Blackburn College Top Questions

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

Allison

My advice to my high school senior self is simple: get involved in your school, join clubs, participate in campus activiites, and get out there and meet people! Of course when you play sports you know your teammates, but reach beyond sports. Don't pigeon hole yourself into one facet of campus life like you did in highschool. Stretch yourself and try new things. Volunteering is something you have never tried and it can be very rewarding. I am now the president for our campus' Habit for Humanity chapter and have even spoken at a national meeting. Now that looks good on a resume! Plus, we go to Florida every Spring Break to build a house with another chapter. I joined a youth group and have found a lot of people there I enjoy spending time with because we have the same values. Don't worry, you will find you are so busy with sports, school, work, and volunteering that there isn't any time to miss home. You will come to love your school as your second home and all your friends are just down the hall from your room!

Marissa

If I could go back and give my high-school self advice about the transition from high school to college, I would definitely tell myself to not be a hermit. There are so many opportunities to get to know a wide range of people on campus. I would tell myself not to go home every weekend; but, to stay and enjoy campus life. I would also tell myself that for the first couple weeks that I was in my dorm room to keep my door open whenever I was in my room. I would also have to tell myself not to be afraid to raise my hand and say that I didn't understand something.

Brian

I would tell myself to really gear up and focus on school work and not to take a year off after high school. Nothing ever worth anything comes easy, so work my butt off for the next four years so I can earn my degree and hopefully find a teaching job as soon as possible.

Chelsea

I have horrible and unnecessary self-esteem and confidence issues. I always wanted to go to college, but never thought that I was good enough for it. Therefore, I would tell myself that I really do deserve this. I have worked very hard to get out of the rough lifestyle I have grown up in and make a better future for myself. I would remind myself that I am intelligent and ambitious. I should never second guess my abilities because doing so almost caused me to not go to college. I deserve to be in the wonderful school I attend where I am getting a top-knotch education. I can do this and will succeed. Myself as a high school senior would find all of this hard to believe. However, I would simply remind myself that this education is something that will last a lifetime and will help me go far in life.

Renee

If I could go back and talk to my high school self, I would myself to take my college classes seriously. In high school I never really had to try to be a good student, or study all the time, but college is a different animal. I would tell myself to take every assignment seriously and study for every test. I would also tell myself not to be afraid to meet new people and make new friends, while still staying in close contact with my high school friends. Being able to broaden your horizons in college is an important part of the college experience. I would tell myself to make mistakes and take chances because you only get to be young once and now is the time to find out who I really am.

Caitlyn

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself about all of the changes that I went through. I would start by telling myself that college isn't as ddifferent from high school as everybody said that it would be. Although the walk to class is different, the subject matter and work load is a bit different; it's really not much different than what I was used to. I would also tell myself to have more patience. In college, you have to deal with people more often. It will take time to get used to people's quirks and the way that they do things, you just have to deal with it and move on in order to make college a good experience that you enjoy. Above all, I would tell myself to stay calm and not get too stressed out. Take it easy and enjoy the ride.

Rebecca

Due to my college experience at Blackburn University, I was able to gain employment in my career field, social work, and continued employment in that field for 14 years. I am currently working toward obtaining a Master of Social Work degree through Aurora University. Attending Blackburn University also gave me the experience of learning to manage my time, which has been very helpful to me now that I am in Graduate School, have three children, work full time, am a Girl Scout Leader, and am the Cookie Chair for the Girl Scout Service Area where I live.

Joshua

Assuming I could go back and talk to myself, I would tell myself that I need to take up better study habits. Freshman year is nothing like Freshman year in high school. You have to adjust to being in a larger place, without a "home" to go to. You don't know anyone yet. Study habits kind of take a back seat when you're trying ot find out where you fit in. But I would want myself to find and keep great study habits through the adversity of being alone in a sea of faces. Lucky enough for me, Blackburn was still quite a bit smaller than many other colleges, so it was an easier transition. However, my study habits still faltered Freshman year of college.

