Carthage College Top Questions

My high school self would have greatly benefitted from this advice: “Don’t allow your fear of failure or the unknown stop you from even trying. If you are not locked into your degree yet, don’t worry. Use your first courses to explore the things that interest you. They will help bring clarity to the direction you should take. The importance is that you explore! Explore your mind, explore things that scare you, explore the various opportunities available in the world… they ARE within your reach! You may not use the lessons learned from every class in your future, but there is a purpose for every class you take… look for it! You are spending a lot of money on your education, so absorb as much as you can from every class and every teacher you meet… exploit them for their knowledge! Your opinion matters and you should share it with others… you will always learn more by actively participating rather than passively observing. Lastly, your college years are limited but tuition bills will seem like they are not. If you put forth the effort to grow personally, as well as academically, the value will far exceed the cost.”

Do not worry! Do not be sad! The transition from highschool to college can be scary and uncertian. Highschool is familar; the friends, family, even the city you grew up in. You have spent your whole life with some of the same poeple in the same surroundings and it can be frightening to jump into a whole new environment with new people and new even harder classes! Do not worry! Do not be Sad! Even though you will be leaving these comforts you will easily find new comforts of the same sort in college! You and your family will be as close as you were while living at home. College can be hectic but creating good study habits and organizational skills are VERY helpful! You may see college as a place to create a whole new you because no one knows you. DON'T! Be yourself and new and amazing friends will find you! The transition between highschool and college can be hard and stressful but the grass is much greener on this side; College life!

I would advise my younger self to be more proactive in all areas of my life. I would tell myself to view my difficulties as challenges to overcome and to work harder on my areas of weakness. I would do more in my high school career, both academically and personally. I would advise myself to be ambitious, but not recklessly impulsive. Most of all, I would tell myself not to be overly concerned with other people’s thoughts about me. I believe the fear of what others might think about me has been one of my biggest downfalls and now that I have realized that, I am working on that area of weakness, in order to improve myself.

You are about to embark on just the beginning of a lifetime of growth and development. Within the first couple of weeks you are going to encounter several decisions and you will hear the voices of past teachers and your parents. The best thing you can do right now is take a deep breath and relax! First of all, take in your surroundings and be spontaneous. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself to a stranger. I gaurantee you they will appreciate the fact you are reaching out towards them because they are feeling the same fear that you are. The best way to sink your roots into the college though is to get involved. There are several opportunities for clubs, organizations, greek life, and intramurals. Taking advantage of these opportunites on campus will help you network, stay busy and ultimately enrich your college experience. Second of all, communicate with your professors. Don't be afraid to introduce yourself and keep the lines of communication open. Your professors will be able to help you find internships and jobs to set up your future career. Enjoy your experience and don't be afraid to ask for help from others!

College is so much different than high school. Dependency is something you will need to work on because in college you’re seen as an adult. Being an adult is not easy, you learn to become responsible and learn to adapt on being dependent on yourself during your first term in college. Books are super expensive, so I recommend you get a job during the summer so you have enough money saved up to pay for your books and or rent them. Try to see if the book is eligible to be rented, if not then buy a used one, saving a couple of dollars does make a difference. Another recommendation is to get familiar with the campus, know where the tutoring facilities are located, where admissions and records are, and last but not least the financial aid office. Make sure you apply to FAFSA to see if you’re eligible for free money that can cover your tuition and courses. It doesn't cost a thing, it's a quick application process. Last but not least don't procrastinate, teachers don't have time to feel sorry for your incomplete work trust me. Study hard and good luck!

Make a smart choice.

Get involved in clubs and organizations that are fun and actually mean something to you. Take as many AP classes as you can so you have time to take more classes that interest you once you're in college. Try to make friends with upperclassmen who know their way around campus and events better.

Changing from high school to college is an important transition. Some parts of life get harder and some are easier but the most important part is to not get discouraged and be strong. When I first came to college I was very excited to enter a new chapter in my life and still am; my life is unfolding in ways I didn't think were possible. But I have faced hardships in my freshman year and if I didn't stay strong and persevere, I don't think I would've gotten such a great GPA. Grades are very important in college so it's important to make sure you are there for the right reasons. Its easy to get side-tracked but focusing on your main goal is the best way to suceed in college.

If I were able to go back and talk to my high school self about the college life, I would start out by telling myself to not let the freedom to be so overpowering that you procrastinate and fall behind. You need to learn how to manage your time and balance your new freedom and your school work. Don't wait to do your work just because you have a long period of time between due dates, the date will come much faster that you expect. Try to spread your work out so you don't have a pile all at once because it's going to make you want to quite. Keep your head up and be confident in your work, share your opinions and stay strong in what you believe in. There are going to be people who will try to get you down.

Kristin, here are the dos and don'ts of college (learn them, live them, love them): DO buy a watch; time flies when you start getting busy with school activities, classes, and work, so you're going to need to keep a close eye on your availability. Trust me. DO buy a small rug, possibly two. Not only will they shield your poor feet from the chilling, rude awakening the tiled floor offers in the morning, but they will also collect all of the dirt and snow that your shoes track in during the winter. The puddles are not fun to deal with...especially if you wear socks a lot. So keep one around the door, at least; you'll thank me later. DON'T procrastinate. It may have worked in high school, but it's a whole new ball of wax in college. Deadlines will eat you alive. DON'T be shy; talk to people. They have a tendency to surprise you...and you just might meet that special someone. DON'T ignore your old friends; they may be busy with college, but you still need them, and they want you to be there when they need you, too.