Villanova University Top Questions

I am in a unique position of being an older student returning to college. I would tell my high school self to pay attention to how what you learn builds upon itself. Every piece of knowledge you gain are building blocks to who you want to be. Classes are important in shaping who you are and are the steps to success. Soak up the knowledge you gain from campus life and your academic life. The structure of college life and the relationships you develop are valuable tools to creating balance in your life. College is where you give yourself the best start for your career and the quality of life you can provide yourself after college. This is where you grow the most in life in the shortest amount of time. These years go fast and you have to make the most of them and keep making goals and achieving them. Your goal was to get into college, now it should be to finish with grades that make you proud and open new doors to opportunities that can give you all you want for yourself in the future. It is your time to be bold, be brave and be willing.

My suggestion for freshmen is to put yourself out there. Regardless of if you were the person to ask people to hang out in high school, be that person now. Everyone is in the same situation as you - no one knows anyone. You're all trying to make new friends now. Be proactive. After orientation ended, I'd continue to text the people in my group to ask them to hang out. A simple "Hey! We're all meeting for lunch at 1:30 in the quad. Wanna join?" Everyone is waiting for that text, and everyone will be happy that you sent it. As a senior, those people I texted to meet up for lunch are some of my best friends (one of them is now my boyfriend!). Regardless of what school you go to, you have to put yourself out there, and it'll pay off in the end.

I would tell myself to stay on track. Make your advisors your frieands and study as much as possible now so it's easyer in the future.

Dear Allison, Now that you are a high school senior, there are some things that you should know about college. You should never feel like you need to be someone else in order to fit in. In college, everyone is very open-minded to all different personalities. If you just be yourself, you can find friends who will respect you for who you are. Don't be afraid to be involved on campus. It might seem intimidating at first but you need to push yourself and join as many activities as you can - not just groups that you know your friends are joining. Also, make sure that you explore everything that college has to offer, even things off campus. Take advantage of going into the city and going to as many cultural events that you can. You have so many resources that you can use to your advantage. Never be afraid to approach a professor. Even if you are not having a specific problem in class, you should try and get to know your professors outside of the classroom. Everyone on campus is very warm and friendly and they want you to succeed.

I would tell myself not to listen to the english teacher who said "go get another teacher or i will fail you", instead i would have gotten a different teacher insted of dropping oout. i wouldnt have waited 12 years to go to school. i would already have my degree and be working.

Get involved more. Making the right friends is difficult but the way to do it is to get involved. It takes time so do not be discouraged. Also, it's okay to let go to the family and friends back at home but they will always be there for support and comfort. Something very important and something I should have let go of earlier so the transition would have been easier. Also, as a high school senior, I would have told myself not to applied to so many schools, it definitely makes the decision harder!

I would tell myself to be enthusiastic about starting school and get the most out of your experience Be open to new ideas and make sure you start from day 1 in understanding how to study and the importance of time management.

Through my college studies thus far, I have gained a plethora of qualities that have morphed me into a better individual and student. My studies at Valencia Community College have allowed me acquire new knowledge and skills that will aid me in becoming a Cardiologist in the future. As an active volunteer at my college, I have further gained the understanding of caring and giving back to others in need through volunteering. Also, college has gratefully allowed me to discover that I can achieve anything possible. For example, through a Valencia Volunteers at my college, my love for giving back to my community was reinforced when I volunteered at the Orlando Ronald McDonald house! Moving along, I greatly enjoy taking challenging courses that allow me to push myself beyond my limits. I find that I perform better with my studies when I am faced with a challenge. Furthermore, working with other students has granted me the opportunity to learn new things, as well as share my knowledge with others. Ultimately, I have learned that determination and hard work has allowed me to excel well with my studies.

Through attending college I have firmly established my independence and have been able to prove to myself that I am capable of making it on my own. I have taken advantage of every opportunity extened to me: joining clubs, attending business events with potential employers, and supporting my athletic teams. My favorite activity so far has been volunteering with inner-city kids in an after school program, it really makes me aware of how much I can give back through spending my time with others. I have also taken as many classes as possible to get the most out of my education and have discovered interests in new courses like Japanese. I know where my passion lies and college has given me the chance to explore it. College has also taught me the valuable lesson of managing my own finances. It can be difficult to start college away from home and with people you don't know, but all of my experiences have helped me and have shaped me into a better person.

I have learned about many different things through the strong core curriculum of the school. I am exposed to many different topics and subjects. My experience is valuable because I am constantly learning about myself, God, and the community. My learning and my religion have intertwined in this community.