University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

I would tell myself to always strive for your goals and never let anyone tell you differently. I would get involved in the community more and study harder. You also need to put yourself out there. College students are thrown into classes where you may not know anyone. You need to have an open mind and an open heart. Lastly, keep in touch with those you love and who love you. They will help you find your confidence to continue on when you are having a rough day. Have fun!

In general, I would tell myself to not worry so much about the transition. Not that going away to college isn't a big deal, but it certainly wasn't as big of a transition as I had imagined.

I wouldn't change anything because I was already prepared.

One of the first things I would tell myself is that college is nothing like high school and that I would need to put in a lot more time and effort to continue to get good grades. I also would tell myself to use professors office hours to get help with questions and homework and also to get to know them better than just through lectures. I wish someone would have told me that college professors do not form personal relationships with students as readily as high school teachers; I would need to put in extra effort if I wanted my professors to know and care about me as my high school teachers did. In the selection process, I would tell myself to go to the school that I really wanted to go to rather than a school someone else wants me to go to. I would strongly emphasize that compromising on my dreams and goals to make others happy is going to upset me and possibly take away from my college career. Finally, I would have told myself to start researching financial aid and applying for scholarships much earlier in my college search process.

I would tell myself that it is important to look at more schools and apply to more places. And, it is important to visit the schools and not settle on a school but to push yourself to do the best you can.

If I were to go back in time, I would say to myself to not take anything for grantid. As I transitioned I thought making friends would be simple, but it was not. I found out it took about the whole semester to find my clique of friends that I knew would be a great influence. I would tell myself to also be more open and talk a lot to everyone. In addition I would reccomend to save more money for myself.

Make a lot of visits before your final decision. Stay overnight at each school you're considering and talk to students. It's nice to get the perspective of current students of any college you're considering. Try to talk to more than just the student tour guides as well; you'll get a better idea of what the school's really about from someone who isn't paid and trained to attract students. Also, look at schools you wouldn't normally consider. There are some really cool little known schools out there where you can get a great education and meet a huge variety of interesting people. Don't just stick to the typical college choices! Find the school that fits you perfectly, the school where you can see yourself for the next four years happily.

If I could speak to myself as a senior in high school I'd advise myself to be open to as many opportunities that come my way. College is completly different than high school and full of new experiences and new people. You can really make a difference during your college years I wish I could tell ever high schoolers that. I would also tell myself to live on campus as long as possible because living off campus is expensive and bills are never fun. I'd remind myself to be greatful for my parents because when you don't live with them you really start to miss them. Finally I'd tell myself to study extra hard, try to meet someone new everyday, get to know your teachers because their stories are really amazing, study abroad, take a chance, learn new concepts, stick to your morals and values, know you can change the world, and finally believe in yourself. During my three semesters at the University of St. Thomas I've learned all these things. It's made me a better student, worker, friend, and person.

I would tell myself to learn time management skills, because it is very important when you do not have parents guiding you and you are completely on your own. I would suggest getting a job on campus right away in order to get used to managing money and time. This way, I would get used to working and not feel like it is a burden. Getting involved in the clubs and activites that you will encourage your faith and be uplifting to you as a person is very important. You will meet people who are interested in the same things as you and you will be able to build Christian relationships. I would suggest not drinking or abusing drugs because they distract from academics, making good friendships, and creating a strong faith. Abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and drugs has been incredibly rewarding for me during my first semester. I suggest setting a specific limit per day for Internet usage because it can be such a waste of time and a huge distraction. I would suggest praying and reading the Bible everyday to have a centerpoint to come back to within the change and chaos that comes with college.

I would tell myself to relax and stop worrying. If only I knew that the next few years would be the best years of my life. I would say to me: in my freshman year, 'you will meet a ton of wonderful people; professors, students, co-workers etc.' I would say that I would meet the three girls that will end up being my best friends- my three freshman roomies. I would say try to live in the dorms as long as you can. I would say work hard your freshman year and get all As because that is the best thing you can do for your GPA. I would say savor every moment that you can because these are the best days of your life and pursue every option that offers itself. I would say get super involved and network early by meeting people in your specific field and to quit worrying because everything is going to work out in the end.