Cedarville University Top Questions

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

Zach

The biggest transition for me at college was the ability to adjust to a roomate who was extremely different than myself. If two polar extremes are possible, that would describe our situation. Being a social animal, one who loves people, loud music, disorder of every kind, and late nights living with one who is quiet, introverted and lives an order-filled existence including early-to-bed times was, needless to say, a challenge. I would tell myself in high school to go out of my way to understand and accomodate those who are different than myself. I have always surrounded myself with like-minded individuals and had liitle to do with those who were outside my comfort zone, however, after working through these personality differences this year, I have learned to appreciate those differences and have become a person who is more well-rounded, flexible, and other-centered. I have become friends with my roommate who I would never have sought out for myself. I am being exposed to music, habits, and a life style that at first rubbed me the wrong way and now am learning slowly that being different is not necessarily a bad thing.

Tyson

The first thing in which I would tell myself to actually make the decision to go to a four year school right out of high school. I would tell myself that it was my calling to attend Cedarville University and ever since being here on campus, I have grown not only individually, but also spiritually as well. Along with the fact that I have found the area of study that I know that I am supposed to be in. I would convince myself of the fact that I really do love sports and why would I not want to go to school and learn about sports. Along with that why would I not want to get paid to do something in which I love. Everyone always says that you should go into something that you love doing, so why not major in sports management.

Cora

College is not what you are picturing right now. It is a far cry from anything that TV or movies show ? just like High School Musical did not come close to portraying the reality of high school. Picture your biggest workload you?ve had in high school, double it, and add the fact that your favorite event is that night. That?s what college life is like ? a balance between reading books for classes and socializing with all the people you meet. Beware of the temptation to slack off during your senior year. It may not seem important because everyone else is doing it, but your senior year teaches you perseverance and what you are learning now will come up again in college. The big transition to living in the dorms rather than with your mom and dad and not seeing your old friends is going to be hard, but every college freshman living in the dorms is experiencing it too (and we now have cell phones and Facebook thanks to technology, so you can still keep in touch). Above all else, remember you are not alone; there are people all around you who are willing to help you through.

Ves

You need to understand that college is going to require a lot of reading. You need to be able to concentrate, even when everyone else around you wants to goof off. Stay true to yourself. Don't let others change your beliefs. Surround yourself with people who believe in God. They don't have to have the exact same religion. You can disagree on denominational ideals as long as you all believe in the Biblical truths. Be willing to voice your opinion in class. Professors like to hear your ideas and quesitons. Learning is listening to and discussing different ideas. Get your ideas out there. You ideas are worth hearing. Most of all, keep your goal in focus. Strive for what you want and if you find that you have changed your mind, research it, talk to you professors and counslers. Make sure you know what is involved and make sure it is right for you.

Joy

The transition to college is huge, but is something that you can successfully accomplish. It?s very important to be dedicated from the start. View your role as a student as your full time job. When you start in the fall, it is easy to be lulled into a sense of false security only to wake up a month into your new career, realizing how deep the hole is that you are in. This all can be avoided with a little planning from the beginning. Take your syllabi and write out on month calendars when large projects or papers are due or when exams will be. At the start of each week, jot down a list of tasks that need to be completed and cross them off as you do them. You can even plan out exactly when you will do what homework, if that helps. When you start to struggle with classes, don?t hesitate to ask for help immediately. Professors want to see you do well and many schools have tutoring available. Always listen to their advice. Studying with friends, you can learn information faster, too. This isn?t a road you need to travel on your own.

Rose

The most important thing you need to do is really build good study habits. Teach yourself to study when you don't feel like it and when other people are doing fun things. It will be very helpful for you to do this now while you are still at home; you have the most time and the fewest distractions. Learn to study a little bit every day, rather than saving it all for the night before the test. Keep up with readings. Write down the information that seems obvious to you at the time; it will be extremely helpful when it comes time for the final exams. Learn to be disciplined now; it will be your life-saver at college. Really appreciate your free time and time to sleep. Unfortunately, much of this will go away while you are in college, especially since you want to be a pre-med major. Appreciate and spend time with you family and friends; you will not realize how much you will miss them until you are away. Finally, make Bible reading and prayer a daily part of your life. It will be a valuable habit to have.

