Beloit College Top Questions

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

Laura

Your fellow students and professors won't bite, so don't be reluctant to talk to them. This is your time to experiment with new things and new people, especially the ones that you might at first think you won't like. Worrying about the future a little bit is good, but not too much. Have fun with it all. Don't just sit there and let opportunities pass you by. And don't start any blood feuds. Depending on the size of your college, they might come back to bite you. Just shrug off the petty annoyances and you'll be a much happier person. Finally, if you get in a tight spot; for instance, if you have two papers and a test to finish by the next day and it's already 7 at night, just breath. Go for a walk. Calm yourself down before you start anything, or you'll never be able to get anywhere. And remember that the instant you start working on it, you'll feel much more confident and less like crying in a corner.

Audrey

I would strongly encourage myself to be a serious student. I would ask myself to very earnestly consider what kind of life I want to live and be creative in my exploration of career options. I would tell myself that my world is very small as an 18 year old and a lot of the limitations that my upbringing has placed on my career choice are small minded and pessimistic. I would ask myself what I am really interested in and what kind of impact I would like myself to have on the world. I would tell myself that I am smart enough to get straight A's every semester and that there is no excuse not to do so. I would encourage myself to make good friendships but establish healthy boundaries. I would tell myself to not drink too much and to stay away from dating until I have a degree in hand, because men and alcohol will always be around, but an opportunity of attending a fantastic school is a rare gift.

Angeline

If I could back to the time when I was a high school senior, I would tell myself not to procrastinate on my college applications. Even though I am very satisfied with Beloit College, I believe that I could have gotten into one or more of my reach schools if my personal essay and other common application responses were written better. I would also tell myself to work on my time management skills. Having good time management skills in college is very important. If I could have worked on my time management my senior year of school, it might have made my first semester of college easier. Besides the time management problem, my transition to college was fairly easy!

Samantha

Stop caring so much! Nobody else can dictate who you are, only you can decide what you do and where you go. Don't let expectations crush you into taking a path you don't actually want.

Devon

If I were granted the ability to go back in time and give myself some advice for college, I would definitely still encourage myself to apply for Beloit College. Most of my advice, actually, would revolve around after coming to school. First, I would recommend buckling down sooner Freshman year than I actually did. As to courses, I would recommend diversifying my courseload more, by taking more courses out of the Anthropology department as supporting courses. Further, I would suggest to avoid certain courses that I had problems with, which include Anthropology 309 and 353. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn was that I am, in fact, not a cultural anthropologist- my mind just does not think that way. If I had known that before, I would have saved myself a lot of stress and anxiety. Finally, I would recommend to simply sit back, take a deep breath, and embrace college life, as it will be gone before I know it.

Zachary

I attended a community college for two years prior to enrolling at Beloit College. The transition from high school to community college and then to Beloit taught me that education is a tiered system. I had never felt overworked or pushed until success was an impossibility. I attribute this to my following a true-tiered path, and applying myself appropriately at each level. Each new tier of life requires advancement in all the spheres of life. If a person moves to the next tier with inadequate skills in crucial areas, their success is increasingly unlikely with each lacking skill. The most important thing I have learned at Beloit is the essential role of personal responsibility. Everyone has ambitions, but very few apply themselves fully to the acquisition of those goals; that results in their loss. Believing in the sanctity of personal responsibility does put me in danger of blaming myself, should I fail, but it also gives me the opportunity to take the responsibility for my. It functions as a powerful motivator, and without this recent foray into a tier of independence, I would be ignorant to the importance of personal responsibility.

Zoey

As I have only finished one semester of college, with I'm told is the most foreboding one, I definetly do not have the experience a third or fourth year undergraduate has developed. However thus far I have learned that every single course and learned piece of information is essential. I have been able to make connections between my anthropolgy and geology course, diverse subjects. Also information gleened in my geology class could be applied in my international politics course. Everything I learned from day 1 of my life to the end I believe is interconnected and essential for my survival. College allows the opportunity to focus on a single thing, whether it be education or a focus/major. It has been valuable to attend becuase college allows one to dwell on one's life and find purpose. Without purpose one will be forever lost and wandering.

John

I have learned so many valuable things that made my education well rounded and allow me to play a better role in society.

