Carthage College Top Questions

College is not just the time to fill your brain with knowledge, but it is an opportunity to become independent and broaden your horizons. Find what you are interested in by taking classes in different fields and finding what is most exciting and fascinating before narrowing in on a certain career path. Take advantage of opportunities offered by the school, especially study abroad trips. Definitely continue your passion for swimming by joining the team. But don?t become too serious over all the training and competing; remember to have fun! Take in every moment and really get to know your teammates because they are the ones that you will spend countless hours with and will turn out to be your closest friends. The friends you meet in college have a huge significance on your experience and will help you through the tough times. Keep an open mind when meeting new people and trying new things, but don?t lose sight of your values and goals. Study hard, but make time for fun too. Managing your time is key to success in college. Be yourself, find what interests you, work hard, and take it all in because it goes by quick!

Talk to people right away, they are all just as nervous as you. Everyone is living with a roommate for the first time, so there is a learning curve for everyone, don't let your roommate walk all over you. Use the resources that you have, your RA's the dean of students office and your freshmen advisor they will be able to give you tons of great advice and be there if you just need to talk. Dont be afraid to try new things and join new groups you will only regret it if you don't. Dont think that sororities are a big joke, you can get to meet some of the most amazing women you will ever have the chance to meet and you will make friends that will change you life. College is amazing but you need to take advantage of all the opportunities that are given to you. Go new places, meet new people and trust your gut instincts. Remember the people that you meet because networking is key for your future and you never know who be able to help you out when you need it.

The transition from high school to college can come easy to some and harder to others. To make the transition easier is to start college with an open mind and the willingness to do anything new like making new friends and trying new activities. College is very different from high school. In high school teachers ask if you did the homework and if you did not they will ask you why, but in college no one will care if you turn it in or not. In college you do things for yourself and by yourself; it is up to you to do what needs to be done for a successful college career, for example: completing assignments and understanding the material. If you feel like you do not understand the material talk to the professor and ask for help. If you have any questions about financial aid or classes you can always go talk to your advisors they will help you out in whatever they can. Get as much information about your school as you can from club and sports, to financial aid and classes. "These will help you live your college life to the fullest."

Knowing only what I knew before beginning college, I expected it to be much more difficult to meet people and succeed in my classes. These things, then, were remarkably easy when I arrived here. Everyone is so nice, and the workload is nothing I haven't dealt with before. I absolutely love being in Carthage, and though I didn't know much about it coming in, the transition from high school to college was extremely easy. After knowing what I know now my love for this school has only grown exponentially. This is my new home.

Never sit still. There is too much to do and too many new people to meet to spend any time at all stagnating in your dorm room. When you sit in your dorm room, you leave yourself open to everything that can and will destroy you, if you let it. You invite in self-doubt and longing and misgivings, things that will poison your first semester. If you sit still, you begin to wonder about the workload, about whether you'll be able to handle it, if this will be the moment everyone finally finds out that you're not really smart, you've just been lucky this entire time. If you sit still, you begin to think about all the people you've left back home, about the friends you'll never see again, about the parents and the safety net that now seems frayed and far away, and about the long-distance relationship that you know deep down won't work out. You wonder if you're in the wrong place. You'll have to face all of these doubts eventually, but you need to build up a head of steam first. So move. You can do this.

WARNING. That is what would preempt anything I would tell my high school self about Carthage College. Academically the school is very good (although it probably touts itself in this regard more than it should--but what school doesn't). However, when it comes to social activities, community involvement, and other important aspects of a well-rounded college education, Carthage fails to provide substantial or meaningful support. Carthage College is solely focused on "the student", when they--or any institution of higher education should be focused on "the person". Further, the College fails to treat students fairly, instead standing blindly by their status-quo. I would specifically say to my high school self, "Go to a state school. There are more social activities and much more diversity. Almost any state school is more broadly recognized by future employers too." I would add, "any private college like Carthage cannnot offer the well -rounded, complete education that a large state school can offer". Knowing my high school self however, I likely would have shrugged off this advice and made the decision on the basis of what school offered me the biggest scholarship--despite its tuition rate (I've already done it once).

Knowing what I know now about college I would tell myself as a high school senior do not waste so much time arguing with my mom about filling our scholarship information, it is definitely worth it in the end. Stop stressing so much about what my classes will be like, they are not as bad as everyone makes them our to be you do well, and the professors are actually helpful and not intimidating. Be open to new experiences and don't overthink things once you are in school, let people see who you turely are instead of just being shy and not talking. The people you meet will become great friends and you will have many new and interesting experiences. And always always make sure your alarm is set before you go to bed, professors definetly frown upon you running into class after you are late. But most of all absorbe everything, take it all in, and love every minute of it. These will be the four years that bring you closer to realizing everyting you want in life.

The first thing I would tell myself is don't be afraid to be yourself and meet new people. Then I would say, "Mitch, you need to get involved with organizations and clubs. Don't sit around in your room." My next advice would be to exerscise regularly since the ladies like it :). Also, I would encourage to not try to find my soulmate within the first couple weeks of school. I still got 4 years of college to date and find the right person, no need to start on day one. Finally I would say do every task given to you. The ones that seem tedious do first. Although some assignments might seem pointless and easy to finish, do them so you don't have to cram to get them all done the day before.

Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the main advice I would give myself would be to get involved in college. Doing what you love to do helps you to accomplish your goals and dreams as well as making new friends in the process. By being surrounded by activities and new friends, the transition will go much more smoothly and naturally.

People put pressure on high school students to make the right choice about the so-called next step: the right college, the right career, the right path of life. The truth is that--for most people--the first two (or even three) years of school will pass by and the answer will STILL not be clear. There really is no "right" path, because, at the end of the day, college is college, and there will still be awesome professors and great classes and awful tyrants and morbid classes. The only thing that truly changes is us: how we adapt to new situations and how we cope with challenges. The college experience is not dependant on the right place post-high school graduation, but rather on our willingness to accept changes and make the best of the worst. And we must remember something very imporant: our generation has the wonderful gift of opportunity. If we make a mistake--say, if the college we attend turns out to have nothing that could benefit us--we can try again. And this time, we will at least know what NOT to do.