Chloe

Everyone says that your college years are the best of your life and they fly by faster than you can imagine. Hard to believe, but it IS true! So, because your time is short, it is important to remember to never be afraid to go out of your comfort zone and try something new. College is the time for discovering who you are apart from your family and your high school. Don't miss out on the opportunitites that are there to make your life all that you want it to be. For the first month of school, determine to meet someone new everyday and have a conversation with them. You tend to be like your friends, so make wise choices and invest in their lives so that your friendship reaches beyond the 4 short years you have together. Take school work seriously, and be there to learn beyond the classroom. Apply what you're learning and be involved as much as you can! But don't overwhelm yourself. Learn how to prioritize your time to work ahead, so that you can enjoy activities and events with your friends. Take this opportunity to live, learn and love like never before!

Jessica

Don't let your own inhibitations keep you from doing what you want. Your college peers don't know about any of your past mistakes, so learn from those mistakes and rebaptize yourself into someone you'll be proud to look back on. Take your academics seriously; highschool may have been easy but college is harder, and if you slack off early you might not be able to focus when it counts. Freshman year sets a lot of habits. Get involved in what interests you, or at least apply/try out, so you won't regret it later on. As a college junior, there's a lot of things I look back and wish I could change, but I made my choices and now I have to live with them. Think of how your actions will affect your future, not just in college but long after you've graduated. Don't get distracted by present, immediate gratification, but strive to make your future what you've always dreamed.

Brianna

During high school I was super desirous to make a 4.0. I was obsessed with grades and lost a lot of joy by worry. I would tell myself to enjoy the moments more and not worry so much over high school perfection. I missed out of a lot of friend time and relationship building time as I was so focused on grades. I do believe that grades and studies are important, however, my obsession with them did more harm than good as I am learning now how to befriend others and feel comfortable in groups. I believe my transition to college would have been so much easier had I worked on social skills a bit more. My grades are still important, but I am learning that the time I spend with others, caring about their needs and interests is making me a better person. People should have been more of a priority in my life. I believe that rubbing shoulders with others have sharpened me as an individual and I have grown much through the relationships with my peers as well as the professors I have befriended.

Taylor

It's important to study hard and focus on your schoolwork because it's the reason you're attending school, but you should also strike a balance between work and fun and make sure to enjoy the college experience as well. Put yourself out there in social situations and have fun. You still have to get your schoolwork done, but it is possible to let loose and have fun as well.

Jordan

I would tell myself to work harder during the last year of high school and study harder than ever to get the best scores possible in my classes. In this way I would be better prepared for the greater challenge of college courses and could spend more time making friends my first year of college instead of working so hard to study. I would also tell my younger self to search for more scholarships as during college there is little to no time to do anything but study. I would also tell myself to treasure time with my family as it it is hard being apart from them for extended periods of time. Prepacking everything or at least thinking about what I want to pack would also be good to tell myself that way as things go on sale throughout the year I could have stockpiled them instead of paying the full price last minute to get everything I needed for college life. I would also advise myself to find people nearby that plan on attending the same college so I could not only make friends and potentially roomates, but I would also have had more options for getting rides.

Karlee

I would tell myself to go with my heart. I would not have been here today if it wasn't for the past. Granted I am not in college but if I was I wouldn't have met present family. I would however tell myself in the past that I am definately going to be a teacher and just be patient. If I hadn't met my present life I would have told my past life to go for a teacher degree and don't stop. Be less worried about work and more worried about school, work on my english grammar. Do not go to school just to prove to your mother wrong, go to school for your future, for your future family, and for yourself because as a job as a teacher you could help your husband pay for things, give your kids things that you couldn't have paid without a degree, and show your kids college is part of life in order to succeed in life. Also it gives summer time with your kids, makes traveling easy. It is a perfect job to do with my love to teach without too much time away from my kids.

