Augsburg College Top Questions

What should every freshman at your school know before they start?

Lisa

Professors and TAs care a lot less about the individual student, especially in huge freshmen lecture classes, just to stay sane. If you're not disciplined enough to create a study plan for yourself and make time to adhere to it, you will suffer. There are a wealth of academic, social and extracurricular resources at RU, including tutoring, language labs, and special-interest centers, but the massive size of the school makes everything so hectic that if you let it overwhelm you your freshman year, you might not get back up. You CAN do it--you're just as smart (probably smarter, if you've seen some kids at Orientation running after buses) as everyone else, you just have to grab the benefits first. There's help, rapport, and free food everywhere on Rutgers, you just need to find it. Good luck!

Angie

I think that college advice differs from individual to individual. When I was a senior I felt pressured to attend a University just because "that's what you do" after high school. I then spent the next 2 years of my life at a college I was not happy at and I had no career goals and my advisor was not helpful to me. If I were to go back to myself as a senior, I would encourage myself to follow my heart. Possibly look in to volunteering or job shadowing a few people to get a sense of what I really wanted to do. I would encourage myself to apply for scholarships and take advantage of the money available to hard-working, deserving student. I would encourage myself to not 'follow the trend' and 'do what everyone else is doing.' Looking back now, I feel I wasted precious years of my life and in general felt lost. In the end, I have ended up exactly where I want to be and am now persuing my Doctorate of Nursing Practice starting in the fall of 2014.

garret

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior than I would tell myself to not be afraid to ask questions. Its better to ask a "stupid" question and understand what did not make sense than to not ask and never know. The other thing i would tell myself is to go into college with a plan! Know what you want to do with you're life and it will make college much more enjoyable and you will have more motivation to succeed and continue with your education!

Jessica

I would tell myself to focus and work harder. I have taken the long road to my FNP degree and I would love to go back to high school and take classes while in high school. I wish that I had the foresight to get ahead start and make up mind before I spent six years trying to figure out what I was doing.

Theresa

Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, what would I tell her? I would tell her a few things. My first thing would to tell her to take that letter of interest from the volleyball coaches in Texas and go check it out. Living somewhere in a warm climate is going to be something I dream of for the next 20 years. I can always come home if I don’t like it. Mom and dad are so incredibly supportive, but I don’t see it yet. Another thing I would say is to focus on a finance degree or computer science. Once I get into it and get thru the hard work, I'll find that I'm pretty good at it. It’ll allow me to focus on a career and I'll find that I enjoy it too. The last thing I would tell myself would be to spend time with my friends in college and focus on getting married later, college is a time to learn academics and about myself. Most of all though, I would tell myself to enjoy the whole experience!

Bianca

If I could go back in time the advice that I would give my self is to work harder in school, but also to be more involved in school activities. As a high school student I was never involved in extracurricular activities or in sports. I wish I could go back and change that because I noticed that all kinds of activities and clubs look good not only on a college resume but also for a work place. If I could go back in time I would have also spent more time trying to get to know my teachers better and participating in class more because that is how they remember kids and if they know you individually they can help you out better than if you are just sitting there in their class.

Devon

Look into schools more more than softball and figure out your major.

Brittany

I would give myself a lot of advice actually, I would be more prepared academically and mentally going into college, I would communicate with my professors and counselors more and I also would have done more research on the degree i wanted to maintain and plan out my 4 years so I could graduate on time!

Trang

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself these advice: be stronger in facing every challenge I might have in college; be socilize, talk to everyone I meet and build up a strong network inside the college; work harder and harder for every class I have and gain as much knowledge as I can; attend as many activities as I can to improve my own skills, which will help a lot in my future career; plan out things ahead, even when I am a freshmen because it is always better if I know what to do next and finally, always think positively because that way, I can believe in myself, be confident and perform better in anything appear on my path.

Abdikarim

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to take risks, don't worry about anything or what anyone thinks and fill out applications for grants rather than loans. Although life is completely unpredictable and embarking on a new path is scary, you need to trust yourself. You need to believe that you know what is best for you. You need to always trust your gut instincts and do what you feel in your heart is right. You need to be more outgoing and not care so much what other people say or think. You need to take risks and not just sit back and wait for things to happen. You need to make them happen! You need to not be afraid to make mistakes, and understand that after you make one, it takes a great amount of courage to correct it and set yourself back on the right path, but you will feel better about yourself for having done so. Work hard, but have fun too. And last, but not least...cherish each and every moment

Ger

If i was to go back in time to talk myself in my senior year, i would tell my senior year self to go to another school so that you won't have to deal with so much loans. Some schools are willing to help low-income students, and some don't.

