University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

Simply be as open-minded as possible. There are so many varying points of view out there, you just have to get out of your bubble to discover them. While your ideas may be well formulated, and your ability to articulate them helps to confirm your own correctness, you must shy away from such a mindset. Every single person has something valuable to add to the equation, because no single human being approaches any situation the same. To fully expand knowledge, one must have empathy. All minds have a unique way of thinking that can in turn broaden your own mind. Don't let your ego ever get in the way of being open-minded. It is only a hinderance to true learning. Furthermore, taking people at face value is dangerous to say the least. It is so easy to judge those around us based on all sorts of superficial things that don't really matter, and that is exactly why the goal of open-mindedness is so difficult. Humans naturally pre-judge anyone they see. If you want to learn, learn to rise above this base nature of people.

Zach, You are right about college it's super fun. The parties are great and there are tons of girls, but be careful and be smart. When you find yourself binge drinking remember to never drive because some of your friends will and now there waiting for rides. The course work will be challenging, but don't worry when you apply yourself it isn't hard at all and eventually you will find something you enjoy. Just study hard and everything academically will work itself it out. Take advantage of the football games because tailgating is a blast. Finally make sure you take in every moment because eventually you'll need to get a job and it will come to an end. Zach

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself several things. In high school, I was a big time procrastinator. I would let myself know that procrastination gets you nowhere in college. You will be able to complete the assignment, but a good grade is not guaranteed. Get involved with school activities, meet new people, have fun, and most importantly go to class! In college, you are very independent and free to make your own choices, therefore some people don't always make the right ones but make sure you have a good head on your shoulders!

I would tell myself to take the college selection process more seriously. I should not have limited myself in my choices. I would make sure to consider numerous options and look at the important aspects such as offered majors, reputation of the school, class size, and rate of the graduates from that school having success in the job market. These things are much more pivotal in the rest of your life than whether or not the school has good sports teams, a crazy party scene, or even if it is located in a fun city. Yes these things make college more fun but one should not forget the ultimate objective is to receive and education that will prepare them for their future career. I would also tell myself to figure out who I am and what my beliefs are and stick to them. To get involved in causes you believe in and make life long friends.

Apply to as many possible schools. I would tell me to not worry because everything will work out. You'll end up where you are suppose to end up and if you don't like it you can transfer out

I would go back and tell myself to take all the AP classes that were aviable at school, and take the tests. I would also have made sure that I had taken the ACT and SAT more then once.

Take charge of your education now. Use whatever means possible to allow yourself to succeed in college. Take advantage of programs such as PSEO and AP courses to gain college credit now. College will be much more difficult than high school and you will have to work for your education; it will not just come naturally. And you will regret procrastination. Allow yourself to take courses you are truly interested in and gain a major you will continue to be interested in four years later. Your degree is for you and you need to be excited about what you are learning. It is not always smart to be practical; you must also be passionate about what you learn. Do not allow yourself to be overly stressed about the financial situations or any other situations you find yourself in. Things always have a way of working themselves out. Trust yourself and trust those around you who support your education. Put yourself out there and don't be afraid of uncomfortable situations. Others will never know how amazing you are if you don't allow them to. Lastly, see the grey areas in the world. It is not all black and white.

No matter where you end up attending, whether it's an ivy league university or a techical college, it doesn't matter. The name on your degree can only get you so far, worry more about what you are learning than where you are learning it. And make friends, both in and outside of your major. Have fun, because after this it's the real world, and spending a few months in another country won't seem as plausible.

If I had the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, with the knowledge I have gained from my two and a half years of being in college, I would have advice for myself. One of the most important things that I would say would be to get involved. Being involved on campus really helps complete the circle of the college experience. By being involved it makes it easier to meet a variety of new people that you may have never run into otherwise. The second piece of advice I would give myself would be not to procrastinate or let anyone change the way you do work or yourself for that matter. I would make a point to exaggerate the importance of staying on top of what needs to get done for each class, in each semester. Last but not least, I would give the advice to be yourself. Let people accept you for who you really are. Don't be afraid to let who you are shine on through. Be yourself, trust yourself, and love yourself. This will allow you to let your life take shape, a beautiful one.

If I had a chance to go back in time to my senior year in high school to give myself advice about college life, I wouldn't give myself just one but many advices. First would be to explore possible jobs that I could see myself do so that I am able to study the appropriate subjects in college. As a sophomore, I am struggling to find courses that will allow me to graduate on time (in 2012) that are required for my major because I was uncertain of what it would be. Second, third, and forth would be to be involved in extra-curricular activities, take advantage of the opportunities and amenities that the university offers, and build relationships and connections with students, faculty, and staff members. Also if I knew what to study, I would be able to get involved in opportunities on campus of that focus and/or connect with person(s) of that field to help in the long-run. And my last advice would be to look into schools that are further away so that when coming home for the Holidays or for the weekends, the family would appreciate it more.