University of Scranton Top Questions

In terms of managing time and being academically successful, I would advise that there is nothing more important than going to class. It's sometimes easy to skip class because nobody is forcing you to go and it seems like you can just read the assigned material and still do well. This is harder than it sounds, however. Not only is cutting class a waste of time and money, but sometimes just being in class hearing the professor lecture and taking notes is the easiest way to retain information. When it comes to the social aspect of college, the only thing I would really say is be yourself. You may want to act like somebody else to try and impress girls make friends but nobody likes a liar. Be friendly and accomodating - invite new people to hang out with you, share your snacks and movies, or just go out of your way to talk to someone you wouldn't normally think to approach.

The amount of work that has to be done is nothing like high school.

As a half-way complete freshman, I would tell myself the following advices. Work hard on deciding what kind of career you want senior year, so you can decide a correct major, therefore freshman year credits aren't wasted on deciding. Take a couple AP courses and TAKE the AP test so you get credits for it, this allows you avoid some Gereral Ed courses during freshman year. Definitely study hard your senior year, do not slack off, or else you will pay the price. When deciding on a college, do not base your choice by where your friend is going to but decide on what is the best enviroment and choice for you. Lastly, College is going to be the best years of your life. The first week or two of college is going to be very hard, but if you pull through those weeks, it will be so much better. Don't quit, don't give up.

Dear Katie, You may think that you've had plenty of fun in high school, but your college years are some of the best to come. Choose your college wisely and make sure to visit multiple times to check out the campus, academics, athletics, and also people you can relate to. College may become overwhelming at times with an extreme amount of work, but you will come to the realization that the information you learn will be information that will be helpful throughout your entire lifetime and career. You will also make the best of friends who may make an impact on your life as well. Overall, I encourage you to work your hardest and to be open to the opportunities ahead of you. In beginning a new chapter of life, I encourage you to take opportunities, work toward your goals, and do the best to your abilities.

Try not to worry about new things. Having to learn an entirely new routine is difficult and can be stressful. It is important to take things one step at a time and relax. Try to live in the moment and enjoy the experience for what it is worth because like high school, college will go by fast.

I would say "don't change who you are." A lot of people tend to want to change as an adaptation-type response to a new environment when you don't know anyone. It becomes easy to lose old friends and replace them with new ones for that reason. I would also say "choose your friends wisely," there are a lot of people that come and go, but the ones who stay are the most important and the ones that you can count on for a lifetime of experiences. Lastly, I would say "make the best of it, because it flies." I cannot believe I've come this far; it seems like just yesterday I started college.

Freshman year is about figuring out who you truly are , it's about experiencing new ideas, thoughts and people. However,when you go away to college, stay true to the person that you are, and do not try to be someone you are not, because eventually everyone will see your true colors. In college you will make mistakes, and learn from experiences. You will make new friends, loose new friends and eventually find those life-long friends who will be at your side through the good, the bad and the ugly times. It's not always going to be easy and it is certainly not always going to be fun, but everything you experience along the way will prepare you for what is to come. Don't let others sway you into doing something you don't want to do or are uncomfortable with, it's not worth it at all! Never burn bridges and keep a constant smile on your face, it makes people wonder what you are up to. Most importantly, have a little fun once in a while, you deserve it!

Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to stay on track! I was very organized in high school, and this is an important skill to maintain in college. I went to a college preparatory high school, and I feel it did a very good job preparing me for the workload I would face in college. I would advise myself to get to know the professors if there was one specific thing I had to say. I never approached professors much until this year, and my understanding of subjects and relationships with people I may need a recommendation from someday has increased significantly. I feel if I had known this from the start I would have made more of an effort to communicate with professors beginning as a freshman.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would encourage myself to ask more specific questions about the college and about student life there: is there a strong university ministries program? How are the priests that say the student masses? How is the food? What do students do on the weekends? Do the students match up with how they are described by the college's literature? What are faculty-student relationships like? Are faculty interested in their students' lives? I did not know the answers to many of these questions when I decided to attend the University of Scranton, but thankfully I can say today that I still feel I made the right college decision.

Take your time in deciding what you want to do. Learn about different majors, minors, and possible research opportunities. Once you know what you might want to do for a career, explore it as much as possible. Don't be afraid to ask for advice and help from advisors and teachers. Find a mentor who is an expert in the field you chose. They will be able to help you a lot. Don't work too much while in school because it will affect your studies. Do not slack on studying. Do not underestimate the classes that you will take. Everything is going to be challenging, but it does get easier after a few weeks. Once you get into the routine, it will all fall into place. Freak outs and nervous breakdowns are normal, and once you are in school for a while, a lot of worries will go away. Try not to stress out too much.