Eric

I have gotten many valuable things out of my college experience from friends, to memories I will never forget. However, the most important entity I have taken from college is having a backup plan. Myself being a college baseball player, I am surrounded by players that rely on their athletic skill to hopefully be a future for them. Yet, I have seen in two years many fellow teammates end up kicked out of college because they didn't spend enough time in school as they did on the baseball field. This is why having a backup plan is important. Of course being able to play baseball professionally would be amazing, but an education needs to be there to fall back on. I have seen too many times my teammates ineligible or doing nothing with their lives five years down the road because they were doing baseball college instead of college baseball. Hence the word college first because college comes first then you get to play, not play then you get to go to college. This is why doing everything I can in the classroom will back me up when the day comes where the cleats are hung up for good.

Loriana

From high school, I decided to attend a community college before transferring to a university. I was concerned about the experience this would give me as I thought going to a four-year was necessary to obtain the "ultimate college experience". I was wrong. Community college not only gave me the opportunity to save money, but also allowed me to become involved within my school. I began by joining the honors transfer program, which led me to join Alpha Gamma Sigma, the honor society. I became the activities coordinator which enabled me to quickly make friends and adjust to this new "college life". Some activities included car washes for fundraising and a holiday party for underprivileged children. I engaged in my community through this organization and saw how my college affected it. I also joined the student -run newspaper. This added to my overall experience because it gave me insight into my major. I was able to see the way media influences my everyday surroundings. By being in college, I met people with the same interests and values and different people as well. Community college has ultimately laid the platform for transferring to the university of my choice.

Molly

I am constantly evolving here. My peers and professors challenge me to take into question what I believe and where my interests truly lie. Attending college has been pivotal in my growth because it has taught me to embrace who I am: a silly, inquisitive, creative woman. One that longs to make a difference.

Marlee

Visit the school! Reading online profiles of school is informative, but the only way to really get a feeling for what the school is like is to visit it in person. When you're there in person you can see the current students in action; you can see daily life at that school right before your eyes. After visiting the school and acquiring a better understanding of what the school is like, it makes it much easier to visualize yourself there, which makes the transition monumentally simpler. There's no one description of college life. Life at Beloit College is completely different from life at a large state university. Find the school that fits your personality. I did, and I could not be happier anywhere else.

Abigail

It's okay not to know all the answers right now. Test the waters - try out different clubs and activities, but DON'T OVERBOOK YOURSELF. It's okay to just try something out and not commit to it fully until your ready. But get involved, and get involved early. Yet remember to pace yourself - you don't want to get burned out after the first two years. Don't worry as much about making and keeping those high school friends you're always trying to be like. Start fresh at college, with confidence and an open mind and you won't go wrong. You'll find your spot. It won't appear right away, but be patient. You'll figure it out.

Michael

My advice is to find a college that suits your needs, whether it's the students, curriculum, courses, budget, the sports, etc. The college atmosphere has to be in sync with what you desire. If you go to a school that has an excellent program for your major, but has an awful social scene, then you won't be too happy. Find a balance in the school you want to get into, socially and academically. After all, you'll be in that [particular] college for 4 or more years! Find one that you can flourish in, and grow as a person.

Kira

The value of a college experience is not an objective quality that can be reduced to some complex mathematical formula of tuition cost versus prestige and future earning potential. Every individual student is unique, and a college experience that is highly valuable for one student might be worthless to another. One of the most important aspects of the college experience is relationship-building ?college students establish lasting relationships with other students and with professors. These relationships help them succeed in college, their careers, and their personal lives. For example, students who feel comfortable with their peers and professors will be more likely to ask for help when they need help. Because of this, it is important that a student feels comfortable at his or her chosen school. When visiting schools, students should spend time on campus, communicating with current students and faculty. These interactions allow prospective students to decide which school environments are comfortable for them.

Audrey

You will spend four years of your life at the college you choose. Don't limit yourself. Visit campuses. Pursue opportunities on campus.

Emily

Please read Colleges that Change Lives instead of sending your kids to a giant party school.

Anne-Marie

Finding the "right college" started with extensive self-reflection. Based on what I knew about myself, my interests, and my needs, I created criteria and looked for schools that matched it. In the end I didn't choose the college that seemed a perfect match on paper, or the one with the best academics, or the one with great funding and stellar prostgraduate opportunities. I chose the college where I felt most comfortable. Comfortable with myself, around faculty, and among the student body. I don't mean a caudling kind of comfort, but rather a safe, accepting environment that provided room to grow. It was so important to separate from the "reach school/safety school" mentality and to seek the genuine match, even if that meant "stooping" in the eyes of my high school advisors. As for making the most of the college experience, I recommend spending ample time exploring. Take that wild-card course that sparks your interest. Befriend upperclassmen. They've been on campus for awhile and can lead you to opportunities you might not otherwise have known about. They are great mentors. Take academics seriously, but be reasonable because so much learning happens outside of the classroom.

