Bucks County Community College Top Questions

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

Collin

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself a heavy dose of reality. For financial reasons, I knew I was going to Bucks County Community College since my sophomore year. As a result, I didn't take it seriously. After all, everyone gets into community college. Early on in my college career, I found the general education courses to be dreadfully easy. This only added to the facade that community college was simply an extension of high school. As I progress with my business degree, the more complicated mathematics courses are standing in the way of my transfer to Temple University. This is where my naive high school self has created a painfully stressful environment. The mathematical content that I rolled my eyes over in high school and didn't take seriously are now coming back to bite me. If you have ever been required to take a calculus course, you know how dependent become on your factoring practice over the years. High school Collin Mazer thought math was unimportant and useless, and now college Collin Mazer is paying a grave price. Take school seriously.

Kevin

I already knew that I would be going to a community college because my family and I could not afford a four year school. At first I was discouraged; feeling like I won’t have the full college experience. It was the first stepping stone of a new chapter of a new book I was about to write in my life. From my short time at Bucks I have learned not to rush anything. Whether it may be test in financial accounting or just wanting the next two months to fly by so I could visit my friends at another college. I’ve also learned that the stigma of community college is overrated and underestimated. The school has plenty of programs to help students. Finally, the last tidbit of advice I would give myself would try to understand the concept of change. It’s very hard to understand the various parts of life that constantly change in your life with friends moving away, pressure of success or the passing of a loved one. Once you understand the notion that the one constant in life is change, then life itself becomes a little bit easier.

Yuliya

Go to a university instead of community college

Ryan

Ignore what your dad will say, apply for scholarships. It will make paying for everything much easier. He went to college over 30 years ago, and he does not know what he is talking about. He will think that going to community college will be enough to reduce the cost to a reasonable amount, but he will be totally wrong. Additionally, what he will want is not the same thing as what you will want. Already having $10,000 will make convincing him that the college you want to go to is the right college much easier. Try to find a job that pays more than bussing and dishwashing. There are other people your age making twice as much as you waitering, so finding a job like that is not impossible. The less dependent you will be on loans the better.

angela

The advice I would give my past self is too not take high school for granted. I would tell her that it would of been a good idea to look for scholarships rather than now. College is money.

Ryan

The advice I would give myself would of the wisest statement. To stay on the course you chose back in highschool and not let anyone deter you regardless of who they are and what they think they know.

Kimberly

Senior year of high school is a stressful, yet exciting time. With the college application process, perfecting those SAT scores, and focusing on academics all at the same time, can cartainly be a challenge. Senior year is the most important year of highschool. It determines how much you will be awarded for scholarships, what school's you'll get accepted to, and is the next big step for marvelous future endeavours. As graduation approaches closer and closer, the excitment of being released from gradeschool and into the college world grows bigger and bigger. This makes for distractions, and loss of motivation, also known as "senioritis". If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to perservere through the temptations of slacking on assignments, and strived to gain the most out of the last few weeks of being a senior.

Ira

In high school, I thought I knew it all and I was impervious to the hassles of growing up. I was wrong yet I took no initiative to learn or to grow mentally. In the long run, I did not utilize advisors at school and picked my classes based off of what I wanted to take. This was not a smart decision. I ended my first run at school in 2010 because from the look of my transcript, I was a Math, Music, and Liberal Arts major; I was getting nowhere fast. It took a lot of soul searching and research to find out what my true passion was: electrical engineering. So I took off to learn all I could so I could go to school again and prosper with a wealth of knowledge, and with a 4.0 GPA. I would tell myself “do not take school for granted and follow your one true path.” I did not realize I could always have hobbies. I thought I had to be an expert in everything all at once, yet from my experience, this did not work. My high school self would thank me for giving these words of wisdom.

Cassandra

If I would take to my high school self about college I would tell myself to choose the career path that I truly wanted to do. When I started attending college, I choose the major my parents wanted me to do and I hated it, I did not do well in classes, I was upset all the time, but I finally had confidence and told my parents what I really wanted to do and chnaged my major. But now it is hard to flip between majors and change classes. But finally everything is going to plan, and the way I see my future, but I wish I would have done it earlier.

Tory

Don't be afraid to ask for or seek out help. Who cares what people have to say. It's okay to struggle. Do what you need to do to succeed in life. You have to live with your decisions, no one else.

Austin

My College experience has been much like a tide pool. When I left Highschool I did not have an idea, clue, or even a direction to go in. There were things that excited me and subjects that bored the youth out of me. I attended Florida Community College of Jacksonville to work towards an Associates Degree while I found that direction. I can honestly say the first two years I attended Florida Communtiy College I did not grow much as a person. I left school to persue the dream of becoming a professional musician and think about what I should do. I came back to school a year later and while I now had a direction I was more involved in school than ever. I have since become a music major working towards a degree in which I can teach music. Before I was just a kid going to class to get it a degree, now the tide has gone out. I feel free in a world of an ocean to explore my possiblities. My experience have more than broadened my communication skills; worth its weight in gold. Without that I would skill its a big world out there.