Reginald

Do not be afraid of the unknown. The unknown gives you time to think, prepare, and encourage yourself. Be open to other people and experiences that are meant to help you grow. Avoid the experiences that seem less positive and begin to live your life for yourself. College is supposed to be the best years of your life, but only you can make it that way. So study hard, relax, but also open yourself to everything that is provided to you. Make a wide variety of friends, including the upper level students and people in administration. They will help guide you. Even teachers are here to help you suceed. Don't be afraid to ask for help, in fact I encourage you to. The reasources are readily available. Use them even in the begining.

Bonnie

Soon you will realize the extent to which your parents care for you. Soon you will miss your mother barking orders to get the work of the day underway. Soon you will take care of yourself. Try it while you are still at home. Address problems on your own. Soon no one will remind you to get out of bed, get to class, make a doctor's appointment, or eat healthily. When you go to college, life will change suddenly. Learn to take care of yourself while still at home. Then carry that self-aid with you to college - a new world with new friends to be made and new facts to learn and few similarities to home. Learning to function separately from your family is not to be feared. It will make you a responsible, competent community member. Accept opportunity and use your resources. If you do not know how to handle a situation, someone else does know. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness. To the contrary, asking for help can take you one step closer to being an independent, contributing member of society. Take charge of your life now.

Tyler

Never make assumptions on what is to come. In college, plans are never definite so the words "flexibility", "priority", and "open-mindedness" become the three most important words. Also, your friends and your classmates can become your greatest allies. No great city can ever be built alone and neither can any great future. It takes support and care and getting by with a little help from your friends to succeed. College is an exciting place. There is so much to do and so much scheduling and personal prioritizing to do which makes it a very intimidating place. The fear of debt should also be put to the wayside. You will not get every scholarship you apply for and student loans can be a savior. Without them, you will not get the education you need. Of course it is debt to pay off later but, without this debt, you will never get the opportunity and, with some determination, you will be living the American dream. Mainly, do not worry and do not fret the small things. Do not setbacks and losses as major. Because when you lose, do not lose the lesson.

Shawn

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to do as many scholarships as possible, even if I didn't think I would get it. I would also tell myself to talk with the guidance counselor as much as possible to figure out what is the best ways to pay for college. Then I would also tell myself to use all of the college days allowed so as to check out the colleges before hand. Finally, I would tell myself to take classes that will count towards college credits.

Luke

If I was able to go back in time and advise myself, as a high school senior, I would first demand myself to be prepared. Blackburn College is a relatively small college (with a current enrollment of approximately 630 full-time students) and, when I first started here as a freshman, it felt like my high school "on steroids." It was with this mentality that I quickly slipped into a muddle of schoolwork, extracurricular activities, on-campus jobs, and personal relationships; so, I would tell myself to beware of the consequences of taking on too much right out of the starting gate. Also, the teachings in high school are much different than those in college. High school is generally just a presentation of materials that need picked up and crammed away for later reference. In college however, a person must actually learn the material and be able to build off of it, develop separate ideas and conclusions, and contradict their traditions in light of new knowledge. So what advice would I give myself back in high school? ?Learn, mature, and prepare before you get to college because from that point on you are an adult and must act accordingly.?

Kari

I would say that you have to look at what the student is comfortable with and what they are looking for. Sometimes making choices based on the finaces is needed, but if the student is looking for new experiences then that must be taken into consideration when finding a school. If they are from a small town then going to a small school will help they grow and they will end up getting into trouble. On the otherhand if they only know small communities and are comfortable there then sending them to a big school will result in dissonance and depression. Parents needs to find a school that both meets their finacial needs while at the same time meet the social/lifestyle needs of their student. Only once both are met will their students really succeed!

Madalyn

Keep your options open, and go on many campus visits before making your decesion.

Sara

Make sure that they stay on campus at least for the first year. That way they get to experence the college life and make new friends. Always give them money when you can, college students are broke all of the time and a dollar is alot of money to us so help us out!