Mychaela

I would definitely advise myself to work on my people skills before coming, and try to learn how to work with a roommate that first year. My first roommate situation did not go very well because neither of us had lived with someone before, and that was a huge challenge to work out first semester. I would also advise myself to prepare for much harder coursework as high school work came very easy for me and I was not expecting such a hard transition into college work. And most importantly, I would encourage myself to get really serious with God. I knew this was something that was going to happen while I was at school with things like chapel everyday, but I wish that I had started those habits earlier so that they would come naturally now, and so that it wouldn't be so difficult to get started on something like devotionals and such.

Peter

Relax, don't plan to far ahead because it will change.

Kimberly

I would of picked my school now first ( Lee University.)

Nic

Save money! Take advantage of the help that high school provides to those who are sincere about furthering their education. Use the tools that are available to you to make the college transition a breeze. Preparation is key to success, after all, only in the dictionary does success come before work.

Katherine

I think that I would tell myself that it is okay to be myself, and that I should never have tried to change who I was to fit in or to attract a boy. I would tell myself that the right friends and guys will love me for me. I would also tell myself that I should go to a high school where I would have more opportunities to grow. I would also make sure that I spent more time with family, and I wish that I had respected my parents more. I think that high school would have been a lot easier if i had done that. I also think that things would have been easier if I had really given my school work my all.

Matthew

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to be patient with the process of discovering what I am going to be studying as a major. I began school studying one major, and have since switched to another major which I feel is more suited to my interests. Additionally, I would encourage myself to study hard and to not procrastinate on assignments given by professors.

Stephanie

Learn everything you can and appreciate the amount of free time you have. Fill out as many scholarships you can and get involved in a variety of areas in your HS.

Jacqueline

Pick your battles! Use the syllabus to figure out what projects are worth the most and need the most time spent on them. Use this in your social life too. Let the little things be little things and leave them alone. Use your energy constructively.

Emily

Be prepared to study hard. Go to class with an attitude to learn. Don't be afraid to ask questions, even the ones that seem dumb. Be humble in your position as a freshman and in what you know and don't know. Even though there is a lot of food offered in the cafeteria don't overindulge yourself! Make time for getting out and exercising because it is worth it. Remember to have fun and spend time with people and friends. Even if at first you feel lonely and don't know anyone, it's just a phrase and will pass. It doesn't take long before you find that you know several people.

James

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that college is going to be awesome. I would tell myself not to worry about the transition and to relax. I would let myself know that I will be able to do well and succeed if I put the effort into it. The last thing I would tell myself is to simply be myself and not be anxious about college or my future but to simply enjoy it while it lasts.

Kyle

Work Hard. Focus on your schoolwork.

mercie

College is more academic focused. There is more work than in high school and being organized and focused is a recipe for success. Time management is a big thing in college.

Sarah

I would advise myself not to worry about meeting friends, because it is really easy at my school. I would also advise myself not to worry about how I would do with the school load here, because they make it easy to adjust to the classes. The teachers are very friendly, and nobody feels out of place.

Cortni

Try harder your first semester and make sure you play a sport; that's where you will meet your life long friends!

Gabrielle

If I was able to magically appear to myself and tell myself what i know now about college life. I would first tell myself to find a roommate before I got to college. Then I would tell myself to save the pain and heart ache of being a music major and skip right on over to psychology. Then I would remind myself, that is it not all about me, and there are others out there who are in need. As a freshman I was over zealous for my opinions and I scorched some bridges because of it. I would remind myself that no matter what you think you should always objectively listen to the other side. I also would also tell myself is that my health is going to drastically decline and not to worry about it, but to be healthy and eat well and exercise so as to minimize the problems coming. I would also tell myself that not everyone is going to like me and thats okay. I think I would lastly tell myself to take more AP classes and study really hard to get scholarships so my parents don't have a huge burden on their shoulders.

