on campus has been very revealing about the larger world outside of college, preparing me for life after school.

I can see myself sitting there on any given night last year. Sprawled across the desk I see a familiar blue Physics text, a stack of Spanish flashcards, the fourth draft of an application essay sticking out from the pages of a worn AP prep book. Everyone else is asleep, it?s just me and this mountain of responsibilities. Looking at myself plugging away late into the night, if I know anything it?s that this kid doesn?t have time to listen to long speeches. My message is simple, nothing glamorous but nothing more true. Do the work. Don?t let up. Remember what you really want and go for it. Seniors, I know there are those who might laugh at your efforts, scoff at the heavy backpack leaning against the grimy shoulder pads, or the script for the spring musical, or whatever it is you love and sacrifice for in pursuit of excellence. Do the work. Is senior year easy? No. Was getting to my dream school worth it? Yes. There?s only one way to get where you want to be. Do the work. Trust me, I?d tell myself, you?ll be so glad you did.

There were lots of problems during my high school years. I was learning how to deal with family matters, my self-esteem, and life after high school. My parents were no stranger to violence because they are survivors of the Cambodian genocide. My dad has suffered immensly from his unfortunate war experience and unleashes fury by physically abusing me until my tears bleed. The physical abuse as affected how I thought about myself and how I was to carry on after highschool. This was a very embarrassing part of my life growing up. Fortunately, I found great determination to graduate high school and be the person my dad could never be. Nonetheless, if I could go back and give myself some words of wisdom about high school it would be to believe and have faith in education. School is a path for brighter futures. Think about others because there are many who wish they could live in America compare to their third-world lifestyle. I couldn't choose my parents, but instead I chose to make a difference in perspectives about my chances in life. No matter how life is there is no country compared to the opportunities America gives.

Save money and spend it wisely during college. More importantly, refrain from binge drinking. There are other ways to have fun.

Don't be worried about it. You will be able to be yourself and have great friends. There might even be a few cute guys here too. But most importantly, the tears that were shed leaving and all the worry were for nothing. You will find your new home quite quickly.

I would tell myself to begin to schedule out my days better so that I will have improved time management. Before my first semester of college I thought I would have all the time in the world since classes are spread out, and while this is true there is so much to do during those times that "free time" is not necessarily free. There is more to the college experience than homework and studying, and I should take account for that. I would also tell myself to start reading ahead and studying the lesson already before we go over it in class. College classes cover more material and at a quicker pace and it is a necessity to study before lectures as professors will go through them faster than my teachers did in high school. Reading ahead ensures that I know some, if not all, of what we are talking about and would have made my first semester easier on me.

Be prepared to change in ways you never expected and embrace those changes. Entering college was frightening. The campus world seemed so different from home, so alien. I would tell myself to not fear these differences and embrace the freedom of college. This is a time to explore new things, meet new people, and grow into the person you are meant to become. Make friends with people with different philosophies and ideas. In speaking with them you will explore your own beliefs and develop more fully. By trying new things and stepping out of your comfort zone you will enable yourself to see the world in a new perspective. Enjoy this time without growing in frustration or anxiety about the future. Your future will come together better than you planned.

First arriving at college and transitioning into college social and academic life can be a very overwhelming experience. Perhaps the most stressful part of the process is not knowing exactly what to expect or how things operate. The best solution to overcoming this stress and uncertainty is simply to take a few deep breaths and embrace creating friendships and meaningful relationships with the people in your dorm, with whom you will spend much of your college life. Act naturally, be yourself, and find others with similar interests as you; friendships will naturally form, and you?ll reestablish a social group in no time. A key to transitioning into college life is remaining calm and coming to recognize that all the freshmen you meet are in the same situation as you are. In taking college level courses for the first time, the same rule applies: most others in the class will also be freshmen and also have anxiety. The important realization in taking tests is that they are often curved against others in the class who were given the same time and resources as you and are experiencing the same emotions. Simply prepare to the best of your ability and relax.

Knowing what I do now about college and all the adjustments that are made to both your academic and social life, I would be able to advise my high school self to be better prepared for the transition. Going to college is a huge difference from your high school life. No longer do you have your family and your life-long friends to rely on. In stead you are thrown into a world of chaos where people are frantically trying to make friends and adjust. I would tell myself to relax, take a deep breath and remind myself that things will work out. Trying to find your group of friends is one of the biggest challenges that could take a week, month, semester, or even a year. I didn?t meet some of my closest friends until my second year and since my friends have changed dramatically. Also, I would advise myself to get involved in programs or projects that I find interesting and not be intimidated of the idea of showing up to a meeting with out knowing anyone else. With those two tips I think it would have made my transition exponentially easier.

