University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

Remember that there is a big transition. You will be studying more, you will be working harder, and you will need to prioritize your activities. Try to be involved in as much as possible. Also, you must remember to stay calm and ask for help when you need it. Professors are there to teach and help, not just teach.

I will tell myself to try harder and use my time wisely during my first semester of college. I will tell myself to find a better study habit so that our second chance will be a success. I will thrive in college instead of finding way to just pass the course or class. Really all I would tell myself is to be the best I can be and ask question when in doubts and spend even more time with my professors.

When you go off to college, be completely open to new experiences and new people. Don't be shy and don't hold back. Try to be yourself even though you are in a completely new environment. Classes are going to be much more difficult and require more dedication than in high school, but if you work hard and stay focused on your school work, you can do it! You need to study a lot, but remember to take time and relax to clear your mind.

Realize that transitioning to college life is a once in a lifetime experience. Know that even though you are away from your parents and guardians, it is now your own responsibility to do things for yourself. This is the time to manage your life the way you want it to be. Plan to live on campus (or at least near campus) the first year for the smoothest transition to becoming a college student. That closeness to the campus will help in connecting with others as well as building a community among your peers. Some phone numbers to put into your cell phone are the emergency line at school, public service, the tech desk/office, and your parents. You'll never know when those phone numbers will come in handy. Also, make sure to go to college with an open mind, to enhance the learning experience ahead. Learn to ask questions (even stupid ones) to let others know that you're interested. Make sure to visit your professor's office hours to create a well balanced student-teacher connection. Lastly, enjoy these years ahead, because they will probably be the best 4 (or more) years of your adult life.

Make sure you have a good feel for the school you are considering. If you're not excited about going to the school you are considering, then there is no point in going. Know that the university you choose will have fields that you are interested in majoring in. Visit the school overnight if you have a chance to see what life is like in the dorms.

I would tell myself to apply to more colleges, think about what I wanted to do for a living and what would I be happy doing as a career. I would also tell myself to keep in touch with close friends and cherish not having to do so much. Also, to be more involved in trying to get internships, networking, etc.

Choosing a college is a difficult decision: take it seriously! You don't need to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life, but make sure that you know that the college you decide on has strong programs in the general areas of study that you want to pursue. In order to get a better feel for things, try to contact friends you know that have gone to the college, ask to meet with student workers when you take a tour of campus, and make sure to talk to at least one professor in your area of interest before deciding where you want to go. It is also helpful to do some research! Look up the professors at the college and see what they have done. Most importantly: are they published? Are they widely respected in their fields of study? Do you think you could aspire to work with them on projects throughout the time you spend in college? Answers to these questions are what will ensure academic success. Remember, don't let the pressures of college build up--just take steps to make sure that you can enter college confident of future success!

If I could go back in time I would do PSEO, which is when high school seniors can go to a community college and take classes for free and get a jump start on college. Not only is it free for the students, the students can earn college credit and end up being ahead of most college freshman when going into their freshman year of college. I also would discipline myself on being better with procrastination. In college things tend to build up fast if you wait for the last minute to do assignments. Reading is also a big difference in college, in every class their is reading to do and if you don't do it you are behind because there is usually a discussion or quiz that comes along with it. Looking at the big picture, I feel I did a good job by preparing myself for college. I wasn't one of those high school seniors that slacked off their last year. College is tough but if a student stays on top of things and commit themselves, they will find success.

Don't worry so much about choosing a degree before you attend college. You will have the opportunity to speak with academic advisors about what is best for you. Find ways to improve my note taking skills. Become familiar with the library, because you will spend a great deal of time there. Practice reading skills, as well as understanding what you have read. Apply for more financial aid than you really need. Odds are you will not receive all that you apply for, so the more the better.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say, "Get ready for a wonderful experience and education ahead of you!" I would say; study hard, get involved in an extra-curricular activity or activities that interest(s) you, don't just go to class but engage with other students and your professor and ask questions, be prepared to be challenged. Constantly seek the truth in your classrooms, and listen to other's opinions and seek the truth together. I would not say much more than that, because I think college is an adventure, where one has to grow, learn and be challenged. It is where you learn who you are, and a place where you have the opportunity to be a part of a rich community. The people of this community become your friends and challenge you to become a better person. But, if I said much more, than I would know everything that was going to happen in college. I would simply say as a wonderful person that I look up to, Pope John Paul II, once said, "Be not afraid" of the adventure that awaits you!