Joanna

While you are still in high school, it is very important to fill out scholarships. This is especially important when you receive your first bill to the college you are enrolled. College is expensive and the only way to get around that is through taking the initiative through filling out scholarships. Once you have enrolled, the transition to college life will be made so much easier if you learn to be confident and put yourself out there. Don't be afraid to talk to people you don't know. Introduce yourself and share a couple things about yourself. That way, people will feel comfortable around you and are more likely to share things about themselves. Always smile! Also, keep in mind that while you may miss your friends from high school, it will do you no good sitting in your room moping about it. Shake off the sadness by starting new and exciting friendships!

Emily

Choosing a college is, ideally, a once in a lifetime experience. Students tend to look for colleges based on their academic program preference. Whether it's a nationally acclaimed engineering program, a state certified nursing program or just the option of an 'undecided' major, the degrees offered by a particular school are too often the deciding factor. The right college will inspire you--to pursue your dreams, align your lifestyle with your goals and interact with the community around you. While academic offerings are an important factor, many students and parents would be advised to put far more energy into experiencing a campus and understanding its learning atmosphere, community support and open-mindedness. Your college experience will influence the rest of your life. Your degree, friends from school and practical experiences will influence your career, relationships and lifestyle. Take advantage of this opportunity to influence your life for the better. Pick a school where your uniqueness will be appreciated and your mind will be inspired to continue learning for years to come.

Erin

If I were to give advice to parents and students about finding the best college, I would definitely say that you need to find a school that fits you best. Change is scary, I know that first hand, and going away to school is a big change so it is very scary. But it's a good change, and eventually being away will be a little less scary. The school you choose that fits the best will begin to feel like your home away from home, and you'll never want to leave. In order to make the most of your college experience I would encourage you to get involved in a variety of different activities - join a choir, an organization, a community service group, so you can meet as many different kinds of people as you can. Then from there you will get to decide which group you fit best with and form lasting friendships. While it's important to get involved, it is also important to be serious about your studies and get your work done as well though. College is all about learning how to balance everything . Once you learn that balance, you're set for life.

Luke

Start early! As deadlines approach, beginning the college search sooner, rather than later, will save you many a headache. By starting early you will have time to narrow your search down and plan college visits. The more schools you visit, the better feel you will have for what type of environment you would like to commit the next four years of your life to. In addition, once you have made your decision, you will have more time to nail the essay questions and apply for scholarships. As you search for the perfect school, ensure that you are looking for one that will meet your needs. My experience has taught me that people are what meet my needs. It is the professor who calls me by name as we pass that brightens my day. It is students who go out of there way to help their community and are caring and accepting of each other that instill pride in me. It is staff members who invite me into their home for a warm Thanksgiving meal that make me feel at home. Find a school with the right people, find it early, and you will have found a great college experience.

Miraim

Visit the college you want to attend the most. Consider the reputation the school has. Consider your financial situation and avoid loans and debt as much as possible. Be willing to work hard, eat well, exercise often in a sport or at the gym, and try some community service. Start building a resume freshman year. Journal about everything. Eat meals with friends and always make time for fun!!

Jessica

Take college seriously; it may be a fun place, but if you don't study and actually look for a career, than all you'll have is a huge debt for a party. Look for a college that's in your price range, where the campus appeals to you and students seem responsible. While it's not neccessary to have a career in mind before you enroll, it's good to think of some ideas of what you'd like to do when you look into schools. Don't go to a particular college just because your friends are doing it. Don't do stuff AT college just because your friends are doing it. Saying "No" may feel embarrasing or awkward, but it makes you a stronger person, and you'll never have regrets haunting you later. Don't be afraid to ask professors for help, or if there are possible extra-credit assignments. Higher grades mean more possibilites for grants and scholarships. Make friends who'll support you, and love you for who you are. Have fun and don't be afraid to be ridiculous; you're only this young once, and some memories can only be made here.

