Chaffey College Top Questions

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

ALBERTO

When I was in high school, I thought I knew it all. I didn't take much advice that I was offered by my parents or other adults. Many would call me somewhat arrogant. I have always been talented in mathematics and science classes. I refused to listen to the adults who knew more than me at the time. I thought I could do it on my own, and for several years I did. I graduated highschool with a low GPA. Instead of attending a community college after high school like was adviced to do so I went into the work force. I suffered from a self diagnosed illness I call premature affluence, it basically means I made too much money at a young age and beleived I had the ability to walk on water. I soon found out I could not walk on water and began to sink. The treatment for my condition is called life and it was painful. Six years after graduating from high school I have found myself finally taking the advice all of the loving, caring, knowledgible adults had given me. Focus on school, sacrifice is temporary, regret lasts a life time.

Flor

Please have more faith in your personal and academic abilities. You don't realize how detrimental self doubt is to you. By maintaining such a low view of yourself, you're creating a mindset of immobilizing fear. The anxiousness you feel about the future is beyond average and unprecendented. Please look for advice outside of school about practical matters such as financial aid, aspects about college you would value, JC versus a 4 year university, and so on. You do not have to be the best or worry about getting the "best" information. An "all or nothing" mindset is hindering you from trying at all from reaching your full potential. Talent and intelligence mean nothing if you are unproductive. If indecision persists, at least focus enough in academics that you do not stray. Be much more active in your passions; weave them into your extra curriculars and find others who share your passions. Do not be afraid to grow because high school is a bubble better popped. Life is about self exploration and the moment you graduate, you'll see how beautiful life really is. So please, have more faith in your personal abilities.

Joshua

The most important thing in high school is to get the most out of the experience. all the classes that you could take and benefit form buy doing your very best would of changed the way that you college experience panned out. In high school all of you classes are free and easy; with one year the classes go to twice as hard and cost upwards of three hundred dollars for a cheap community college class. if you think a class was bad in high school imagine it when you need the same class with all the outer problems piled onto them.

Ericka

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to start saving money. I've always had great study habits and a drive to learn, but I've also been terrible with money. I'm glad I waited to go to college until I figured out what exactly I wanted to do, but college is also very expensive and I'm going to be living in poverty while studying. I wish I would have started saving when I got my first job.

quynh

Be sure its what you want, never regret your choices, colllege is a really important life tranaction. Money mangament is important and its okay to be worry about classes but never forget to have fun! You will meet new people who you connect with so its okay to be alone for a while until you find those people who help you see the good in yourself. Sorry for sounding cheesy.

Rishea

Congratulations, you are about to graduate high school, and begin your freshman year as a college student; you have worked so hard to get to this point so you can’t stop now. However, it is very important that you become a responsible student. First, to succeed in college ask questions whether you think it is a stupid question or not. Second, get your math and English classes out of the way, it is much easier and you will regret waiting later on. Third, educate and take advantage of the assistance given on campus such as: the library, success centers, math tutors, and EOPS programs. Fourth, in order to succeed in your classes, you must first attend and be present; chances are even if you did not study so well, but attended class everyday you will still do well on the test. Lastly, the most important thing to remember in order to succeed in college is to just do the work, it is so simple yet many disregard this aspect when it comes to college courses and wind up failing there classes. Stay focused and follow these simple guidelines, and I promise that you will succeed in college next year.

Kassandra

These final decisions that you make as a senior in high school will shape the rest of your life. You may not know it now, but the rest of your life has already begun. Keep your head in the books. Know your goals and keep your mind set. Stop worrying about what your friends are doing. After graduation, you will realize that high school friendships meant nothing, and you are in this cold world left alone to survive on your own. I am not saying that it is going to be hard, but it is definitely not going to be a slice of cake. Keep your eyes on the prize. Be proud of who you are and don't change for anyone. You have the world in your hands. Do something remarkable with all of the amazing abilities that God has blessed you with.

Latisha

If i could go back to in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that its time to get serious. College is way different than high school. In high school they are very strict and hard on you becouse they want to see you become successful. In college they can care less if you show up to class. Now its the time to apply for scholarships so that you don't have to worry about paying for school. Make sure that you study hard and get the best grades possible so that colleges can see you are a hard worker and want you to go to their school. When you do apply for scholarships, have a few of your teachers and possibly your counsler look over your essays. The better your essays the better chance you have of winning scholarships. Don't slack off and give up. Work hard the whole senior year and stay focused. The transition from high school to college will be a big change in your life. As long as you believe in yourself you should be fine at achieving your goals. Good luck in college.