Mollie

Well I have recieved a sense of self and what I am worth in this life. I want nothing more than for my mother to have someone to be proud of. and i would like to be proud of me too! i want to provide an important servicein the medical field as an ultrasound and sonograph tech. I have been a top of the line certifed bartender for 8 years, and performing the trade for ten years. My mother is a phlebotomist at Charleston, South Carolina's Roper St. Francis hospital for almost 11 years and she has taught me alot. i need and want stability in my work, schedule, and pay for the rest of my life. That is why this is so valuable to me.

Allyson

During my freshman year at Johnson and Wales University, I applied and was accepted for RA training, a program that emphasized counseling and aiding students. This training and my subsequent experiences as a mentor awakened an interest in psychology. I then made a decision to come home and spend a year at our local Community College. I am now completing my sophomore year, taking the most challenging courses I have encountered in my education. I have maintained exemplary grades; I can measure my success as a student by my acceptance into Phi Theta Kappa. I am particularly excited about taking classes in different disciplines that will broaden my knowledge. The prospect of undertaking research conducted by esteemed professors frankly thrills me. My goals are ambitious and lofty: I hope to successfully complete undergraduate school with an eye towards a doctorate in clinical psychology. I also hope to work with returning and recovering war veterans. The decisions that I made to transfer, to attend community college, and to complete the subsequent steps toward achieving this goal have matured me. I have learned not to go blindly forward, and I also learned that sometimes changing one?s mind is for the best.

Cassandra

The classes at this school were very interesting, especially the literature classes. I took a few literature classes while I attended and realized out of everything I took I found them to be the most enjoyable. This helped me understand that I should switch my major to an english one and that the career I would probably most enjoy would be in teaching. So even though I didn't enjoy this school all that much it atleast helped me figure out where I wanted to go in life.

Felicia

Yes, I would fully be prepared for the road a head. I would certainly have had the confidence to attend college after high school instead of waiting so many years. I would have opted to attend school in another state, and fully enjoy the college experience.

Justen

Justen, you are about to make one of the biggest transitions in your life. The decisions you make will affect your entire life. Do not be afraid to ask questions, as it is your responsibility to ensure that you are being guided correctly towards your goals. Be confident in yourself and follow your dreams. Know that anything is possible with dedication and hard work. Do not allow yourself to get discouraged, as the road ahead will be a long one. You will encounter obstacles along the way, embrace them as a new experience and learn from them. Ask for help if you find you need it, there is no shame in asking. You are your best advocate.

Bradley

If I could go back in time and visit my self as a senior in high school, I would wear very large steel toe boots to give myself a swift kick in the rear! Until recently I never took school seriously. Yes, I was more than capable, but just didn't apply myself. After high school, I attepted college, but was defintely not ready for the responsibility that accompanied. I instead joined the U.S. Coast Guard and spent 4 miraculous years on Oahu, HI. Since my separation, I worked very hard in multiple fields, non which made me happy. I started a family and have three terrific children. Frustrated, and wanting more for my family, I decided to go back to school. I am now very dedicated to obtaining a degree and learning. I only wish I had done so when thats all I had to worry about. My list of responsiblities is far more now than when I lived with my parents and only had to go to school. I appreciate more now . If I could go back in time I would tell my story and hopefully I would listen, but still wear the boots just in case.

Kelsey

I was tell myself to be prepared to not have everything spoonfed to you. In college, there are things you just have do to by yourself. My high school did not prepare me for the way professors teach and lecture in college. I also would tell myself to save a lot more money for books and classes.

Patrick

Don't panic! It''s not as hard as you think it's going to be. Getting your foot in the door and getting into college I repeat, is a relatively simple deal. You'll make new friends, and you'll keep the old ones that really count so don't be so afraid of something that's going to turn out so good. I know that you love it where you are now and you'll miss how you live now... but don't be afraid to try new things. You're young and won't get these opportunities forever, so be young while you can. You'll really enjoy yourself.

Stephanie

I wouldn't be able to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior because I never allowed myself to get that far. I quit before I was ahead. If I could go back and talk to me, I'd tell me that it's worth it. All the fear, all the time spent, is worth it in the end. What you're doing is important. What your doing will change your life. You are going to struggle, you are going to stay up till you can see anymore, but in the end it will pay off.

Jackie

For some students, it's exciting. For others, it's shear fear. If you are looking to enhance your lifestyle or just make minor adjustments in helping to boost your career, then continuing your education at a community college is something to consider. There are so many areas of study for you to choose from like nursing, police administration, and education. Going to college can seem scary or a waist of time, however, continuing your education at a community college will only help make you stronger and successful. By facing your fears of going to a new a school and taking test all over again, will make you a stronger person. Fear is the most powerful force you have over yourself. You can not let fear get in the way of the things you want, otherwise, you are doomed in moving forward in your life. Once you have completed the task of facing one fear, the others become a little easier, therefore, making you a stonger person. When you complete your degree, or just a class, success has been acheived. There is no greater feeling than that, and you will feel empowered. Fight the fear. Aim for success.

