Butler University Top Questions

Dear Em,

If I could tell anything to my former high school senior self about college, then I would tell him that grades are not everything a university will look at. Throughout my high school career, I spent too much time fretting about my grades that I lost sight of other important things that colleges desire in a student, such as community work, SAT and ACT scores, and extracurricular activities. If I knew what I know now about the college selection process, then I would have devoted myself to studying for standardized tests more often and I would have participated in at least one community service project and/or extracurricular organization during my senior year.

Be prepared for anything and everything. College life is much different than you're life in high school. Know that the change is coming and embrace every opportunity put before you. Don't be afraid to try new things because in college every experience will be something new and exciting. Don't be so set in your schedule that you miss the little things because those little things will become the moments that you remember forever. Also know that it's okay not to have a plan for everything, actually it's practically impossible in college. Sometimes you just have to let situations work themselves out and let what happens happen. Most of all, never forget how blessed you are to have the opportunity to attend college and never foreget where you come from and the peope who helped you get to this point in your life.

If I could give a piece of advice to my high school senior self it would be that the best and closest friends will be made in college. I would tell myself not to worry about fitting in because a lot will change for the better after being accepted into Butler. Above all, do not doubt my decision to be a theatre major, it is the best decision I will ever make. It will give me purpose and ultimately allow me to give back to the communtiy and help those who have also lost a parent to cancer.

Through just one year of college, I have been changed. If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school senior year self things I learned and know now. 1. Do not buy books from the university bookstore. They are typically overpriced and you can get same exact books for a much better price at Amazon, Chegg, etc. Compare prices before making the purchase. n 2. Step out of your comfort zone. This will bring about many new and unforgettable memories and friendships. 3. Even though life is changing and moving fast, still keep in touch with old friends. The true friends will try and keep in contact with you. 4. Manage your time wisely. In college, there is a lot more free time. Be sure to plan your time that way you do not fall behind. 5. Take naps. If there is time, take a nap. You will feel much more energizered afterwards and it helps you stay focused. 6. If you need help in classes or anywhere really, ask. Do not wait until its too late before asking! 7. Save some time to just have fun and make unforgettable memories of your college years.

Dear Jessica, Congratulations on all of your accomplishments. You should be deeply thankful for the gifts you have been given. I know that you are nervous about starting a new chapter in your own book of life, but I urge you to not be. Live every second like it is your last for you never get that second back. Even if you can't see why, every experience you have is meaningful to your life and who you are in some way. College is going to be wonderful, make friends with everyone and don’t be afraid to be your goofy, fun-loving, studious, dedicated self because people will admire and respect you for those qualities. Take interest in the classes that, by title, may not sound particularly appealing. It is so much easier to be successful in a topic in which you are interested. With that said, remember that everything is worth studying and your brain can never be too full. Even if some information seems useless remember that no knowledge is useless knowledge. Most importantly, don’t forget to laugh. Laughter is truly the best medicine. It betters even the worst of days. This really is you, Yourself

When someting goes wrong, it's common, to wish to turn back time. It's a part of life, and we know we can't magically go back to the past to fix what was wrong. The least we can do is try to pass our knowledge on to those who might make the same mistakes. My reality check happened my freshman year. One Tuesday afternoon in November, I had a nauseating amount of work to do. So I fell asleep to escape from it. When I woke up, I was appalled at myself. How had I, the girl with straight A's in high school, turned into this lazy person who couldn't prioritize? My Achilles Heel was that I had never listened when people said college is harder than high school. I thought since I'd breezed through high school, college would be no different. Once I had my reality check, I turned things around. I learned to balance school and my social life. Now, I am a much better student and person for it. I'm glad we can' turn back time. Every mistake is an opportunity to learn a lesson.

The first thing I would tell myself would be to enjoy the little things at home and don't take them for granted before you leave. Once you move, you lose things you don't realize that you had before. Like your childhood. Although college is such an exciting time, it's really the first time in your life that you're forced to be independent. You don't have mom or dad to come home to and solve your problems. So before you're quick to ignore their advice when you're still in high school, think about what it would actually be like to not have them there for you everyday, because that is what it is like everyday in college. You don't really realize what you have until it's gone, so make sure to cherish little things about your family and home town and just your childhood in general before you take that next big step in your life.

