Seattle Pacific University Top Questions

In high school, all I could think about was Graduation. I was so focused on that one day that I didn't fully comprehend the fact that Graduation was not my destination, merely one more rung in the ladder of my life. In hindsight, I would tell myself of a year ago to view Graduation as merely another individual event, and truly focus on what lies beyond the threshold of my high school experience. I would encourage myself to remain focused, hardworking, and involved during high school. Even though it is just a passing time period of my life, high school very much set the stage for the success and progress in my current pursuit of a higher education. Throughout high school I held myself to unrealistic expectations and never rewarded myself with positive reinforcement. Support from yourself is just as necessary as support from others. My final words to myself that I wish I had heard earlier in life are, "Stay true to you. Stay focused. Live it up. Work never ends, but high school does."

Don't compare yourself to others. These would be the first words of advise I would give myself if given the chance to go back in time. College means you are becoming an adult; there is no coming home when you graduate. It is easy to talk about being mature and independent, but actually living that way is a completely different story. Many of my friends went to private liberal arts colleges and hence I felt obligated to have my own small school experience. However, as I look back upon my choices and current situation I would advise myself to realize that college is much like buying a car. Make sure you are getting what you pay for. Just because the sports car looks cool and helps you with the ladies, doesn?t mean that it's the right choice for you. More and more I realize that education needs to be my focus not my social life. Figure out if the schools you are looking at are truly worth the cost and have the programs you want. There is no shame in going to community college if you have no idea what you want. You are not your friends.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that I am no where as smart or as talented as I think I am. A lack of self-esteem has never been my problem and I was briming with confidence during my senior year of school. Not only was I a top student, but I was involved in many extra curricular activities including student council and varsity sports. I had a solid group of friends and a steady boyfriend. As i prepared to leave for college I remember thinking "I hope this whole college thing meets my expectations". Ha! I thought I was smart; I met students who had published articles in scholary journals. I thought I was talented; I met filmmakers, artists, singers, actors, and musicians. I wish that I had the humility to have embraced these people whole heartedly and been able to get to know them better. But no, I wasted a good part of my freshment career feeling competitive and always wanting to prove myself. If I could go back, I would tell myself that I am no where as great as I think I am, but thats ok.

Really make sure that it will be a good fit for you- make sure that you really like the school's environment, and also make sure that the money situation is handled ahead of time. It's also important to decide how close you want to be to home.

First thing first is to decide what area of the United States you want to study in. Narrow down your search by region. Then, I would make a list of things you do or don't want to happen at your university such as no drinking in the dorms, no sororities or fraternities, ethnic diversity, etc. Read school policies and talk to people you know about if certain schools adhere to your lists. Don't let money be an issue! I didn't apply to my school at first because it was too expensive, but expensive private schools are willing to give out a lot of scholarship money to desirable applicants. Apply everywhere you'd like to go, even dream schools, and see what the schools offer you.

For students, try and visit your colleges you want to apply to. Sit in on some classes, try the food, explore some, talk to students (dont just ask information questions about the college. Just talk to them you would someone at your high school). Make sure you college as a good program for not just your desired major but other majors you think might be fun. A lot of students change their majors. Also note the area in which you school is in... do you want to live in a big city, a college town, or in the middle of nowhere? As for making the most of the college experience, study abroad if travel is something you want to do. Participate in things that "seem interesting" ". Just do them the more you do the more good experiences you'll have. Also be easy going, especially with roommates. Dont let little things bug you cause if you do living with them for a year can be hell. Parents, dont force your kids to go to your school! Support them and be prepared to let them go! Oh and they love you even if they dont say it or dont call often.

I grew up on the island of Sri Lanka and applying for colleges in America was a daunting task for me, simply because I had no idea what was coming. I debated long and hard about what I was looking for and in the end formulated a list in my mind of what factors I prioratized in a school. I wanted a medium sized liberal arts college with small class sizes and I wanted financial aid. Applying to an expenisve private school seemed stupid at the time as money was short, but my advice would be to go for what you really want...it paid off for me. Not only did I get into SPU, I got a wonderful financial package and I am absolutely loving it. To make the most of one's college experiance, I would say invest in quality friendships. Decide on taking an easy first quarter so you have time to explore, test the waters and settle down. Get involved with things you enjoy and learn about things you want to know about. Make the most of your opportunities because being a young college student is something that comes around just once. Realize you are privileged.

There's no such thing as finding the right college. There is no specific college out there perfectly designed for you. But there are good colleges, great colleges. I think one of the most important factors in making the most of the college experience is one's attitude. If you recognize that the school won't be perfect, you may begin to appreciate the little aspects of your college that are what you have been looking for. The key to making the most of the college experience? You. It's not about the school spoon-feeding you fun or an never-ending supply of friends. It's about discovering, no, taking the opportunities the school provides; it's about purposefully seeking out those with whom you'd to be friends. Carpe college.

I believe that a college experience is much more than an expensive education. Living in close quarters and learning mounds of material amidst the transition from child to adult cannot be likened to anything less than a hurricane. Yet, a college experience is comparable to learning how to love the hurricane, to surfing on the waves while the wind tosses the water this way and that. Given that making it through college is somewhat of a fight, it is paramount to capitalize on the experience by finding the best fitting college for each person. This can be done by visiting the school and seeing if it operates with a vision similiar to your own. In some cases, the mission of a university will be difficult to understand; for some, it will be utterly clear. The closer a school's mission statement is to your own, the more applicable your education will be to the rest of your life.

Know what you want. If you can't figure that out before you get to school, at least have a good idea of what you don't want. This applies to every aspect of college life. If you don't know what you want to do with your career well enough to let that be the largest influence in your decision, know what kind of lifestyle is going to keep you satisfied while attending school. Do you want to live in an urban area or a rural one? Do you like the rain? The snow? What sports do you want to play in college? When you know this information, make sure your criteria is met by the university you choose and the city it's located in. Your physical, social, and emotional contentment at school are vital to your academic success. Don't opt for a perceived academic advantage at a school if it means sacrificing those things that will keep you happy.