Columbia College Chicago Top Questions

So far I have gotten a lot from my college experience. I have met new people and with all the academic experience I feel that I have gotten wiser and more intelligent to make tough decisions with my life. It's been very valuable because it will change my life forever and into my career and hopefully with everything I have been through from college a happy and successful life and people and things that make for a fulfilling life.

College is a place most teenagers can?t wait to attend. The independence, parties, and meeting new people is all enticing to them. I too could not wait for my chance to be out on my own without parental supervision, although as soon as I started college the reality of life hit me. Managing money, making my own food, managing my time all seemed like they would be easy, but they weren?t. My parents had always taken care of me and now it was time for me to take care of myself. Being on my own taught me many important life lessons such as cooking for myself, how to wash clothes (yes it seems simple but you have no idea how many times my clothes shrunk or my white clothes turned red), money management, responsibility and most importantly time management. College is a stepping stone for many teens, and it is definitely an important one. It not only gives one a good education and a direction in life, it teaches many important life skills and how to manage ones life all on their own.

I have networked with many people that will help me in the future and I feel that this was the most valuable thing I got out of attending Columbia College Chicago

I would give myself the advice of applying to as many scholarships as possible. I would also tell myself to find somewhere cheaper to live, and to really grasp how expensive college is for my parents. I'd even tell myself to consider staying home and commuting to my school to save some extra money. I would tell myself also to broaden my pool of college choices. Last but not least, I would tell myself to really enjoy this last year of high school because once it's gone, it's gone. There is no getting it back so I should cherish every moment of it.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school senior self to reach out to the community and the people around me. It really helps in college to branch out and reach into the city around you, especially when you enter school with no friends.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior i would tell myself three things. first to apply for more scholarships and grants. I have been very blessed that my family has been able to take care of my tution but as my frist year has progressed have cearly seen how much a burned it is on my family and myself. second I would tell myself to not be afriad to get involved in things. so if this means trying out for a play or a music gig i need to just go for it. Finally, i tell myself to always be 1 step ahead instead of 2 steps behind.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a High School student I would tell myself to apply for alot of scholarships. I have truly learned that college is exspensive and would have told myself to save up money to prepare for college. I would have also taking some art classes and advanced myself more. Going into and art college I realized how great these people were at what they did and I would have prepared myself for that more.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say to not take spanish and take an art class. Since I am in an art school I have to take a pluthera of art classes. I am currently taking Drawing I and it is really hard for me. Knowing myself, I need a lot of practice in order for myself to get used to something. In my drawing class there are people in there who haven't got to experience any art because they didn't have any programs in their high school. I just feel like I wasted my life in my spanish class for my four years in high school when I didn't need it for Columbia. If I also knew that I was going to go to Columbia at the beginning of my senior year of high school, I would have taken advantage of the oportunity of taking Art and enjoyed my senior a little bit more. But I learned from my mistake and I am doing my very best in all my art classes to create a masterpiece of art.

There are two keys pearls of wisdom that I would give myself. The first is "slow down." When I was a senior in high school I thought that I needed to have all the answers and a career path lined up. The thought of going into college "undeclared" was absured to me. I did not slow down and take the time to explore my passions and individuality in a way that would have led me on the right career path. I needed to know that it was ok not to have all the answers but look forward to the jouney. The second and perhaps most important piece of advice would be "don't be afraid." I went through most of my undergraduate career afraid to try new things and break out of my comfort zone. I still look back and wish that I would have traveled more, joined more groups or even networked and made more friends. When I was in school I wasn't open to the world the way that I should have been and that has been my biggest regrets. So now I would laugh more, love more, ask more, learn more, study more and complain less.

If I were able to go back in time to inform myself (as a Senior in High School) of school-related issues I would suggest that I take advantage of the scholarship opportunities available to me. Although I always have had a 3.0 gpa, I haven't applied myself enough to seeking scholarships for my tuition: Such scholarships would make my life much easier.