It is very simple. The biggest advice I would give myself is to be patient. Senior year is just a rush. One rushes to finish exams, courses, high schools, and get out of ones house. All I remember is that I could not wait for the day to leave but now that I am gone I realize, I did not appreciate all the things I had at home and how much I miss them. The day came and I left, but I wish the last year would have been more focued on "what is happening now" rather than "what is about to happen."

I would tell myself not to be afraid to have some fun. My freshman year of college consisted of nothing but studying and academia. I still want to have the same success throughout my college career, but I need to be able to let loose and have some good times with my friends at the same time.

I wish that as a high school senior I would have filled out more scholarship applications. I thought I had everything planned perfectly; I was taking dual credit college classes, I had already been accepted into a college in the area I wanted to live in and I was fourth in my class, and I started early with scholarship applications, the only problem was I did not fill out nearly as many as I should have. I would estimate that I filled out about two hundred applications for scholarships, if I had known I would only receive one I would have filled out two thousand more. So that is what I am doing now as a college student struggling to get into a nursing program at a university. I also felt so unprepared in the studying aspect of college, because high school had always come so easy to me. It took a year to finally get to the point of studying the right material for the test I was preparing for. I am however, on the right track now.

I would tell myself to take harder classes as a senior. Although people want an easy senior year, it pays off to take as many AP classes as possible. College classes are expenesive, so take every opportunity in High School to receive college credit for a high school class. I would also tell myself to go to local businesses to apply for scholarships. I also wish I took the SATs one more time, just to see if my score would improve any.

I would tell myself not to stress about it as much. College is one of the best times, and it is pointless stressing too much about it, especially the decision making. It is best to go with your gut feeling, and they rest will fall into place. I would also tell myself to enjoy it as much as possible. This year has already flown by, and it has been amazing. Some of my best memories have been with the girls in my hall, sorority, and randomly in class. I would tell myself change is perfectly okay, and that everything works out for a reason. Friends come and go, but they are replaced with best friends. I would warn myself to take advantage of every opportunity, and to just remember as much as I can. Time flies, and these memories will last a lifetime.

I am entering my second semester of my freshmen year in college and I can already see that this has been and is going to be a life changing experience. Going to Butler University is the best life decision I have made thus far. I have already discovered a side of me that I did not know existed. I did not know anyone before I came to Butler, which is part of the reason why I believe I have become more outgoing than ever before. I am not so worried what others think of me, for I have learned that some people are going to be like me and some people are going to be different, so there is no need to change myself in order to befriend those who are different. I have found that there are people who will accept me for who I am, so it is unnecessary for me to pretend to be something I am not. I have found an inner-peace since I came to Butler. I have already made incredible friends and learned so much about myself as well as information I will need to perform in my future career as a pharmacist.

In 2010, I would have never guessed that I would be a student at Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. However, now I am proud to say thta I am a Butler Bulldog. In the months that I have been at Butler, I have discovered a lot about myself as a person. I have discovered my independence, my voice, and my ambition. I have been driven to show my character; let it out! I am not as shy as I used to be; I feel urges to do as much as I can. This is in great part due to my school encouraging their students to come out of their comfort zone and explore as many things as they can. Butler University doesn't want you to attend their school to just get a degree and get a career; my school wants you to gain a new experience from their college, discover novel things that will intrigue your mind, and let you out of your bubble. It has been very valuable to me to attend Butler because each day it is developing and shaping me as a person. I am being challenged to observe the various attributes of our society.

I started college right after I graduated from high school in 2010. It was a very exciting experience to start in my opinion because it requires a alot more responsibility and studying. I have really gained a lot of knowledge from the classes I've toke to the study tips and learning how to manage my time. Attending college has been valuable because i enjoy learning new things everyday and I'm very motivated to take anything that will lead me to my career.

