Saint Louis University Top Questions

Honestly, I do not think I would change anything about my transition to college. I found a great group of friends within a few weeks of arriving and enjoy the people on my floor. Also, Saint Louis University provides great opportunities to become involved on campus and I became fairly involved this year as well and plan on continuing trying new clubs and activities. Many people say the hardest part of transitioning to college is managing time and figuring out how to study. I believe I did this rather well and started using a calender as soon as I started classes. I had a successful first semester, ending with a 3.54 GPA and so far I think I made the right decision to pursue a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Overall, I believe high school prepared me well for college and I believe that I adapted very well.

First I would tell myself that you can do it! I would also tell myself to not start off as pre-med. I started off and didn't switch my major till 1 1/2 years in, so now I am behind. Pre-med just really isn't for you. I would tell myself to focus more in high school and learn studying strategies, because high school is NOTHING like college when it comes to studying (You will have to study WAY MORE in college). I would tell myself to work on scholarship applications so that my outside loans won't be too big and extreme once I get out of college. But most of all, I would tell myself to enjoy life and have fun because there is nothing like your college years!

I f I could go back to myself as a highschool senior I would have a lot to say. I would tell myself to work hard at all times. Even if the assignment seems easy, push to get that A+ instead of the A. I would tell myself that the fun college stuff can wait. Yes, school events will be a lot of fun and or educational but, school work comes first. No matter what. Procrastination is my worst enemy. The sooner you get it done, the more time you have to go over your work, study, or even go to those great events. I would tell myself to get tons of scholarships. Yes, the scholarship process is long and hard but, its rewarding. Those are very important and they help a lot when chosing the school you want to go to. Knowing the position I am in now where I really need the money, I would certainly work even harder to get the money I need to make it through college. I would tell myself to take a more serious attitude towards my education and finances so that I could take some of the stress off of my mother.

I wish I could go back in time like Marty McFly in "Back to the Future." If I had that opportunity, I would make it a priority to stop in the years 2009 and 2010 to have a chat with my high school senior self about college life and making the transition. Initially, I would tell myself to get involved as a freshman even if I think "I don't have time" or "it's not cool" because getting involved on campus opens the gate to new friends and a sense of belonging on campus. In addition, I would tell myself to attend social events, either hosted by the school or friends, because it is a great way to relieve stress, which can really affect my academics. Most importantly, I would tell myself to remember who I am because I nearly lost myself freshman year with all the stress involved with transitioning to college life. Primarily, college should be about finding your "true" self not losing yourself.

I would tell myself to not stress as much. Everything works itself out and you get into a great law school. Don't doubt yourself. You are just as academically gifted as the rest of the students. Keep studying hard but do not be afraid to let loose every once in a while and have some fun.

In order to make the transition from high school to college a smooth one, you must be organized and be aware of what will happen next. Anticipaiton is very helpful in relieving the stress and anxiety of adapting to college life. So if you are prepared for what is going to happen next then I am confident that you will be able to handle anything that is thrown your way.

Make time for yourself. When I first got to college, I wanted to be involved with everything at once. I joined twelve clubs in the first week and went to numerous campus events. I was constantly volunteering, plus working and keeping up with school work. While these choices allowed me to meet new people and to get immersed in my school, my jam-packed schedule wore me out. I would tell my high school self to stay involved, but to slow down. You do not need to meet everyone in the first week. Try new clubs, but know you do not have to join them all. Transitioning to college is a lot to process and taking time for yourself gives you the chance to think. Being alone in the beginning may be scary, but it is worth it. Resting helps you stay healthy, so you can enjoy the new experiences packed into your busy schedule. More importantly, it gives you time for self-reflection. College is a time to meet new people, but it is also time for you to find yourself. You can explore your independence in a safe environment, where help is only a phone call away.

The advice I would give myself is "Stay in school full-time and finish no matter what hardships and consequences happen!!!" I have always had a lot of hard things come up and I always push going to school or thought "I can't do this" or "I can't afford this and now I am 41 starting to do what I wanted to do when I was 18. So even though I have done a lot over these years I feel like I am starting over and it is A LOT more expensive to complete what I want to do now then what I wanted to do over 20 years ago. It is so hard to teach and have people listen because they want to think that they can do anything or that won't happen to me but I wish I could let them see my experience and struggles that I have had and having because I didn't get my degree and do what I should have done over 20 years ago.

I would say that college isn't a joke. Teachers are not as lenient, especially at Saint Louis University. It is okay to party and have fun with friends but school should always be the top priority, and homework or projects should always come first. Drinking isn't the only way to have fun, and when you do it underage it can cause a lot of trouble, not just with the school but also with the law. I personally don't recommend it, but if you do it. Do it it moderation, and make sure you have good friends who can be there for you if anything ever goes wrong. The most important thing I can say is APPLY for SCHOLARSHIPS they are EXTREMELY important, again at a University like SLU, tuition is a big issue for a lot of students, many of them have to leave the univeristy becasuse they can't pay. FAFSA does give you things like loans, but you have to pay those back and it is a very easy way to rack up a great deal of debt if you have a lot of them. Try and get as many scholarships as possible! Good Luck!

If I could talk to the 18 year old me, I would say to have the courage to attend college and have the self esteem to realize that I am capable of great things. All that you must do is dream of what you want to do and have the courage to realize that I have the strength within me to overcome any difficulty that I may encounter and that myself and all those that are close to me would benefit from me having a higher education. That with an education, I would be able to have a positive impact on the world around me to make this area a greater place to live. I would also state that I can be a role model to my family by showing that hard work is worth every moment and pays off tenfold in the end by seeing the dreams and aspirations that I have come to fruition.