University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

I would advise against taking a break from school especially if you are going to seek employment until you go back to school. My reason being that outside influences and the ability to make some sort of money especially if you are from a low income household may make earning a degree at that particular stage in your life meaningless. However, since no job is a guarantee and this present economy can attest to that, it is better in the long run to have a degree when you find yourself looking for employment again than to not have it. I would tell myself that earning a degree takes finances and time management; therefore, start searching out and applying for scholarships during your junior year of high school to eliminate as much burden as possible on both yourself and family. Lastly, ask for help! If you are not sure, there is always someone willing and capable of helping you decide on a career path e.g. guidance counselors, principals and/or church clergy.

Just get yourself out there and try to know as many people as you can. Stay stong to your beliefs and don't let others around you change that. Get school work done earlier in the week so the weekends you can relax and have fun doing other activites around campus.

I would tell myself not to worry. I didn't get accepted at the school I wanted to go to, so I chose St. Thomas only because it was my "back up" school. I was so sad and disappointed at the time, but I now realize that I was supposed to be at St. Thomas all along. I worried for so long about coming here, and about having to settle for my second choice. But being here has opened up a world of opportunities for me. I would also tell myself planning. I had planned so long where I wanted to go to school, what I wanted to major in, and where I would want to work. But it wasn't until I stopped trying so hard that everything fell into place on it's own. Careful preparation is important, but if you make too many plans you might overlook many amazing opportunities.

To decorate my room more. Be in more clubs and organizations. Get a job off campus and not waste my time applying on campus. Be more outgoing with the people on my floor and less attached to high school friends.

First of all, keep working hard, I promise it pays off. And those scholarships you think are a pain to apply for, APPLY ANYWAY. Seriously, you're going to need them. Besides all that, don't worry so much about where you're going to end up. When you go visit St. Thomas, you'll have no doubt in mind that it's where you want to be. I know you're really excited to get out of the house, but try to stay humble for awhile. Appreciate that you get to see Mom every day and Dad is making you dinner every night. You'll miss Keith too. He's just your little twerp brother right now, but you're going to wish you could see him starting high school. Turns out he does pretty well even without you there, and you're going to be more proud of him than you ever have before when you see what he accomplishes. Here's the most important thing, listen up. Make every effort to break out of that shell, and experience as much as you can. St. Thomas has SO much to offer you, you just have to find it.

Enjoy high school because once you graduate, time goes by way too quickly. Don't be afraid to do things and meet people and make mistakes. College is not going to be perfect so don't have that expectation. You don't have to be friends with everyone. Being friends with just a few people is ok as long as they are true friends. Major in something that you like, not something that will make you a lot of money. Learn because it will make you a well-rounded person and not just to get through classes. Don't be afraid to make mistakes, but learn from them.

The advice I would give myself is to research careers that you would like to do so you know exactly what major would best suit you. I would also tell myself to make sure to be organized and very school oriented when coming to college as the curiculum is much harder than at high school. Also to stay open minded as you end up learning alot about the world and humanity.

I would tell myself to take the most advanced classes possible and work as hard as I could at everything I did. I would've also gotten as involved in everything as much as I could and relaxed with my friends more.

Save your money. Sacrifice some of the going out to eat nights and just save your money. College is so incredibly expensive. Even books are expensive, and it is really inconvenient to have to take out a loan to buy books. Not to mention, every amount you take out you have to eventually pay back. Also, apply for scholarships. Yes, they are extremely time consuming and seem to not always pay off, but literally every little bit helps. Finally, I would say, talk to your financial aid officer early. I was stressed about the entire college process because nobody in my family has really gone through that before, but the financial aid officers are there to help you learn about how this whole financing your education thing works.

Pick your college for your own reasons and know that nothing is written in stone so relax. The less you procrastinate the easier it will be and the less time it will take in the long run. Teachers are on your side, really. And they like to get to know their students and help you if you are willing to take the first step and ask for it. Get involved right from the begining. Live on campus atleast your first two years. Say Hi to people, it's a good icebreaker. An education is not about memorizing terms for the test it is about understanding the concepts at hand, if you understand it and can explain it then it will stick with you longer and be more helpful later in life.

I would tell myself not to worry about what I want to do with my life because college is the place to figure that out and they will guide you through the process. It is not something you have to go at by yourself.

