Cedarville University Top Questions

The biggest transition for me at college was the ability to adjust to a roomate who was extremely different than myself. If two polar extremes are possible, that would describe our situation. Being a social animal, one who loves people, loud music, disorder of every kind, and late nights living with one who is quiet, introverted and lives an order-filled existence including early-to-bed times was, needless to say, a challenge. I would tell myself in high school to go out of my way to understand and accomodate those who are different than myself. I have always surrounded myself with like-minded individuals and had liitle to do with those who were outside my comfort zone, however, after working through these personality differences this year, I have learned to appreciate those differences and have become a person who is more well-rounded, flexible, and other-centered. I have become friends with my roommate who I would never have sought out for myself. I am being exposed to music, habits, and a life style that at first rubbed me the wrong way and now am learning slowly that being different is not necessarily a bad thing.

The first thing in which I would tell myself to actually make the decision to go to a four year school right out of high school. I would tell myself that it was my calling to attend Cedarville University and ever since being here on campus, I have grown not only individually, but also spiritually as well. Along with the fact that I have found the area of study that I know that I am supposed to be in. I would convince myself of the fact that I really do love sports and why would I not want to go to school and learn about sports. Along with that why would I not want to get paid to do something in which I love. Everyone always says that you should go into something that you love doing, so why not major in sports management.

College is not what you are picturing right now. It is a far cry from anything that TV or movies show ? just like High School Musical did not come close to portraying the reality of high school. Picture your biggest workload you?ve had in high school, double it, and add the fact that your favorite event is that night. That?s what college life is like ? a balance between reading books for classes and socializing with all the people you meet. Beware of the temptation to slack off during your senior year. It may not seem important because everyone else is doing it, but your senior year teaches you perseverance and what you are learning now will come up again in college. The big transition to living in the dorms rather than with your mom and dad and not seeing your old friends is going to be hard, but every college freshman living in the dorms is experiencing it too (and we now have cell phones and Facebook thanks to technology, so you can still keep in touch). Above all else, remember you are not alone; there are people all around you who are willing to help you through.

You need to understand that college is going to require a lot of reading. You need to be able to concentrate, even when everyone else around you wants to goof off. Stay true to yourself. Don't let others change your beliefs. Surround yourself with people who believe in God. They don't have to have the exact same religion. You can disagree on denominational ideals as long as you all believe in the Biblical truths. Be willing to voice your opinion in class. Professors like to hear your ideas and quesitons. Learning is listening to and discussing different ideas. Get your ideas out there. You ideas are worth hearing. Most of all, keep your goal in focus. Strive for what you want and if you find that you have changed your mind, research it, talk to you professors and counslers. Make sure you know what is involved and make sure it is right for you.

The transition to college is huge, but is something that you can successfully accomplish. It?s very important to be dedicated from the start. View your role as a student as your full time job. When you start in the fall, it is easy to be lulled into a sense of false security only to wake up a month into your new career, realizing how deep the hole is that you are in. This all can be avoided with a little planning from the beginning. Take your syllabi and write out on month calendars when large projects or papers are due or when exams will be. At the start of each week, jot down a list of tasks that need to be completed and cross them off as you do them. You can even plan out exactly when you will do what homework, if that helps. When you start to struggle with classes, don?t hesitate to ask for help immediately. Professors want to see you do well and many schools have tutoring available. Always listen to their advice. Studying with friends, you can learn information faster, too. This isn?t a road you need to travel on your own.

The most important thing you need to do is really build good study habits. Teach yourself to study when you don't feel like it and when other people are doing fun things. It will be very helpful for you to do this now while you are still at home; you have the most time and the fewest distractions. Learn to study a little bit every day, rather than saving it all for the night before the test. Keep up with readings. Write down the information that seems obvious to you at the time; it will be extremely helpful when it comes time for the final exams. Learn to be disciplined now; it will be your life-saver at college. Really appreciate your free time and time to sleep. Unfortunately, much of this will go away while you are in college, especially since you want to be a pre-med major. Appreciate and spend time with you family and friends; you will not realize how much you will miss them until you are away. Finally, make Bible reading and prayer a daily part of your life. It will be a valuable habit to have.

Everyone says that your college years are the best of your life and they fly by faster than you can imagine. Hard to believe, but it IS true! So, because your time is short, it is important to remember to never be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and try something new. College is the time for discovering who you are apart from your family and your high school. Don't miss out on the opportunitites that are there to make your life all that you want it to be. For the first month of school, determine to meet someone new everyday and have a conversation with them. You tend to be like your friends, so make wise choices and invest in their lives so that your friendship reaches beyond the 4 short years you have together. Take school work seriously, and be there to learn beyond the classroom. Apply what you're learning and be involved as much as you can! But don't overwhelm yourself. Learn how to prioritize your time to work ahead, so that you can enjoy activities and events with your friends. Take this opportunity to live, learn and love like never before!

Don't let your own inhibitations keep you from doing what you want. Your college peers don't know about any of your past mistakes, so learn from those mistakes and rebaptize yourself into someone you'll be proud to look back on. Take your academics seriously; highschool may have been easy but college is harder, and if you slack off early you might not be able to focus when it counts. Freshman year sets a lot of habits. Get involved in what interests you, or at least apply/try out, so you won't regret it later on. As a college junior, there's a lot of things I look back and wish I could change, but I made my choices and now I have to live with them. Think of how your actions will affect your future, not just in college but long after you've graduated. Don't get distracted by present, immediate gratification, but strive to make your future what you've always dreamed.

During high school I was super desirous to make a 4.0. I was obsessed with grades and lost a lot of joy by worry. I would tell myself to enjoy the moments more and not worry so much over high school perfection. I missed out of a lot of friend time and relationship building time as I was so focused on grades. I do believe that grades and studies are important, however, my obsession with them did more harm than good as I am learning now how to befriend others and feel comfortable in groups. I believe my transition to college would have been so much easier had I worked on social skills a bit more. My grades are still important, but I am learning that the time I spend with others, caring about their needs and interests is making me a better person. People should have been more of a priority in my life. I believe that rubbing shoulders with others have sharpened me as an individual and I have grown much through the relationships with my peers as well as the professors I have befriended.

It's important to study hard and focus on your schoolwork because it's the reason you're attending school, but you should also strike a balance between work and fun and make sure to enjoy the college experience as well. Put yourself out there in social situations and have fun. You still have to get your schoolwork done, but it is possible to let loose and have fun as well.