Orange Coast College Top Questions

If I had the opportunity to go back in time knowing what I know now, the advice I would give myself would be simple. I struggled in High School with academics coming from a home with little or no help with homework. At the time I felt that as long as I passed, I would be fine. With minute encouragement, I didn't try, or really apply myself. The one thing I needed to hear more than anything is "Honey you can do this, you ARE and A student". I never realized that I was capable of receiving A's until I finally made my way back to school and really wanted to do well. I found myself on the Honors List and carrying a strong 4.0. I only wish I could have learned this about myself at an earlier age. I am 36 and just now a full time college student. Is it possible that with a little more encouragement a child can excel beyond even their own expectations? I believe so, anything is possible.

Stay Positive and be open minded when learning new thigns. there will be a lot of studying involved and you have to take it seriously. Start saving money every month to help pay for classes and books. make more time to study and really really read your text books, it pertinent! Speak up in classes and dont be afraid to ask questions help, even if you have to go by the professors office. But most imprtantly, find something you want to do and follow it.

I would tell myself not to be afraid of new experiences because I learned just as much through student involvement as I did in my academic classes. I would tell myself to get involved on my campus right away because that's how I learned what I wanted to major in and most importantly getting involved helped me to figure out what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. By exploring, meeting and interacting with a bunch of people who also had a passion in being involved led me to become a student leader and gave me much experience of the real world I never would have recieved sitting in a classroom. Everything in school is a learning process, therefore it's ok to get your hands dirty and mess up once in awhile. In fact it's better to learn as a student volunteer than on a paying job where your afraid to take risks. Nothing bad can happen if your volunteering and taking risks. It will benefit you. Lastly, have fun and enjoy it all. It goes by fast.

Knowing what I know now there are a few things I would tell my former self before entering college. The first thing I would ingrain in my younger self's head would be that listen and heed your alarm clock; just because you don't have to go to class if you don't feel like it, doesn't mean that you shouldn't go. Go every day and try as hard as you can--if you get a B, you didn't try hard enough. I am currently "redoing" college for this reason. The second thing is don't settle down and make life plans before you finish what you want to in college. I am married and expecting our first child and if I would have stayed with it previously, I wouldn't worry about how I am going to provide for my family and future. In retrospect I have always known what I needed to do to succeed, application of myslef is where I fell short in the past. If I were to go back to see my younger self, I would kick him in the butt and tell him, "get to work!!!!"

I like to think I made a wise decision by choosing to go to Orange Coast instead of going straight to a 4-year university. I did it because I'm paying for school, plus I had no idea what my passion was. Though I know I did it for many good reasons, I still have my doubts. If I got to talk to my senior-self, I know I would tell myself that I shouldn't just assume Orange Coast is the only option. My brother and sister had both gone down the same path, so I just assumed that's what I would do too. Even though I took classes and found my passion, I would tell my younger self to explore even more; take a couple really fun, obscure classes and enjoy the relatively inexpensive tuition to the fullest. Other than advice to do with classes and majors, I would tell myself to be a little more fearless; make more friends, be more outgoing. Because just two years with the same people is enough time to barely remember them in 5 years, but it's also enough time to make friendships that could last much longer.

If I had the opportunity to visit myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to enroll in college classes in addition to my high school curriculum. The sooner I can begin completing units, the sooner I can transfer to my college of choice. I would also encourage myself to enroll in the Study Abroad Program offered by Coastline College. This program gives high school students the opportunity to earn college credits while learning about the histories and different cultures of certain countries. In addition to expanding my knowledge, I would also get to travel to places such as London, England, Sydney, Australia or Rome, Italy.

If I were given the chance to talk to myself as a high school senior with the knowledge I have about college now, I would advise myself to take more college courses while in high school. Many colleges give high school students the opportunity to enroll in their classes in 11th grade without paying for the unit fee. I took advantage of this but only took one class. I would have gotten an earlier registration date with more units taken, it would have been cheaper, and I would have had a lighter load trying to transfer in two years. I also would forewarn myself that even though it's a community college, I wouldn't be able to cruise by and get an A on everything like I did in high school. College takes more dedication and determination in order to persevere.

I would say to my self stick with wht your good at don't choose classes you dont need only focus on your major. Find the thing thats gives you a passion for what you want to do in life no matter what it is. Your dreams can only be accomplished if you have heart, by having heart your drive to finish school will become greater. Take business classes cause they will always help you after college. Read books that are about your major for what you want to do cause the more you know the better you will be. Study any time you have a chance so you know more while you are learning more. If you have a chane to intern for what you want to do it will give you a taste of your future, knowing that you will be ready for anything that comes your way in life.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition would maybe be to apply myself more to learning about scholarships for when I transfer from a 2 year community college. I would have also told myself that community college just feels like high school, but a little more work to put into your classes. I would have also told myself to look up the professors I would have taken on ratemyprofessor.com so I wouldn't have made the mistakes in my first year of community college.

During my high school years, I tried to stay on course with honors and AP classes. However, I only took the AP classes I knew I would excell in. After deciding my major as Chemical Engineering, I realized my scores did not help me much, if not at all, since the classes my AP scores covered, I had to take again for my major anyways. If I had known this in high school, I would have tried to take those classes. If I did, it would save me time and money to not retake those general education classes I could have taken in high school. I would also advise myself the transition to college life isn't that hard if you know exactly what you are doing. College gives you so much more freedom than high school has, and it is up to me as a student to take responsibility as an adult to do well in class. Good friends are also neccessary since if you hang with the right group, they will help you succeed and keep you on top of your classes, instead of going to college parties and skipping classes.