University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

They always say that hindsight is 20/20 and I have never believed that as much as I do now. Coming into college as a freshman was nerve wracking and wearisome. Looking back, I could have spared myself from a lot of worry if I knew one thing; that people do not care about me. As a freshman I was constantly worried about trying to fit in, if my peers were laughing at me behind my back and wondering about what others thought of me. I was acting like a normal teenager who was still uncomfortable in their own skin. It was not until I started my sophomore year that I had an epiphany. The truth is that no one actually cares about me or what I am doing. More often than not people are so consumed with thoughts of themselves and what they need to do that they cannot spare a passing thought for others. How liberating! If I had known this as a freshman I could have saved myself a lot of undue anxiety and stress and enjoyed my freshman experience. Now, free from my peer's nonexistent judgement I live life to the fullest.

Be sure to learn about all the schools that offer the field of study that interest you. Search for scholarships and grants, sometimes loans are too expensive. Dont always go for the first school when there are many out there. Also research the field of study and be sure that the job duties is what interest you. Sometimes you like some of the duties you must complete and sometimes theres some you dont like. So before making any decisions really think about both the field in which you want to enhance your skills and how tuition is going to be paid off. The fardest you can be from a loan the better because you wont be bother day and night concerning about paying them back.

Growing up in a single mother family and overcoming dyslexia, I learned early that hard work and perserverance will be necessary to accomplish my goals. The conversation with myself as a high school senior is as follows: Alex, set your goals and take simple steps to reach that goal! Make every minute count as your hard work now will make your future so much easier and attainable. Research your career choice and make sure that it is what you want passionately. If your career choice is nursing, then walk the hallways of a hospital, interview the administrator, your doctor and see if that is your passion. Learn and be aware of the values that has been instilled in you and think through how these values can be carried over to your career choice. Realize that your career goals are within your reach and to attain them it will take dedication, knowledge and most of all consistancy in spirit and focus. Thank you for your consideration, Alexander Newton"

To plain ahead about college, and the degree you want to obtain. Also to apply for scholarships early, and think ahead on your fafsa application. I would tell myself that college is not cheap even with financial aid, and to save up some money for it. Plus what college you chose is very important.

College life is ten times more different then high school. It isn't about who you know or what clique you are apart of. The people you are not friends with or have any association with in high school will be seen about once every month when you pass by them in the local Target. Those people do not define you, you define you. Don't be afraid to come out as a homosexual just because no one else has. If they didn't bully you when you were in the closet but it was nearly obvious then they probably won't when you come out. In college, no one knows anyone; it is the first day of kindergarten. The only difference is that it is the first day everyday. I don’t even know the names of the people who sit next to me everyday and neither of us cares. You shouldn’t have been afraid to be you your last year of high school or any year before that. Your only purpose in life is to be you and it shouldn’t have taken thirteen plus years of education to learn that, it should have taken zero.

If I had the opportunity to speak with myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to keep striving and keep pursuing my education no matter the circumstance. When I graduated from highschool I became so enthralled in adulthood and other frivolous things that I didn't focus on my college career like I should have. I would warn myself to not make the same mistake. I would tell myself to enjoy the process of entering into a new chapter of life. I would encourage myself to apply to all the schools that I could find and visit as many campuses as I could. I would also encourage myself to seek out as many scholarship opportunities as I could find to help with the financial burden of being a student. The most important lesson that I think I could teach myself as a highschool senior is to just have fun and enjoy it all. College is a big transistion in life and the road to success can be extra bumpy. However if you are prepared and go into it with an open mind and a brave heart, theres not much that can stop you from achieving your goals.

Don't think getting good grades will be as easy as it was in high school. Even though you're going to have less classes, there's so much more work to do for each class. Forget about not paying attention in class; your grade depends on participation, too! Start using the internet less as of NOW. Even though it's necessary for most of your homework in college, it can become a huge distraction if you let it, so better start working on that addiction now. Stop procrascinating! I know everyone does it, but in college you have to know the importance of each assignment and much it weights into your final grade. Procrascination can get in the way of a good GPA.

The greatest piece of advice I could give to myself would be "do not be intimidated by AP and CIS classes. You are smart enough to be in them and they are much more rewarding than regular classes." I always believed that these classes were filled with super-geniuses that never went outside or talked to anyone. It was not until my senior year that I finally took some and I was shocked. All of my friends had been in these kinds of classes since they were sophomores. I was much more comfortable in these classes and I walked away actually learning something (with a few college credits to show it). Regular high school classes do not prepare you for what comes in college. At times I was overwhelmed by the multiple hours of homework I would get in my AP classes, but this was only because I had never really had homework before. Now I do nearly eight hours of homework a day and still feel comfortable with it. It is because of AP and CIS courses that I am able to handle my workload in college now.

I would tell myself to stick to your goals and try to accomplish those goals and don't let anything or anyone try to discourage you from accomplishing your goals. Don't let anyone steer you in the wrong direction for your life and to stay focus on what you are there for. Study hard and do all you can do to finish and once you get all that studying behind you then you can relax and enjoy all that you have accomplished. I would tell them while they are a high school senior set goals for yourself and stick to them and know what you want to do with your life and where you want to go. And focus on those goals no matter what your friends are doing with their life you put forth an effort to stay in school and not to get into any trouble so that you can finish and you would be so proud of yourself because you didn't let anyone influence you to quit or get into any trouble. I would let them know they are the future and they have to succeed and try to make a better life for themselves.