“I am a messenger; I shed light on dark issues.” This was my definition of my impact on society for a project this semester. I’ve faced true hardships, but I have seen others shoulder greater burdens, and it has instilled in me a desire to help others see where and how change must happen in our society. Attending Butler University allows me to fulfill this dream. I am a Theatre major, and Butler’s program is experimental. We produce works that have a message, that are unconventional, or that are completely original ideas. Our training makes us well-rounded artists. We are a liberal-arts program; our core classes provide a wealth of knowledge outside of theatre to bolster our artistic work. We are encouraged to pull from all experiences educational, social, internal, and external. In this program, we work with international artists from a variety of backgrounds to expand our training in theatre performance and production. Already, I have seen shows that deal with tolerance, love and loss, the power of our choices, and social change. I have every confidence that the training I receive here prepares me to make that messenger impact on society.

The most I have gotten out of my college experience is the idea of trying something new and the ability to reinvent yourself. Coming to college I was able to become someone new, another person, continue to be who I was in high school, or completely become a new person because no one knew who I was. If there were things that I wanted to change about myself such as my interests, the way I dress, my hair, my likes and dislikes, I would be able to do that without criticism. Also I've been able to try other things that I would not normally try. For example, I tried ultimate Frisbee for the first time which seems unexciting, but for me having a track and basketball background since middle school was stepping out of my comfort zone. I had never heard of the game before, but little things like this such as joining new organizations and new sports made my experience at college so memorable and valuable.

In high school I had gotten good grades with what I thought had been a lot of hard work, but seemed like nothing compared to what I would have to do at Butler. As homework started to pile up in my first days, I quickly developed a sense of organization and time management that I had never before possessed as an admitted procrastinator. My homework was always done on time, often ahead of time. I think that having a job on top of my nineteen credit hours helped with this; the less time I had, the better I managed it. I even used a planner for the first time since middle school. On top of that, I learned that I did not have to choose just one degree to focus on. I thought that by majoring in both pharmacy and English, two fields I love, I could form a symbiotic relationship between the two. I knew that the attention to detail required by each field was slightly different, but each would let me look at the other with a new perspective. These new perspectives have let me look at the world in a whole new way, and I am grateful.

When I was 19 years old, I dropped out of ASU and made extremely immature and poor decisions in my life. This resulted in me learning the hard way that I need to take control of my life and turn a negative experience into a positive one. By making this choice, I've been working full time to save money to go back to school. I don't have quite enough, but I'm 23 years old and am determined to make something of myself and help others. I am obtaining my associates at Phoenix College in January 2011 and will be studying forensic science. I am eager to begin my career in helping to make the world a better place. This scholarship would significantly help me further my education and dedicate my time to school.

I have really grown ever since i have made it to college. Now I am thinking differently and acting differently. I am thinking outside of the box on every creative assignment that I have. This college has my mind going place where I never would have thought it would go. This helps me becasue in the work world you need to be on your toes and thinking outside of the box when the company you work for is looking for new ideas. I am more mature and it is all becasue this college has changed me and helped me become a better and more mature man.

I have grown as an individual in my first few months here at college. I have learned so much about myself, my abilities and my interests. I have developed new skills and have established wonderful relationships. Most importantly, I have become so much more independent and feel like I am on my way to being very prepared for the working world.

college has helped me to advance in not only my career but also in my personal life. I feel like i have accomplished alot by going to school and it has helped with my personal growth and development

I have gained a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the world and how its works because of the liberal arts education I am receiving- I feel I am now more capable of going out into the world and putting myself into situations where I can use my intelligence gained from Butler to promote not only myself as an artist, but my values and opinions as well.

I would say to my previous self, "Follow your passion. Even though you will be stressed financially and academically, don't look at the paycheck, look at the price of not being happy. By the same token, even though you should work hard, remember your priorities. Without a support system, be it a family, a friend, a coach or a mentor, you will fail. You cannot do this alone. You are a smart cookie but that is not enough to get you through life. You must learn to enjoy and love living, or else it is not worth it."

study hard, do not let any one person go and try to change your study habits or inhibit your learning style

Well hello senior! College is exciting and a little bit overwhelming. In the first couple weeks you will have so many different opportunities thrown your way, but just take a deep breath and think about who you are and what is most important to you. Knowing those two things will help you make so many new decisions, like deciding what to get involved in. Also try to remember its ok to take it slow . Getting involved in too many things can distract you from your studies and thats ultimately what you are there for. Do not let anything hold you back from making new friends and having the time of your life.