Denise

Students, Finding a school that has a good program in your field is just as important as finding that a school that can feel like a home for 4 years. Take the time to feel schools out. And parents, as much as you love your children and want the best for them, you need to remember that in the end, they will be the ones going to school. Nothing feels worse than a parent thinking your school or field of study are a mistake, or your parents making you feel horrible for choosing a school that is far from home. I know plenty of people who gave up the school of their dreams because their parents guilted them into staying closer to home. Be protective and reasonable, but BE SUPPORTIVE. Your support means more to us than anyone else's.

Bradley

My number one piece of advise would be to get involved. You only experience college once. Get out into the community and invest in people's lives. I myself serve with Young Life and enjoy it greatly. As far as finding the right college, choose a place where you feel welcomed and where you can be yourself. Find a college with good community and friends that will last. Making the right friends is important and being who you are is as well. If you go into college feeling like you always have to impress people, then you won't be yourself. Also, do your best academically your first year. This year is critical in forming study habits and trends for following years and once your GPA is set high it is harder to miss your goals. As for parents, encourage your students to pick a college where you feel comfortable letting them become adults. Another words, don't let your kids go to the party school. You can still have a ton of fun without partying, guarantee that!

Callie

Spend a few days at the college, live in the dorms with the students and really pay attention to the students and their character.

Krista

Finding the right college isn't about how cheap or expensive it is. It isn't about going where your friends are going. College is the next step in your life. It has the potential to make or break your future. Having gone through the ?college search? procedure, there are a few hints that I feel can help those who have yet to choose a college. Three good steps to take in the process of finding a good school can be taken from the acronym ?PCR?. Prayerfully choose. As a born-again believer, I believe that searching out God?s opinion is extremely important. Check around, and check many out. Don?t go by pictures from brochures and handbooks. Get down to the college or university and see it for yourself! Don?t limit yourself to checking out only one school?visit a few! Read up! Read up on what programs the school offers. Also, many schools give statistics of success rates for graduating students, and other interesting facts. There are many more things that should go into finding the college for you, but by remembering ?PCR?, you will have a good start to finding the right fit for you!

Austin

The choice before you is an extremely critical one. The next four years are possibly the most important of your life, and were you spend them will make all the difference. As the president of my school says, "Think long- term, but live in the moment." It is important for you while choosing a school to look at your long term goals and plan accordingly, but also choose a school that fits you. My school (Cedarville University) is Christian, small, has a beautiful campus, and has a fun but Christ-centered student body. These are all things I was looking for, and I am extremely happy with my choice. My college also however, has a great business management program, which fits into my long term goals. So my advice to you, before you enter into the mayhem of schools attempting to gain your attendance, would be to figure out your goals and your wants in a college first, then to narrow down your choices to find one that meets those needs. Once you find those schools, visit them, and I'm sure you will fall in love with one of them. I did.

MaryAlyce

Try to find an equal balance between social, academic, and personal activities. You are who you are; make sure you are comfortable with your surroundings.

J

With graduation just a few weeks away, I am in the bittersweet process of reflecting back over the memories and opportunities and maybe a few regrets from the past four years. I am thankful that I chose a college that fit my values and personality, and pursued a course of study that I was passionate about, instead of looking for the cheapest school just to get a degree to get a job. I would strongly advise students to work hard to excel from the day they step on campus; to love learning; to get to know their professors and not be too proud to ask for help when they need it. I would suggest that they take advantage of as many opportunities as possible, but choose wisely and not get distracted by time-consuming activities that have no meaning. Most of all, I would encourage making time to establish deep friendships - the kind of relationships that will continue long after the college years are over!

jon

College is a time of transition on many fronts. Not only is the student thrown into a time of changes and challenges, but the family behind is left to an uncomfortable, unknown relationship with a once-close member of the family. I would encourage each transitioning to embrace this change, though, rather than to fear it! Growth is an inevitable change, yet beautiful as well. Incremental release from the previous life allows for changes to take place, bringing forth a mature member of the family able to produce and influence in greater ways than before. This member now lives as a convoy of the family, entirely independent yet completely associated with the name. With this in mind, the student ought to seek every moment with the fullest of his being, striving for excellence in all aspects of lifestyle. The remaining family members ought now also endorse their newfound role and relationship with the student, seeking to support and encourage them through this time. This mindset allows for the ultimate success of both the family and student. It bridges the gap created by a new lifestyle, keeping the now morphed relationships intact while bringing about succes in the most essential ways.

