Mount Holyoke College Top Questions

Catie, Know that you will not be homesick, but think carefully about where you are from. Listen as much to those who have had everything as to those who, like you, have had to struggle mightily to arrive here. Those who struggled will tell stories that sustain your soul, and those who have not will draw the contours of the world that you are entering. Do not be bitter about the rural town you call home, or the high school that failed to prepare you for the challenges of college. You can and will make it, but it will take everything you have. The best news? This place believes deeply in you, and will expect more of you than you could EVER imagine. There is no other place where encouragement will make you examine yourself so deeply for strength, weakness, privilege and lack - but you will come out victorious, alive and thoroughly grateful. You will know the power of your own voice intimately, and from experience, because your life is changing forever. Embrace your growing pains. Finally, appreciate your family deeply, but let your boyfriend go. There's a beautiful girl who wants to ask you out anyway. Love, Me

Most importantly, take a deep breath. Relax. Transitioning into college might be your most nerve-wracking adjustment to date, but know that you are not alone. Make the most of your remaining high school career. Keep your friends close and do not fall victim to ‘senioritis’; you will need a strong work ethic in order to be successful later on. Be sure to sign up for classes that are meaningful to you, and never be afraid to take a class just because it seems like too much work; if you are passionate about a subject, the learning experience will make it completely worthwhile. Academics aside, you will need to adjust to a new social environment. Orientation is an amazing opportunity to connect with other students. Everyone will be scrambling to make new friends in order to feel welcome; embrace this and be friendly! Invest in a doorstop and make friends in your hall! Keep your door as well as your mind open to the amazing opportunities in front of you. Join clubs, meet new people, and immerse yourself in this new environment. Eventually, it will become your home away from home. Have fun and good luck!

I would tell myself five words, that I am sure a lot of people could also benifit from: get out of your shell. College is often described as the best part of your life, but on top of that the people you meet in college can be some of the best friends and assets of your life. Proffessors, colleagues, and everyone else in college can help you whether it is by teaching you something you are actually interested in, helping you when you are lost, or even years down the road doing you a favor. College is about networking, pure and simple. Open up your college yearbook, and anyone in there might be an asset. You are all alumni from the same institution and that means a lot. This advice and description of college might sound cynical, but I assure whomever is reading this that I mean it in a completely well-meaning way. This is the advice I would give anyone, not just myself, so I fully expect everyone else to view me the same way; as an asset. That doesn't mean we are something to be used, but it is certainly something everyone should keep in mind.

I f i was a high school senior and knew about the college life and making the transition i would tell myself to be focused on my work and be mature . College life is different com,pared to high school. In college you dont have someone telling you what to do, when to be in class, or to do your homework. Coming into college you have to be mature because you are on your own and make your own decisions. I would give that advice to anybody transitioning from high school to college!

Honestly I like the decision I made when I attended high school. I had held myself back a year because I knew that I needed it. See, I have a learning disability so many things I do I have to take my time at. Now I am proud to say I have accomplished a lot. Anyway, then I was sure that applying and attending a Community College would give me the step I needed if and when I wanted to attend a University. Well, I never did go to a university I just continued my path at the community college. It seemed easier to graduate with all the credits I had. Advice I would give myself would be never give up hope on the journey to success. It's always worth it. Another would be to tell myself to actually have a better choice for an Associate’s Degree than what I chose. Believe me it was hard to find a job with a degree in Business Technology.

Advice to myself as a highschool senior: Be who you want to be. Study the subjects that are most interesting to you without worrying about what other people think. What matters the most is that you feel proud of your accomplishments. If you are doing things to please other people, you won't feel successful. Once you find the subjects that inspire you, then immerse yourself in the community of that college department; spend time with the students in your classes and get to know the professors. The more you learn about the things you feel passionate about, the more clear the future will loook.

Start searching for scholarships earlier, plain and simple. A lot of the scholarships that I have been finding since I have started searching for them in college require you to be a high school junior or senior. I know that I did not do enough to find scholarships and it is really coming back to haunt me. I would tell myself that it is not fair that my mom has to work 2 jobs in order to pay for my college tuition and even then she has to dip into her savings. I would tell myself to take a deep breath and look for a job, scholarships, grants, etc. anything to make this time easier. A lot my current worries are directly related to money and despite my mom ensuring me that it is okay, I continue to worry. I would also tell myself to not hold back. You never know what your full potential is until you give it all you have got and not doing something out fear is the worst kind of regret. Lastly, I would remind myself that the future is bright and full of possibilities regardless of how dark the clouds may be today.

I would say that I need to kick it into gear with finding a job and filling out every scholarship I possibly can! I now understand why everyone kept pushing me. I filled out many scholarships but there was so much more i could have done. I was late on my FAFSA application and should have gotten it done. Everyone may say that college life and high school life are completely different, and they are different but so much is the same. You have to keep pushing yourself and be accountable to continue what you want and not let anyone in your way!

I would tell myself to study harder, and not to have dropped out of high school. That I need to get a job during the summer and save all the money earned for school, so tuition wouldn't be so difficult to manage.

College is an important step to determining your future. Take classes that do not always seem like they will be relevant to your plans because you never can be sure where you will end up. Become involved in clubs and activities, they will help you make friends as well as provide you with a way to de-stress without feeling bad about not doing your work. Look for jobs in whatever field you are interested in way before you are ready to graduate so you can plan your classes accordingly. Work hard and set up a schedule so you don't always leave everything until the last minute. Apply for internships and scholarships every year. Keep yourself organized. Don't forgo social contact, exercise, or eating, they are important to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Sleep every night.