There is so much advice that I would give myself; I don't even know where to begin. The first thing I would say is choose the place you love and where you feel most at home. Also, don't worry about not knowing anyone when you go to college. There are hundreds of students in the same situation and you'll find people that will become your best friends. School isn't about being the most social. Don't lose focus, and always be yourself. Call your family. They worry about you and you'll never know how much you miss them until it's too late. If you're going to join a sorority, don't worry about where your best friends plan on going. Wherever you end up, you will be happy and they'll be your family. Your friends are your family there, so make sure you take care of each other. And most of all... enjoy college.

In high school I was always a scholar. I remained on honor roll and graduated number 8 in my class as an Honors Graduate. What no one knew was that I was struggling. I was unable to read material that was given to me from my teachers. It would take me too long to complete the reading and ultimately give me a migraine. I expressed the problem mildly to my father but he just told me to continue to practice but that didn't help. I'd learn from notes and class discussions about the reading in order to maintain my grades. I graduated and began my first semester at Butler University with 15 credit hours; you could only imagine the amount of reading that was assigned. I finally met with the disabilities department. I was tested and positive for a reading (learning) disability. Now I have an audio that reads for me but that all took time. I had to get through my whole first semester without it and my grades struggled. Therefore if I could give myself advice then, I would have told myself to get help sooner because I lost confidence but remained determined to make it.

If ever the chance came for me to give advice to my senior self, I would tell myself to not only put forth my full effort in my studies, but also to change the mindset in which I worked. I wish I would have viewed my education not as a childhood requirement, but as the foundation on which the rest of my life would depend for its stability. If I could have viewed my senior year in this way, I may have been more prepared for the rigorous curriculum I am now going through. Instead of viewing my senior year as a moment for good times and memory making, I should have treated it more like a job. Managing my time to include play with a greater devotion to developing academic, disciplinary, and professional skills would have aided me in transitioning into a better, more prepared college student.

If I could give my-senior-self advice about college I would say to apply to a ton of schools, to keep my options open, and to apply to a ton of scholarships to help out my parents. I feel like even if I had 1000 options for colleges I would have still choosen Butler, but I do believe that more options would have been a nice thing, to ensure I could get everything that I want/need from the school I would choose. Also, I have been trying to take financial responsibility for myself and some scholarship money would make things a bit more possible; and applying for them in high school when I had more free time would make more sence than trying to apply for them now. I guess I aould tell myself to listen to the advice of others. They have been through the college experience and they know what they are talking about. Also, I would also tell myself to stay true to myself and it's ok to be wrong. Stumbling into sticky situations and being hurt by friends is all apart of who you become. While it will suck, it's worth it.

Choosing a college was a scary decision, and I always thought that I had to choose the "right" school. I realize now, however, that there are probably many "right" schools for each person. I wish I could go back and tell myself not to worry about whether my school is prestigious enough or whether I am getting enough scholarship money. Now I understand that what was important was that I simply make a decision and explore my new environment. No matter where you go, there will be programs and people you come to love. There will also be aspects of your school that you hate. The important thing is to discover for yourself what you like and do not like. Through this discovery, you come to know yourself in a way you cannot experience until you live on your own. You have the opportunity to take responsibility for your education and your future, and your college or university is merely the vessel you use to accomplish that transformation. I would have faced the same challenges at any institution in one way or another, but what is most important is that I became much more aware of who I really am.

I would tell myself to choose the school that feels right. Dont do anything because you feel like you should, instead make your decision based on how you feel when you walk through the hallways, sit in the classrooms, and meet the other students. I would tell myself to ask questions about the faculty and how they run their classrooms and their relationships with the students and ask students how they feel about their experience at that school. Basically, I would tell myself to be open to anything and everything when considering a school and most importantly, go with my gut because if it feels right then it probably is right!