Joy

No matter which college is chosen, it is up to the student to make the best of the experience. Students can have fun and learn well anywhere if they try. Neither comes automatically in any school environment.

Rachel

I would tell them to start early and take their time. There are so many wonderful colleges and universities to attend. Take the time to go and visit these schools, to learn about the programs they offer. No one school is perfect, nor is any one school the same as another; each one offers something a little different than another one. So, take the time to get to know and understand what it is you like and dislike about each school. If you move to fast, you may wind up choosing a school that does not suit your needs or wants in an education and may very well regret your decision (plus losing all of the money that went into finalizing that decision). College is a great experience. Take the time to choose the one that suits you best.

Samuel

You need to make sure the pros outweight the cons. I go to a kinda lame school because I still believe the academic atomosphere is the best for preparring me for real life(college isn't anywhere). I also would say the there is no replacement for self-iniative and that should be a freshman's focus.

Crystal

One thing that I would stress in deciding on the right college for you is to make sure that you know what you're getting into financially, and relating to the distance from your home. My college is 7 hours away from my home and is more expensive than I realized when trying to choose where I would spend four years studying. I wish that someone had told me, or made me more aware of the overall cost of college prior to my enrollment. I would also possibly recommend attending a community college for a year or two before going to a four-year school if money is an issue for you like it is for me. In addition to the idea of community college there are also so many options for CLEP tests that I never realized until it was too late. Take advantage of those options if you can in any way. In addition to the financial stress of paying for college, being 7 hours away from my family and friends made things even more intensely stressed. So, just be sure you know what you are getting into!

Erin

Know what you're looking for when you are looking at college. It's very important to have that in the forefront of your mind as you inspect different schools and different possibilities. Also, realize that no school is perfect, and decide what things you want balanced. Some schools will specialize in different things, so finding one that balances a few things that you value is really ideal. Also, consider, if you do know what you're going to major in as a student, what the school's reputation is in that department, because in the future, that may become important. As for making the most of the college experience, have fun and try your hardest; never give up, but don't kill yourself with work. The key is everything in moderation!

Jacqueline

Be open-minded and honest with yourself about what you want. The school I am currently attending was not my first choice and was not even the first school I went to. Mid-way through my sophmore year, I transferred into my current school and I love it. If I had been more open-minded and honest with myself, I believe that I would have started at this school and avoided the stress of transferring.

Amanda

In selecting a college or university, there are many practical considerations one may make. A few of these may include fields of study available, cost, and location. While these are important factors in choosing a college, one may find a college that meets all the above requirements, but is not desirable. Some colleges are just a better "fit" for certain people. A person may feel more or less comfortable at a school depending on its size, the personality of the student body as a whole, and the worldview that the college leadership promote. I believe a person should take these feelings of compatibility into consideration. If one is not comfortable at a school, no matter what other requirements are met or not met, one is likely to be miserable and regret the choice. On the other hand, if a person is able to attend a school in with which he/she is satisfied, that person will be likely to derive greater benefit from his/her college experience.

Kurtis

Visit the colleges you are considering. If you don't think you could feel comfortable in that atmosphere, don't completely discount it, but tread carefully. When you visit, make sure you sit in on a few classes. Look for a school that matches you academically. Finally, college costs a lot, but it is worth it. You may not know how you will be able to pay for it, but go for it, and take longer than four years, if you have to. It will be worth it in the end.

Kayla

Find a college that fits your personality and has the kind of atmosphere you think would benefit you the most. As a Christian I chose Cedarville partially because it is a Christian University and that was one of the things I was looking for. You also need to find a place that will challenge you academically...party schools typically don't. Choose a school that is well known for it's academic excellence.