BreAnn

VISIT VISIT VSIST VISIT! Always make you sure visit the campuses..let them stay over night, visit classes, speak with the students, and get a real feel for the school. It's so important that the student feels a connection for their potential undergrad school.

Grigori

your choice in school is never final and if you don't like it you can always tranfer. Don't look at the decision as your final choice, it's not. Just go in as yourself and I'm sure you'll find many others like you.

Stuart

None

Jenna

Students: travel to visit schools without your parents. Go on college tours without your parents. Look at schools without your parents. Walk around campuses, go to libraries, call friends of family members, stay overnight with them. You're going to be the one in school there for four years--not your parents. Make your college decision for you, since that's what you should be doing at this point in your life. If you don't already make most of your own decisions, now is a good time to start.

Kim

You need to know what motivates you. Students differ in what they consider to be the purpose of college - some use it as pre-professional training, others like cutthroat academic competition, and still others focus on becoming a well-rounded person. When you visit a college, you'll find that it's pretty clear what that particular college thinks the purpose of college is. Make sure that purpose matches your purpose, and you'll be fine. Don't be afraid to look at non-name-brand colleges and universities. My classmates were not only successful/smart/engaged, they were actually good people - and in the end, isn't that what is really most important?

Elise

The best one can do when selecting a college is to obey the ancient Greek aphorism: Know thyself. This advice is daunting for most high school students, who are still finding their place in the world. But there are three qeustions that make the process much easier: 1) Where do you want to live? If there is a city or a region you adore, look for schools there. Although colleges tend to have a diverse student body, the location of the school sets the tone on campus. 2) Do you have specific career goals? If you do, then it is easy to find a school with cooresponding coursework. If not, you may consider the liberal arts. 3) Big or small? While it is easier to make career connections in a larger school, small schools tend to have a more intimate community, conducive to making friends and knowing faculty. Answering these three questions gives a sense of the type of atmosphere you need: intimate, academic, career-focused, challenging, off-beat, conservative, liberal, whatever you need. The right environment will bolster your academic performance and personal development. Only you can know what kind of setting that is for you.

kristen

beloit is awesome

Katherine

The advice I would give to a student searching for the right college is: find the right college for YOU. Apply to many different types of schools. You may be surpirsed to find the best pick was your last choice. (I was!) Give your decision some time by listing pros and cons of each place you have applied to. Visit your top campuses each more than once. Try making at least a day trip and also an overnight visit, where you stay with a host student. Go with the gut feeling. Pick the place you can picture yourself walking to class or talking with that group at the commons. To comfort your parents in the decision, let them ask questions of campus officials and take the tours with you. It will give them peace of mind to know that you are happy with your choice and they will be more resposive in your journey. While at school, make the most of your time and exprience the diversity around you. For the next couple years you will be in close quarters with potential lifelong friends and valuable new insights on life. Take the good with you and have no regrets.

Elizabeth

Do stuff!

William

I've answered a lot of questions for you, mostly because I think Beloit college is a great place and I'm always happy to tell people about it. I'm not even in school at the moment, so the scholarship can't got to me anyway.

jessica

Don't get caught up entirely in academics, have fun and make friends.

Amanda

Look around a lot. Don't just find what you "think" you are looking for a stick with it. Go outside the box, because you'd be surprise what schools are out there. There are servers that list all UW schools to private schools to tech schools and more. Make sure to look at everything they have, not just what the student thinks they are interested in. For example, check the Extra Curriculars and such. These make the experience better if one looks for more than just their interests. Also, don't let money be a huge factor. I did not have savings or anything, but the financial aid programs at most schools are great and give you space to pay the amount later. Beloit College is expensive, but they give me scholoarships and grants for most of it. My biggest advice: if you feel good there when you visit, it's usually right for you. Always check out the campus, even if you think it has everything you want. Where you are and live make a huge difference.

Lee

Look harder

Ted

Finding the Right College: Definitely tour the school, sit in on some classes and stay overnight. It will give you a much better feel for the curriculum and the overall feel of the campus than a short visit. Maybe even contact some professors that teach classes you are interested in and see what they are like. Making the Most of the College Experience: Get involved. Join at least one club. Meet people. Stay on campus (at least at the beginning), go to social events, be friendly. For academics => Try to take classes with professors that you have found effective or who are rated highly by friends or ratemyprofessor.com. Professors can make or break a class, no matter what the subject.

