Hawaii Pacific University Top Questions

IF I COULD GO BACK IN TIME I WOULD TELL MYSELF TO GET MY DEGREE WHEN I LEFT HIGH SCHOOL AND NOT PUT IT OFF. TRANSITIONING FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE ISNT DIFFICULT IF YOU KEEP UP WITH THE WORK AND DONT ALLOW YOURSELF TO GET BEHIND. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS DONT BE AFRAID TO ASK THEM CAUSE YOU PROBABLY AREN'T THE ONLY ONE WITH THAT QUESTION. THE REASON I SAY DON'T PUT IT OFF IS THAT, THE LONGER YOU ARE OUT OF SCHOOL THE MORE YOU FORGET AND ONCE YOU HAVE A FAMILY IT IS HARDER TO BACK TO SCHOOL. I NOW HAVE TWO BOYS 1 AND 3 AND MY HUSBAND IS IN THE MARINE CORPS, SO IT IS HARDER TO GO TO SCHOOL FULL TIME AND STILL BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYONE'S NEEDS AT HOME. HOWEVER IT IS NOT IMPOSSIBLE EVEN WHEN MY HUSBAND IS GONE.

If I could go back into time to better prepare myself for college would be is the manage my time well. Partying will always be there but right now is the time to focus on school because it will determine the rest of your life. True friends will be there to support you through everything and don't worry about losing friends. Most importantly now is the time to develope good study habits because you don't college is going to give you a rough time. Set an ultimate goal and then set smaller ones to help you achieve your ultimate goal because that is what big goals are; just a bunch of small goals accomplished one after another.

I would tell myself to read more books and gain as much knowledge as I could retain. When I first got to college after high school I didn't always comprehend what I was reading. If I could go back I would advise myself to read more educational books and sharpen my vocabulary skills. I would also advise myself to not just do the things neccessary to get by but excell in everything no matter if it was big or small. I would also tell myself to seek pride in my accomplishments and that I dont have to impress teachers but to just be proud of myself and what I have achieved. Other than those few things, I am proud of who I was then and Who I am now. I wouldnt change anything else. I graduated with honors and am now in a Surgical Technology program at my college. Im very proud of myself, i just wish I would have seeked more knowledge back then so that I can be the best at what I do now.

The best advice I could give myself would be not to be influence by others too easily, and college is pretty much the same thing like high school but a little more reading and studying.

Dear Tierra, I am writing to you to to give you some insight regarding post high school. I know high school should be fun but I want you to take into consideraion everything you want after high school because your choices now will deifinitely have a impact on you later. After high school you are in total control of your decisions and no one is going to be there to tell you what to do, it is truly up to you in everything you do. Don't see yourself short, if you want something then go get it. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, but in order to achieve you need to put in the effort (you get what you put in). Last but not least I want to let you know that school isn't cheap, it takes a toll financially. So I would recommend that you keep those grades up, stay involved with school, and try to get as much scholarships as you can. It will be all worth it in the end, work hard now, play later.

I know that for me, finding the right college was a little challenging. There are so many options and when you are fresh out of high school, you don't always know exactly what you're looking for. I would tell parents and students, in search of the right college, to make a list of everything they would like for their school to include; such as sports, majors, housing, student population ...etc. After they have completed their list, I would look for schools that seem to fit for them and then visit a few of them. Many schools may be very different than they appear to be online, so a visit to the campus can often be a deal breaker. As for enjoying and making the most of your college experience, I would tell students to live it up. Get involved in sports and clubs, make new friends and really try to enjoy yourself. If you feel homesick, remember it will pass. Don't hold anything back and just take a chance. College is an amazing place to find out who you really are, get a great education and make life long friends...enjoy every minute of it!

Make sure that the school provides enough financial aid

One thing I would suggest is to have a list or preconceived notion of what you are looking for in a college. For example, I wanted a school that had smaller class sizes because that was what I was used to and felt would be the most conducive to my learning process. Secondly, if you do not have a major already picked out, try to choose a school that has a variety of majors that appeal to you. If you already have a particular career choice, make sure that the school is properly accredited. Furthermore, if you have a prospective candidate, I would also suggest scheduling a tour of the campus. Once enrolled, it is always important to keep in mind that although school does come first, you should always take time out for yourself (whether that be through reading or exercising or just hanging out with friends). College is more than just another schooling process; it is a once in a lifetime event that should be experienced to the fullest.

The one thing I appreciate about my parents is how they allowed me to attend this school knowing that it is a private school as well as an expensive school. Follow your heart and your dreams is what I'd tell students/parents. Any college or university is good as long as the individual is happy being where they are. College is the icing on the cake to becoming an adult. It's the time to have some last childhood memories as the same time as learning to grow up. It's the time to find yourself and be the person you want to be and not what others want you to be. This is the time that you need to be you.

Go and visit the colege and then talk to multiple students and take the consenus of all to get overall feeling behind the school.