Gardner-Webb University Top Questions

I have learned how to live on my own, manage my time wisely and, for the first time, I have learned how to study successfully. I have met many people who have helped me through my first semester of college and I have learned a lot from them. After a rough transition, I am happy and successful at Gardner-Webb University and I am looking forward to completing my 4 years there. My music is important to me and I feel this university has given me every opportunity to grow in my musical ablities.

I would tell myself to grow up a little quicker. The transition to college life is not as easy as I assumed it would be. With classes arranged as they are all throughout the day, and either on Monday/Wednesday/Friday or Tuesday/Thursday, it is a lot harder to keep organized and up to date on required work. Responsibility is the number one trait that a student going to college needs to be sure that he/she has worked on and can rely on. Most high school students, including myself, assume that college is the best time of your life with all fun and games and a little bit of school mixed in. This was the wrong attitude for me to have entering college because I was bombarded with a lot of classwork and an unexpected shoulder surgery (which only compounded the amount of work). At this point I did quickly grow up and made a great college career for myself. Luckily, I did not make the mistake of waiting too long to make the necessary adjustments in order to be successful in college. The one piece of advice I would give myself is to become more responsible. Thanks!

The transition to college life is larger than any other transition previously experienced. Therefore, don?t take it lightly. Once settled at college, after you wave to your parents goodbye, you are totally on your own. There is no one who is going to stand over your shoulder waking you up in the morning, escorting you to class, or filling your plate up with fruits and vegetables. You could use this new found freedom to rebel and do the opposite of what has always been expected of you. However, this action will get you nowhere in life. Instead, take this opportunity to take the responsibility that you have been granted seriously and show those around you what you are capable of. View this new environment that now surrounds you as an opportunity to meet new people and establish lifelong friendships. No longer do you have the guarantee of coming home each day to your family. Instead, you have to create new friendships that will survive the ups and downs of college life. When it comes down to it, the transition between high school and college is full of opportunity but it will only become what you make of it.

High school and college are so close in timing, yet are two separate worlds in regards to lifestyle and school workload. I adequately prepared myself for college, yet could have done better. Although I had grown up in a very diverse city, I had not prepared myself to be living in a culture so different than mine. In high school, I had the same-mind set of life from my experiences growing up in Burbank, along with my travels to other places. It would have been wise of me to loosen-up a bit. In college, if you are too focused on school work, you are more likely to be set apart from others and lack of friends. I would remind myself that it is important to incoorporate friends and school, such as I did in my American Sign Language classes. On the other hand, I would remind myself that the academic world of college is a few steps above high school. Although, I already had strict standards, I would be encouraging myself to push past my limits, and take advanced placement courses. I would be a down to earth reminder of zeal and balance in life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to begin the process of college searching earlier in the year to avoid stress. I would also tell myself to learn how to manage time more wisely, since time management has been a problem of mine for a long time and continues to be; although I do manage to finish assignments on time, it would have been helpful to break that habit before coming to college. Another piece of advice I would give myself would be to learn how to be a bit more independent before coming to school; college tends to be that period of transition between adolescence and adulthood, where one learns to be more independent. The transition to college may have been a bit easier if I had learned to be more independent before I left home. I would also tell myself not to worry so much about leaving my friends and family back home, because I have made such wonderful friends here at school.

I would tell myself to start looking at schools, start applying to schools, and step up. Take things seriously, this is an exciting time in life, so don't waste it. The transition is akward, but that will pass, you'll learn to stand up for yourself, take charge, and even make a friend or two in the process. I promise, it seems overwhelming right now, but you won't regret it. It's something that you will be able to be proud of later down the road. The choices you make and the friends you make will effect you for the rest of your life, it's a scary thing. However, it will all be OK in the end. Just sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride of life. Don't rush this time by, take it in for what it's worth.

If I could go back in time and give myself some college advice, I would tell myself to not be so shy and just be myself. Open up to people, approach others, and make new friends. Also, focus on school work because it is easier to enjoy college when you are getting good grades and keeping up your GPA. Get your work done early so you can spend time with friends and also not stress all night about a project that you haven't worked on all month and is now due the next day. If you need help, ask; professors love it when students have questions, it shows they're doing the work. When you can, get involved in school activities, you make quick friends and it looks great on a resume. I also feel that it is important that you are comfortable with where you are, and that you are enjoying your college experience because you only get this kind of experience once in your life. Get off campus sometimes and explore the world when you're not doing homework. Work hard, but have fun, and don't be afraid to be yourself!

If I was given the oppporunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senoir, I would be sure to tell myself to calm down! College seems very scary; total responsibility, new people, new professors, a new home, but it's a great experience and everything falls into place. You learn responsibility and become an adult who is respected and looked up to. You meet new people and learn how diverse and amazing the world can be. You have new professors who challenge your ideas and traditions, making you well-rounded citizen. You have a new home filled with new people who love and support you, filled with excitement and adventure. I'd be sure to inform my high school counterpart that college is not something to fear but something to embrace! (And start packing for now!)

If i could go back in time and give myself advice about college and making the transition I would make myself work on tie management and meeting new people before going to school. When I came to college I did not know uch about my roommates so I wish i had known them better and met them before school started. Managing my time with school and social life was difficult. Knowing that I had no parents on my back about test and studying gave me more freedom but I wish now that I had my parents reminding me what I needed to get done. So advising myself to start managing time better with friends and school along with learning to meet people easier would be two major things I would advise.

There's lot's of advice I can give. Make sure you take the professors seriously and do not expect them to baby you or "hold your hand". Professors will not chek up on assignments and readings and you're on your own so you need to be prepared for the responsability school will hold. Also, going out and partying are NOT a top priority. It may seem like the typical life of a college student but it can and WILL effect your grades if you go out to much and do not spend time studying. It takes twice, if not three times as much effort to get an A in college than it does in High School. Last but not least, get involved as soon as possible. Do not wait to get settled in because by then you will be too far in to want to get involved. You can always drop an activity if it becomes too much for you but you may not always be able to join in whenever you choose. College is your full time job so dont play around and appreciate the education that's being given to you. It truly is a gift.