Min

Finding the right college for yourself or for your children can be very stressful and confusing at times. However, focusing on this simple question can aid you making that process much simpler and even enjoyable: Whether than asking yourself "Which college will be more useful when you or your children graduate and seach for a job?", you might want to ask, "Which college do I fit the best?" Although every college provides every student with unique experiences that cannot be earned from other places, how well you or your children fit in the college will play a major role in not only what kind of experience the student might receive at college, but whether he/she will be truly desiring to become involved with his/her school and have that unique moment that can become an epiphany in his/her life. Actually visiting the place and spending a weekend will provide a great example of what that college's weekend life is like. Sitting in a class and observing the class environment will give you a good idea of the what the usual class size and the class environment is like. After all this, ask yourself, "Do I fit here?"

Christopher

Research! Research! Research! The key to finding the right college is to read about and visit as many as you can. There are thousands out there and you need to start early and narrow them down. Think about the surroundings you want to live in over the next four years while also beginning to think about what opportunities the institutions can provide. Really think about what YOU want. Leading up to college the one thing that you can do in order to have a clear head and have a great college experience is to get a job and make money throughout highschool. It is important to focus on your education and not get caught worrying about if you will have enough money to go out on the weekends. That was my biggest trouble.

Lily

Visit every school you could see yourself at, and don't underestimate the importance of the school "feeling right." Also do not pick a school based on where your friends are going, and especially don't pick a school your boyfriend/girlfriend is going to.

Kayla

No matter what school you choose to attend, college will be what you make of it. Any stereo-types the college may have can be easily broken with a bit of elbow-grease. That being said, the education that you get is largely dependent on the professors. Ask current students to tell you about their favorite professor, good professors often flock together and make classes worth attending. Having places to go off campus are a must. If you do not plan on bringing a car, look for a school with cheap transportation to large cities. Ask the Student Activities office if they provide any off-campus trips, it can make the difference between a good experience and wanting to go home every weekend. Finally, get an internship. Internships are the only way to make up for what every school lacks, the real world. My internship will be extended an extra summer and really make me look forward to working over the summer and after I graduate. That being said, internships are in high demand so I would recommend starting to look for something the first semester of your sophomore year, it will vastly improve your chances.

Dillon

Visit as many schools as possible because it is an eye-opening treat that will truly help define the school type that you want to attend. Once there, just live it up. Study, but don't be a bookworm. Go out, but make sure the classwork doesn't faulter because of it.

Allie

I would tell parents and students to start early. The earlier you start the process, the better. You only go through it once, so you have to make the best of it the first time. Don't WISH you would have applied to more places, or visited that one school, or did that extra bit of research. And to students, go with your gut. Try not to let too many outside influences affect your decision. YOU are going there , not your friends, or your boyfriend/girlfriend or your family. So YOU have to live with it. And parents, keep in mind that this is a decision that you have input in, but a lot of it should be left up to your child. This is really their decision.

Alexander

Happiness, personality, life. Words that echo through anyone's mind who is searching for a college they can spend the next four years of thier life studying and living at. From my peronal experiance finding a college is an amorphis, feeling-driven process. To make the most of your college experiance you have to find a place where you will feel comfortable living and studying. There has to be a balance between the two, college is about finding out who you are and what you want to do. Your ideas will change a thousand times durring your first year alone on what your future will be like, even if you have a plan going in. The college that you choose has to be a place where you feel comfortable experimenting, a place that can ground you durring all the turbulance. Talk to students, professors, visit the college, look at their course catalog, read a book about the college, but most of all remeber how the college made you feel. Remember to keep an open mind, a good work ethic, and look for the good in everyone that you meet.

Allison

Visit schools while classes are in session, talk with students, observe classes, and stay overnight. Do not oversimplify the process. Take the time; it will be worth it in the end.

Emily

The most important thing about selecting your college is finding a place where you can be both comfortable and happy for the next 4 years. Things like class size and cost must be considered, but you have to find a college that fits you. Don't let anything stand in your way, especially if you find a campus you believe is the place that will best help you reach your future goals. Your college choice should reflect the person you are now and the person you someday hope to become.

Kayla

Take advantage of opportunities to sit in on real classes, and spend the night.

Andrew

The most important thing to do while finding the right college is to just go out and visit colleges. It helps very much to interact with the college campus, and also the community since thats where the next four years of your life will be spent. It also helps to have some idea of what direction you want to take, although it doesn't hurt to take all sorts of classes, and get a taste for everything. It's the best way to really decide what interests you.

Bridget

The most important thing that any one can do in finding the right college is to take the time to know if you are looking for a large school or a small school, and then to visit the schools taking time to speak to students and look closely at the faclities, and opportunties to study off broad, and recieve internships through the school.