Christopher Newport University Top Questions

In reviewing the scholarship rules, I see you must have attended school for a Bachelor's degree in 2008, 2009, or 2010. While this is not the case for me, I must share the following: Although was not attending CNU for my Bachelor's degree in the aforementioned years, I was at CNU, and I am still at CNU. Upon completion of my Bachelor's degree in 2007, I immediately went on staff with CNU's President's Leadership Program, where I currently serve as Coordinator. I believe this reflects the value of my CNU experience through my passion and committment to continue to serve this incredible institution that I am beyond pround to call "mine." CNU promotes and initiates relevant change. This is powerful, and I long to be a part of this institution that is committed to equip students to inspire and initiate such relevant change. I am now seeking my master's degree so that I will not only be able to serve CNU in developing students, but also in teaching them the leadership content that so impacted me. I seek this $5,000 as I seek to continue relevant change. Thank you for considering me.

I have gotten out of my college experience, more learning about myself. In college they say you will become who you are while this is the first time you are actually on your own. That is so true as I have found my friends and were i belong here and it is perfect place for me. I have gotten a great support system as we are all going through different experiences here it is so nice to have a group of people here for you.

As I look back on my last years of high school, I feel ashamed and reminiscent. Maybe I hurt my parents? feelings when I said I couldn?t wait to move out. Maybe I undervalued the significance of time when I wished for it to speed up to graduation. Now, I find myself missing home and all the love found within those walls. The time I wished for is finally here? and it?s not everything I imagined. I have learned responsibility as well as the quality of hard work. College has not only educated me in its lectures and books, but it has given me the feeling of gentle appreciation for those that I once took for granted.

I have learned how to take care of myself and to be independent. I have always had my parents to take care of me and being in college you don't have that. It has been a change that took some getting used to but it has been a good change.

My college experience so far has been interesting and insightful to me. It has been a time for me plunge into the depths of humanity, and to adapt to swim lest sink. I say this because I have always been more of an introvert with very few close friends. Coming to college I found myself surrounded by people constantly, with no room to call entirely my own to escape to. Luckily I managed to find friends. An excellent group of friends to keep me from wilting away at the lack of alone. From them I have hopefully been able to improve my social abilities and my understanding of people. With them I have been through many interesting adventures; from my first anime convention to late night lightsaber battles, from tarot to snuggie dance parties, from Thursday tea times to children's card games; I have encountered many times to treasure.

Don't stress too much about going off to college and being able to make friends. Everyone else is looking to find people too, so it's easy! College work is harder than high school, so dont slack off; you'll regret it later. But be social! Get out and do fun things, experience all that college has to offer! Stock up on all the necessities you might need for living especially tissues and toilet paper, they go faster than you think! Pack enough to get by, but dont bring everything from home just because you "might need it" one day. If you really end up needing it, your parents can mail it to you. Stay in touch with old friends, but really get to know your new ones, you might find they're your best friends in twenty years. It takes a while to get used to dining hall food if you're used to home cooked meals. They try their best to make healthy dishes, but cooking for 400 people makes it harder. Take advantage of the gym! It's there for you to use and if you push yourself, its enjoyable and keeps off that freshman fifteen!

If I had to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now I would warn myself about all of the irritating, inconsiderate people that you I may have to live with. Then I would warn myself about all of the different peer pressures of college and to beware of all the parties, drinkers and smokers on campus. Then I would tell myself that you have to make sure you may your time well because if you don't, your work will never get done. And last but not least enjoy the freedoms you have in college but do not take advantage of them, because the consequences could put your future plans on hold or it could even cause those goals to not be met. Make wise decisions and choose your friends wisely.

Dear Ryan, I am in the second semester of my first year of college and a year ago at this time you just finished applying to colleges. Soon you will start to realize that living in a dorm next year will be extremely different from living at home and you might become anxious or nervous; but you have no reason to worry. When you come to school in August of course you?ll be nervous and excited, but you are going to be fine. You make friends fast because you go with the flow and are open to this new experience. College classes aren?t extremely hard or intimidating like in movies and the freshmen fifteen doesn?t happen to everyone. So this is what I want to tell you, what I want to tell myself a year ago, be excited and don?t worry at all that you won?t make friends or that you?ll have awful roommates. Sometimes living here is frustrating, but overall you?re going to make great friendships and great memories for your first year. Have fun and keep your head up when you get down, you?re going to love it. Love, Ryan

In high school I was incredibly involved, and in many ways I stil am today, but in high school, I believed that was the most important thing, do as much in you can in four years, pack your resume as tightly as you can, just so you can look good for college. Now, however, I've come to realize that there is far more to being involved in your school than just the credit you get for it. If I were able to go back in time, I'd tell myself that it's okay to be involved, but you can also get to know others in the process. Take the time to seek out fellow club members and develop relationships and connections. As a college student I still enjoy filling my schedule with various activities, but what I've come to enjoy even more, is the friends I've made in the process. It's amazing how easy it can be to get to know others, epecially those who have similar intersts to you, when you take the chance to reach out and be a friend.

