North Central College Top Questions

I would not have to give myself any advice other than, don't be so nervous about it. College is awesome and you will meet a lot of new people as well. The college life is great and with being on a sports team, it will make your year go by that much faster. With being on a sports team, you may not have a lot of time to do the stuff you thought you would be doing, but you will always have time to do homework and study, and relaxing and hanging out will come on the weekends. I would also have to tell myself, to prepare to not eat as much food as normal, with coming to North Central College. I would also say, do not worry about missing high school, because high school is nothing compared to college. You will become more free of parents telling you what to do and it will be time to make all the decisions on your own. If you do not want to do something like clean or laundry, you do not have to right away. And the roommate situation is great by having a friend from high school. Have FUN!!!

One thing I would make sure to tell myself is "do not choose such easy classes a senior. I know that it's your last year, but you will need a lot of these skills in college, especially your first year. One class you need to take as a senior is math. College math will be so much harder without that last review. You should also get a head start on Spanish because once you're here, they don't care that you have never taken a Spanish in your life. On a less educational level, make sure you don't lose your best friends. You may need that bit of comfort while your away. It's not easy to form those bonds now that you built as a freshman in high school. Just remember these things and your first year will be just a tad bit easier."

Madeleine, Study hard and don't slack off during the senior year. Those slacking study habits will carry over to the freshman in college term. Too many freshman in college slacked off the senior year, that I've seen, and fail out the first semester because the study habits have been ruined by slacking previously. Keep up your personality and join as many clubs as you feel fit. That's the best way to make friends. Drinking in college is the dumbest thing to do, especially when making the transition. Yes, you are free from parents decisions, but you are now responsible to make your own. Don't make a stupid decision to drink on the weekends heavily. Too many bad things will result, and if it isn't this time, it will be the next. Embrace college with open arms and go out to meet new people, especially the foriegn exchange students, it never hurts to have another friend.

Three years ago I moved from my hometown almost four hours north to attend a college that I thought I was prepared for. If I could go back in time and tell myself, as a high school senior, things to expect transitioning from high school to college I would start off with advising myself to stay focused. I always knew I wanted to attend school away from home but I would tell myself to save money so I would not have to stress about spending or trying to find a job with the fall of the economy. The first year of college can make or break your future. Seniors in high school think they are on top of the world, I thought that way anyways. Attending a private, 4yr college quickly changed my mind. I have a lot to learn and I wish I could go back in time to tell myself that there is something new to learn everyday and be prepared for everything, stay organized, and most of all to not slack off. It is better to get the job done sooner than later. Procrastinating should be the 8th deadly sin. Most of all, make long-lasting friends.

Be prepared for anything, college is a brand new experience and something worth looking forward to. One's life doesn't have to be planned out the day of high school graduation because college allows for exploration in fields of interests and is a transition from life spent at home with parents to living in "the real world" as an individual. Even though I'm only a freshman in college, I would suggest taking every opportunity offered and maybe even creating opportunities for others and in the end everything will work out!

In making the transition into college, my best advice is to get involved on campus. Being involved in a team or group really allows you to get to know more students on campus and interact in a new area. While being involved on campus, you can form study groups and count on those around you to help with academics as well. I would also suggest to ask for help when it is needed. Everyone on campus is very helpful and strives to help you succeed. Do not be afraid to meet new people and request help.

I would want to tell myself to really investigate what I want to do. Including possible jobs for the future and what degrees and experiences I would need for that. To reach out to professionals in the fields I am interested in and really get a feel for the "real world" so I would know what path was good for me. I changed my major multiple times and am now going to start grad school because I have finally found the path I want for my life, I just wish I had started it sooner.

Choose WISELY. Keep all your options open, apply to any schools that even slightly strike your interest. Visit schools, make sure that you talk to your parents about financial aid and living on campus. Know what you want in your school - do you want a party school or a dry campus, an athletics-focused or academics-focused school, are you looking for diversity? Make sure you know what your main priorities are in finding a school and weed out those that do not fit the requirements. even if friends or significant other is attending one school, it may not be the school for you. Make sure the school has your major/minor that you're thinking about, maybe even your back-up majors/minors.

Look for a college that your child is comfortable with because it's definitely an experience that they will never forget.

Absolutely visit!