Northwest University Top Questions

Work hard during your first semester at a university. I know it's tempting to slack off, and community college will be easy for you, but for goodness sake don't slack off. Your G.P.A. will suffer if you do. Also, make friends, college is an experience, a time to bond and share interests with those like you. You're lucky enough to be going to a God centered place, thrive in that environment . Get involved, join Choralons, join Drama team, do something and make memories.

Dear Self, Don't worry - college is so much better than high school. You can forget about the drama, cliques, and chaos (for the most part, at least!). But college won't be easy. You'll have to work hard, read a lot, and use your brain in new ways. Studying isn't all you'll be doing, though. You'll make new friends and have a lot of fun. You'll be busy, but don't get too caught up in the daily grind to miss out on the little things that make college life worth remembering--the dorm floor parties, the late-night board games, the inside jokes, the movie nights. Four years in college might sound like a lifetime now, but you'll be surprised how fast it flies by. Enjoy it while you can, before you have to enter the mysterious corporate jungles of the "real world"!

I have wondered about this question several times. I took a twenty five year break between high school and collage. I would try and get the point across to my high school self that in order to get a well paying job, you need to start and finish collage now. The other point that goes with the urgencey of now, is you are single right now coming out of high school you do not have any major responsibilities, i.e. family ( wife and three kids as I do now). If collage can be done right now after high school you could have it all done in four years what has taken me almost eight years when I finially graduate. One last note to high school self, the joy of having a family is spending time with them and watching them grow, not doing home work every waking moment so please consider going to collage now and not later.

I would tell myself to study hard and get into a more structured role and practice discipline since there is no one to guide you through college. Also, think about what you want to do now so when you get to college you will already know but keeping in mind its ok to change that goal. Also college is about location so go somewhere you really want to go to get the full experience. I would have told myself to look into scholarships of all sorts before leaving. Warn myself about g.p.a's and how important they really are to succeeding. I would have also told myself to start saving for educational expenses as well personal experiences. I would also stress the importance of being prepared, finishing task and being much more serious.

Go to school for general education requirements. Once you decide your major, you have the credits that can be applied.

The most important thing a student can do when making the transition to college life from high school, is to build and maintain a strong support system. I had a very difficult journey post high school graduation. It meant the world to me to have strong relationships with my family and friends. When the class loads seemed overwhelming, they were able to teach me ways to become more organized. Advice came mostly from those who were with me during my high school years but may not have taken as seriously as i should have.

While academic success is extremely important, it is only important if there is a purpose behind it. I would advise myself to explore and experiment with learning about different areas of study in order to have a wider understanding of the people in this world. While doing so, do not get caught up in striving for achievement for achievement’s sake. What good is an award or a high GPA if you did not apply that knowledge or experience in your own life or use it to impact the lives of others? Experience, learn, and grow as much as you can, but always do so with a purpose. Do not be afraid to be different. Challenge the “normal” ideas and modes of operation respectfully. Differences in thought and idea spark creativity and encourage cooperation. People who are different from you have a lot to teach you and you have a lot to teach them. Love them and love yourself for who you are. The opportunity to attend college is an incredible privilege that most people in the world do not get to have. Use this opportunity to bless and serve others.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that college is a lot more challenging intellectually as well as emotionally, and I would take more honors classes. I would tell myself that worrying about being popular is a waste of time because in college, everyone is friends, it doesn't matter which group one is in. I would tell myself to save my money because in college books are not just handed to us like they are in english classes in high school, we actually have to pay a lot to get them. College has taught me to look outside my own surroundings, and broaden my scope to others around me, and offer a helping hand to those in need. I wish I could have told myself in high school that the world is a bigger place than my group of friends, and going to the mall every friday.

A college education is about more than just academics, it's an experience. True, academics is the main part, but it’s also about the other little things that you go through that make it all come together. Things like friends, lessons learned, mistakes made, and finding out who you are make college what it is. College is different than high school, because you’re taken out of your comfort zone and thrust into an unknown environment. It is in this new and dangerous place that your limits are tested. My first year away from home, I have struggled with fear of the unknown, loneliness, stress, and sleep deprivation due to poor time management. But through the trials and stupid mistakes, I have grown stronger, in what I can do and in my faith. I have met friends that will get me through anything and I have found wisdom that will last a lifetime. My college experience has not only made me a more educated student, but has also made me a better person. This is why I would not go back to tell my high school self anything, because it is through trial and error that college is experienced.

Some things I've gotten out of my college experience include, relationships, adademic and social skills, education about different cultures and our society, and leadership skills. Northwest University works hard to fight Human Trafficking. The faculty is very supportive of student groups. This school has let me direct a program called Embargo that fights Human Trafficking. NU lets us to many findraisers. Last semester we sent over 6K to a safe home for trafficking victims! Through this I've learned how to keep my studies in tact while doing this program, as well as keep an off campus job! Also, there are many on and off campus internships availible for students from NU. Since I've started at NU, I've had an internship at World Concern and I still continue to work with them on projects. Also, leading Embargo will have given me 2 years in internships when I graduate. There are also many great study abroud oppurtinities availible at NU which I am thinking about taking advantage off, although my major has let me chose Urban Studies as my concentration so I do not have to study abroud if I chose not to!