I have only been enrolled in college for less than a year but I have learned many things. As a high school senior I didn't know what to expect for college. I didn't have an older sibling to ask so I learned the hard way. I wish someone would have told me how easy it would be to make friends. I remember being so nervous on move-in day but almost immediately, it seemed, I was surrounded with new friends. I would also want to tell myself not to worry about the small things. I was nervous about what to bring, who I would talk to, what my classes would be like, and who would I turn to for help. I learned that you have to go with the flow and there are more important things to spend time on. It's more important to learn very good study habits, arrange your sleeping patterns, and learn to organize your time and responsibilities than it is which towels to bring. A strong foundation of knowledge and habits can take you a long way in college and I wish I would have known which things to prepare for.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to relax a bit more about college. I would say to myself not to worry about making friends and the work load because overall, it is not bad. I would definetely tell myself to express myself better and just socialize and be myself...at college that is a main thing I have noticed. People don't care what others think and they are willing to be themselves. I would also tell myself to go out and socialize at every opportunity; when a group of people ask you to go out with them, then definetely say yes. Don't be afraid to reach out to other people and make friends. I would assure myself that college is an experience of a lifetime. It really is some of the funnest years of your life.

Hey Ivan. Do you have a minute? I just wanted to give you some advice about college. Get aquainted with the programs that they offer at the colleges. Do not be ignorant of these school programs. They will affect you in the long run if you do not utilize them. Another word of advice is that you should become well aquainted with doing presentations. The high school senior project that you are doing this year is nothing compared to what you have to do in college. At the minimum, your presentations will be about 15 minutes long and you do not get half of the semester to complete it. I also advice you to get to know your fellow classmates. Write down his or her number. On the days you cannot make it to class having your classmate's number will come in handy. Last word of advice is to join a club that is towards your major! It will benfit you with networking and at the same time it will look good on your college career.

For me, it was easy to transtion into college, but for my fmaily it wasn't. My mom and I had trouble communicating to eahc other my freshman year and I would say it had a lot to do with our relationship while I was in high school. We didn't have a bad relationship but I wasn't always open with her. So the advice I would give myself is, don't be afraid to open up to your parents and let them in as far guidence goes. The more you feel like you cna trust your parents, the easier it is to resolve problems with them when they appear. I didn't know how to handle the problems I had with my mom because I didn't take the time to get to know her as person when I was living at home and that would have saved a lot of heartache on both sides.

Your focus and worry on money is unnecessary. It's great if you get a job, but focusing on school work is much more important. Having a job is nice to make some money, but it consumes your time, and your grades will start to slip. As you get into college, you will learn much more about independence and time management, which are both very important to start on the path of success. You will learn that time spent on studying and doing homework will pay off greatly. You will learn that you are making your own decisions, and nobody is forcing you to do anything. It takes self motivation to learn to become a good, independent student. Having a job throws off time management, independence, and self motivation completely. Yes, college is expensive, but there is help. You will be able to pay off what you owe, so make the time you spend in college worth it!

I would tell myself that its going to be harder than I expected. I would explain that unlike most of my classmates, I would be on my own finacially, which is going to make it difficult when wanting to go out with friends or live off campus. However, I would mention that even though financially its a struggle, I am getting the best education possible. I will be able to get a job right out of college, and I will have made some of the best friends I have ever had. I would also mention that it isn't all about boys and partying. It is important to stay on top of school work, but also there is a need to be balanced socially. Overall, I would tell myself that I am ready, and I will succeed at whatever I do with the right additude!

If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self I would tell her that the pressures I feel now will prepare me for the rest of my life. Choosing a college and finishing high school is a major event in your life. It should be joyful and even though it feels never ending and sometimes life ending, it is preparation for other pressures in life. You will have to interview for jobs, apply for graduate school, and meet deadlines all of your life. Learning how to handle pressures that you feel during your senior year ultimately prepares you to make other life altering decisions. However, it is also important to cherish your senior year. Don't loose sight of the great time that you are able to have. College is a blast, and learning how to juggle pressure and fun will get you through it.

It is not as scary as you think, you've been preparing for this your entire life it is almost like grade 13. You will meet new people and you will love everything. Just believe in yourself and you will go far.

Always be, at least, one step ahead of the game, never think that you aren't doing enough because sometimes doing more is better. You should study harder and develop a style of studying so tha when you go to college studying will come easier for you. If you don't understand something ask questions, don't be afraid of asking because the teachers will always be there to help you out no matter how much questions you have to ask. Utilize the help center within the school, especially for college help such as scholarships, applications, and decision of schools. Number one thing that I would like to tell my high school self is to get rid of the procrasination behavior and try harder to turn everything in and play around less. With all of this college life and the transition into college would be easier and there would not be much of a struggle when it comes to exams and finals.

I would tell myself to take a CNA course and work as that over the summer after my freshman year. I would tell myself to not go home for the summer after my sophomore year. I would tell myself to do research at St. Thomas instead. I would say don't be nervous about going to college because you'll meet your best friends who will be friends for life.

My senior year of high school was unique. My brother was deployed to Afghanistan, my parents got divorced, and I spent more time taking care of my alcoholic father than I did of myself. My grades and my confidence plummeted. I never got to truly enjoy my senior year of high school, because I was too busy handling the events that my life handled me. Now, as a freshman in college, I would tell myself that things do not get easier; rough times are inevitable. I cannot change the events that have happened or will happen, but I can change my own individual outlook on them. Senior year of high school, I was unsure whether or not I would be able to attend my dream school- a school that multiple family members attended and loved because of the recessionary times. Despite all of my surroundings telling me there was no way to attend, I turned to them and said "watch me". I am now a freshman a freshman at my dream school, and love it more and more each day. I have learned that everything happens for a reason, and regardless of life's event, to smile through the pain.