Columbia College Chicago Top Questions

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior - I would tell myself not to waste anytime and to continue in school. Just because I didn't have any money or financial support - there's nothing wrong with taking out a loan and repaying it later. Don't procrastinate, time is not on your side, and the sooner you get your education towards your career - the better. I had a major and everything but still sat around. So I would have motivated myself more.

If I had the chance to go back in time and give myself advice about college life, then there is nothing that I could say. I like to learn as I go along. If I don't make mistakes and stumble sometimes, then how will I ever find success in life? Mistakes make us who we are. They make us stronger and prepare us for the future. You have to fail before you can win.

I would ask myself, "Are you nervous?" Although nerves are showing signs that we're alive, it is a sign of uncertainty. Thus, my great words of wisdom are to be sure. Be sure that going to college is the right decision for you. If you are not sure about what you are going to school for, then be sure that the college you are going to has options in your line of interest for you to tackle once you are ready. Also, be sure to have your priorities straight. So many times you will be faced to make a decision. You won't always make the right one. As long as you are sure of what you want long term and not just at that moment, then you will learn from your mistakes, grow in the process, and be in the right direction of being a great student.

I would tell myself to get on the computer and fill out every scholarship i can.

The one thing that I would have done differently as a High School Student ,would probably have been to look at scholarships and apply to as many as I could. As a high school student I wasn?t taught how to research scholarships and there for missed out on many great opportunities. If I was shown how to research and apply to the many scholarships out there, I probably would have gotten the money that I need to fund my education after transferring to a four year college from a two year college. I feel another thing that probably stopped me from looking at scholarships and asking for that help early on was the fact that I was going to Community College first and didn?t think I would need much external aid. That concept was also my mistake. But now I know that I have to apply to all that I can and hope to receive some aid. Now that I am at a four year university I know what I have done and I have learend how to look for opportunities to fund my education.

?Work your butt off, and find the best of yourself!? Those would be the words I would tell myself. I should learn to concentrate more on my work and getting a better idea of all the things available to me at Columbia. I would tell myself to work hard. Columbia is defiantly not like other schools, so a majority of the work I would do wasn?t book work but art projects. I would have to give more than my all on these projects and try to be as creative as possible. I would try to make me understand the importance of working as hard as I can to create my best work. This isn?t a school where I could simply find the answers in a book and get an A. It?s the type of school where I had to look into myself and use my own creativity to create things that are unique and my own. That would be the most important thing, to help me understand that it wasn?t about the books anymore but it was something deeper. Its about looking at myself , finding the best of myself and transferring that into all my work.

If i could somehow talk to my highschool senior self about the college life, i would not abbreviate the fact that making the transition from highschool to college, with no academic or self training, will be extremely complicated. A couple of the most important trainings that i would need to posess would include, maintaining a reasonable G.P.A., and the ability to push myself above and beyond standards. Considering that most "good" colleges only accept students with higher levels of excellence, i would express to my past self, that maintaining an exceptional, but realistic G.P.A. is significantly important. by applying myself in this way, i would leave a great impression on many colleges by showing my intentions to manifesting the certainty of having my objective in demand. A very valuable step to successfully completing college, is always challenging yourself to push foward and farther. I would tell my past senior self, that pushing foward and farther is all about training the mind to cooperate with the body in reaching for your set goals. Realizing your objective, overcoming any obstacles faced and then grasping at your goal will only lead to the conquer of your success.

If I could go back and talk to myself, I would say, "Be prepared to take control of your own life. Going to college is a privilege that not everyone can enjoy, so use that privilage you have been granted to make yourself successful and satisfied with your own life so that you can help those who can't. There are many people in the world who sit and complain about work and drift through life like it's all a dull, boring dream. As Agnes Repplier said, 'It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere. ' College gives you the oppurtunity to find that happiness in yourself by giving you the chance to do whatever you want in order to become successful. Self-satisfaction is what distinguishes a person who settles with their own banality from someone who becomes a clear face in a crowd of billions. "

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to always do the best that you can and take things in one at a time. There will be a lot of work thrown at you when you are in college, and try not to become overwhelmed with all of it. Appreciate what Columbia has to offer and take those opportunities with unpaid internships while in school, so you have a lot more experience after you graduate. Don't be afraid to go out and experience events that happen in the Columbia community. It is a great way to experience different cultures and styles. Also, get some more sleep, so you don't fall asleep on the train in the your morning commute. Just keep working hard and stay passionate about your career. It will pay off in the end.

If I could travel back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would be very straightforward. Since I am a commuting student at an art school my words of wisdom would be different from many others. I would tell myself to take time out to make a game plan, meaning map out what your goals are while you are attending that institution. Always be open, have a friendly attitude towards everyone. Everyone that you meet, you will more than likely see them again. They might be the person you will need to help you on a film/video. Always humble yourself; you are not the best film producer yet. In order to maximize your college experience, join clubs and organizations to meet new people and build bonds. Last but certainly not least just have fun, but be responsible. Four years go past really fast. Always remember to "Create Change" that is the Columbia College Moto.