Widener University Top Questions

I would've told myself to pick a school based on myself and what school offered me the most money, because unfortunately, that really does matter. I ended up transferring here halfway through my freshman year from the University of Pittsburgh, and I will be in so much debt when I graduate because I'm not eligible for quite a bit of scholarship money from Widener. During high school, I was accepted to Arcadia University and they offered me a $21,000 academic scholarship. However, I didn't understand at the time how much the financial end of things mattered.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to work hard and stay focused. I dont think I was prepared as I should of been in high school for college when it came to the importance of your GPA and applying for scholarships and applying to different schools. I would have told myself to start acting like an adult and taking my education seriously because once you get to college no one holds your hand anymore or tells you to turn in your homework, your just expected to do it. I would have also told myself to be prepared for change, and struggle, and the ups and downs of independence because college are the learning years of what the real world holds. High school was just a test run, college is the real deal! College makes you or breaks you and if it wasnt for my dedication and knowledge of knowing how important school was, I probably would have already quit at the college life.

If I could go back and speak with my high school self I would spend most of that time reassuring myself that college will be the best experience of my life. While in high school I was completely against the very idea of attending a university. I was tired of school and wanted to get away from it for the rest of my life. My future self would dispell that belief and describe how wonderful an opportunity college is. I would paint pictures of what I experienced in my first year of college alone: the friends I made; the wonderful teachers; the activities on campus. I would convince my past self that it is the right decision. I would also stress being more serious about finishing up high school with good grades. I would encourage myself to work harder at the weak subjects like math and science. Having good grades in these areas would benefit in the long run when it comes to the requirements for a major. Above all, I would encourage my past self to put more energy into scholarships, because they are so important. They determine whether you go to school with loans or not.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would explain to myself just how important college really is. I thought I could wait, that I could start a family and think about school later. I thought it would be easy to pay for everything with the job I had at Sonic. It was not that easy. Sonic does not support a family. I would tell myself that a good education is necessary if I want to support my family well. I would say not to wait, to enroll right after high school, take advantage of being responsible of myself only. Things would be so much easier and nicer if I had a favorable carreer. If I had gone to college right after high school I would be done by now! Eight long years have gone by. So, basically I would tell myself, "Go now! Wait on a family. Start off adult life being responsible."

If I had a time machine, traveling back to my senior year in highschool would be a must. Knowing what I know now about college life and making the tranistion I would scream to my self "WORK HARDER, PAY ATTENTION, DO ALL OF YOUR HOMEWORK". I do not regret nothing in life but i do wish i was more focused in high school rather then being focused on being the class clown. Going back I expect to find a younger me who was not so quite but more louder then others. More worried about after school hangouts then after school studying groups. Education really is an important thing, something that is not to be ignored by.

Apply for scholarships! Don't wait until the last minute to get everything in order. Make sure you have a place to live, and enough money to live on. Financial aid mostly goes towards tuition and books, not living expenses. If you can stay at home, DO. Be realistic about how many classes you take on - make sure you have the time to keep up with homework. Every step you take right now will affect your future - success is not for the faint of heart. Put hard work and effort into your education!

I would smack myself silly first, then sit myself down and explain. I would say, "Caitlin, don't you worry about the commute, it will still be worth it to go to your state school. Don't you dare go to Widener!" I would let myself know that taking that summer class is going to be a terrible idea, no matter how great of a grade I am going to get, and that I can not afford this school in any way. I would let myself know that friendships aren't really friendships, and the only reason anyone even talks to the other person is to garuntee that they have a person in class they know, but they wont want to know you outside of school. I would also let myself know not to trust what people say, to go and speak to people directly yourself, and not let your academic advisors inform you on financial aid information. Long story short, I would make myself change my school choice so as to avoid the mess now. But mostly, I would tell myself that no matter what, your mother and grandfather are still proud, so proud. Good job.

It's very difficult as a high school senior to know what you want to do with the rest of your life, especially when you have very little real world experience. Take your time, be patient, and go easy on yourself when everyone else is on the fast track to success and you're still not sure of which direction to go. It seems like the decisions you make today will affect the rest of your life, and they will, but perhaps not in the way that you think. Don't let the fear of making a mistake prevent you from taking a chance. Worry more about growing as a person and developing your own character than what anyone else might think of you. Push yourself past your comfort zone, and take your best shot at the curveballs life will throw at you. Be on time for class. Always do the extra credit, even when you don't need it. Send a thank you note to the professor who really makes a subject come to life for you. Find a mentor to help you develop your goals. Maintain a healthy balance; work hard but make time for joyful things.

I would tell myself that the most important skill is time management and study skills. At times, it is very difficult to manage all the things that need to get done in a limited time frame. Also, how to study the material is an important skill. It's also important to make friends in your classes so that you have someone to study with or ask questions, because the teachers are not always there for you for many different reasons. Time management is what I have struggled with the most because I much rather hang out with my friends than do my homework, but I know my homework is a lot more important. Time management is the most important skill for college.

So far my college experience as been an emotional roller coaster. I wouldnt change it for anything in the world. Being in college i have learned responsibility, how to communicate with others, time-management, and have grown as a man. I have learned responsibility through the act of taking on loans and debt at 19 years old and keeping a 3.0 GPA my first semester with only 2 textbooks and 5 classes. I have learned to communicate with the very nice ladies in Wideners Financial Aid and Admissions office and now we are all on a first name basis. I also have had to communicate with my professors explaning and asking them to bare with me while I turn over every rock looking for money to buy their assigned text books. My time management habits have changed for the better since being a full-time student, having a work-study job on campus and playing football here at Widener. Being here at Widener University has allowed me to venture out of my comfort zone and have my light shine as a young man in the real world. That is why attending college for me as been so valuable.