Wittenberg University Top Questions

Mallory, don't be afraid to dream big and always go with your gut instinct. Life is sometimes about going big or going home. You will always want to go home. Home is not a physical place, it is the place you belong. When you find home, go big and live to your greatest potential.

Looking back on high school and myself as a senior, I would tell myself to not worry so much. You will realize that college is a big transition, but it is not even close to unbearable. You will be nervous and excited on move in day and leaving your parents might be cool or it might be tough, but the college experience is definitely worth the emotions that come with it. College is a time in which you can discover more about yourself and what you want to become in the future. You will make amazing friends who share similar interests and make memories that will last a lifetime. The transition into having more independence should not scare you because you are not alone. You are entering into this transition with a lot of other people who are in the same place as you, so you just have to relax, have fun, and not worry so much! Being independent (but not totally) allows for you to dip your toes into what the future is like, but you have four years to dip your toes, so make the most of it. Relax! It will be okay!

i would tell myself to make sure my grades stay up and to enjoy going to college because it is going to be one of the best times of your life so take it all in.

It’s the fall of my senior year in high school, and I’m standing at the sidelines at half time waiting to march for the last time on this rugged football field. We didn’t have much at our high school, but we sure had pride. Standing under those bright lights for the last time, feeling the anticipation of the crowd awaiting our performance, was a feeling like no other. In that final moment life felt infinite, however I felt the future lurking in the back of my mind. Who was I going to be in the world? I had spent so much of high school participating in marching band, student government, and community service. I didn’t really know what all of this did for me until this moment. Suddenly I understood that what matters in life is that I always have something to be proud of, something in life that pushes me to be a better person and to help make the world a better place. Looking back now, I would tell myself to trust that instinct. The instinct that with faith and good will, we will always find our way in a sea of insecurities.

If I were to go back in time to when I was in high school I would tell myself to be interested in college early. We are always told during our freshman year that college is too far away to worry about at that moment. I honestly wish I would have went ahead and started looking and had really taken an interest in college at that point. A college decision can be stressful and it doesn't help that we are encouraged to hold off thinking about college until our junior and senior years. I would tell high school students today that they should start looking and thinking about where they want to go and what they might want to do during their freshman year of high school. It could change but gathering information early is an easy way to take stress off of you at a later date when you also have graduation and financial aid to worry about. It also will give you space to make a much more informed decision that might save money and put you on a better path for your education.

If I could go back in time and tell my high school senior self anything it would be to focus less on grades and more on being a well-rounded student. I was one of those students that took difficult classes, but only the ones that I knew I could get good grades in because I was convinced all colleges cared about were my grades. Wittenbeg University has taught me that , while grades are important, being well-rounded is essential. For example, in high school I would never take politic classes because I assumed I could not succeed as well as in other classes. It is part of Wittenberg's motto to be a well-rounded student; therefore, I took a political philosphy class and learned more than I could ever imagine. While I did not get as good of grades in that class as I'd hoped, I've learned that it's not the grade that matters but rather the information that will help my future self. If I'd had this adivce in high school I would have focused on being well-rounded and learned more about myself than I ever could've focusing solely on grades.

People will tell you that college is the most exciting, most liberating, and best experience of your life! Well, they're right. But what they leave out is that the amount of time you should spend on academics is more than the amount of time you spend doing everything else! Yeah, you know you're going to college to get an education, but the effort needed to make the grades is immense. Just remember to plan and stay on top of your work and you'll be fine! When you get to college, remember to have fun. College will be what you make of it. You have the choice to go out, get involved, make memories and lasting relationships! Or you can stay in your dorm and watch movies all weekend and despise college. The choice is yours. As you make the final decsions on which university is right for you, remember to choose the school based on what you want. Ignore other people's opinions because this decision will be your life for the next four years. Don't stress too much in the college decision process, because you're about to enter the best years of your life!

If I were to give advice to my high school self, I would, without question, begin by telling myself that everything can, and will, work out. The biggest mistake I made throughout my senior year and my college transition was putting too much stress on myself to predict the future. I can see now that this is both irrational and unhelpful. While there have been--and will be--bumps on the road, the only thing I can do is to trust that I have a bright future ahead, whether or not it turns out "as planned". The next thing I would tell myself is that the real key to college is finding early on a balance between academia and activities/social life. Don't burn yourself out on studying, and don't lose your focus halfway through the semester. Take a moment to reflect on where your priorities lie, and then schedule accordingly, while still leaving yourself some open time to clear your head (so that you don't lose it). Lastly, I would tell myself not to be afraid to sit back and take a deep breath; college is a wild ride, but the best one of your life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say, "If you want to be happy and to be successful in college, then you will be." I would continue on, saying that having a good college experience does not depend on the location, on the price, or on the size; college is what you make of it. I would tell myself to stop being so shy and to get involved in everything that I possibly could. It is a new beginning and a once in a lifetime oppotunity to start out fresh. I would finish with the advice that everything is going to get better. Let go of the past, embrace the present, and work for the future.

Don't worry about the money. Go to a school where you feel truly at home and don't look at the "pricetag". College is a once in a liftime oppurtunity and you want to go to a place where you feel comfortable and a place where you can thrive and grow as an individual. Knowledge has no pricetag so go to the college where you feel like you will really benefit by having an education from that institution.

