Des Moines Area Community College Top Questions

What should every freshman at Des Moines Area Community College know before they start?

Emily

If I was able to travel back in time to see myself again as a high school senior, I would tell myself to forget young love and that one day you will make a difference. I would tell myself that its not worth waiting till you're about a quarter of century old to finally select a career path that has potential to only give you stability but also lessen the chaos that surrounds my life right now. I'll tell myself that waiting in line at the student service office to register for class was not only just exciting but breathtaking. Once you pass that threshold you can feel the excitement of making something of yourself and being able to relish the need to purchase textbooks instead of all those old hand-offs during high school. I would tell myself that college is well worth it and that no matter what decision I make about life as an adult that I can always go back to school and make up my mind there.

Erick

If I could go back in time and tell myself about college and how to prepare myself I would have to say that you should take many college credit classes. When you are in high school you ten to think short termed and not think about what could help you in college. Most schools will allow you to take college credit courses for free. This is pretty much free credits and will help you are greatly in the future. I would also go on to state that it would be wise to make several college visits throughout your senior year to a college of interest. This way you can become familiar with the instructors and your desired course. I would then go on to say that you need to just have fun, make new friends and not to be afraid to take that risk at going up to new people and striking up a conversation. College is all about setting up your standards for the rest of life and you want to get on a positive start to your life and you will go to new limits you never thought were possible.

Ryan

If I could have gone back after having started college to give myself advice as a high school senior I think the main point I would have to reinforce would be to do the work assigned on time. I have seen what not doing the work has done to others this past semester and that would not be anything I want anyone to have to handle. There is also the fact that I would tell myself to expect a complete change because as I found out college is very different than high school but advice would have been good to help me transition easier.

Audrey

I would say that you need to get to know your roommate(s) and to try harder in school to get good grades.

Guadalupe

nothing really.. It isnt as hard as i thought going to college and rasing my baby boy.. specially when u have help frpm ur family and friends. Who to me are very suportive..

Anne

I would tell myself that I would need to allow more time for studying than I did in high school. College is much more demanding than high school and requires a larger time committment. I would also tell myself that college is a good time to put myself out there, because there are many new people to meet, so it's a good time to make new friends.

Sue

Study a lot hard and take school a lot more serious than I did.

Randi

I would tell myself to study harder and to develop solid study habits. I would also advise myself to stay away from the wrong kind of people. It is so easy to get wrapped up in "college life" and become distracted. Before you know it you're skipping one or two classes and failing tests. It's wise to remember the reason you're in college in the first place.

Jessica

Do not allow yourself to be wrapped up in the hype of "partying" and the typical college life. Make friends of all sorts, you have no idea the impact they may have on you. There are many paths you may take in college, do not restrict yourself to just one, experiment, step outside the box; but ALWAYS remember the difference between right and wrong and be sure to constantly recognize what will and won't affect you in a positive manner. Do NOT fail to see the light in those dark situations and let NO ONE come between you and your dreams, your aspirations. Forget all the times prior to date where you have failed yourself and others; for this is your time to start over and excel. You're the only one who knows exactly what you want out of this life and the ONLY one who can make it happen for yourself. There is ALWAYS at least one person to turn to if you're having troubles, remember where you came from and those that support you!!! Utilize and exhaust all the resources available to you at college they will help you immensely.

Zach

I would tell myself not to worry about it as much as I did. I thought it was going to be really hard from what all my professors in high school told me. Now that I have been to college and know what its like, classes are actually easier than they were in high school.