Both of my parents didn't make it to college right out of high school. I didn't have much support or guidance from them other than to work hard. All I knew was that I wanted to get out of my small town. I didn't want to end up on drugs or pregnant. I went to the United States Air Force Academy because I thought that was my only ticket out of there, I didn't even apply to other schools. Now I am at the University of Notre Dame and last semester I got a 3.926. If I could go back I would tell myself that I am capable of so much more than what I was thinking at that time. I would tell myself that I could do anything I set my mind to and that it didn't matter that I went to a terrible public school and grew up in a trailer. I would also tell myself that my hair really doesn't look all that cool. Essentially, I would have told myself to believe in myself, and to never let anyone else make me think I wasn't good enough.

As a high school senior, I knew that I wanted to attend a relatively small, religiously affiliated, highly accredited school. Now that I have completed three semesters at the University of Notre Dame, I have come to realize that I have changed a lot since high school. It's not that I don't enjoy Notre Dame or have pride in my school. The opportunities here for research and job placement are almost unmatched. I have become a different person than I expected though. I have come to discover that I really don't identify with the Catholic faith, and I wish that I went to school that was more arsty and in a larger city. I would advise my high school self to consider lots of different options in schools, not just one type. But knowing that I was able to adjust to my surroundings, I would also tell myself that anywhere I go, hard work will make me successful.

Putting aside the many miniscule details I could recount, I would likely inform my younger self of basic principles upon which one should ground the transition to, and experience within, college life. I would begin with the exhortation to open the heart to facilitate the development of successful and deep friendships, for they will be bedrocks of loyalty and trust if pursued correctly. From there I would admonish myself to cultivate my mind in a way that allows me to approach texts, ideas, and other perspectives with a searching, fair, and critical eye. Rather than suggesting simply to bury myself in books, I would laud the benefits and the enjoyment of learning in other areas as well, whether by going to cultural events on campus or by engaging in thoughtful discussion with friends and professors. When one happens upon some topic that sparks a flame within oneself, then by all means one ought to pursue it fervently and thoroughly. When it came time for me to leave my younger self, I would close with a call to moderation and balance in all things and to a proper ordering of interests: God, family and friends, and life-long learning.

Where you attend college is vital, not only because of the opportunities available, or the degree you earn, but because it helps define what kind of person you become. You grow so much in college, and your school plays a huge role in determining in how you grow. Without neglecting your parents' advice, pick a school that fits you, even if it's not the most prestigious school. Take time in choosing: pray for God to show you what He wants for you. This advice is also fitting with choosing your major. Career practicality should be considered, but more importantly, you should enjoy what you do. If you enjoy your studies, you will perform better, and it will seem less like work, even if it will not result in the most prosperous career. Remember, you are young and can change your mind, and if you let Him, God will show you what He wants you to do with your life. As far as study habits go, build them now, it will make your transition much easier. To be concise, take your time making decisions for your future. Contemplate all angles. The decisions you make now do affect your future.

Start strong

Use this time to establish really good study habits. Know what works for you and keep refining it so that you have a really good system in place for when you go to college. This will really help with getting through classes. Also remember that time management is all on you when you are away at school. There isn't anyone to remind you to do assignments or turn in papers or even attend class. If you don't get yourself well organized and know how long it takes you to accomplish a task you will find yourself behind too often. If you do these things you will have a less stressful and more enjoyable experience in college.

I would first advise myself to step back and figure out what I really enjoy to do. Many people jump into college and make rash decisions when deciding what major to pursue. Most people will pursue a degree in an area that they will make the most money in or will be the most successful, yet many find themselves unhappy with this choice. So the most important piece of advice I would give myself would be to take a major I truly enjoy and will ultimately make me the happiest. Another thing that I would tell myself would be to learn how to manage my time before I even take my first class. The hardest part of college is time management. There are only so many hours in a day that a student is awake and most do not use them wisely. It is so important to keep a list of the things you need to complete and to stay on top of your work. Most people fail at college because of poor time management, and with discipline in time management a student will surely succeed.