University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

I would tell myself to never lose focus, and always to enjoy the little things in life. Don't be nervous about college, because you are going to meet some amazing people and experience amazing things that you would have never unless you go to the University of St. Thomas.

I would not change anything in my decision process, althought i would put more time into picking my classes more wisely, and i would make sure that they are spread out. It is a hassle to have them all bunched together. I would encourage myself to play football, because i was on the fence as to wether i should play or not. I ended up playing and it was the most fun i have ever had playing a sport.

I would tell myself that I should pick a college based on what I enjoy and based on what I would like to do in the future. I would tell myself that I should keep in mind the values that I developed through high school when picking a college or university. I would also advised myself to research several schools and what they have to offer. I would tell myself that there are going to be some times where things may be a little shaky or uncomfortable but not to be worried because it is all part of the transition. I would advise myself not to be as shy, and try to make more friends as soon as I got to school. I would also encourage myself to get involved with as many things as possible, becasue as I have learned, you get to know a lot of people by doing more activities. I would tell myself that, "this is college and you are suppose to have fun," but keep in mind the reason I am going to school, which is to further educate myself, in hopes to be successful and have a rewarding and enjoyable career.

The most important piece of advice I could give you is to be open and outgoing to new things. You will encounter people with different outlooks on life and you need to be able to see things from their perspective. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there. Everyone is in the same situation so you are all in it together. Establish a comfort zone and continue to push the limits on that zone. By getting involved in several different groups or activities, you will have plenty of chances to meet new people and make new friends. Remember that you are going to school to get an education. Making friends and experiencing new things are important, but your studies must come first. Don't be scared to ask questions and ask for help. Figure out a study schedule and stick to it so you can always get your homework done. Know that your years in college will influence the rest of your life so make good decisions. Your family will always be there whenever you need help but you need to learn to become an individual. After you graduate it's time for the real world, so enjoy yourself.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice, I would say, "Study harder, don't procrastinate, and quit slacking off. Those traits will become a habit that you will have you kicking yourself. You'll lose a lot of sleep from it, which is not something you can really afford to do. It will affect your learning thus affecting your grades. Take PSEO courses! It is a great program. It's free college classes that will prepare you for the college life. You gain credits towards your education while receiving a taste of what your responsibilities for next year. You'll get some experience, meet new people, and save an enormous amount of money at the same time. Speaking of saving money, work more and save more! Even with the scholarship money, college is still extremely expensive. Don't waste it on frivolous items that catch your fancy for a week only to have it sitting in the corner of your room as a shelf. Plan ahead and look to the future. Set goals and work hard to achieve them."

The advice I wish I could give to myself would be to allow my dreams and goals take me to where I want to be. It never occurred to me, during high school, that there is a world filled with various opportunities and different careers. All throughout high school, I had shunned all other options and limited myself to only one career path, leading to a horrid freshman year in college when I realized that the career path I thought I chose was not the path for me. Due to this crisis, I have learned much about keeping my options open, persevering to achieve my goals, and maintaining a good network of people to help me succeed. There is so much that knowledge and experience I have gained since the time when I was a senior in high school. I wish I could have known all of this back then.

The best advice that I could give myself would be to be open and outgoing. It is a difficult transition moving on from high school where you had a comfort zone with friends that you knew for most of your life. Moving on to college and separating from those friends can be tough. Being outgoing can help ease the transition to college. The first part of college can be difficult but with the help of new friends it makes the process easier. So for high school seniors, they should enjoy the time they have with their friends because once everyone goes off to college they will find new groups of friends and build a stronger bond than many high school friendships. Another word of advice would be to be smart/careful because most college freshman are so excited to be away from home that they make stupid mistakes. It is okay to have fun and party but remember that you are at college to learn and how you study at college is most likely going to affect you for the rest of your life.

If I were to go back in time, the only advise I would give myself is to not be afraid to try something new. I think I panicked and stayed in my comfort zone by going to the school I attend now.

I would tell myself to be open minded to new experiences. There is so much out there to learn that you should struggle to achieve as much of that as possible. I would also say to always remember to work hard and do your best. Do not be afraid to ask for help because that is what the resources are there for. Get out there and meet new people and learn from their individual experiences. Do not sell yourself short and use everything to your full potential. Work hard in classes yet still take time to have fun and enjoy life.

The advice I would give myself is choose the kind of school where you would feel comfortable academically and socially in. Don't think so much about the financial situation as much because it doesn't matter that much. Stepping in as a freshman in college, I was in the position with financial issues as a freshman in 2008-2009, it was really stressful, but the most important thing is whether you would feel comfortable in the state you will be in and whether the sources that you have will come to good use.