Whittier College Top Questions

College was my first experience of being away from home for an extended period of time. College not only teaches you academics, but it helps you face many life lessons that will be valuable when entering the work force. So far I have done a lot of maturing in that I have had to face numerous problems on my own that I normally would have turned to my parents for. The main thing I have gotten thus far out of my college experience is a stronger frame of mind and discovering who I really am. Although college is obviously valuable for its academic aspects, but it is also a valuable tool in preparing students for the real world. In my case, it has helped me develop into an adult who does not give up when situations are stressful and tough. My college experience has been valuable to me in giving me a future both personally and academically.

When it came to choosing a university I did not know where to start. My final two options were complete opposites; one was a huge public state university, the other a small private liberal arts college. I am glad to have chosen Whittier because the people I have met have made such an impact on my life. From staff to professors to peers, each person I have met while at Whittier has given me a new view on at least one aspect of life. My education extends beyond the classroom with discussions and research. However, the price I pay for school is putting a big whole in my wallet and I have a lot of debt to look forward to once I graduate. With ambitions to continue my education onto graduate school and law school upon obtaining my bachelor's degree, I will not be seeing the end of debt any time soon. I can only hope the great experiences and education I gain at Whittier and whichever school I choose for graduate studies will help me advance in life to be happy with my career choice, because only then will I be truly successful.

Senior Year! That year was unforgettable; full of excitement and anxiety. I spent that year with friends as we tried to stick together through our last high school year before our last goodbyes. The only thing I can say I regret from that year is the fact that I did not pay enough attention onto the college thinking. If I could go back and tell myself as a senior about the college experience and transition, I would do so without a doubt. I would explain that the transition is not easy and that college life is not just party every night at the dorms, rather it takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I would advice myself to focus on school and pay attention to those who surround me. I would warn myself of the college experiences; the drinking, the smoking, but most importantly, the people. I would emphasize repeatedly on the hard work needed in order to be successful in college. How it is nothing like life in high school where the teachers become your friends, rather independence. I would wish myself luck and tell myself to always be true to myself and let no one wrongly influence my lifestyle.

I would first tell my self to relax. The thought of growing up, setting out on your own and taking responsibility for yourself is an intimidating concept. Change is never easy, but it is change that molds and sharpens humans into better, more prepared individuals. I would tell myself that college is one of those necessary changes and everything will be fine once I get started. I would then go into explaining how I am going to need to study much harder than I did in high school, as well as prioritize better and work on managing my time wisely. I would also advise to maintain focus on academics first, athletics after and clubs and social activites as my last priority. The first semester is not insanely difficult, but wil require more effort than most people think. Lastly, I would advise myself to ahve fun and enjoy every moment and memory of college. These next four years will be the trainging and preparation of myself into a successful, independent adult ready for any situation the world may throw at him.

If i could go back in time and give myself advice i would tell myself to work hard and enjoy it because the work does not get any easier. I would also advise myself to listen more to what my teachers had to say and be more academically driven. Although i did well and graduated with a 3.5 GPA, i could have gained more knowlege with the resources i was given.

College life has opened my eyes and if i could go back I would definitely take my classes more seriously and try harder to get better grades. I see now that if I only did better in High school I would get a lot more financial aid to help me to pay for my college tuition. I would also take harder classes to prepare for classes. I took four AP classes through my high school career, but if i could go back I would take more. I would also learn how to study. I'm a college student who is still trying to find out how to study, which is something I should have figured out in high school. Aother thing I would do is more research to find out what college is right for me. I love my school, but I wish I would have found a less expensive school that offered more in my field of study.

I would say to myself, work hard, don't slack off or procrastinate because it comes with a price. You will fall behind if you don't do your work on time. Also study hard for the tests and finals, take good notes, go to tutoring if you have to because it will pay off in the long run.

Save and use your money wisely. Just because you get a personalized magazine that says only the company's sheets will fit your school's bed, does not mean it is true. Go to another store and get your college supplies for cheaper. Do not shop for so many clothes to fill up your college closet, and then will not fit at home when you return for the summer. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Although you may get a lot of your expenses covered, some of it maybe in loans. Avoid having to accept those loans by planning ahead and figuring out your financial aid applications. Complete the FAFSA soon after January 1st and do not miss the March 2nd deadline! It is good to get involved, but do not book your schedule with so many activities that it will interfere with your schoolwork. Do the things that you love and will benefit your college experience, as well as your career search. Socialize and network, but allot plenty of time for studying and schoolwork.

