Saint Mary’s College of California Top Questions

I would tell myself tat it was going to be okay. Going to this school will make you a much strnger person. You will learn so much of who you ar, you will find yourself. You will glean the strength and tools to be successful. IN the face of adversity you will shine brightly. It will be hard but it will be worth it. You will meet some of the most incledible faculty, networking is key. Just remeber to breathe! You will make it. This is the best decision of your life!

First piece of advice is sleep, it's important in college and it something that more and more college studnets are getting less of. Now I actually try to get between 7-8 hours of sleep, so be careful what time you choose your classes and also make sure to get a good amount of hours of sleep, because if you are sleeping in class it is a big waste of time. I would also tell myself to get involved as soon as possible. In the beggining I didnt want to get involved, but then I joined club rowing and I made a lot of new friends and connections, this motivated me to try new things, so I joined a couple of other clubs like the engineering club, Latinos club, and I am thinking of playing rugby next year. Getting involved is important to meet new people and get new conncetions. The last piece of advice would be to build a strong relationship with professors. A lot of proffessors want to help, but they can't if the studnet does not seek help. Professors are there too help so use them and I know from experience that they are useful.

I was a very focused high school student. I strived to be the best student I could have been. However, if I were to go back in time I would give myself some additional advice that would have been helpful. I would have told myself to study harder and better. Although I received decent grades in all my classes I have never been a great test taker. I would have found a tutor or a program that would help me become a better studier. I also would have taken more difficult classes. I played it safe in high school. I should have taken more AP classes because I had the opportunity to do so. Last but not least I would have done more extra curricular activities and community service because it would have made me a more well rounded person.

Amanda, I know you like to think and act like you have everything under control, but you have no idea what you're getting yourself into. College will turn your life upside down in a way that forces you to make crucial, impactful, real-life choices and seriously question whether the path you're on is the path you truly want to be on. Otherwise, what's the point? With that being said, I would do it all over again in a hearbeat - even (and especially) the mistakes. Right now, I'm only half-way through undergraduate studies, but I can say that these have been the fastest, most exciting, and most influential two years of our life thus far. Giving yourself this opportunity is the most important decision you will make in your adolesence, and although I haven't seen the end of it yet, I know that it will be worth everything you're going to go through. I am so excited and hopeful for these last two years and all the experiences and adventures that will follow them - the beginning, and most importantly, the continuation of best years of our life. Love, Amanda (+2 years)

The college is one of the most important steps in your life, you become in a person full of knowledge, prepare to be a professional person in the society, If I go back to my highschool senior year, I'm going to be in college right now.

If I could go back and have a conversation with the high school senior version of myself, I would tell myself to enjoy my last months of high school. Once my senior year rolled around, all I could think and talk about was college. I constantly asked my friends questions like "Where do you want to go?", "Did you apply?", "Is that your first choice?" and analyzed my different options for school. I wish I would have slowed down, and just soaked up my last months of living in the same town as my best friends and having nightly dinners with my family (instead of in the dining hall). My high school years came and went in the blink of an eye, and I regret spending so much time focusing on the future rather than appreciating my (then) present months living at home.

I's tell meself it’s okay to take risks. Live on campus your first year, meet new people, make friends, make enemies, it’s okay. Know that you can’t aim to please people, because you are only hindering yourself. Respect your parents, but don’t let them define your decisions. It’s okay to miss your family, give them a call or even go visit them. But stay focused with school, achieve your goals and learn more about yourself. It’s okay to fail, just as long as you get back up. Failure is the greatest sign of success; without our failures we wouldn’t be able to find our selves. Travel for a semester and see the world. Although I did get some great opportunities, I wish that I could have seen more of the world while in college. Don’t be afraid to be yourself! You are the greatest you when you’re yourself. It’s not about impressing others it’s about knowing who you are, what you stand for and establishing yourself. Lastly, I’d tell myself to make my mark leave SMC with a BANG!

Jillian, spend time with the people in life who matter the most to you. Don't be so concerned with your appearance, going to parties, and trying to please everybody - you can't. You're going to realize one day soon that your priorities were backwards in high school. You're going to miss your little brother and sister more than anything else in the world when you can't see them everyday, so take advantage of every second with them. You'll come home after a couple months of absence, and they will have grown; they will know how to do things that you didn't get to witness them learning, such as riding a bike without training wheels and reading (incredibly well, too). Spend time thanking mom and dad for everything they do, because living on your own will give you true insight to how much they do for you; dad's home-cooked meals every night truly are a blessing. Most of all, be yourself. The people you meet in college will love you for who you are and make you realize that only those worth knowing will. Love and appreciate your precious life.

I would make sure that I understand the time and effort that is required of me in college. No one is kidding when they mention that college is less about homework and class time, and more about studying. There are a lot of distractions, so make sure to find a place to focus because time is essential, especially when you need sleep. Sleep is also very essential because it helps to keep you focused and alert if you've had a good night's sleep. Although college is about going to school and learning, the social aspect is also important in order to thrive and be comfortable enough to be away from home. At first, it can be lonely but don't be afraid to take the chance and be the first person to say hi. It can make the difference between being stuck in your dorm room and having fun getting to know people and having someone to talk to when you do get lonely. Also, call home in times of stress and support; family will always be there for you.

Keep working hard. I know that sometimes the work seems so much that you want to collapse, but trust me, it gets better and what you’re doing now will pay off. All those AP classes you’re taking are going to earn college credits. You don’t know it yet, but you are going to enter college with enough credits to be considered a sophomore and your general requirements are going to be out of the way. That means that you can have two majors and you get to register early for classes. Also, you may think that the Drama Club is silly, but your experience there is going to win you a theater scholarship worth thousands every year. Scholarships, however, are the one thing you could do a little better on. The more scholarships you sign up for, the better chances you’ll have of winning, even if you dread them. If you have more scholarships, that means less loans and less stress later on. Finally, when picking your college, choose what you really want. You will have a feeling about one particular place from the beginning. Trust it. This will make your year so much more free.