Goucher College Top Questions

The first thing I would do after meeting past-me would be a slap in the face – as hard as I could. “Wake up!” I would scream as I entered my lecture about commitment. I had all the opportunities anybody could hope for as a high school student – I was an Oregon state record holder in swimming, I played the piano and violin, and was engaged in my classwork. My issue was that I was too noncommittal – I didn’t know what I wanted to pursue in college, let alone which college to attend. I would tell my past self to not worry about choosing “the right one,” that we will succeed. I would warn myself about the dangers of being noncommittal – of how due to apathy, the college deadlines all passed me by and how I had to transfer to my dream school from my first college. And finally, I would hug him and tell him to be brave, and that it is okay to commit to things even if you are unsure of how they will turn out. It is okay to make a non-optimal decision, as long as you commit yourself fully to your choice.

In between graduating high school and coming to college I took a gap year and worked with AmeriCorps National Civilians Community Corps. I knew throughout high school that I was not ready for college, and after my gap year I figured I would probably be a bit more ready, I was not. My transition into school life isn't over yet and the whole process has been extremely difficult, not because of missing home or being on my own, but because I want to live life and make experiences in the real world, not read and learn about what other people have done and are doing. If I could go back in time and give my 18 year-old self some advice it would be this: Be ready for a struggle. This life thing is not easy and there will be times when it feels impossible and you will want to quit, but there are to many people depending on you to give up. Mom and dad, your two sisters, yourself, but most of all the people that you are meant to help in the future need you to get your degree so that you can help change the world.

When i was a senior i knew what my major was going to be. Nursing. When i started college it was stressful for a freshman because the professors were a little harder and no one is there to hold my hand and say everything will be easy because college is definitely not. If i could go back to my senior year and talk to myself i would say to really prepare for college because it is a whole different atmosphere. I would also say that its much more expensive and the fact that studying is going to be all that i would be doing. Another fact about college that i would explain is to not slack off at all. Slacking off and not studying a lot will result in failing the class and being put on acedemic probation. One other fact, is grades. Yea in high school you can get a D and still pass well in college its a C or better. Mostly earning an A is better because it will be a boost of confidence. I would also reccommend to myself that to plan classes ahead and make sure to plan them wisely. and i will be successful.

Wow, there are several pieces of advice i would give myself. First of all, I would have formed a study for the AP classes I took to better prepare myself on the material being tested over. I feel that some of the AP teachers do not teach as well as they could have, definitely feel as though some did not have the passion for teaching the class. I would not have loaded myself with as many of these classes and would have concentrated on the AP classes I excelled at the best. Secondly, I would have started the college search at the end of my sophmore year instead of the middle of my junior year. This would have allowed more time to concentrate on scholarship applications and their requirements. I would have also visited the colleges more than once before making my decision, possibly spending a couple of days to really initiate myself on the process and living experiences, although I did well at my junior college, it will definitely help me at my next university which is a private institution.

You've always tried to fit in, while being you. You've always known the importance of being yourself, but you've always felt the social pressure to be like everyone else. In college, embrace yourself. You leave everyone you've ever known behind and you be you. And people love you, just the way you are. You know how to be a good student, you know exactly what you do and do not want to do. You are strong in your convictions. Maintain that. You will make hastey, poor decisions, but they make you stronger. You are allowed to make mistakes. Just don't regret those mistakes. They will make you someone you are proud to be and even more impassioned to be the person you want to become. You will be more than 'just fine.' You will be great. So take a deep breath, and enjoy all that you can, and learn all that you can - inside and outside the classroom.

I am proud to be an American Citizen. When I come to America as immigrant I was 26 years old. At that time I was so busy to survive, did not speak English and did not have a job , I had in mind to go to College but I thought it's not for me, because I am not so smart and education will not change my life. Now, when I am 35 and it's my second year in college with straight A’s, I regret that I wasted so many years. Looking back at that time I would give advice to myself not to waste time and go to college . In order to succeed in College I have to do my homework on time, the best way is do it little by little every day, than to postpone it to next time when I have more available hours. If I have question about any subject the best way to contact teacher and ask her, because I was so shy and didn't want to bother anyone and tried to come up with my own answer but that wasn’t always right answer. Be yourself and you will succeed!

I would tell myself to take a variety of classes that correspond to interests that I want to explore. There are certain areas of interest I wish I had explored earlier because later on it was harder to fit them into my schedule because I had to give priority to the requirements I had to get done. I would also tell myself to not bother taking classes that I had no interest in. I feel like I wasted some time taking classes that I had absolutely no interest in just because it was a class that fit into my schedule. Even though four years seems like a long time at the beginning, college is too short to spend your time on something that is not important to you. Finally, I would tell myself to get involved in clubs sooner. Clubs are also a great way to explore interests that are non-academic and are a good way to make friends at the beginning of the semester when all the first-year students are still feeling unsure about who they are going to be close friends with, and meeting many new people is a great way to discover that.

Although I have only completed two years of school at Goucher, I have had ample experiences which have shaped the individual I have become. I have become alot more accepting of others opinions and have been exposed to this in and out of the classroom. Given the small size of Goucher, we tend to have extremely intimate classes. Professors know us by our names, and certainly know when we aren't in class. The majority of my classes are discussion based, which holds you accountable for your assignments. I have been part of some controversial conversations in class and have had to learn to accept others opinions and respect them, however acknowledging the advantage of the different views. Furthermore, being part of an athletic team, I have had to learn to put my wants, views, needs, and aspirations aside and adapt my teammates views to ultimately unite and perform together. This is one of the hardest lessons I have learned in my life, but ultimately, I believe I will be able to apply this skill to my life when I have a job and have to work with others to succeed at the task at hand.

I was never really a high school senior, since I was homeschooled all my life, but if I could go back to that me of the past who was preparing for the GED and applying to the local community college, I would say this: "Plan ahead! Way ahead!" I got so comfortable at community college, and students probably have this problem in high school, that I didn't really think about where I'd be going afterwards. Transitioning to a 4 year college is such a huge step. In most cases you're living in a new place, and spending your time with new teachers and subjects. You have to make sure (as much as that's possible without living it in person) that the academics and the campus life are a good fit for you. Visit schools, conduct interviews, poke around all you can. I didn't get a chance to do all that before I was swept away into more or less the first school I applied to. If I could go back, I'd make sure I didn't put off that important stuff!

If I were able to talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would begin with saying not to be afraid. I would tell her that college is a new chapter in her life and that she should grow, or take her first steps, towards a more confident independent woman. I would tell her that she should go into college with optimism and an open mind, because there will be many types of people she will see for the first time. In terms of education, I would tell her that she needs to do her work a little bit everyday and to remember that she is going to college for her education, not for anyone else's. I would tell her to broaden her horizons. She should take risks that will create a stronger person and set a platform that holds a wider range of experiences. She should not be afraid to ask for help, because the professors at college are there to help her succeed. Above all, she should never be afraid to speak up for what is right and what she believes in; she should hold her ground.