I would have signed up for more accelerated math courses, and in all classes I would reccommend reading straight out of the book much more often.

Go out and meet more people, join clubs and get involved right away. There are many ways to have fun and meet people other than parties. Party less and focus on school more. Spend more time in the library and study rooms. Dont waste time at parties or playing video games. Do not procrastinate and work ahead.

I think I would tell myself to try and be really open to the college experience and try to get involved as much as possible. I'm a very quiet person, so I didn't really speak up much when I started college and didn't do many extra-curricular activities. So I would tell myself that it would be good to start getting involved and meeting as many new people as possible during that first year. I would also tell myself to continue to work hard and take more initiative for learning in classes. College has been much tougher than high school, but there is also more time to study and work through problems on my own. I sometimes may need to visit a professor in order to fully understand some material. In college, it is up to you to take this initiative, so I would let myself know this. Finally, I'd advise myself to really get to know the people in my major so that I can ask them questions and work together with them. It also makes classes and studying a lot more fun and productive.

Assuming time travel was possible, I would warn myself that I really need to study calculus a lot more than I did. I will need that knowledge to be almost common sense by the time I take calculus 2 in the fall. In addition, I would tell myself to fill out as many scholarships as possible because I will end up poorer than I thought after buying books and supplies. In addition to academic life, I would tell myself about social life in college. I would tell myself not to be so nervous because St. Thomas is full of friendly people and fun events. I would also mention that within the first week, I will realize that everyone else is in the same boat as I am and that I should be open and socially active as soon as I get to college.

Knowing what I know now, as far as the expectations people have for college students, I would tell my high school senior-self to make clear-cut and concise goals for myself. It's one thing to know you "want" success, but to actually list what you will do in order to attain it, makes the journey a lot less complicated. I would also tell myself to start out strong, so it makes it a lot bearable to finish the academic journey strong. Lastly, I would tell myself to be involved in a variety of activities, versus joining the same types of groups (ie. joining all sports groups, or all minority-themed organizations) so that I can be exposed to different people, ideas and ways of life.

Joining many clubs and organizations is a really great way to get to know people. Since you can join clubs with people who have common intrests, it's a great way to find more people to hang out with. I would also tell myself that studying more is worth it. Having a social life is not nearly as important as putting forth the effort to get good grades. I would also say that I should be open minded and not let people's expectations of me define how I act, nor should I judge other people in the same way.

College is a blast. Stay on task with your studies and get a good night's rest.

I would tell myself to work hard to make friends. To put myself out there and try to meet new people. Other students in your classes and who live around you are great people to make friends with. Every freshman is in the same position as you. They are trying to make friends, and by you making the first move, you can come accross as very friendly. I would also tell myself to take advantage of all the activites the school has to offer. They plan events on the weekends and offer discount tickets to events in the area. I would tell myself to explor and have more fun outside of the school setting.

If I could go back to high school and talk to myself as a senior, some things I would discuss are dorm life, academic work load and independence. I feel that these things are a big part that should be known to transition into college life. When I arrived at the Univeristy of St. Thomas, dorm life was something so different to me. I felt at first lonely, and uncomfortable and was unhappy with not having privacy to myself. But, I later figured out how to manage school work to have my alone time. Also, I looked at dorm life positively and by talking to people, getting to know them, they immediately became my new family. Another factor that is pretty major is the academic part. I must say it is no longer high school. The thinking level is so much higher and each student is solely responsible for their work and the professors take no slack or excuses. Managing your time to study and get help is a big part and it affects free time and personal health as well. Lastly, independence here in college is amazing because it lets you learn on your own and discover new things.

I would say go to a college that you know fits your personality. If you are very independent and don't get homesick often, then going far from home would be a good option. If you like special attention and get lot of help from teachers, then a smaller school may be best. PIck a school tht best fits you and your major, and don't go to a school based on any other person. Start applying for scholarship right away, and don't let lack of money stop you form going to your dream school, becuase there ar so many ways to get help and the college experience is worth every dollar.