University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

I would tell myself to learn how to budget money. There was a satisfaction that came with paying a big chunk of my tuition bill out of my own pocket, and by paying for it I felt more inspired to work harder. Don't feel intimidated from what you have heard about college being difficult. It is a lot of work but you can handle it and professors are usually willing to help. Take advantage of office hours and getting to know professors! Don't assume you won't be friends with your roommate just because you might not have been friends in high school, you'll be surprised at the people you become friends with! Take advantage of free stuff the college offers---you are paying for it! Sometimes a good workout can really clear your head and help you study. Cram for finals, but don't kill yourself, in fact, try to review the information periodically throughout the semester so you don't have as much work to do finals week. Study with friends, it's not as dreadful.

I would assure myself that sweating the small things is not worth it. I should not assume that everyone already knows what they want to be at 18 years of age. That classes are meant to be taken to figure out what I do and don't like. Never say no to a school beacuse of what MTV says or what a friend of a friend has said about it. Just listen to my gut. I need to be comfortable about myself before I can about a school. I should not worry about what the kids at school look or dress like, and worry more about the classes and tests. Another thing I would stress would be to not worry about what other kids are doing on Friday nights. I have 4 more years of college to go out and party, I should make the most of my classes by studying and putting forth my best efforts. The first 6 weeks of studying in college defines my study habits for rest of the year, so I would make sure I'd tell myself to keep a schedual and stick to it. And lastly, that college gets easier over time. Promise.

I would give myself the following three tips: First, take school seriously. Public high school is free and it is easy to slack off, but college, especially a private college, is very expensive. Also, you are setting up your future, so put some thought into your decisions. You have to think about how much money you want to spend on school, where you want to go and what school can set you up best for the future you want. Lastly, don't get caught up in the "college" life. The idea that partying and going out all the time is what college is about is a lie. If you really care about your future, you need to know how to have a good time, but how to do it wisely and safely and how to manage your pleasure with your business, or school. Your future is not something you want to gamble on, so don't take unnecessary risks like civil involvements and things. Focus on school, that is the real reason you are going there: to get a degree.

The cost of my college education has drastically changed my perception of how to choose and attend a college. As a first generation college student, my family and I were ill-prepared to handle the hidden costs that attending college include. Although I do recieve some financial aid, with every passing year, particularly in this recession, the ability to afford my education has drained resources from my family and I. While at school, I work two on-campus jobs to help pay for my day to day costs of living at such an expensive school. If I were to talk to my high school senior self, I would stress the importance of searching for scholarships outside of those offered at the school I choose and to consider the cost of attendance more than the location and type of school. I can get an education anywhere, but paying for it is a completely different, and stressful matter.

During high school, my responsibilities were to get good grades so I could get into a good college and to practice hard at my sport (figure skating). I lived in the same town for fourteen years, had most of the same friends all throughout high school, maintained a very good relationship with my parents, and I learned to really love the life I created for myself. Once I moved into my dorm room with three strangers, I knew I would be living without guidelines from my parents and I felt prepared to face challenges without them. Little did I know, I often thought about my hometown. For the first month I constantly wished to be back to my same old life that I spent so long creating in Coon Rapids. This caused me to miss out on some college activities. If I were to go back in time, I would tell myself to not be scared and to take risks, welcome adventure, and be fearless. If I want to be a journalist, this is something I have to learn. Now that I know this, I will approach life with a more open mind and welcome change.

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a high-school senior regarding the transition into college there would be a lot of insightful advice that I could give myself. The most helpful advice that I could give myself is to explain the importance of a balanced lifestyle in college. In order to succeed in college there are many needs that have to be balanced, all of which are vital to living a successful, happy, and healthy life on your own. This ranges from coursework, on-campus involvement, social life, sleep, exercise, nutrition, creativity, and an occupation. College life is a balancing act that can become lopsided if not intently focused on. In order to perform well in school, the mind and body need to be healthy and well rested to reach your full potential. College is a new and exciting experience where a student begins the adventure of complete independence for the first time in their life. This newly acquired independence comes with new responsibilities and challenges. Every experience in college is a learning experience inside and outside of the classroom that helps each individual learn to balance each component of life.

Good advice for myself would be... always be willing to jump outside of your comfort zone and meet new people. The more you explore the campus, the more you will grow to love it and all the people. Also, never procrastinate; high school procrastination is not as painful as it is in college, because you are not paying for high school. On the note of paying, look for scholarships as much as possible, even if you do not think you will receive it, apply to it. Having free money handed to you feels wonderful and keeps you out of horrible debt. Lastly, don't play hooky to get out of work; your job is your life line and allows you to pay for things you will want and need.

One of the first things that I would tell myself was that I needed to learn how to study. I didn't know how to do that effectively until I was thrown into it headfirst in my first semester of college. I learned to focus , and this semester will be even better on that front. I have learned that I need to study, yes, but also take time for myself and do the things that I want to do. There are always so many activities going on around campus, and so many opportunities for students to take advantage of, and missing out on all of them to study is not a good excuse. I would also tell myself that, although you may think it is really important to get a job right away, it may be smarter to take a little time to get used to your schedule and to your surroundings. Maybe instead of going out and getting a job, divide the time you would spend working into extra study time and time to apply for more scholarships.

The hardest part of college is finding the right study habits for you, the sooner you find wat works for you the sooner you will succeed.

I would advise myself to take everything more seriously. The opportunities that I did not take could effect me the rest of my life. Take advantage of every possible opportunity, whether it be joining a club or applying for a scholarship. The one thing I regret is procrastinating. I have missed many opportunities to better my life, to make new friends, and to be the person I truly can be. Unfortunately, my procrastination has spilled over into my college experience, and it has already impacted my grades, my job, and my friends. Had I been more proactive, I could have saved up more money for tuition, gotten more scholarships, and kept up much better on my schoolwork. I guess the saying "Don't put off til tomorrow, what you can do today" really applies to my life, and the advice that I would give to myself if I were given the chance.