Aubrey

You can go to the best school in the country and have a horrible time or you can go to the worst school in the country and have a great time. Your experience is what you make of it and what you put in to it.

Timothy

Be very picky. There is no reason to rush into anything. Set goals that you expect from your college, and search based on them. Once you are there, have an open door policy. Let other students walk by and look into your room. It is important to find friends, good ones, that will support you and keep you on the right track.

Jesse

Make sure you know what you want in a school. Large campus, small campus, class sizes. This is very important in deciding on a campus. Some students enjoy a large campus, while others like some of my friends enjoy small class sizes. Schools may have one proffessor to upwards to 100 students. Some may have a 1:20 ratio. Smaller class sizes can allow for a more one on one learning experience. Also tuition, room and board are also important. Some people can't afford the expensive institutions. Some schools have affordable prices with a great learning experience. Always remember to keep an eye on the price, but remember to balance that with the education. Look and see what kind of programs the school offers. What kinds of internships are available and the learning experiences. Some schools are good at helping students find a job or preparing for graduate school. So these are important to keep in mind. The campus life is important for students and parents should help their children find teh school that best suites their needs within the restrictions of the family and of the student.

Matthew

choose this school if you are looking for the small town/ small school atmosphere

Rianne

Don't be afraid to experiment over who you really are, as an individual. Your parents and friends aren't always right, and there will be times when you'll have to make and learn from tough choices. If your school has an opportunity to travel abroad, I recommend you take it. Its a real eye-opener to how the world truly is.

Ashley

If I were to give any advice to parents or students who are trying to find the perfect college for them I would encourage them to look at more than one school. I would stress that the student get a tour of the campus during the school year to get a feel of what the classes are like and how students interact with each other. Some campuses may also offer the student to spend the night in the dorm for a night, if that is an option take full advantage of it. Apply to more than one college, it's always best to keep your options open. As for the student making the college experience the best years they will experience there are so many things they can do. First and foremost, get involved in school activities as much as you can. Putting yourself out there and stepping out of your shell will help you make lots of friends and also build networks you can use in the future. Finally, have fun! College is the best years of your life, enjoy it to the fullest while you can because those four years will come to an end very quickly.

Mitchell

If your child has any idea of what field they would like to study, my recommendation would be to research which schools have the top program in the state or out of state in which they would be interested in. Apply to as many schools as would be necessary and visit the campus as well to get a better feeling if the student would be comfortable to live, study, and enjoy their time there. I have lived in the dormitory for the past three years and would not trade it for anything. The lifestyle with other students gives the opportunity to have friends and make friends for the future years. All in all, researching, figuring out what would be financially best, visiting campus', and living in the dormitories would be most beneficial.

Rhiannon

It is very important to find the right college not only for the student but also for the student's parents. The best advice I could give someone would be to make a list of the things you are looking for in a college. This list should include the price range, distance from home, and the desired. Students should also consider what kind of classroom environment they want. Would the student prefer large lecture halls, classes taught by teaching assistants, or smaller more intimate classes with professors. Also it is important to make sure the colleges being considered offer the intended major and if they offer any kind of internships or job placement programs. Another important thing to consider is housing and parking. Know what is available from each college. Parking can be a very high, unexpected expense. The most important advice I can offer when selecting a college is to visit the prospective schools. Ask to see some of the classrooms and dorm rooms. If possible, meet with some of the professors or sit in on a class. It is important that students find the right fit for these defining years of their lives.

Rachel

In order to choose the right school for you, one truly important aspect to consider is the size. I never thought that the size of my school would matter but it has made the greatest impact on my education. I chose a small school because of the importance that is placed on education. When you choose a small school you reap the benefits of having close relationships with professors. These relationships often make it easier for a student to ask for help and it is always a benefit having a professor know you well enough to give you a reference later on in life. The small school atmosphere is great for truly learning and fostering a social life as well. Forming relationships with others is also a large part of college and a small school forces students to break through their boundaries and embrace the differences in people. This life lesson makes the college experience a completely new and rewarding adventure that no one could forget.