Westminster College-Salt Lake City Top Questions

First of all, you will have a lot more free time and a lot less nagging from your parents to do homework- so you have to learn to control and monitor yourself so that you aren't wasting time and you get all your studying done. At the same time, this extra time is great- you can spend time with all the new people you've met and experience things you've never experienced. Another bit of advice is this: college is much different than high school, the people are different, more mature and more diverse. Don't avoid greeting people you know when you walk past them- you'll just seem stuck up. There aren't cliques in college, if you're a likeable person, you'll be friends with other likeable people. Don't have the mentality that you're "too cool" for someone, or that someone is "too cool" for you. Be friendly and fair to everyone, and you'll have lots of good friends in college that will last a long time.

Stay true to yourself, and know that any dream coming true is a process, not an event. Take care of yourself, and make sure you study and prepare hard, and accordingly. Stay humble, stay true to yourself, and know that any goal you're in pursuit of, is on you. Even if you have no support from others, it only takes your own willpower to truly make a difference in your life. Enjoy your life and youth while you have it, but know you need to work before you can play. Apply to scholarships, study hard, and pursue resources and utulize the help that you have. Talk to your counselors, speak with your teachers, and make sure that you prepare yourself for your future. It may be your senior year of high school, but that doesnt mean you're almost done with "responsibility"... To be honest, you haven't even truly started yet.

I would like my eighteen year old self to know that making mistakes would be more important than making the right choices. I would want to remind her that college wasn't going to change her, that she was going to have to do that on her own. I would also like to tell her to get her homework done and on time but that turning something in late or incomplete is always better than turning in nothing at all. I would also tell myself as a high school senior to not be afraid to make new friends and branch out, just because there are new people doesn't mean that the old ones mean any less or are any less important. Oh and go to those club meetings in all those emails, they are not so cool but still really really fun. And I would want her to know that all the hard work would pay off and she would actually, really, truly, eventually get the degree, and to remember that when it feels like it's not worth it or it's taking too long.

Start looking and applying for scholarships right away. The more free money you don't have to pay back, the easier your life will be. Student loans aren't that bad if you know exactly what you're getting into and planning accordingly. I think paying for college is the most stressful part, once you have it paid for you can solely focus on you studies.

Dear Jeff --

Talking to my high school senior self, I would let myself know that everything works out for a reason and not to worry too much about your future because it will all pan out. There are bumps along your college career but you have to make the best of it! Try to get involved as much as you can with on campus activities, groups, etc. It's a great way to meet people, get involved in different activities, relieve stress from school, find buddies to travel with and go on vacations, start creating a network for your soon to be career (it's all about who you know these days), and make lifelong friends. If you have the opportunity to travel do it! Even if it's just the neighboring state or a mini roadtrip, those friends, relaxing moments, and the new places and people can change your life for the better. Take any opportunity to travel, don't worry about the cost because you have the rest of your life to work and makeup for the expendable debt of your travels, memories and new lifelong wisdom.

If I were to be able to go back in time and talk to the high school me I would tell him to have a little more fun. Education is really a life long goal and the one who will be the happiest with the results is the one that that keeps on learning. So it is not a race to get your degree now and get college credits now. You need to work hard but have a little more fun. Now when you go to work do not put in a lousy effort. So the technical advice is that math classes are always good and since I like math jump feet first into that. And even though I know I would make a lousy family doctor there are a lot of medical research positions that someone calus like me can do. So don't think that all medical professionals have family clinics. I can do medical research and that would really be a great comination of working hard and having fun,

If I could go back to my senior year of high school I would of applied for more scholarships and would of taken more college classes at our local community college. I would have taking time to really enjoy my last year of high school aslo, instead of just wanted it to go by fast so I could be in college. Overall I do think that applying for for scholarships would of been something I should of done, so I could get used to the process and help me throughout school.

If I could go back to my highschool self, I would definitely apply for more scholarships starting from freshman year in highschool. There are so many scholarships that are offered for high school students that I didn't know about until I was a senior. Scholarships, no matter what amount, are very important. You never know how the economy is going to change and how it will affect your financial situation. Also, you may change your mind of what school you want to go to, and the one you pick may be a private liberal arts college that can be very pricy. While if you qualify for aids such as FAFSA, it still may not be enough for full tuition and books. Also the most important thing is loans. You may qualify for a few small loans, which doesn't sound too bad, until you times that number by four. You don't want to be in debt upon graduation. You may even find that partner in life sooner than you thought, and I wouldn't want to have any debt in my name going into that partnership. Plus wouldn't you want to start saving for your own kids?

Do you remember thinking how “neat” college kids used to seem? In movies, they’d do things like find true romance, or break free from parent bounds. College is supposedly that moment you become an adult. When you’re in high school, selecting colleges is like choosing from a series of carefully-crafted, mysterious boxes. Each has something to enhance your future. Now the moment has arrived, you’ve chosen the one laced with purple and golden lining. College was glorified when you were young, however, college isn’t self-defining; it’s self-informing. There will be moments when you’re confronted with critical stares while presenting or when a professor asks you a demanding question. It’s these moments you’re challenged to be brave. You may feel isolated and alone when you decline a party to study or skip a dance to conquer your grade-determining essay. It’s easy to become overwelmed by the pressures of college, so the best advice I can give you is to reward yourself. How you react to these moments helps define you. Everyday you will become stronger and closer to the person you are striving to be.