Most high school students put in a lot of time and effort in choosing a college. Of course, this is a very important decision because it will greatly influence your future. When asked about making a college decision, most people will advise students that they should take into account the size of the school, as well as the majors offered, location, and tuition costs. To be completely honest with you, these take very little bearing on what your experience will be like at college. College is what you make it- as long as the school offers the major you are interested in and provides you the recources needed to succeed, you WILL enjoy your college experience. No matter where you go, you will make friends. Be involved, BE YOURSELF. Play a sport and join every club that interests you. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and talk to people you normally wouldn't in high school. As long as you WANT to enjoy your college experience- trust me, you will.

As far as finding the right college, do research on the computer to ensure the school offers what you're looking for in terms of courses, majors, sports, clubs, etc. It even helps to know how available public transportation is, what grocery stores may be walking distance, etc. To make the most of your college experience get involved with a club, sport, or just attend events the school offers; for example, at Whittier College, we have a weekend-long event called Sports Fest, which is a weekend filled with numerous sports that you sign up for and you play with your teammate who happen to be people who live in the same dorm (or who also live off-campus). It's a great way to meet people in every class and people who just may be your neighbors because you play on the same team for the whole weekend and you end up spending a lot of time together and become friends.

I feel that although students may want to attend a college that is their first choice and they think is right for them, they should look at many aspects. Financial, location, size, diversity and visit every school before attending. Visiting the school is very important especially if you are able to sit in on a class or shadow a student for a full day. Choose a college that you can see yourself at for four years, becuase when transferring to a different school, credits earned may be lost and it can really get you down. And parents just be support of your children in whatever choice they make, because they are the ones that will be going to the school and having the expereince.

Be open to trying new things and making new friends.

Don't go by college ratings or anything like that. Visit schools and go to the one that feels right for you. Different people learn in different ways, and while some may do well at bigger name colleges, some will excel at smaller ones. It is all about finding the best fit for you.

Financial aide is important

Consider everything, such as actual costs (not promised costs), and what type of experience you want, such as a huge sports program, sororities and fraternities, meal plans(taste the food!!), housing, surrounding areas(what types of stores and places are around). All of these are really important in your college experience.

Look carefully at each college or university that you are considering during the application process. Visit the campus, tour the residence halls, meet some of the students and professors, see if you can sit in on a class while you are there to get a feel for what life and the academics are really like at the school to see if it is a good fit for you. I did all of these things before picking a college, and I found the one that was the perfect fit for me. Chances are, if you don't feel as if you fit in there on your visit, you won't be any more at home if you choose to go there. Choose the school where you feel most comfortable and at home, in terms of social life, living situations, and academics and you will succeed.

When attending college you must make sure it is the right school for you. Try to go to all the free tours that they offer in order to find out if you feel comfortable within the area it is located in. Make sure that you see yourself being treated equally by all students and faculty members.

Know what you want to look back on. It's hard to look that far ahead, but trying to see what it might feel like to be an alumni of a school could be really helpful inknowing what you want to get out of it. If you can, don't settle for a school that doesn't fit you just because it seems like the cheapest choice. College is one those experiences that you want to look back on and say I was truely happy. Once you've choosen a school that fits your personality and your goals, don't be afraid to change it. If once you get there, you decide it's not for you, find something else that suits you. This time in your life is full of changes. Don't be afraid to make the big ones. When you find the school you love with the people you want to keep around and the professors that care, get involved, get involved, GET INVOLVED! Make that school, your school. If you do, you'll look back and say "Wow, if I could do that all over again, I wouldn't change a thing."

There is only so much that can be done to find the "right college." One can go on many tours and devote several hours to scouring the website, but in order to determine which college will be the best fit, one has to experience the campus as it is as best as possible. If any colleges that a student is interested in offers overnight visits, I would encourage students to partake-this usually involves staying with a student, receiving a tour, perhaps attending a class. The most valuable aspects of that visit, or any visit for that manner, will be those spent around students of the college. The location and the programs the school offers may seem to be a "fit" but the atmosphere is what ultimately determines how a student feels regarding their school. In fact, it can be argued that a student won't know until they attend the college whether or not it is right for them. But in narrowing down one's choices, it is imperative that a student interact with the students of the college, to gather whether or not he or she will fit in with the school's population.

The most important thing in choosing the right college for you is to find a place that will allow you to follow your passions and then do so whole-heartedly. I firmly believe that passion is what makes the difference between an average and an outstanding college experience. Even if you don't end up at your first choice school, it's so important to be excited about college and to be willing to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. If you can find even one thing that moves you, that speaks to you, and then pursue it, you will have a wonderful, memorable college experience, filled with joy and meaning.