Yanine

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to take advantage of my summer to figure out what it is I would be interested as a future career and decide which major it is I would want to pursue, so that by the time I start college I will already know what is that I want to do so I can have a plan and not be in school for so many years. I think if a high school senior knows what it is that they want to do immediately after they graduate then they will most likely finish school in a shorter time so that they can begin earning their own living and not feel like they are wasting their time because they do not know what it is they want to do for the rest of their lives. Many students who do not know what it is they want to do will feel overwhelmed and feel like they should just quit and that is not a good thing in today's world because having a degree is important to have a well paid job.

Kasumi

Stay forcus and plan daily to accoplish your academic goal,

MARINELA

College is hard work, full time job. Be ready to work hard, study 4-8 hours a day, and get great satisfaction out of it. Do not try the easy way out of a class. You do not cheat anyone but yourself. Have a clear goal, make a plan and than go to action. For example: I want to finish college in two year in order to be a nurse, this is my goal. Than, I plan the classes I need to take and how I am going to pay for the school. And in the end I act on my plan. I take the classes, and I excell. Stay focus and motivated. Surround yourself with people that believes in your plan and you will sure succeed.

Lemar

The transition from my high school life to now my college life was not much of a change. In high school i attended Independent Study which is much like home school, so i was already into being independent and making time to do my homework. The only change was having to be in a class room as in high school i learned on my own using the school books at home. The advice i could give myself is to alway try my best and i will succeed. Attending college makes a big change in your future. So i try my best.

Ashley

After experiencing college, if I could go back in time and give my high school senior self advice, I would tell myself to slow down and relish the exciting process of moving on to a new chapter in life. College is a liberating steppingstone in life, and one to be savored. As a high school senior, I was so deeply caught up in the stressful chaos of debating which college I would attend, deciding my major, and most of all worrying about whether I could even succeed in college level courses. If I could go back in time, I would explain to myself that it doesn’t matter what college I attend, but rather the effort I put forth to succeed. I would tell myself to take time in deciding my major, after all it is what all your schooling will be centered around in order to secure a fulfilling and enjoyable career. Lastly, I would tell myself that college is an experience to appreciate and cherish, and though there will be tough times, push your limits, because you will one day reminisce and truly take pride in your choice to go forth in receiving a college education.

Jacqueline

Dear Jacqueline, Graduation is coming up, and I know you can't wait until summer! I just want to share a very special secret with you. This secret is going to make you smile. This secret is going to make you strong and confident. This secret will make all your fears about college disappear. This secret will always be with you. I bet you want to know this secret now, huh? Well, You already know this secret. This secret makes you breakfast and hugs you every morning before you start your day. This secret gives you a ride to school. This secret is always excited to see you in math class. This secret encourages you to speak out in english class. This secret can't wait to hang out with you after school. This secret loves everything about you. That's right, Jacqueline. Take a good look around. Everyone in your life right now will help you reach your dreams. They are your support network. Your going to love college and you're going to succeed in everything you do. How do I know this secret you ask? I am your future. Smile, it's going to be awesome!

Maria

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a highschool senior, I would tell myself to enjoy the remainder of highschool as much as possible. I would tell myself not to take for granted my teachers and all of their help. In highschool, you are constantly reminded about homework due dates and teachers hold your hand through it all. In college you are on your own. You have to remind yourself and stay on top of things. You have to work really hard to obtain classes and you have to be motivated in order to succeed. I would tell myself not to be ashamed to go to community college because it saves you thousands of dollars and the education is just as good as a UC. Lastly, I would say to myself to be open to change and meeting new people. You can never have too many friends.

Ericca

I would tell my high school self to take school seriou becasue if you do not when you decide to go to school then it will be hard to get in to a good college. But if you decide to that you want to go to community college then talk to a counsler and take a test to see what kinds of things you like to see what kind of job you would like to do. I would also tell myself to get more involved in school activities and community things instead of hanging out with my friends. The reason is because at the end of the day your education is more inportant then hanging out with someone who might not be your friend the next day.