Focus, study hard and enjoy the opportunity you have to be in college.

I would tell my high school senior self to try to take all the concurrent enrollment classes now while still in high school. Its much cheaper and you have a longer amount of time to accomplish the assignments. I would also let myself know that college isn't a cake walk, you have to work for a grade and truly read the book. Most students don't think they have to read the book. I would also tell myself to not procrastinate, procrastination is your enemy! Another thing I would tell myself is to become organized, either use a planner or your phone calendar or whatever works best for you and write down all your assignments and their due dates that way you can keep on top of everything!

Having never met anyone whose high school experience is regret-free, I know that I thrive in plentiful company on the matter. As a high school senior, I made mistakes which could easily have been avoided if, when faced with challenges, I had possessed the knowledge and understanding that I have since gained. However, within every regret is hidden the gift of a lesson with potential to be learned. If I had not committed the wrongs I did, it is doubtful that I would possess the knowledge I do now. Such consequences would thoroughly defy the purpose of the trials of life. If presented with the opportunity to counsel my high school senior self, I would not attempt to lead myself toward a problem-free path away the mistakes I was destined to make. Rather, I would help my younger self to better understand how much I had grown and matured as a result of previous errors; upon the achievement of this understanding, I would certainly have been better equipped to recognize the learning experiences provided by the current trials against which I battled.

It was my senior year and I was still trying to decide what I want to do with my life. Was I going to follow my passion for English, creative writing, and art? Or was I going to chase my dream and go into science? Or perhaps I would persue a secret love of mine, medical science? I was still unsure of which path to take. But, one thing scared me above eveyrthing else: the idea of commitment and responsibility. During my junior year, I made up my mind that I was going to join the US Navy, go active duty, and travel the world. I was so set on this drema that I often neglected searching for scholarships, doing my homework, etc. If I could go back in time, I'd tell myself that the military can wait, or a compromise could be met. (Join the military and have them pay for some of my school). I would tell myself that higher education is important and worth it. I would let my senior self know that not only is college worth the time because of future doors opening, but it's also unbelievablly fun.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school I would be sure to tell myself to venture out from Montana, which is what I did. I would tell myself to stop all of the worrying and stressing about which college to go to and to do what my heart says- explore life. I may not enjoy Salt Lake City as much as what I thought I would now, but I would always be asking myself "what it would have been like" if I did not go. I would also tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as I can, and when I think there is none left to apply for to push through and keep searching. I would tell myself to breathe and to stop beating myself up for the past and not getting straight A's every semester because I cannot go back to change it. Lastly, I would tell myself to enjoy the ride and to make sure I see my mom as much as possible because the one year really does fly by and I will miss her tremendously.

I would tell myself that I should not stress so hard about getting into college and going through the school years. I would advise that I learn stress techniques and remember it's okay to take some time to be social and have fun.

I would tell myself to first stop attempting to please my parents and start thinking about what I really want for myself out of life. I would tell myself that when I get older I am going to develope a love and understanding of business in such a way that it would be a wise decision to decide to be a business major instead of going for dentistry. I would also tell myself that I need to not get intimidated by the first university I go to because it will make things much harder. I would say to live in the dorms my freshman year, which I did not do, because I will give me a sense of identity within the university which would prevent me from going through the hardships that I actually ended up going through. Last, I would tell myself to not worry too much because everything turns out well and I will be happy.

Dear 18 year old, confident, independent, fearless me- Your life is about to change forever. College is going to open you to things you never knew about yourself, your abilities, your failures, and the world. I know you are confident about surviving school because everything you accomplished in high school was from your own drive, but you’re about to be lost. Don’t get muddled in the confusions of not knowing where you want to go. Instead spend your time interacting with others and being involved in groups and activities. This will allow you to make friends, discover yourself on a far deeper level, and fill the void you are currently struggling against. Learn to embrace the chaos of life. Remember that a single grade doesn’t determine your future and that each day you live is another day gone. Most importantly SAVE YOUR MONEY!!! I know this is difficult to grasp as that new electrical device is sooo insanely incredible and you would die without it but you will regret it later. Outside of high school your life is an intense struggle of survival, confusion, responsibility, change, ambition, competition, compassion, dedication, & Success. Welcome to the world of discombobulation.

College is not to be feared. It's hard to make such a big transition and let go of things you've known for so long but it gets better. Family will always be there for you, friendships that are important will withstand time and distance, you will always have all the wonderful memories of high school, and all the bad ones won't mean as much anymore. College is a place for opportunities. A chance to shape your life the way you want it to be. There is no need to fear being a failure or making the wrong decisions because you decide what success is for you and what your right decisions are. College truly marks the beginning of your life as an individual so don't waste a moment of it being worried or self-conscious. Live every moment and seize every opportunity and you will find yourself living a life of no regrets.

Kept my grades up! I had no plans to attend college. But here I am 17 years later and my gpa comes back to haunt me. Gratefully I kept a B- average. It did cost me a large amount of money. If I had maintained a higher average I could have qualified for more scholarship money.