Beth

I am 47 years old. I graduated high school with the GED when I was 16. I went to community college for a semester, and I did fairly well on my grades. However, my heart wasn't in it. I wanted to be an actress, and my professional acting classes were pulling me away from my traditional studies at college. I've always been a good student; that wasn't the problem. I wanted to get out and live my life. I left college after one semester, only to return 30 years later. I don't like to have regrets; everything in life is a trade-off. I didn't go to college then, but I had a lot of adventures. Looking back, I see a somewhat frantic teenage girl, trying to accomplish too much, and trying to accomplish it all at once. If I were to give advice to my high school self it would be this: "Before you begin on your life of adventure, go to college and get your degree. You have your whole life ahead of you. Don't be in such a hurry to start it."

Christina

If I were to go back in time and give my ‘senior self’ advice I would tell her to do what she has wanted to do all of her life and not give up on that dream regardless of what any person tells her. I would also tell her to understand that good people are rewarded so by doing kind things she will be blessed.

Jose

Complete every single application that you can. Give yourself as many options as possible. Apply early, and to all scholarships. Even for those that are school specific (like a music or art scholarship that can only be used at a particular College or University). Don't get too caught up about location. The most important thing is how much you end up having to pay for school. Make that your main focus.

Jaia

Learn how to mangage time and do a lot of reading and get in the habit of taking notes and reading and staying up late.

See

I want to let them know that it is okay for them to be it's themselves. It's the best experience that will ever get, because they make their own class schedule. There are so much things to do on campus and the teachers are so helpful.

Sarah

Going back in time, I would tell myself to start applying to Colleges in the fall semester of 2010. I would tell myself not to wait till spring of 2011 because it limits myself. I would also tell myself to start applying for scholarships as early as possible to get started on my future as a College student. I would tell my high school self to not go to a Community College, but to go straight to the College I know I want to go to. Going to College is something we all have to experience and instead of whimping out and going to a Community College, I would tell myself to go straight to a University.

Mai

If I knew what I knew now when I was a high school senior, I would tell myself that doing whatever possible to get ready for college is a must. College credit courses in high school will help out so much because they will give you a better head start in college. Scholarships are so important to pay off fees and the cost of going to college. Make the extra effort to apply for as many scholarships as you can because you will understand how much it helps when the bills start stacking up in college. You will need to take college seriously because it is based on you to choose your own destiny. It is on you to want to study for a test, write that paper, or ask for help. You hold your future in your hands and don't let anyone take that away from you. College will be a place where you will not be afraid to be who you are and open up instead of feeling as if you have to be a certain way to fit in. You will face times of hardship, but it will pay off when you do your best.

Natalya

Dear Natalya, Do your best in high school because it really does prepare you for college. You know how you've heard that college is a lot of reading? Well its true. So make sure you balance your time carefully and start assignments at least a couple of days before they are due. Remember that your family loves you and will miss you when you are away; so call often and visit when you can. It will be hard at first living on campus and not knowing anyone but get involved on campus and you will know 85 percent of the people you walk past by the end of the semester. Do not spend a lot of time online, watching tv, or in the student lounge, but make sure you have down your homework; it really does make a difference. You will have to experiment with trial and error to find the best balance for you, but make sure you are making adjustments when needed. Best wishes, you can do it - believe me, I know! Natalya Brown

Joshua

As someone who is going back to school as an adult, I would encourage each and every one of you to take 1 year off and travel the world. The more you know about yourself outside of the context of your own country, the more you will earn about yourself as an individual, and that includes the type of student you are. By seeing the world and other cultures, you will be able to determine your likes and dislikes, and you may even connect to something greater than yourself. Once you do get to college the next best piece of advice I can give is to, "Go to class!" Going to class is half the battle but by doing so you will have an audio and visual memory of what happens, this will ensure you retain that day's information, or at least part of it. Try your strengths and weaknesses to see where and when you can improve, and what you can work on.