Melissa

If I were able to go back and speak to myself as a senior, I would have stressed how important it is to start college earlier rather than later. I would have had a much different life right now if I had started earlier, rather than having a family first and career later. I do have a much more experienced view of life after being out of school for such a long time, I also appreciate it more.

Alyssa

Alyssa, college is great. It has everything you ever wanted in high school but was never able to recieve. The transition into college is a bit overwhelming at first but, it is nothing you cannot handle. Don't be shy when you first get into class, its not worth it! People just want to get in and get out but the time there is so short and you do not want to miss out on opportunites to meet amazing people with amazing stories. Do not slack off on grades because there is an honors society on campus you can join. Networking is so important, make your contacts now to get ahead later. Lastly, you've always wanted to help people and you will end up choosing teaching pre-schoolers as a career, open your eyes, all the signs are there. Do not be afraid to take chances, this is the time in your like to gain experience, learn a plethera of new things, and to make those networking contacts as well as friends. Time has a funny way of seeming like its on over drive now-a-days so enjoy every mintues because life is too short.

Stephen

I would tell my senior self to have taken some courses at the community college so he would have a faster time getting through it now.

Neysa

If I could go back in time, I would tell my senior self to get a job. Money is so important to one?s success in college. If you lack the money for basic necessities- like food, shelter, toiletries, and transportation- it is difficult to focus on school work. In high school I never had to worry about these necessities because my parents provided them for me. At the age of eighteen, I was shocked to find myself struggling to pay the rent of my apartment. If I had got a job in high school, I could?ve saved money and attained more work experience to add to my resume. Having more work experience would facilitate my job search and having a higher income would allow me to attend college every semester.

Guadalupe

If i was given the oppurtunity to go back in time when I was a high school senior at Garey High. Some advice I would give myself is to be more prepared for challeges. Gain as much knowledege as possible from high school. So later when I were to take my assesment test, I would score high and then place in high level classes. Then witout a doubt on my mind i would consider meeting withna counselor in order to begin an educational plan that will be a be great help.Inaddtion to strive for better things in life that can later benefit me in life. There is no reason to rely on jut a High School Diploma. It is a great accoplishment but, if I were to aim for a bachelor's degree or even an Associates many doors to success will be open. Plus to schedule classes per semester in a format that will make it uch easier for me to be succesful in. The better you do in your class, the better your grade point average will look. Rewards as being able to gradute with honors will be a privaleage. Finally, to always provide a healthy snack

Arnoldo

i would advice myself to continue my education. education is important because it make us better individuals. after 10 years from my graduation i regret the fact that i started working instead of going to college. as a result i have been working for miserable wages. if i could go back in time i am sure i would advice myself to go colleg and finish a career.

Kristine

If the opportunity to go back in time were made available to me, I would take full advantage of the situation. As a high school senior I was naive in the fact that you only have one chance to succeed in college. While I was counting down the days in my graduating year,I passed all my classes without putting any effort. I had this same impression during my first semester of college. I could not have been more mistaken. There is a great deal of maturing a student needs to accomplish while in college, which I had to acknowledge after failing my first test having the impression I was able to breeze through my classes like I was accustomed to. I would express to myself the importance of studying constantly to advance into my desired career and not take advantage of my time at college.

Geri

I would have to tell myself about the importance of college, and how I should take my grades serious and prepare for college courses. I would say how I need to find out about information pertaining to the majors that I am interested in. I would tell myself that hanging out with friends and beening sexually active could wait because in the year 2010 beening older than a lot of the other students in the class, and working full-time, and being a single parent would make things so difficult that I would want to give up. Going to college is not as challenging as you think. There are staff members that are there to help students suceed and there are resources and funding available for students who are attending college. Finally I would tell myself that community college does not mean that I am any less important than an student starting off at the university level.

adrian

i would tell myself you should really try hard in high school because once you go into college there is no turning back. the grades you make now are very important. it helps with what school you want to go to and also how much money you will be receiving when you apply for financial aid. you don't get to borrow books for your classes, you actually have to buy them to use them for only one semester. high school kids are very immature and college student grew out of the high school phase. college students are easier to get along with. there is no drama between anyone when you meet people in college. you would have to buy your own food in college also. there is no waiting in line for free or reduced lunch anymore. you get what you can afford. i want to mention that a college campus compared to a high school campus doubles, may even triple in size. classes are further away from each other. choosing classes isnt all that easy. you have to make your schedule work and also make sure you get the classes you want, not whats left over.

