University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

You need to take the AP and advanced classes. Right now you think that they are just a lot of work and that you do not really need them. When registering, the already recieved credits come in really handy. You will be able to register before others and it will make things a lot less stressful. Also, those classes will help you to keep up better with the pace of classes and the things that you need to know in class. You will not feel like you need to catch up with others if you already have many advanced courses under you belt.

College is a lot more work and a lot harder than highschool, so prepare to work hard and not have a lot of free time. Homework is a necessity at college, it an no longer be blown off or ignored if you want to do well still. Also, I would suggest living on campus for your freshman year, as the dorm experience for freshman here is very good, and it will allow you to make a lot more lasting friends. Moving on to campus sophomore year is difficult because most people already have groups of friends that you have to try to join. So living on campus as a freshman would most likely make your college experience a much more socially developing experience.

Be open to every new experience! Don't sit in your room and be afraid of what people think. Be adventerous! It's ok to call home, but don't use your family as a crutch. Be open to people's ideas and opinions. My biggest problem was choosing one club/team to be involved in and I spent so much time worrying about it and focusing on it that I was not able to have the typical 'freshman experiences' of meeting new people and going to the on campus events and sports games. I wish I had the ability to go back and try that again because there were a lot of great people I lost a chance at getting to know because I was too focused on a team that was not the right fit for me. Try new things!

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self I would tell myself to save as much money as I could to put it towards college and to join at least 2 different clubs when I got to college. I would have had a more prominent social life if I would have joined more clubs at St Thomas instead of mainly focussing on course work. The most important advice that I could give my high school self would be to just let things go. I feel like I've spent too much time stressed out when I really didn't need to be as stressed. Planning for the future is important, but if you stress too much as the future plans you forget to live in the now.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give to myself would consist of three things. I would start off by saying, take as many pseo courses as you possibly can. Whether you believe it or not, your pseo credits will save you a lot of money. Secondly, begin applying to colleges and scholarships at the beginning of the school year. By applying to colleges early, you can decide which school you are most interested in. Then, you can submit your fafsa on time and have a better advantage at receiving a better financial aid package. Thirdly, do not limit yourself on a certain career due to the difficulty of a subject. Some subjects are harder than others, but there are plenty of resources and tutoring agencies that are willing to assist you in a subject which you are not competent in. With that said, college is more than just earning a degree. You learn so much about life, and most importantly, yourself. You learn how strong you are for your desire to reach your goals. Be passionate about what you want, so you can overcome your limitations.

I would tell myself to get more involved in school clubs and activities because my school has so many choices and clubs that fit anyone's interest. I would also tell myself to manage my time better, so I could good good grades as well as have time to interact and meet new people. Although academics are the reason to attend college, I think college is also a place for people to find themselves. The friends I have made at my school are going to be people I remain friends with for the rest of my life. In college, we have the chance to interact with great people, students and teachers alike, and create great relationships. If I could go back I would tell myself to take advantage of the chance to branch out and meet people completely different from myself and be involved with as many activities as possible (if they fit into your schedule of course).

Take a deep breath and relax. College is a completely new stage of life and change is inevitable. One of the quotes that I try to live my life by is, "We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us." I have always wanted to know exactly what is going on and what is going to happen. College life has taught me that often times that is an unrealistic expectation which can create a lot of unnecessary stress. If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school senior self to go into college without expectations and to just let things happen the way they are supposed to happen. I would tell myself to enjoy things the way they are, even if they do not go according to plan, and that change is okay.

College as a science major is not a joke like high school. Remember that you will never be able to have everyone like you but if you are just yourself you will find great friends! Also take any and every opprotunity you can, It will make you a wiser person. I have regreted much of the opprotunities that I have passed by because I was lazy. Work hard not just only in school but to find out what you want in life but also for who you want to be. Its not what you have done for yourself, but what you are remembered for by others.

I would inform my past self to be open for change. "College is not what you are expecting." I would tell myself that I need to be open to making new friends, new habits, and living in a whole new place. Everyone elses' lives do not revolve around mine so I should get out there and make new friends--do not judge anyone you do not know and remember that everyone is in the same position you are. Be friendly and outgoing and GET INVOLVED! It may feel lonely at first, but if you follow this advice, the homesickness will fade and friends will come your way with a smile.

I would take more college classes as a senior in highschool in order to get more credits to have to take the CPA exam when I graduate. I would also tell myself to just go right to St. Thomas and not have to worry about which school I was going to attend. I would tell myself to appreciate my teachers more beacuse they are a big part of what I have acomplished today and where I will be in 5 years from now. The last thing I would tell myself was to continue with my Spanish education, so that I remember it when I take classes in college.