Yeng

Dear Yeng, I know it is going to be difficult for you to listen, but just hear me out; here is some advice I would like to share with you. First of all, I know you are a somewhat intelligent kid, but you still have to do more homework; you will not believe how much of your grade is based on it. If you do not get into the rhythm now, you will have a hard time catching up. Secondly, try to have a better structured schedule; plan out your day accordingly and try to set a little time off for just youself. On another note, the myth about college kids not have any food contradicts the freshman fifteen, and in this case the freshman fifteen wins, so remember to watch what you eat and workout often. Oh, and just FYI, you do not need to be involved in EVERY student activity/organization. Sincerely, Future Yeng

Chris

As a senior, you are afraid of a change, possibly leaving you family and friends behind to pursue a career interest can present numerous problems. Knowing what I know about college life now, there three pieces of advice I wish I would have known before make the transition. First, time Management is the key to your success in college. Always keep a full blown schedule of your daily and weekly events. Be able to set aside study time for classes and time to having a part time job if applicable. Secondly, study time for each class is critical, for every hour of class you should at least set aside two hours to study and do homework. This cannot be discussed no matter what other tell you, 2 hours of study time to 1 hour of class is a perfect ratio. Thirdly, get involved in school activities, college is about making connection and networking. Use these 4 years to join a club, find an internship or even work on campus. Networking is the key to opening the door of success after graduation. If you follow these three rules you should do fine in college.

Ingrid

Going back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to keep working hard until the end of senior year and be open to meeting new people and getting comfortable in new situations. College is a lot more work than high school, and I would give myself confidence boosters and words of encouragement. I would also tell myself the hard work is worth it and pays off because ofhow much fun I've had this year at college, all of the great new experiences I've had, and how I love living in a big city. My biggest piece of advice would be to work hard, but enjoy the experience at the same time.

AuBrianna

I would definitely recommed not coming to college thinking that everything is about drinking. There are plenty of activities to do on campus that doesn't involve alcohol. I would also say to be as involved as possible around campus without having a schedule overload. It is so important to keep yourself involved on campus because you meet new people while at the same time, learning about yourself and finding what things you are passionate about and what things aren't really interesting to you. It is important to take healthy risks. Going to an activity that you wouldn't normally go to can come with surprising results. I would also advise to gain a sense of independence. This is the time of your life where you really find yourself. It is important to always know who you are and to not depend on others to get you through your education. It is you who ultimately decides what your grades are going to be. Lastly, have fun. This is a lifetime opportunity that doesn't just happen for everyone so make the best out of it.

Abdirizak

I learned the importance of an college education while i was here. This was a pleasant experience and I have also become more adept socially. I understand and can analyze different poit\nt of views with ease now.

Samantha

I thought I wanted to go to a school in the middle of nowhere to really get that 'college feel'. I was so wrong! I ended up in the middle of Minneapolis, but I couldn't be happier. I am an elementary education major and I didn't think the location of my school would affect my job placement, but now as I am starting into more of my core major classes I realized I am in the perfect location for me to better myself and my future career. Because of the college I picked I am able to work with inner city students, and have the opppurtunity to do my service learning in the middle of the city. This has given me a new perspective on teaching. It has shown me that teaching is no easy task, but especially for students who are at a disadvantage because of where they live and the situations of their famililes. My college experience has shown me that I can make a difference and I chose to go to a school that I love and will help me succeed!

Victoria

As the first one in my family to attend college. I take everything with honor, and respect. Becuase my parent give me all their support and know that am looking ahead in my future. That with an education I can open doors for me. Am very responsible when it comes down to school and know that education is a big factor in my life. My experience in college this fall its been good, I know its stressful but I put all my effort in everything that i do. My problems is not having enought money to pay for tuition beucase i come from a low income family. We have over barriers that can put me down but, i do my best to not fall and keep on moving on. I am grateful for my parent beliving in me, and trusting me with all the responsibility that comes when leaving the house. The first one of the family to go to college is one of the biggest accomplishment that i have done.

Amanda

My experience at Augsburg College has so far been extremely beneficial. I feel that I have had the opportunity from some very elite professors. From these professors my knowledge and experience have grown exponentially. Also, I have been able to meet some amazing people during my year at Augsburg. I have made some wonderful friends and met some of the most intelligent people I have ever known. Finally, my time at Augsburg has taught me how to live on my own. I am 1,000 miles away from my parents while I am at school and that has given me theinvaluable experience taking care of myself. My experiences in and out of the classroom have been the best lessons I have ever learned. During the year I have spent at Augsburg College I have gained some of the most important knowledge a person can possess.