The most important thing about college is accepting change. The work you must put in is comparable although the classes are harder, but the social aspect is different. One of the most difficult transitions is going from a place where you know everyone to having to make new friends. It is hard, but very worth the effort, to put in the effort to stay in touch with old friends as well as accept new ones. Make sure that you get involved in a variety of activies to expand your knowledge and friends groups. It pays off to be nice to everyone. Leaving home can be extemely hard, especially away from family, but it is a great opportunity to discover who you really are. Explore new things, get involved and make friends. College is about learning about yourself just as much as it is about learning school smarts.

Really take the advantage of getting to know people and just become friends with everyone you can. It can never hurt you to have too many friends and then there are always people to help you out when you need it. They are there to help you study, meet new people, and get you involved in more activities on campus, which makes it a lot more fun.

i would give the advice to find as many scholarships are you can and apply for all the fincial aid. once you are at school it is easy to make friends in the dorms and around campus so don't worry about your social life. once you get to school keep up with all the readings a day in advice is best. get help from tutors and the professors.

I would remind myself to pursure what I really want to do instead of only being concerned with what is practical. I would ask my 17-year-old self, "what do you want to do with your life?" and tell myself to get involved with something bigger than myself. I wanted to change the world when I was 17, but I let that fire and pasison die because It wasn't practical. If I could go back, I would absolutely tell myself to go to St. Thomas, pursue real academic excellence, make lifelong friends, and then live out my dreams. I'm sure I would also have some pointers for myself for college life; things that I had learned by trial and error. I would encourage myself to get better at letting go of the things I cannot change about my life, and to be more aware of the needs of the people around me. The bottom line is, if I could do it over, I would absolutely go to St. Thomas again, and I would set out to become a well-rounded person and to eventually change the world.

I would tell myself to start applying for scholarships early on! When in high school, it's easy just to assume that everything will work out for next year. It's also easy to misinterpret the actual cost of a higher education. Work as hard as you can to earn and save money, because about a month or two into your first semester, your money magically disappears. Apply to as many colleges as you feel necessary, because by the time it comes to enroll, you'll have changed your mind about 100 times already. I would also tell myself to listen to my parents. As smart as you might think you are, believe it or not, your parents are smarter. They've been through it all and know exactly what they're talking about. Finally, do whatever is going to make you happy. Your freshman year should be fun and exciting! Make sure to make a lot of friends, meet your teacher during office hours, and study like crazy.

I would go back and tell myself to work harder at everything but at the same time take that last year to find what I like. It's a good time to find out what you really want to spend your life doing so then you can make the most out of your college education by perfecting it and focusing solely on your goal. The longer you wait to try different things out, the more you're delaying your future. That doesn't mean to lay back on what you don't like though, everything counts so be the best that you can be at everything that you do instead of trying to avoid it.

If I could go back and start all over, I will manage my time more wisely because college is very easy if you learn how to prioritize your time. I will also learn to start on my homework and papers ahead of time insstead of waiting for the last minute before doing my paper. I mean college is all about being independant and learning how to manage your time but a lot of students tend to ignore and peverwhelmed themselve with a lot activities. You can still be in all your activities but make sure your education is first.

Try to figure out what your major and minor will be so you can best prepare financially and time-wise. Learn how to do laundry. Focus on your studies. Don't drink or do drugs so you can remember your weekends. Find out the things that make you high that don't involve substance abuse. Go to concerts. Learn how to manage your time wisely. Spend time with your family. Make friends who are looking out for the best for you. Limit your Internet time. Get involved with things that you love doing. Pray. Go to church. Decide who you want to be and what you stand for and then hang out with people who are standing for the same thing. Don't spend money on useless things. Invest it. Get an internship. Get a job. Widen your perspective. Speak up in class. Give your opinion. Listen to others. Don't be afraid to use your professors' office hours. Serve. Volunteer. Find something you are passionate about and advocate strongly for it. Write your professors thank you cards at the end of each semester. Most of all, learn.

To have more faith in myself and believe in my capabilities. The word is full of opportunity if only you find the opportunities and not to get discouraged by the current circumstances because they can always change. To follow my interests and to take up the challenge with subjects which do not interest me.