Make sure that you stick with your homework progress it is very easy to let your studies slack and then it is a huge task to try to make up the grade. Live on campus, it is very challenging to live at home and balance school work and a job. Doing well in classes is the most important thing and any friends who try to get you to slack off with them are not worth it. People you meet will not always be with you the rest of your life, but your grades will follow you. Study as often as possible, but make sure you leave time to do something for yourself, like get into the gym or go see a movie and go out to eat with friends.

Don't be afraid to get involved! Stay busy too because boredom will drive you crazy! And make sure to socialize, don't seculde yourself for convenience.

The advice I would give myself is to retain the study skills that helped me in high school and try to enhance it if necessary because sometimes the way you studied in high school won't apply to college. My first semester experience proved that point towards the end because I had to put more effort into my studies since college classes are tougher. I would also have advised myself to look at the financial aspect of a university because, in the economy we live in right now, a change in circumstance (i.e. job loss) could change how much you can afford a particular school. Even though it is not usually evident freshman year, people from a lower working class family circumstances' can change and students can sometimes be forced to leave school. Lastly, I would advise myself to take advantage of the extra-curricular activities and clubs that are offered at a university. If you were not active in the social aspect in high school, you sometimes have to push yourself to try something new or something that you could have done in high school (I did!). But, remember to balance between your studies and extracurricular activities!

If I were still a high school senior, I would advise myself not to stress so much about the college process. Even though I did not get into my top two schools, I still ended up at a school which was a good fit for me. I also would have advised myself to to AP Statisitcs since it was a better fit for my major than some of the other AP classes I took. If I could redo my college search over, I would also advise myself to make some decisions about what sort of school I wanted to go to. I tried to keep an open mind throughout the college process and as a result I ended up in a Midwest non-ranked business college. After a semester here, I realized that I wanted to go to a east coast ranked business college and as a result I am transferring next semester. If I could redo the entire process over, I would have decided what kind of school I wanted to go to at the beginning of the college process. I would also advise myself to be more organized and submit my applications earlier.

If I could say one thing to my high school self I think it would be: "Be open and learn to let the little things go." I think most people would tell you that college is supposed to be a time of new experiences and learning about yourself. I think that this is true and that college is also about learning to find the balance of living in the moment by having those experiences or trying different things and planning for the future. I think the advice I would give my high school self is a good start at finding that balance.

I heard a lot of people tell me as I was searching for the right college, "Oh, you'll just know once you're on the right campus. It will just feel right!" However, I never got that feeling. Throughout the whole process I felt really confused because I wasn't sure what I truly wanted in a college. I really had to dig deep in myself to figure out what worked best for me. I needed to think about the class sizes, on and off campus opportunities, professors, advisors, campus living, safety, networking, and so much more! Now, for making the most of the college experience--get involved and be social! Honestly, there are so many different organizations, volunteering opportunities, greek life, jobs and more, to experiment with while learning more about yourself and what drives you. However, don't overwhelm yourself to the point where you're no longer enjoying the things you are associating yourself with. Balance and time management are the keys to success! Try and stay positive and don't stress out! My first year at college flew by faster than I could have ever imagined. Don't worry, plan ahead, and be happy!

My advice would be to check out and see if your colleges have programs where you can stay on campus for a night, and follow someone in your respective major. At Butler, we have True Blue, and this solidifed my choice where i wanted to go. To make the most of college, my advice would be "Yes, You can!" Don't think you can't do anything. College is a whole new place to expereince new things,.. It's your opportunity to show people that you can do whatever you want, when you put your mind to it!

The first thing I would tell any family going through the process of choosing a college is to go visit as many schools as possible. Getting the first hand experience of seeing how the campus, class room and student life at the school works gives the potential student an inside opportunity of knowing exactly what goes on at the specific school. After seeing those different schools and how the student might fit in there will narrow down their search. Finding out whether or not they want to attend a big or small school, one with greek life or one with a big sports following are all things that a potential student needs to consider while doing their college research.