Samuel

So far, the most valuable experience of attending college has been the impact of others on my own life. I have had professors who have opened my eyes to great author and artisits, classmates who have showed different ways of doing things and learning, and friends who have challenged my views on the world. All of these things combined have made me a better student and over all person, and I could not ask for a better college experience. I look forward to whats to come, and will be sad the day it all must end.

Joel

If I could go back in time as a senior there would have been many things that I would have done differently, and one of those things would have been my academics. I always had a 3.2 or higher GPA, but as the senior year went on my grades and my determination was going down the drain. It was not good, by the last couple of months of school I just gave up on school and started counting the days to college. As I came to college my first semester class was the same class I had taken my senior year but because I gave up my last semester in high school, I had to relearn everything for my college class because I didn't remember what I learned my senior year. Now every class I take I do my best to become better, so that I wont have more regrets.

Sparkle

College life is completely different from high school. You have to adjust to more things. The workload is much more than high school, so you have to take more time doing homework. There will definitely be a decrease in how much you watch television and just sitting around, just relaxing doing nothing. There will be less tests in your classes and more papers to write. There will also be social pressures. You have to resist temptation to party and possibly drink alcohol to be with the "in-crowd." When you are living on campus there will be more pressures. You will miss your family much more than you thought you would. You will have to start living like an adult. You will have to do laundry and shop for your own food when you don't like the cafeteria food. You may feel intimidated by fellow students who have jobs, cars, and seem to have a lot more going on in their lives than you do. It may also be hard to make friends at first but as time goes on this will get much easier. You just have to be a little more outgoing than usual. Good luck!

Jamie

As a highschool senior, I thought that going through all the applications with applying for colleges and scholarshipd was really overwhelming. With just those few things on my back in senior year, I really wished that I would've kept my part time job. Looking at it now compared to my freshmen year, I find it more hard to juggle school adn work. Just looking for a job that will fit my school schedule is already hard enough. Studying for hours for just one class has taken up most of my free time. And then when I am done with that, I am already tired so all I do is sleep. If I were to keep my part time job when I was a senior I think that would've benefit me and helped me more in college. Because now as a college freshmen, you don't have much money or no money at all.

Mai

If I could go back in time and talk to myself during my senior year in high school, I would definitely tell myself to get those college application in sooner, and work on it, take my time on finding the right college, and don't be in such a rush to get things done. I did not think about the whole college process, and when it was too late, I was too late. Even though I don't regret going to my current institution, it would of been much more encouraging to know that I had other options. I would also tell myself to concentrate hard on my school work, and study my butt off! I got by on a grade that I was very disappointed at, and it was no one elses fault but mine. I would also tell myself to keep up with my friends because in college everything is new, and you need all the support in the world, and having your friends with you will help you get through the tough and nerve- wrecking first few weeks in school. Life is full of unexpectful events, be prepare to face it... And conquer it.

Allix

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior before making the transition to college I would have been sure to tell myself that no matter what I go through my first year to rough it out and do my best in everything I could. As a student athelete it is not always easy to juggle achedemics and athletics with everything else on top of those, especially your first year of college, but by focusing on time managment and working hard right away it is definitely possible. My advice would be to go out of my comfort zone and try new things, be outgoing and join clubs, go up to people and talk to them, ask questions and join into class discussions. The best way to transition to college is by getting to know the school and people surrounding you. By doing these things you will be a lot more comfortable and able to enjoy your college experience even more. Although your first year won't be easy, it will be fun and exciting, and no matter what happens it will be a time to remember.

Lori

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to go to an all girl's school first. I just transferred from St. Catherine University to Augsburg College. It was a very good school, however the only reason i went there was because of my major. If I would have known how much I would dislike an all girl's school, and that I would be switching my major I would not have based my college on what my major was. Another piece of advice I would give myself is to not get down on myself and that college is a lot harder than high school. I was very stressed the first semester , but once I got a hold of everything and how to manage my time it went very well. The last piece of advice I would give myself would be to be patient and eventually I will make great friends. It took awhile to develop strong connections with people, but once that happened they became friends that will last forever.

Andrew

I would tell my self to apply to every school that sounds interesting. Don't focus on how far away they are or how much they cost. Once you're accepted you can figure that out. You might be surprised at where you get in or what financial aid is avalible. It isn't any fun not to have options because you didn't apply to many schools. Additionally by the time you're accepted your opinion might change so keep an open mind while applying.

Megan

I would tell myself to stop procrastinating. Also, just because you can skip class does not mean that you should.