My advice to my high school senior self would first be to consider everywhere when applying to schools. You will never know which places you like, where you can get in, or where you can afford until you give all kinds of places a fighting chance. The second thing I would tell myself would be to try and make connections as soon as I get to college; it is so worth it to feel comfortable and have people you can go to. College is overwhelmingly different from high school and its easy to crawl into your shell in the first semester, but the longer you wait, the harder it will be, and afterwards you will be so glad to have people to connect with. The third thing I would tell myself is to try and figure out how to live a healthy lifestyle of your own accord. Sure, it was easy at home when mom made you eat vegetables with every meal, but it's a little harder when you have a food court with the option of pizza and fries every day. Your health is important; fight that freshman fifteen! But most of all, enjoy this while it lasts.

I would definitely tell myself to spend more time with the great friends I had in high school rather than study so much and to remember that high school is temporary. Those mean and hateful people there usually peak in high school and you are bound for bigger and better things than them. Keep your head up and reach for the moon, kid.

I would advise myself to stop and take a deep breath, relax. The application process is stressful, especially when it comes down to making a final decision. But in the end, you end up where you are meant to be, and life starts to fall into place. I would advise myself to apply to everywhere I was interested, even if I thought I never had a chance, because Wittenberg was one of those places where I never expected to be accepted, and here I am. I would also tell myself that it is going to be tough, no matter where you go. The social life is tough, having a roommate is tough, the academics are even tougher, but most of all the transition is tough. But you will make it. You will make it and you will thrive, so long as you put in the effort. Also, be sure and make some time for yourself every once in awhile.

I would give myself the advice of knowing how to be more determined in academics. In college i have found things that have motivated me to want to be successful in the classroom. I would have told myself in highschool that it wasnt just going to be a social life, and that it requires a Full-Time type schedule to be a successful student. Biggest piece of advice i would give myself coming out of highschool would to not be so nervous.

Originally, I attended American University in Washington DC. If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self, I would tell him not to--Wittenberg University, although not my first choice of college, is my home. I wish I could have spent 4 years here instead of having to spend my last 3 here, because this is where i truly belong.

I know what you're thinking. You're not just a high schooler, you're a SENIOR. And somehow that word makes you feel entitled, smarter than you really are, and overly confident. Please don't think that way. You have so much to learn, whether it be in your studies or in the real world. If you thought high school classes were demanding, just wait until next fall. Don't worry though, you still have plenty of time. Budget it wisely! The better you are at juggling a busy schedule, the easier it will seem when it really matters. Even though high school is incredibly crucial to your academic development, you're still in the minors. You're lucky though, come next fall you get a clean slate when you enter the major leagues. It is truly a privilege to attend college, so make the most of it. Take pride in yourself for making it this far, but stay motivated to go even farther. Take each day as a gift, fill your brain with all the knowledge you can, and strive for excellence. Be confident in yourself and your abilities and you will be just fine.

Courtney, get ready to meet so many new people, learn how to interact with them and don't be nervous! Be confident in yourself. Not only in your ability to achieve highly, but also in your ability to make friends. Don't be afraid to talk to professors, you will look back and laugh at the time you were nervous to ask your advisor what he thought you should minor in! Be excited! Know that you can't plan every detail, and stop trying to! Plan for the unexpected to happen, and just let yourself have fun! You are going to love college; be prepared to change, and to learn so many new things. Don't worry about memorizing every detail; focus on getting the main ideas and learning the parts that interest you. (Everything is interesting by the way). This is college, synonymous with so many things: fun, focus, knowledge, hard work, discipline, and joy. So let it be all those things, and more. You need to relax and enjoy the ride because you are going to love every bit of it. PS, you are very prepared for this, its almost like high school, but more fun!

If I could go back in time I would advice myself to try my best in high school. I wouldn't slack off and do all my work. The harder you work in high school the easier college is and the less classes you have to worry about taking. It also would've saved me more money to have passed some of the classes i took in high school due to the fact that some classes in college if you got a grade of C or better in high school you don't have to take them in college. This helps save money on classes you don't need to retake. This is what i would've adviced myself if I could go back in time.

I would tell myself that college is the chance for a new beginning. The transition requires that you step outside of your comfort zone. Take advantage of everything college has to offer. The memories of high school are great, but let go of them. College is an experience that you will only have once and you should keep that in the back of your mind. However, do not forget that you are paying for education, not fun. Take charge of your education. Professors are helpful, but only if you approach them. You are now an adult. There is no one responsible for education but yourself. Remember to have the best experience you can. Play hard, study harder.

If I could travel back in time and advise myself as a high school senior, I would not. As a high school senior, academics ranked number one on my priority list. An "A-" was not acceptable (in my opinion), and I fought for the title "Sixth-in-class" with Annie, the senior class president. In short, I took school seriously. During my first semester of college, I still ranked my education as number one; however, I found college less challenging than I expected. Eventually, I fell victim to boredom as my schoolwork did not require a lot of time to complete. On my spare time, I took a fancy to partying, and by the end of my freshman year, I received my first "B+" since the fourth grade! After realizing partying interfered with my ability to do well in school, I reevaluated my priorities. I was so caught up in the exclusiveness of the small-town university I attended, that I lost who I was and what I stood for. Therefore, if I could have traveled into the future as a high school senior and advised myself as a college student, I totally would have.