University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

Appreciate living at home while you can. You'll miss your family even if it does seem hard to live with them right now. Don't forget how much they matter and how much they care.

I would get involved sooner with volunteerism and be more out-going from the start. I would also study more right from the beginning, and ask more questions.

If I could go back and talk with myself I would say two things. The first and most important thing I would tell myself is that in college it is the responsibility of the student to learn the material. Unlike it was in highschool, college professors will provide you with the information but they will not collect homework and make sure that you are learning it. Every class will have suggested homework to help you understand the material but you must force yourself to actually do it. The student must seek help for themselves if they are struggling no one will help you if you don't ask. The second thing I would say to myself is to not waste time. there is much more freetime in college when compared to highschool. You are incharge of what you do for the first time in your life and procrastination is very tempting. It is important to use this freetime to finish homework and get enough sleep. Try to do something productive before having fun with friends or just relaxing. Teach yourself to be studious by using fun activities as a reward.

I would ask myself why someone would go to school to learn how to succeed in an unjust world, rather than go to school to receive the skills needed to transform the world into a more just place. This is the most important lesson I have learned in college. To analyze the lives of those who are content, and those who live a life full of anxiousness and worry, only leads one to see that only those who’s goals transcend themselves are truly happy. It does not matter the costs involved, it does not matter the mountains before you, and it certainly doesn’t matter what others think, because if every day you are making the world a tangibly better place what regrets could you possibly have?

I think I would give my high school self and any high school senior the advice to get involved right away when they go to college. Getting involved was the best way for me to make new friends, stay busy while doing positive things, and to forget about being homesick. It is a great way to transition into living away from home and to meet new people. I would also give the advice to try new things! Going to college is a time when you can reinvent yourself and trying new things is a great way to discover new passions. College is such an exciting time when you are introduced to endless opportunities. It is up to you what you make of it, so take chances, work hard and seize life with a positive attitude!

If I could go back and tell myself anything, it would be to continue working hard all the way through senior year. College is a lot tougher and more demanding than high school ever was, so it does not follow that we should slack off at the end of our senior year and forget what it's like to really work once college comes around. It's important to study hard and finish strong so that we might start college on the right foot and continue to be successful in our undergraduate work.

The thing I would like to change most about my high school career would be to try harder. The more work that is done in high school, the easier college is going to be.

Try to visit all of your college options. If possible, spend the night with a current student. Do not be afraid to ask the tough questions, about admissions, financial aid, and campus life. If you have a field that interests you, try to set up a meeting with a professor to discuss the program. Once you arrive at college, take advantage of all of the opportunities. Meet new people, join clubs that sound interesting, and find at least one extra-curricular activity to join. Don't be afraid to ask your professors for extra help outside of class, and ask questions during class. Study hard, but have fun!

If I could go back in time and give my high-school-senior-self any advice about college, it would have to be to just relax; try not to worry about making friends, because everywhere you go, there will be people you can connect with. I would tell myself to embrace the time I had left in high school and try not to be sad about leaving, but feel blessed to have such a wonderful opportunity, and realize that it is one that, worldwide, hardly anyone recieves. I would tell myself to thank my parents, teachers, and anyone else who supported me and who got me to where I was: about to graduate and off to school in the fall. Overall, I would just tell myself to embrace the present and look forward to the future...everything is going to be fine.

This is the time of your life! Spend it wisley!