University of Evansville Top Questions

When I first arrived at college, my attitude was cocky to say the least. I thought that I was emotionally independent enough to make it with little help from my parents. However, I soon discovered that I was mistaken. My heart ached with homesickness. Day in and day out, I yearned for familiar faces to see and a familiar bed to sleep on. After a couple of weeks, I realized why I missed my home so dearly. I had lived in the same town all my life, and I was deeply connected there. All of my friends, family, and memories formed an intricate system of roots that kept me tied to my home town. In order for my university to become my home, I had to start making connections there too. I became involved in clubs, through which I met friends and made other memories. Because of this, my college campus became a second home to me. This is the most important advice I could give myself as a high school senior. The best way to make your new college campus a home is to get connected through clubs and root yourself there with the friends and memories you make.

Advice I would give myself in the past is not to procrasinate. To get as many sholarships as possible instead of having to struggle with getting money for school. That just because you have a year till college doesn't mean you can slack off. I would give myself a wake up call that the world is knocking at my door.

Like most high school seniors, I was worried about fitting in when I came to college. I was worried that even at a small, private university, I would just be another face in the crowd. I had a loving, supportive community in high school and I thought no one in college would like me for who I really am. After surviving my first year of college, it is clear I had nothing to worry about. The truth is, everyone in college wants to fit in. We are all experiencing something new and strange together. We are all awkward, but we are awkward together. In college, no one cares about the labels you possessed in high school. College is a fresh start; a chance to be your true self. I would tell myself the most overused, but true, line I've heard this year: just be yourself. The ones who like you will show you by being your friend. The ones you don't like who you are aren't worth your time. Focus your energy on those people who help you grow. Be your awkward self; you never know who might want to be your friend.

My biggest piece of advice is to not go in expecting anything specific. The entire college experience will shape your life more than you understand and in more ways than one. You will learn many things about many different cultures and other peoples' perceptions and understandings about life. There will be things that you were taught all your life in your little town, where everyone thinks in exactly the same way, that you will find out are not all that the world has to offer. Much of this is learned within your first year at school, but there will be things that will take time to learn and understand about yourself throughout all four years. Take these opportunities to grow and learn, rather than fretting about what everyone else may think. You will learn to think for yourself and not allow other people to continue to make life decisions for you. Embrace it! Be who you are and develop the person you want to be. In the end, it is your life and you have to make it what you want it to be.

If I were to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to stop worrying about the little things and enjoy what I have left of high school. All too often high school students worry about matters that won't even make a difference in their life in the long run; therefore they spend too much time gossiping and worrying about each other. It wasn't until graduation that I realized it was all over. Senior year flies by faster than any other year; therefore in high school as well as college, I would advise myself to make the most of it. I would also advise myself to think more seriously about finances and college applications at the beginning of my Senior year, so that I would not have to worry about them as much towards the end. THe more scholarships I applied to, the better off I would have been starting college. Also, if I had applied to more colleges in the beginning, I would have had more choices in the end, along without having to fill out any last minute applications as I did for the University of Evansville.

You are a senior now, and entering a challenging, fun and exciting time of life. Remember to enjoy your senior year. As much as high school is annoying in many ways, there are good moments at any stage of life. Take advantage of your senior classes and take classes that will challenge you even if your friends are not. In the end, you will appreciate that you worked hard and prepared yourself better for the road ahead. When it comes time to visit colleges write down the pro's and con's of each school. Also, make a list of the top three characteristics that you cannot live without. No matter where you go there will be good and bad aspects of the school. Make sure that your most important priorities are met at the school you choose. On a final note, remember to enjoy the process and accept the change gladly. College is an amazing time of life even though it is incredibly hard. Cherish every moment you have now, and the moments that will come soon.

The "Freshmen 15" will only exist if you actually have money to buy food. In that case, save up the money you make. It can come in handy. They're not lying when they say you may end up paying $1000 for books. Apply to as many scholarships as you can. Don't get a credit card. Don't be afraid to be yourself. No one is really going to judge you. Make friends, go to parties, get involved with campus activities, and have fun. Keep an open mind about your decided major. It can change once or twice or several times. It's okay to make mistakes. In fact, make mistakes. Mistakes let you learn. The point of college is to learn, but it's also to find yourself. You won't be the same person you are in high school. If you are, you're doing it wrong. Change, and change for the better. Do something awesome with your life. You'll get there eventually.

I would tell myself to stay calm, work hard, but also make time for making friends too. I would tell myself to be aware that there are several types of people out there that I can become friends with, so long as I put myself out there and make an attempt. Be sure to be good at time management; it's easy to get caught up in doing just homework all the time, or just want to hang out with your friends, balance is key. Being a student makes you become more independent; you will learn to do your own laundry, cook your own food, and get to class without your parents to wake you, but it is not that hard. I would say to remember that you can do it, and you will make it through all of the tough times and make some lasting memories. College is the only time in life when you will have so many opportunities in such a small area with so many people that come from different backgrounds and are so close to your age.

I would research moremake wiser college selections in terms of the size of the schools, the financial aid they offer, and the setting and location of the colleges. I would also visit the colleges and make sure I make a more informed decision! Finally, I would also visit the city where the college is located for a weekend and evaluate whether or not I would be happy to live the for the duration of my degree.

Advice to my high school self, The first thing I would say with transitioning from high school to college is do not have a job and classes that first year. It takes a lot of work to do both and will be very, very stressful. Try to take it a little easier. Focus on only one thing. Try to make that one thing school. Do not go to an actual college though. Find a trade school since that is what you are going to do. It will take you much less time and enable you to be ready to enter the world much sooner. There will be no need for a bunch of credits from classes that might not really apply to your life. Lastly, start looking for scholarships sooner. There are many that you can only apply for while in high school; also, the sooner it is taken care of the sooner you can stop worrying about how to pay for school. Lots of luck, Yourself