Blanco

I would tell myself to start registering for classes early, and to take notes at the orientation.

Katelyn

If I could go back in time to talk to my high school senior self, I would tell myself to stop procrastinating and to follow my heart. I battled with what career to follow for a couple years before I finally realized that I was meant to be an artist. I knew I loved art in high school and never should have let my worries about money stop me from following my dreams. It is very expensive to go to a specialty art college, and I still worry about how I will afford it. But if I had started sooner, say in senior year, I could have made a lot of progress with my art and I could have been studying art full time at a wonderful university by now. Now that I know what I should have done then, I'll never make the mistake of putting my dreams on the back burner due to lack of confidence or procrastination.

Jann

If I could go back and talk to myself when I was in high school, I would have so much to say. Sieze this time now to continue your education, do not wait for ten years even two years and then try to return to school. Once you have been out for that long you have already lost the routine of how to study and how to get homework completed. Not too mention think of all the rewards that you could have just by going to college when you graduate from high school. You will have a career that you can make a living at. No living week to week on a paycheck or worrying about how you are going to buy food. A career makes it possible for you to not worry each week or month if you have enough money. By going to college think of all the interesting people you will meet, you never know one of them could touch your life in such a way that you see yourself and the world in a whole new light. Take the chance now, go to college and make your dreams come true by siezing the day.

Steffanie

I would definitely tell myself to work harder in highschool so I could receive better grades that way I would get accepted to a college I am proud of. During the period of time (in highschool) I didin't think much about the future as much as I should've or took too many risks. I always played it safe and didn't push myself to my greatest intellectual potential. Also, I would've told myself to join volleyball and say don't care what other people think because in the end it only matters if you're happy and you'll have less "What if's" questions down the road...Last but not least I would've told myself that life is not easy and we have to grow up fast whether we like it or not, it's just life and we must work hard at it to accomplish great things.

Luz

I would have ignored my dysfunctional family and paid more attention to my education. In addtion, I would have searched for more avenues in continuing a higher eduction after high school, and not allowed my mother to convince me otherwise. Futhermore, I would ignore my husband who wanted me to believe that I did not need a degree in order to make more money and have a better overall life. Because i so treasure the opportunity to go back to school today, and continue my twenty-seven year old goal of being blessed with a higher eduction, I today announce and plead to as many people to not let go of one's dreams and fight to reach all desired goals. I for one, will not give up on my final goal even if it takes me another six years, I will not faint and will continue to fight in order to complete my dream this time around.

Rachel

The advice I would give myself is to try. Once you try and put the slightest bit of effort your true colors come out. You are imaginative, smart, compassionate, and kind person. The working world needs more people like you. In high school you let your education slip away not caring or trying because you felt like there was nothing special about you. Suffering through dark days feeling so alone but in college you will discover your worth and how gifted you really are. You will discover your raw talent for math and the sciences. These are where the bigger picture starts, bigger than homecoming queen, bigger than popularity, and bigger than the shoes you wear. College is a time to find true friends, set the foundation for your family and discover your mental limits. In college you will discover how much you like school and your natural ability for it. Just try and put the effort forth because when you do, college will give you the immense gifts of knowledge and education.

Anthony

The advice I would give my self is to find a way to study that works for me. The one thing high school never taught us was how to study. This is the most important and misunderstood aspect of succeeding in college, in my opinion. So much heartache and frustration could have been avoided if I found a study skill that worked for me. Even today I am still learning how to study, but ever since I took study skills workshops in my school my grade has increased dramatically. There are many ways to study that works for different people. The way that works best for me is a bit strange but it gets the job done. I am a visual and tactile learner. This means I need to sketch things out and be a little more hands-on with my studies. I would have never realised this if not for the study skills worshops offered in my college.

Aaron

I would go back and tell myself that no matter what,that he has to perserver.Although college can be tough at time,i would let him know that as long as he keeps focused and makes sure to get the help he needs he would do fine.I would also,assuming i would go back in time in this scenario,i would go back and tell him to secure a job to pay for his education so his parents wouldn't have to file bankruptcy to support him.I would tell him that he needs to take it seriously and secure his foundation ahead of time rather than waiting til' the last minute scurrying for scholarships.