Talen

Honestly the only thing i would change is to take senior year more seriusly, i love the college system, i don't mind the work, so i would tell myself, get through senior year and really work hard. i would know then that senior year is really the last year of waking up at 5 in the morning, going to school 7 hours a day, and going all week! Knowing that college is more freelance is awsome. So i think i would of enjoyed senior year alot more then i did knowing what i know now.

dawaynna

If I had a chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know from my college life, there is some advice I could?ve given myself. My advice would be that there?s no time for slacking because every thing you do for your senior year is more important than any other work you?ve done in the past. All the work that you put into school will determine whether or not you graduate. For instance, you need to study for all quizzes, do every homework/class work assignment and project that you get, make sure that you done all the work to the best of your ability and hand the work in on time. When you get to college, your presence and working ability are going to be your two main responsibilities to maintain while your in school because there?s no one in college to really give you second chances and baby you all the way. You really have to focus, work harder than you ever have before and always be present and on time so you wont miss anything and wont be dropped from your class.

Matt

In high school the college workload seemed insurmountable. Multiple 3-page essays due on a single day, exams that last 3 hours, and teachers who don't coordinate how much homework they're giving you? No, thank you. At least in high school you knew the work will never overwhelm you unless it was your own fault for not doing it. College was the prospect of having an all-nighter every night, and not because of procrastination problems! The workload really isn't that bad at all, I'd tell myself. You have more to do, yes. But you have a lot less busy work to do. Class time isn't wasted as much, either, and professors are cool about letting you get started on homework even before you leave. No one holds your hand, but it gives you a lot more leeway to develop the style you best work in. Bottom line: learn now how you best work and keep at doing it. It will make college much less daunting!

Megan

One important thing to remember in high school as a senior is to take everything your teachers say literally. They have been through college and know what is ahead of all seniors that are going to attend college. Do your best in high school. This last year of high school still counts. It is not a time to relax and slack since it is your last year. Take your time at everything you do and do not rush through things to get it out of the way. College is not for everyone, but it makes a great difference in the future. Take the time to think about what you want to do in the future. You are making a very important decision so make it worth the thought. Do your absolute best and do what you think is right for you.

Maggie

The best advice I could have given myself was to not listen to other people and tell myself I can do it! I didn't believe in myself enough and that is half the battle. I was 17 in 1977. Going to college after high school would have changed my life. At 49 the transition is scarier than at 17. I would tell myself that I have my whole life ahead of me and that I can do anything. Believing in yourself makes all the difference. That's the difference between now and then. At this stage I know I can do it. At 17 I should have known I could do it. When you are 17, you have all the time in the world to go to college and make a life for yourself. At 49, you have to play catch up. I would have told myself that I should trust in myself and believe in the possibilities. At 17 the possibilities are endless. At 49 they realistic.

Amanda

Often times I wish there was a way to could go back now at age 20 to when I was a senior in high school. At that time I felt like I could rule the world, and I meant it. I thought that because I was mainly interested in drawing and painting that I did not require a college education. As soon as four months after my high school graduation I started to see that my initial view toward college was all very wrong. Though I am working hard at my college education now and planning on going to Savannah College of Art and Design in the fall, I would have told my 17 year old self to start working on getting into college now, and stop blowing the money that you are making at Perkins on over priced coffees and trips to amusement parks. I would have told myself to save as much money as possible so that you won't have to work so hard when you are twenty and you will be able to focus on school. Also I would have said apply to an art school now so you can start working on getting your degree.

Allison

If I could go back I would tell myself that there is nothing much that you can do to prepare for the real world. All that you can do is your best and to participate in as much as possible, in order to get the scholarships before graduationg. I would tell myself that college is fun and you meet so many new people and that everyday you learn something new whether it be in school or about yourself. You have to work hard because the best things in life are not free and nothing is worth having unless you worked for it yourself. I would also tell myself to keep my grades up, this isn't intirerly important but it sure does help. The most important thing is to just take it all in and just breathe, be proud of the fact that you have made it this far, and good luck.

ALLISON

If I were to go back in time to when I was a senior there are a few things I would tell myself. First, I would have stayed for my senior year instead of starting college a year early like I did. There a lot of things I missed out on by trying to get ahead. I would have gone away to school instead of going to a local college. There are a lot of expirences I missed there as well. And finally, I would not let myself take a couple years off like I did because I would be working on my Masters now instead of finishing my bachelors.

Hubert

When I could go back to my high school times and give myself an advice I would definetly put more effort in studying, I would also learn how to read everything that concerns me because in college life there is a lot going on and you have to know certain stuff, If you don't read you may find yourself lost. Teaching system in college is completly different than in high school, here going over one chapter in book takes half the lecture while in high school it takes few days of a class. Everything is going faster, there is more stuff to learn, more things to be memorized. Also lots of things are being repeted from high school classes and now I regret that I didn't pay enough attention on them. College life costs a lot of money, so I would sugest for high school students to find a work If your parents are not rich enough to pay your expenses, commuting, food, books, classes, everything is expensive.