University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

Its hard work.

The advice that I would give myself as a second year college student, having experienced the college life, is to get involved. All throughout high school I was so focused on grades and studying. Coming to college, I now know how important it is to put yourself out there. I am not by any means saying studying isn't important, because after all, it is why you enter into college, but the friends that you make and relationships you form have the potential to be lifelong. Achieveing academic goals have always been and still should be the number one priority! In the same respect, I now realize just how much I gained from joining a club and going to on-campus events. You are now not in college to just gain factual knowledge, but to get to know who you are as a person. Campus life is an unforgetable experience and it would be unfortunate to spend all your time in a book when there is a whole wonderful sea of people to get to know. College is one of the best experiences and it should never go to waste, I am so lucky and grateful to have the opportunity.

Looking back at my college career, I realize that things are not always as they seem. Things that I thought were important at the time are not as important now that I look again. With that said, I think I would tell myself now that while you're in the moment, be cautious of the future. Look at your future and make sure that the decisions you're making now are going to make a positive influence in your future. Work hard so that the people who get to make the decisions about your future easier. While working hard in the classroom, make sure to allow yourself to have fun with those who you surround yourself with. I promise the more fun you have with friends, will make your entire college experience better. The better your experience, the more you will enjoy your classes. Some of the biggest stressors in college are the ones you make youself. You're (usually) only in college once, don't fill it with regret.

Trust your instincts, you've taken the time to visit and evaluate the colleges your deciding from. When you get to school take time to get to know the other people on your floor, there's a good chance some of them will become your best friends. Take time to get to know your roomate before move-in in the fall, it's nice to know at least one person when you arrive on campus. Be open to new things! You never know what you might try doing and fall in love with that activity. Take time to get to know your professors every semester, this way when you're in a bind there's someone to help you out. Have a social life, but don't let your social life affect your schoolwork. Last have fun! Take time to stop and smell the roses once and awhile because the time goes fast!

I would tell myself to get into better study habits. I realized that allthough I did study in high school. I did not study to my full potential and I did not get into habits of studying. I would also tell myself to treasure the days that I had with my friends as we all split up to go to college and we all have different experiences and change. Even the friend who came to the same college and I ahve changed in different ways.

C, You may not feel it but love high school while you?re there. Study for the ACT and take it a second time. A smile makes all the difference when presenting yourself- enjoy those friendships that it makes. Rowing gets easier, so put in the hard work now and your perfomance will amaze you. Your life gets more confident but more complicated. Be happy in the ease of day to day things such as homecooked meals, car rides from parents and school events. You are beautiful and the people who are always there are the Family. Spend time with them now. God is good. Volunteer. -Clare

Get involved! Get to know people besides your roommates! You are going to meet your best friends in these clubs! Don't forget to take deep breaths and LIVE!

To look at colleges early and not to think about where your friends are going but what fits best for you!

If I was able to go back in time I would tell myself the following: College is a big transition from highschool, to prepare for the workload of college it is important to start reading the textbook material along with lectures, even if not assigned. This simple trick will help you get into the habit of reading every day. Another hint is to choose your first semester classes with knowledge of what you are signing up for, so if you have any questions make sure to request someone to sit down and talk with you about your options. Switching from the academic aspect to the social aspect of college I would suggest that you remain at college for the first few months without going home. This will allow you to get out and make new friends and become involved with the St.Thomas community. You will have fun, college is a great balance between learning and experiencing new things.

I would tell myself to take school more seriously. The transition to college would have been easier if I had a more positive attitude towards school and had a heavier workload during my senior year.

I would advise myself to be more excited to attend this university. I would say your mind and world view will be expanded, and moving 540 miles away from home will be a great experience. Not only is their more fun in this city, professional sporting events, restaurants, and more, but your opportunities to serve are much more diverse. You can work with disadvantged youth, senior citizens, or grade schoolers. The knowledge from classes will make you a more refined individual, and associating with those who may not agree with your views will be enriching for all. Also, don't worry about not knowing any one at this school. You will make friends from all over the country, and even from other countries. Be prepared to work hard and have fun. Leave your preconceived notions of others behind, and be ready to have an open mind, and at the same time, bring your knowledge back to where you came from.

The hardest part of my transition into college was learning how to study for classes and not being able to assume the tests would be easy. Get involved in school activities and worry less about grades. Enjoy your time with friends and build strong relationships with people. Stay true to yourself.

I would definitely tell myself that college life is very hard, much harder than high school. In college, professors will pile the work on you and will not care how much you have already. In high school, there are plenty of second chances. But in college you only have one chance to get a good grade and if you blow it, you are in trouble. I would tell myself to plan social events and homework better, put it on a schedule. I would tell myself to be more social, to take more risks with other people and just talk to others in order to make friends. At the same time, I would tell myself not to rush everything. You've got four years ahead of you, take it slowly. Balancing too many activities and homework generates a lot of stress. Finally, I would tell myself to have fun. It is imperative to get work done, but you have to leave yourself some time to relax and truly enjoy college.

Apply for any programs even if you don't think you will get it, there is no harm in trying. There are programs out there that are amazing and can make the transition to college easier and more beneficial. Don't be afraid to let go and build a new idenity and meet new people becuase they make the experience more interesting and meaningful. If you sit in your dorm room and play videogames or watch tv and don't get out, you will look back wondering what you missed becuase there is so much out there in college.

Choosing a college was a frightening task for me. In high school I knew nothing about the college experience, and before I knew it I was expected to make a heavy decision that would affect my entire future. I didn't know what to look for in a potential college or how to choose a place that fit my personality. My only criteria were that I wanted to stay near home and I wanted a private school. My ultimate decision was based upon the amount of financial aid offered; I was lucky the school I chose happened to offer opportunities important to me such as music, a study abroad program, and a good faculty in my major field of biology. If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would do things differently. The best advice I could give is to start researching early. I would start before my senior year, visiting as may schools as possible and making use of my career counselors to gather information. That way I could have made a firmly grounded decision instead of a shot in the dark. Choosing a college is something that shouldn't be left to chance.

To be open to more things. Coming to college I tried sticking to my old friends to much and wasn't able to find new friends here at school. It took me a year or so to be comfortable with my new friends at school. When sticking to old ways you miss what is new and great in your life.

I would suggest to go to the school in which they feel comfortable no matter if you have friends going there or not. You make friends very easily so don't at all worry about not knowing anyone even if it is in a different state far away from home (as it is for me).

I would tell them to get excited about learning and experiencing new things, and tell them to bring in an openess for learning and growing. Adjustment will be needed, but that is part of growing up.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, one of the most important thing I would advise myself to do would be to take more Post Secondary classes and to also research which ones would transfer. During high school, I took a few Post Secondary classes, but looking back on it, I wish I had taken more to better prepare myself for the college world. Another piece of advice I would give myself would be to do some more research into what might interest me. Having more insight into different career paths I might be interested in might have allowed me to make better decisions regarding classes. The last piece of advice I would give myself for the transition into college life would be to relax a little more and just enjoy the experience. College is a life-changing experience that will only happen once; it is what you make of it. And while getting good grades and succeeding academically is important, learning more about who you are as an individual and enjoying the company of new-found friends is also an important and enjoyable part of college.

I would look into more public schools because of the high costs associated with private.