Andrews University Top Questions

Younger Yvonne, I hope you are getting this in good health. I know you're stressing out right now because of college acceptance, but I'm here to let you know that things will work out and you'll love where you end up. However, there are a few things I must tell you. When you get to college, things are going to be exciting and new and you'll love it right off the bat. But then you'll get overwhelmed with work and activities, along with personal issues. When you get to this point, try to relax. Take things one at a time. I know you feel like you need to get everything done now, but you don't. Pace yourself. Also, don't be afraid to reach out to people. Don't let the possible thoughts of others discourage you, because they won't matter in the long run and it'll save you a lot of stress. Lastly, value the people around you and be a shoulder for them, but don't try to carry their burdens. Your own mental and emotional state is important too. You're amazing; remember that. Knock 'em dead.

If I could go back to high school, I would read more books and write more essays. Nothing has been more valuable to me than the books I have read and papers I have written, even in high school. I wish I had read Kierkegaard and Kant and spent time learning more about European history and the Englightenment. In my field (Anthropology and Religion) knowing about 18th-20th century Europe is extremely important and I didn't learn a lot about that in high school.

The number one thing that a freshman should understand is that they are there for school. Even though school can be filled with many things that make it a fun place to be (friends, extracurricular, teams, ministries, etc) they should remember not to let their grades slip away from them. This is especially difficult to remember in the first year, when almost everything seems to be more fun than studying. It would be useful for a freshman to not make mistakes that affect them and their GPAs negatively in the future.

Choose a less expensive school. Apply for scholarships, the government will not give you any help because even though you pay for everything and are basically independant (except for health insurance), they base your aid need off of your parents income, and your parents arent paying for anything. Two jobs for the summer and one during school isn't enough to break even, even with all of the private loans. Everything else just gets more and more expensive. And most importantly, NEVER attend a religious college unless it coincides with your beliefs, they will try and try to squash your beliefs out of you and make you conform to what they believe. Apparently, you have no rights by the constitution once you enter their world.

I am very fortunate to be able to attend college. I have learned many valuable life lessons. I have learned to manage my money. I have learned to cooperate and work with different cultures and backgrounds. I have learned that time is a precious jewel that cannot be wasted. I have learned that even when you try your hardest, it might not always be enough, but you can find comfort in knowing that you did your best. I have learned that being far away from home will bring many sleepless nights and sad days, but that every thing will be worth it in the end. I have learned to think on my feet and find my own solutions to my own problems, because at the end of the day i'm on my own here. I have learned to surrender all to God; He is the only One who knows what is best for me. I have discovered the value of attending college through the littlest things and I hope to be able to continue studying with the help of scholarships and loans. :)

"Woooooooooooooooooooooooo!" is the onomatopoeia I'll use to describe my near-finishing undergraduate years and I'm looking forward to graduate school too! It's been an emotional and academic rollercoaster for me. Prior to my college years, I've always felt confident academically and it never fazed me. However, in college, you realize that there is no more time-out or recesses to slow things down because the next level is the real outside world that you've been preparing for. I had enrolled with two majors (my passions)- as an Music Performance major and a Pre-med student with the initial thought of being in the medical field. However, these two areas are intense in the studying, the labwork, the practicing, and the performing. Juggling these two was a big mountain for me and I had to also work to help pay off college. Through praying, disappointments, revelations, and decision-making- I finally realized what I really wanted to do. With these experiences, I realized that life is not a test just to get a hundred percent. Experiencing the disappointments, the joys, and the waiting helps us know what we can do to change our world, and others.

My college experience so far has been a bit challenging, but I have learned techniques to improve my learning ability. Starting classes with strange people was quite difficult for me because of my shyness when interacting with other students. In college I have seen that studying is taken very seriously and the students are dedicated to achieve their goal in the chosen career. One reason why it has been valuable to attend Andrews University is that it emphasizes the religion of an Adventist. Attending college has helped me organize my life in making time for homework, practicing violin, excercising, and participating in extracurricular activities. The people that I met in college motivated me in doing what I like and what I was good at. My first week of college I thought I wanted to become a Social Worker, but after only three weeks I realized that it was not the career for me. After meeting students in different careers I realized I wanted to become a business major. It has been valuable to attend because I know I have a bright future ahead of me and that motivates me to continue studying in college.

As a religious, Seventh Day Adventist, student I have the priviledge to attend a University where God is the main focus of everything. I love how I don't have to "hide" my cristianity where ever i go on campus and i can actually share my happiness and grateness with the ones around me. Its a comfortable and relaxed feeling. There are things that may distract you in keep your faith strong but its very less to none unlike other non christian schools out there where you are bombarded with parties, drugs, sex, and evrything else. I am very grateful for what Andrews University has done for us students and am hoping to attend there my six years and leave with my Physical Therapy Doctorates Diploma.

My college experience is a life changing experience. Ten years of trying to get started in furthering my education I finally did it. I have never been a person into school or get good grades, but for some reason I love school. Attending college made me realize I am smarter than I ever gave myself credit for. I have a better self esteem. Attending college is valuable to me because I want to provide a better life for my three kids. Three years ago, I lost my house, car, and everything else I owned. I knew I had to do something with my life, nothing would stand in my way. The past ten years I had to stress over where the next meal would come from. The look on my kids faces when they would ask for a toy, I would have to say no, it broke my heart. I'm going to school to become a medical assistant. When I put my scrubs on every day I know I'm doing something right. My kids are so proud of me and they look up to me. Going to college is valuable to me because my kids depend on me.

I belive that I gained independance and a greater appreciation for the value of hard work. I understand now that although college is a time to discover who you want to be and have fun, its also a good time to establish good habits and become the person that will be able to survive in the world. I gained an understanding of the value of time management and why I have to be the one to drive myself on to succeed becasue inevitably it will be either my failure or success, and I will have no one to blame but myself if I fail to reach my goals. I belive that college truely made me understand that being an adult may not always be fun but there are just sometings in life that are have to be done even though I may not enjoy them.