Most importantly, do research and make sure to visit the campus before you decide. If I wouldn't have visited the universities I had been accepted to, I wouldn't be where I am now. If possible, get your own personal tour rather than a big group tour so your experience is more real and your questions can be more truthfully answered. I was able to visit my campus and they matched me up with a student who had the same major and interests as I did, and I got to spend the day going to her classes and seeing what the campus and dorms were really like. This is the most valuable experience you can have while you are in the decision process. The simple fact that my school offered these types of tour options says a lot about what type of university it is. Next, discover which place offers the best program to meet your academic interests, but also consider aspects such as greek life, extracurriculars, housing, dining, and class size. Don't be afraid to take a chance if it means you will be happy and moving toward your goals.

It is always a hard experience for parents to send their child to college. I would start my search with my choice of major and then select the schools that offer the best programs. If you have no idea what you want to major in, thats okay! You can always go as an undecided major for the first year and see if anything strikes your interest. Also, Think of other things that you want in a school. Big or small? City or farms? Once you get an idea of a few schools you like, go take a tour! Getting a chance to see the campus and talk to some of the students is a great way to help make the big decision. When you are there, talk to someone in the financial aid office and find out what the costs are and what kind of financial aid is offered (scholarships, grants, loans, etc.). Also, get your applications sent in as soon as you can! Even if you aren't positive that you want to go to school there. Just in case! Good Luck!

I think it is important to be open minded. Also, don't make a quick decision. Its good to take time and think things through. The last thing is never ever let anyone decided where you should go to school but yourself.

The key thing to do is find 3 schools which you really like that all have a variety of majors you are interested in. Make sure you are in a area (city or urban) you want to be in and it has all the opportunities that will make you successful after you graduate. Visit each of these schools multiple times to make sure they are the right place for you. When you find out which schools you are accepted to, figure out your financial situation and what school will offer you the best deal. When you first go off to college keep an open mind to everyone and everything, and don't act like you are better than anyone else. Keep your options open you will never know if, for example greek life or student government, is the place where you will fit in the most. Once you find a niche, stick to it and try to advance your position in those couple organizations. Do not try to overwhelm yourself and do to many things though because you do not want to forget you are there to earn a degree. You need to find a balance of fun and work.

Do your research. Pick a college that offers activities that fit your students life style. Do not let finances be the deciding factor, where there is a will there will always be a way. Make sure to go on a tour of the campus before decided, especially of the dorms.

The best advice I could give an incoming college student and/ or parent helping their child in selecting a school would be to first take time to think about what area of concentration is the student/child most interested in. Many students enter into college without a selected major and when they realize their passion some also realize that their school does not offer the best education in that area. After taking this into consideration it would be most beneficial for that student to search for schools that meet those standards and also (preferably) offers a well rounded education that will benefit the student in the long run. Always visit every school before making a decision. Take advantage of programs for incoming students to get the best feel possible and definately look into scholarship opportunities available. The less one has to worry about tuition costs the more one can concentrate on their studies and enjoy their experience.

The best way to get a feel for a University is to visit the campus. Once you visit the campus and talk to some of the people there you will know immediately if it is right for you because it will just feel right. Look at the University as you would a new home because that will be where you spend most of your time. Food is important. Taste it. If you do not like the food do not go there. That 's what you will be eating. If you don't know quite yet what you want to do with the rest of your life, choose a few majors you may be interested in and make sure your choices have all of those just in case you change your mind a few times. Do thourough research into the costs of attendance by calling the financial aid office of the University. Don't be afraid to try new things or to be yourself. Try to establish a routine and manage your time effectively is very important. Time management is an absolutely neccessary component to excelling in college and future career. These things will be crucial to your success in college.

Visit the schools on a school day, so you can see what the campus and students are really like. Ask alot of questions, shadow a student, sit in on a class, do everything you can to get a full experience from your visit. After that, trust your gut. Make a decision and go with it, make the most of it and it will all be great!

Look at what suits your needs best: consider social life, cost of attending for four years, range of majors offered, career placement services