St. Mary’s University Top Questions

As a high school senior, your days are filled with excitement and the anticipation of graduation and moving on to bigger and better things in college. However, the one thing that no one tells you, is that it will be hard. The transition from high school to college, no matter how prepared you are, will be tough. You have to get used to being on your own, and doing for yourself. And in the beginning, it might be hard, but you just have to keep reminding yourself why you chose the path that you did. In the very beginning, the most important thing to know is that it will get better. You just have to involve yourself into activities. Find people with similar interests, groups that you relate to, and go out do things. Join clubs, participate in events, explore the city, do things to immerse yourself in the culture of your new environment and you will soon enjoy it tremendously.

I would tell myself that professors are not the same as high school teachers. I would advise my self to truly make the most out of office hours and out of talking to my professors. I did not have a horrible transition but if I had utilized office hours more, I would have been able to communicate with my professors more and get the 4.0 GPA I deserved.

If I could go back and speak to myself as a high school senior I would say to listen to my mother. As a teen in high school my mother nagged me about researching and applying for scholarships. Did I listen? Nope, I wish I did. When I started at St. Mary's I qualified for a scholarship, so half of my tuition was paid for. It was so easy to take those student loans and worry about them later. Now as an adult with a family, a mortgage, and an embarrassing savings account I realize that if I listened to my mother and saved some of my paycheck and applied for more scholarships I could potentially be debt free. As I go back for my masters I’m finally taking her advice and trying to find as many ways possible, other than loans, to fund my degree. I now realize that mother really knows best; I was seventeen and immature. Now as a stepmother, I have deeper appreciation for all of her hard work and advice. I hope my children will learn from my mistakes and with any luck won’t be as hard headed as I was.

Self, This is an end to a chapter, friend. A lot from this chapter will not be relevant to you after some time. However, all your hard work and effort will really sprout from now on. Be excited for your educated future. Don't be scared of college admission fees, or any road bumps. Go where you want to go to be the best person you can be. Scholarships and financial assistance are out there waiting for you . Don't let anything bring you down. "When there is a will there is always a way," and every bit of this is true. The school you chose is going to mold you for the better. All you could hope for is to be surrounded by a mind driven class, and you will. These classmates will only make you advance further in life. Your opprortunities are near approaching, and take on every one of them. Your future only gets better for here.

As a college student, never take anything for granted. Parents, family, freedom, help, social life, friends, nothing. We only have one life and we must make the best out of that life. God truly blessed me with the best school and life. College teaches you about your major, but it also prepares you for life. If you have the opportunity to study anywhere you desire, do no one, but yourself the favor and go there. Whether it's too far or too expensive, if you want it that bad, you'll figure something out to make that dream of yours come true. St Mary's is not cheap, but taking out FAFSA loans won't be the end of the world. Sure, I have a debt to pay off, but I also have a life of my own and a career that I chose because I love it. And as a human, do not be afraid of making mistakes along this journey. Walk, trip, run, and, fall all you want because God only granted us one life, and you cannot be scared to live the life you want. Remember, what's worth it, won't be easy.

I would absolutely take advantage of the campus resources such as clubs, sororities, networking with professors, and athletics. This is a huge factor in understanding the tranistion of teenager to adulthood mentality. It also helps to have alot of friends, who can help you with issues, teachers you personally know who can help with problems, and create a life long network.

"As graduation is coming up, I would like to give you some advice. Finish off your senior year strong! Attend all of the end-of-the-year-events. Do not procrastinate, that is SO high school. Enjoy your summer by doing something productive, make sure you keep on studying. Above all brace yourself for the change that is about to hit you. Be mentally prepared. Eat some ice cream and call home. Attend ALL freshman activities to associate yourself with new people and the campus. Don't forget to eat. College students sometimes forget to eat. Study hard for finals."

Knowing what I do now about college life and how difficult the transition was, I would definately go back in time to myself as a high school senior and give some much needed advice. My first year of college was the hardest experience I have ever had to overcome. If I had known then what I know now, I would have been able to enjoy more of my time instead of spending it crying and stressing out. I would tell my high school senior self not to let my friends get in the way of studying. Friends have always been first on my priorities. Not anymore. Friends have to come second to academics. If they want to go have dinner off campus and you need to study for a quiz, then study for that quiz. Dinner can happen any night of the week. I would also tell myself to record each lecture and go over the recording every day, even on weekends. A strong habit needs to be developed early in the year in order to see the grades you had in high school. College is different. Studying the night before a test is not going to cut it anymore.

I would tell myself that first of all I need to calm down and take things as they come. There is no need or reason to worry about things that have not and may not even happen. I was so worried about not fitting in or that I would be alone with no friends for the whole four years. I would tell myself that there is no need to rush things either. Things happen for a reason, and there will always be a good ending in the long run. I would also tell myself that your major does not necessarily dictate which job you will find yourself in. Pursue a major that you will find interesting and that you want to learn more about. You want to be able to get up everyday and be happy about the major you are pursuing. That is what I would tell my younger self in high school.

Apply to St Mary's as a business major instead of science to have the opportunity to be a Greehey Scholar. I am currently a double major.