University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

They always say that hindsight is 20/20 and I have never believed that as much as I do now. Coming into college as a freshman was nerve wracking and wearisome. Looking back, I could have spared myself from a lot of worry if I knew one thing; that people do not care about me. As a freshman I was constantly worried about trying to fit in, if my peers were laughing at me behind my back and wondering about what others thought of me. I was acting like a normal teenager who was still uncomfortable in their own skin. It was not until I started my sophomore year that I had an epiphany. The truth is that no one actually cares about me or what I am doing. More often than not people are so consumed with thoughts of themselves and what they need to do that they cannot spare a passing thought for others. How liberating! If I had known this as a freshman I could have saved myself a lot of undue anxiety and stress and enjoyed my freshman experience. Now, free from my peer's nonexistent judgement I live life to the fullest.

Be sure to learn about all the schools that offer the field of study that interest you. Search for scholarships and grants, sometimes loans are too expensive. Dont always go for the first school when there are many out there. Also research the field of study and be sure that the job duties is what interest you. Sometimes you like some of the duties you must complete and sometimes theres some you dont like. So before making any decisions really think about both the field in which you want to enhance your skills and how tuition is going to be paid off. The fardest you can be from a loan the better because you wont be bother day and night concerning about paying them back.

Growing up in a single mother family and overcoming dyslexia, I learned early that hard work and perserverance will be necessary to accomplish my goals. The conversation with myself as a high school senior is as follows: Alex, set your goals and take simple steps to reach that goal! Make every minute count as your hard work now will make your future so much easier and attainable. Research your career choice and make sure that it is what you want passionately. If your career choice is nursing, then walk the hallways of a hospital, interview the administrator, your doctor and see if that is your passion. Learn and be aware of the values that has been instilled in you and think through how these values can be carried over to your career choice. Realize that your career goals are within your reach and to attain them it will take dedication, knowledge and most of all consistancy in spirit and focus. Thank you for your consideration, Alexander Newton"

To plain ahead about college, and the degree you want to obtain. Also to apply for scholarships early, and think ahead on your fafsa application. I would tell myself that college is not cheap even with financial aid, and to save up some money for it. Plus what college you chose is very important.

College life is ten times more different then high school. It isn't about who you know or what clique you are apart of. The people you are not friends with or have any association with in high school will be seen about once every month when you pass by them in the local Target. Those people do not define you, you define you. Don't be afraid to come out as a homosexual just because no one else has. If they didn't bully you when you were in the closet but it was nearly obvious then they probably won't when you come out. In college, no one knows anyone; it is the first day of kindergarten. The only difference is that it is the first day everyday. I don’t even know the names of the people who sit next to me everyday and neither of us cares. You shouldn’t have been afraid to be you your last year of high school or any year before that. Your only purpose in life is to be you and it shouldn’t have taken thirteen plus years of education to learn that, it should have taken zero.

If I had the opportunity to speak with myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to keep striving and keep pursuing my education no matter the circumstance. When I graduated from highschool I became so enthralled in adulthood and other frivolous things that I didn't focus on my college career like I should have. I would warn myself to not make the same mistake. I would tell myself to enjoy the process of entering into a new chapter of life. I would encourage myself to apply to all the schools that I could find and visit as many campuses as I could. I would also encourage myself to seek out as many scholarship opportunities as I could find to help with the financial burden of being a student. The most important lesson that I think I could teach myself as a highschool senior is to just have fun and enjoy it all. College is a big transistion in life and the road to success can be extra bumpy. However if you are prepared and go into it with an open mind and a brave heart, theres not much that can stop you from achieving your goals.

Don't think getting good grades will be as easy as it was in high school. Even though you're going to have less classes, there's so much more work to do for each class. Forget about not paying attention in class; your grade depends on participation, too! Start using the internet less as of NOW. Even though it's necessary for most of your homework in college, it can become a huge distraction if you let it, so better start working on that addiction now. Stop procrascinating! I know everyone does it, but in college you have to know the importance of each assignment and much it weights into your final grade. Procrascination can get in the way of a good GPA.

The greatest piece of advice I could give to myself would be "do not be intimidated by AP and CIS classes. You are smart enough to be in them and they are much more rewarding than regular classes." I always believed that these classes were filled with super-geniuses that never went outside or talked to anyone. It was not until my senior year that I finally took some and I was shocked. All of my friends had been in these kinds of classes since they were sophomores. I was much more comfortable in these classes and I walked away actually learning something (with a few college credits to show it). Regular high school classes do not prepare you for what comes in college. At times I was overwhelmed by the multiple hours of homework I would get in my AP classes, but this was only because I had never really had homework before. Now I do nearly eight hours of homework a day and still feel comfortable with it. It is because of AP and CIS courses that I am able to handle my workload in college now.

I would tell myself to stick to your goals and try to accomplish those goals and don't let anything or anyone try to discourage you from accomplishing your goals. Don't let anyone steer you in the wrong direction for your life and to stay focus on what you are there for. Study hard and do all you can do to finish and once you get all that studying behind you then you can relax and enjoy all that you have accomplished. I would tell them while they are a high school senior set goals for yourself and stick to them and know what you want to do with your life and where you want to go. And focus on those goals no matter what your friends are doing with their life you put forth an effort to stay in school and not to get into any trouble so that you can finish and you would be so proud of yourself because you didn't let anyone influence you to quit or get into any trouble. I would let them know they are the future and they have to succeed and try to make a better life for themselves.

I have only been enrolled in college for less than a year but I have learned many things. As a high school senior I didn't know what to expect for college. I didn't have an older sibling to ask so I learned the hard way. I wish someone would have told me how easy it would be to make friends. I remember being so nervous on move-in day but almost immediately, it seemed, I was surrounded with new friends. I would also want to tell myself not to worry about the small things. I was nervous about what to bring, who I would talk to, what my classes would be like, and who would I turn to for help. I learned that you have to go with the flow and there are more important things to spend time on. It's more important to learn very good study habits, arrange your sleeping patterns, and learn to organize your time and responsibilities than it is which towels to bring. A strong foundation of knowledge and habits can take you a long way in college and I wish I would have known which things to prepare for.