Quinnipiac University Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school there would defiantly be some drastic changes. The first and foremost thing I would let myself know is that college is nothing like high school. There is a lot more work and reading then you could ever imagine. I personally feel that high school doesn?t help students transition into college. Lucky for me I never procrastinated in high school which was a good habit to have. I continually am always on top of my work and never slack off. Another thing I would tell myself is to plan your day accordingly. If you like to sleep in and not be exhausted all day I would not pick 8 am classes. Planning your schedule around your sleep habits can help you be more successful and do better in college. The last thing I would tell myself is that it?s all right not to be yourself. College is a time for transition not only academically but physically. Try new things in college be adventurous, outgoing, random and just have fun.

If I were able to go back and speak to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself multiple things that would probably alter my decision when choosing a college. I would remind myself that while a school may be in your comfort zone, it may not be the perfect place for you. It is important to break out of your comfort zone; until you are able to do that you are unable to solidify your identity and obtain maximum growth as an individual. I would also remind myself of what I like to do: I like to learn and be challenged. If I had been reminded of how much I love to learn I would have chosen a different school, one that helped academiclly stimulate myself. I would remind myself to be true to what I enjoy and to remember that everyone is different; what is right for one person may not be right for me. I would tell myself to be challenged and step outside of my comfort zone so I am able to leave college with a strong sense of self.

It won't be easy, this journey you are going to take. At times you are going to want to give up, and at times you actually will. There will be days that you wake up and catch a glimpse of yourself in the mirror and have no idea who is looking back at you. You will lose a sense of who you are and you will have no idea who you want to be. You will become stuck and scared and angry. This will be one of the greatest tests in your life, more important than any test you will ever take in a classroom. It will be a test that will define you, but you will succeed. Keep your heart open. Surround yourself with amazing people. It's okay to change, but always remain true to yourself. Try new things and step out of your comfort zone. Be happy. Smile. Laugh. Give back, and when you find those people and the things that make you truly happy never let it go. It's not money or power that will bring a smile to your face, but people and experiences. Go out and experience the world.

Procastinating has never been a word that I was fully accompanied. However, like any student I did deal with it from time to time. If I were to go back in to myself as a senior, I would tell myself as soon as I get an assignment to get started on it. I would also tell myself to be more up front with my peers and to let them know my feelings. I needed to learn to defend myself, because in college I have faced a fe isses that easily could have been avoided if I has spoken up. However, most of all I would tell myself to not be so nervous because I was going to meet individuals that would change my life and give me a new outlook on every area of life.

I would tell myself to work extremely hard from the beginning. College has a very different atmosphere than high school. You must plan to spend hours in the library or locked in your room to get work done because you will have a workload given to you without a doubt. You may roll your eyes at this point but this is all true. If you accept the fact that there will be incredible amounts of work from all of your classes now then the transition will be easier. College professors will not bend the rules for you or give you extensions, like high school teachers may have done. What the professors say is set in stone and little can change that. Procrastination is the worst thing you could do and try to change your ways before arriving to school. This will cause you to pull ?all nighters? and will stress you out. The thought of having a ten page paper, an eight page Calculus problem set, and a journal due tomorrow is not welcoming but overwhelming. So in order to do well in college you must: work hard from the get-go and not procrastinate.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about the college life and making the transition, my position in college, and my applications might have been a little different. Now that I am settled and thoroughly happy with my choice of schools and prospective career choices, I feel confident enough to look over the past couple months to see if I should have done anything different. The only advice that I would give myself was to be confident. My list of prospective schools could have been much more enhanced, and I could have applied to much more challenging schools. Although I feel that my transition was relatively smooth, a hightened sense of confidence, could have opened up the breadth of knowledge and opportunities that I surround myself with. Even though I am only a freshman, I plan to take this advice to heart throughout the next three years of my college education. Confidence is the building blocks to success! I have time to figure it out, but the view from the top sounds pretty great!

Going into college, it is important to keep an open mind. When encountering new classes that explore unfamiliar subject matter or ideas that one might not agree with, one must allow oneself to think in a different way. Allow yourself to take a side you would not normally take. Explore new possibilities of thought. Until you can see a subject through every angle, you cannot truly take a stance on the matter. When it comes to social interaction, never write someone off based on outward appearance. Always keep your dorm room door open and welcome anyone and everyone into your home for conversation. Shutting people out will just make you lonely at college, which is already a prevelant feeling given your recent departure from home. When it comes to work and internships, take any opportunity that presents itself. Gain experience in your field or explore a new one. Sometimes, even when you think you have got it all figured out, your feet are knocked out from under you and you find something that is worth changing your life for. Keep an open mind, because college is unlike any other life experience.

Do what you want to do. You will be happy with the results, and don't forget to have fun.

I would recommend to take testing in college more seriously in order to make it easier to get into college of my choice. I made it, but it is getting harder and harder. I have twin sisters looking at colleges now. Their GPA's are both higher than mine and they are having a harder time. It is sad that applying to colleges has to be this stressful and that those who really need financial aid often don't get it. My parents are trying to provide for 3 daughters all college aged -- and my dad owns a (now struggling) construction company, yet I didn't receive any additional financial aid. I hope that my sisters will get to go their school of choice like I did, rather than have to go to a state school with huge class sizes, just because that is all my parents can handle.

I played lacrosse in high school and most players that graduate from my school continue their athlete career in college. Like most others, that is what I wanted and was planning to do. I always wanted to go to a big school, but since I figured I could not play at the top division 1 level, my coach suggested looking at smaller division 1 schools. Rather than taking my education or what I wanted to do with my life into account, I completely focused on the lacrosse aspect of searching for a school. Once I talked to the coach at Quinnipiac, I made my decision. During freshman year, I realized lacrosse was not working out for me and it is not what I wanted to do anymore. Although I have a good major and like my friends here, I just wish I thought outside of the box in high school, because now I'm at Quinnipiac paying more money than ever intended (because I lost my scholarship), and I feel like I would have been happier if I focused on different things I wanted out of my college experience, rather than just the one thing that ultimitely made my decision.