Stephanie

I would say to myself. Don't put up walls. I let my past of a broken family and eating disorder create fears that didn't allow me to fully enter into college. I often felt a sense of loneness and confusion. Deal with your past and don't let fear inhibit you from experience every moment of college. Embrace friends, learn to cry, laugh from your heart; take off your masks (the masks that you wear to please people). Learn who you are, don't let others tell you who you are. Take classes seriously, even when you think the world is ending because you don't know if you will ever get the paper done or know enough for the test. Take a deep breath; take care of yourself! Sleep, don't hate yourself, and love the opportunities you are given. Life is not to be dreaded because of the stress of classes, rather you are to take it as a chance to learn and grow.

Molly

I would tell myself that it is important to keep up on homework. I would also tell myself to study the requirements for my majors to ensure I get the classes I need right away.

Amanda

I would tell myself to stay focused in college. It is really easy to be part of the party scene and involved in "what's cool" around campus, and then lose track of school work. If there is one main thing you learn in college, it's the most important part of class is the last 5-7 minutes. This is because the professor wraps everything up you learned that was important from the class period that day in a small chunk of time. What the professor says at the end is what's most noteworthy to write down. Also, give yourself some freetime. Doing nothing but homework isn't healthy, along with cramming in homework just hours before it's due. Go out with friends, there is always something to do on campus, and especially off-campus.

Samantha

To all of you who are in the process of looking for a college or about to start that process some things that you should definitely consider. One thing I personally didn't do is go and tour all the colleges I was interested in. Another thing that you as a high school student going into college should know and something that I have been told for the past 2 years, be selfish. If you want to go out of state do it don't let anyone or anything hold you back. As a freshman in college I now want to transfer to a school far away from home. So look at all your options and don?t let anything constrict those. Your college years are meant to be fun, yet they will only be as fun as you allow it!

Travis

The first and most important thing to do is find a College that is affordable and has the size you want. The affordability will keep a lot of stress off your mind and the size is important because it greatly effects your experience. Secondly, make sure they offer an extra-curricular that you enjoy. Extra-curriculars are the easiest way to make new life long friends. The last thing that must be done is enrolling at a school with dorms. Dorms allow students the chance for a full college experience. All those things combined are the important ways to prepare for school, but once it starts nothing can compete with a good attitude. Keep the attitude up and college will be a blast and just might teach you a thing or two.

Matthew

Find somethin that feels good to you. Something that feels like you are at the right place. When you find this place, work hard hard hard! Do everything in your power to get good grades and pay for as much of your school as you can while you are in school. It will make it so much easier on you when you are done. Like my dad has always told me, work hard and everything else will just fall into place.

Jamie

Live on campus if you can afford it and get ivolved in sports and/or clubs. That will help you to meet people and make lifelong memories.

Kaila

Choosing a college is daunting, yet I don't regret either my initial decision or my decision to transfer. You will never know if it was the right choice until you've experienced the school. Even then, various factors make it impossible to say with 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} certainty, "I would never choose this school again." I believe that even one influencial faculty member can make a school a success for an individual. Even if you are undecided on a major, decide on one goal for your first year of college (such as getting involved volunteering or studying something new) and focus on finding a college that offers you multiple opportunities for accomplishing this goal. I am not 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} satisfied with former college, it is academically unchallenging and unorganized, but I made connections professors and professionals in the city becasue I sought after my own goals without waiting for a school to do it for me. You are going to college to grow as an individual, this takes personal effort. Stop worrying about finding the one perfect school - it doesn't exist. College is just there to offer you options. Focus on the options, not the school's reputation or pricetag.

David

Follow your gut. Go where it feels right. Don't just go to a school because you think it is the best school, go to a school that you can feel is the right school for you. You will know the feeling.

dave

YOU GOT TO FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHT TO PARTY.

Jenessa

I think the most important thing about finding the right college for you is to make sure you feel comfortable. If the people there are welcoming and easy to talk to, I think that that extends to the vibe of the entire college. However, overall, intelligent, friendly, challenging professors are to me, the most important aspect of a great college experience. They are what make or break a college experience. You will always remember a professor who challenged you to think in a new and exciting way long after you forget about the class that was "easy."

Holly

Don't judge a book by its cover. On the outside a college may look plain and boring, but you never know unless you actually look into it. My first choice was not Augsburg, but once I stepped on campus I feel in love with it.

Ellen

Work together with your children to make this the best experience possible. Even though they are now adults do not just write them off, help them in any way you can.