Connecticut College Top Questions

Even though you may not know what exactly you want to do in the future, the choices you make during your first year in college are very important and certainly impact the years to come. It is important to start out with a stable foundation and then continue to build further. Even if your interests change overtime, it is important to stay determined in anything you choose to do. Do not let the workload stress you out, rather always look forward to something exciting in order to fuel the motivation. Relaxation and fun is just as important as work – you must be energized enough to tackle the assignments as best as you can.

My college experience has taught me that the challenge does not stop in high school. As you were working towards college in high school, you now have to work towards professional school or an actual career. College is almost frightening in the huge reality check that you are no longer a child who has their parents to lean on. You must become independent and self promotive in order to succeed. I am just starting to learn the necessity of a balance between partying and working. The good thing about college is that you're drivin by the thrill of the new freedoms you've been granted. Although its similar to high school in that you still have to do the whole class, homework, study, test thing; there are essentially no rules. To kids like myself were drilled with rules and regulations (not necessarily a bad thing when growing up) since their birth, the freedom is a rush that has been unmatched by any other feeling up until this point. I believe that any new experience is a learning one, and college is an important time to not only advance yourself academically, but more importantly mentally and emotionally.

There exists in my mind something I like to call "The Great Balance." I have been pursuing this Great Balance for quite some time and after almost three years in college, I think I have finally found it. As an incoming freshman, I had no idea what I was in for. College has challenged and stretched me in a million ways, but the biggest hurdle of all has been juggling everything in my life: keeping in touch with family, meeting new friends, working two jobs on campus, attending choir practices, having time to myself, and attempting to succeed within the parameters of what can at times be an oppressively busy schedule. It doesn't sound simple, and it's not. But I will say that it's been worth every minute of the hard work I've put into it. I can say with confidence that I can handle it all, and it's truly a great feeling. This balance helps me stay focused and to keep perspective. It's the greatest thing my college experience has given me, as it is something that will continue to help me maintain an equilibrium and to keep perspective throughout my entire life.

I would tell myself that althought there is alot of free time, the work from classes fills it up quickly. Even though I only had four classes when I incorporated my homework and studying time my day was filled. As a high school senior now is the time to apply for scholarships/grants if they are needed. You can apply for them online but it is better to start the year with them than desperately trying to scrap money together when you need it most. Academics always comes first but remember to have fun! Join a club, a sports team, volunteer in the outside community or on campus, anything. College is not only about expanding our minds academically, it also provides different activities for you to explore. So take advantage of what your school can give you and have fun.

You learn a lot about and develop yourself throughout your high school years. But, you really start to become your own individual when you step onto the campus that will be your new home for the next four years. It is an excellent transition, finally independent from parents and free to govern yourself, but it is not the easiest transition. Very soon you realize that though you are not completely independent, as the college does help you out, the things that always seemed like a given back home is no longer there and you must provide for yourself. Moving to college just doesn't mean you are leaving home to party and study what you want, it means that it is your turn to learn how to take care of yourself while still in a community that can accept mistakes before you enter the real world. My advice would be to mentally prepare yourself for that step out the door. Don't go completely overboard and act as if you just bought a house, but begin to slowly realize you must learn to be an adult and make the smart choices. Yet, still have fun while your at it!

It's hard to make suggestions for college life - I guess try to make friends with the right people as soon as possible, because it makes your life a lot easier. Don't feel self-conscious because everyone came from bigger schools than you - you were the top of 24 students, yes, but they were the top of hundreds of classmates. Everyone has their flaws and faults. Stick with clubs that make you comfortable - you love writing, so write for the school newspaper, and eventually you'll be co-editor of the A&E department! Don't be daunted by the dating scene - you never had a boyfriend before, and suddenly you're surrounded by hundreds of available gentlemen, so the pressure is on! Just relax and make sure you're dating because you're comfortable. Finally, don't feel stressed by the classes. The classes you had in high school were jokes - way too easy, not serious enough - and suddenly you're in lecture halls with professors and essays and group projects - yikes! There are centers on campus willing to help you perfect your schoolwork, so take advantage of them! Good luck!

Hey, you. Now, I know you're going to Provincetown High right now. PHS is the smallest public high school in Massachusetts, waaaay out at the tip of Cape Cod, and you're the top of your class of 24 classmates. Good for you. I know you're proud right now, but when you get to college, you're going to realize a lot of things about your high school life. It wasn't that hard to get the valedictorian, both because your classmates didn't have the same motivation as you and your classes were insultingly easy. When you get to college, you're going to feel really self-conscious. Like, do I deserve to be here? Sure, I was valedictorian, but was it too easy? Don't worry, you're going to have a great time. You're going to make friends and get involved with some great clubs. You're going to earn roles in some really amazing plays. You're going to be an Orientation Coordinators and also the arts editor for the newspaper. About the schoolwork: if you just work hard and do what you do best, you'll do just fine. Good luck!

Vist every school to make sure it is the right fit for you, do a lot of background check of the school and have more choices.

Although academics should be your primary reason when considering the most suitable college, I feel obligated to say that college life is just as much about self discovery and exploration than anything else. As sure as you supposedly are about your future major, I advise you to apply to institutions comprised of a myriad of majors and academic pursuits. Because, again, as sure as you are about your field of study, you must realize that you have not been exposed to a majority of possible majors during your high school and pre-high school years. Also, location and size of the school should play huge factors in your decision as well. As this is the time in your life for independence and self-exploration, you want to make sure that your are surrounded by an environment that fosters this growth. Go to a place where you do not know every face intimately, but also where you do not get lost in the crowd. Go to a place that suits your social life. Because, as satisfactory as your academic life may be, if your social life is incomplete, that will negatively effect your college experience. Good luck on the road ahead.

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