Catawba Valley Community College Top Questions

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

Joel

Hey, self, you should definitely go to community college before going to a four-year institution. Why? Because it costs a whole lot less in the long term and can hopefully allow you to stay living at home, which is a whole lot cheaper. Yeah, I know, it seems nice to jump right to a four-year university and be off and independent on your own at a nice fancy campus, but let's be realistic. No matter how glamorous that might seem, it's a whole lot less practical (and a whole lot more difficult) to take all four years of classes at a expensive university instead of a much less expensive community college. So yeah, self, you should definitely go to a community college first.

Victoria

As soon as I graduated high school I couldnt wait to get out of there, so I took off to a University. Well that didnt work out too well. I slacked off pretty bad. The work was hard and I was always running off to NY to get away from the stress. I would have told myself to never go off to a university, but to stay and go to community college then transfer. Plus I would have strived to get better grades. I had a 3.2 GPA when I graduated high school, but now I have a 4.0 because I study so hard.

NATALIE

I would have study math more, Took more classes in Reading and heath. Started early on getting a scholarship for school.

Marla

I talk about this frequently to my children and to others. I would definitely go to college right after high school graduation. It is very difficult to attend college with 3 children at 39 years of age, but it can be accomplished. Education would be first on my list if I could turn back the clock and I would not stop with my bachelor's degree. Life-long learning would be my motto.

Noah

Throughout my entire academic career at Catawba Valley Community College, I have noted one very critical habit that should be developed in every college student and even in every mature adult. This key trait that develops with time and practice is preparation. Preparation is the key to being successful in today's world, whether in school, at work, or in the everyday aspects of our lives. The student who is prepared is able to adapt to and overcome the difficult tasks that are a part of every college student's life. Being prepared from the very first gives a student the advantage of being highly competitive when it really counts. Whether it be dealing with applications, scholarships, studying for a test, working on a research paper, or any other number of assignments that can arise in a college student's life, preparation is always necessary to excel. Therefore, if I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise my former self to start early and prepare in every possible way to better improve my skills and prepare myself for the challenge of transition to college life.

Chonburi

As of right now, I am currently a high school senior and a sophmore in college. If my time in college has taught me anything, it is that college is NOT one's high school. There is no room for play like there was in High School. There is, of course, time where one can take off to enjoy oneself but for most of the college experience, failure to set up a schedule will eventually mean the end of one's college experience. In college, time management is one of the biggest factor that causes many students to fail. Because most students are not prepared from the transition from high school to college, they do not know this, which, in return, causes them to fall when they enter college. All in all, stay focused, try to avoid the many distractions that college may throw one's way and the college experience will be slightly easier.