Looking back on my senior year I would point out two things that would have made my last year of high school more enjoyable and to make the jump to college easier. First would be to breathe, applying to colleges, taking challenging classes, and the realization that you will soon be moving on to a new chapter in your life takes a lot out of you. Take some time away from the stress and spend time with friends, read a book, or just sit somewhere for a bit. The time away will give you a new view on things and you will feel refreshed. The second thing I would tell myself would be to take your senior year seriously; slacking off and getting ?senioritis? only makes it worse. If your grades drop dramatically your admission to colleges could be revoked. A combination of taking a breather and taking it serious will help you to not only keep from going crazy, but will also teach you how to handle your first year in college. From experience, it takes a combination of time with friends and seriousness about your studies to be a successful college student.

The most important thing is to go to the college or University that you want to go to. I went to a school to start with that I was not sure about and ended up transferring to the school I am at now. My freshman year would have started alot easier if I had started at my present school and my grade point would have been better.

As a high school senior, I was nervous about attending college and leaving my home and family. But looking back, I would give myself some advice that would have eased that fear. When you come to college, you form a new family, and though you miss your parents, your friends at school are in the same boat as you are, and you form some really amazing friendships. And it's not like you won't ever see your parents again. There are useful things like Skype that allow me to not only talk to, but see my parents as often as I like. That has helped to ease the homesickness for both me and my parents.

If I could go back to being a senior in high school I would make sure I didn't slack off and kept in the routine of doing work and studying. Once you stop studying it is very hard to get back into the habit. I would also liked to have taken harder classes to in a way start to get myself ready for the hard work you are challenged with at college.

Looking back on my first semester, I never imagined college would be the way I experienced it. Before I left for CNU, I had all sorts of different emotions, including excitement and fear. Now, I realize that I had nothing to worry about. College has been the most eye opening and fun experience of my life thus far. I have met so many great people, and made numerous memories that I will keep with me for the rest of my life. I think the most important thing I would have liked to tell myself as a high school senior was to not take sleep for granted. I never realized how important sleep was until I got to college, and I would stay up late either studying or hanging out with friends. By the end of my first semester, I was worn out. Getting sleep is important to do well in school, and to keep one's body healthy, so getting enough sleep is the most important lesson I learned during my first semester of college, and I wish i learned the lesson sooner.

Looking back on high school memories I find that I always remember trying to do things without help. If there was a math problem I couldn't solve, I would take it home to my dad instead of asking the teacher. If there was something unclear about a homework assigment, I'd do it multiple times to cover all the possibilities - instead of just asking the teacher to clarify. In college, things changed. At Freshman Orientation, I remember all the speakers stressing how important it is to ask for help when you need it. One of the speakers suggested introducing yourself to all your professors and going to them at the first signs of trouble. So that is what I did - and it has made a world of difference. If I could go back and visit myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that is is more than OK to ask for help from teachers - that's what they are there for after all. If I could give myself this advice, I would have been able to be more involved with friends and clubs and been more well-rounded overall.

As a senior I knew it was important to keep my grades up because I knew there was always the possibility that Christopher Newport could withdraw my acceptance. However, if I did receive a bad grade on something it didn?t bother me as much as it should have. If I could go back I would force myself to learn how to study the right way. Looking at the information in the class period before the test doesn?t cut it. Once I got to college I realized that I had no idea how to study because I never had to before. Studying for me in high school was almost a joke. It took me a few bad grades in the beginning to figure it out, but like anything else that presented me with a challenge I worked at it until I mastered it. This past semester I learned something that some college students may never completely grasp. High school seniors who never picked up a book throughout their four years have something new coming for them. College isn?t something that anyone can just breeze through; good grades come along with time and effort.

Be ready for all the temptations that try and keep you from studying hard. You are primarily there to learn, not fool around. Other than that, don't procrastinate, be yourself, and have fun!

Certainly I would tell myself to not be so afraid of the math and go ahead and make biology my major. In college you HAVE to love what you are studying or you can never do well. I would tell myself to stay away from college parties because they only cause a lot of grief. Applying for jobs early (as in before the first semester begins) is important because everyone else on campus wants a job as well. Start using that datebook mom gave you asap because it does not seem like a lot at first but you will miss quite a few important events if you do not write them all down in one place. Definitely make sure and get to know your professors early; they really do want to help you and they will if they see that you are making that extra effort. Go to tutoring even if you feel as if you do not need. That can make the difference between a ninety and a one hundred percent on a test. Get involved on campus; go to the student activities office and ask them what kind of orgnizations are available. Relax, your health comes first.

If I could go back and talk to myself in my senior year, I would have quite a few tips to give. First off, I'd start by preaching: do not skip class! Once you get into the habbit of skipping, it gets easier, and your grades suffer. Also, I'd probably tell myself not to work so much. I love making money and especially with having to help pay for my school but I feel like because I work so much, I have little time to get involved with campus especially because I am a commuter student. Another piece of advice I'd give is to talk to more people. I am typically shy and don't reach out much when someone hasn't already reached out to me. The connections I have made with some of my peers have been beneficial and I wish I currently had more of that. Finally, I'd probably add that I take more classes and find ways into the classes that were full. However, I can't go back in time so I'll just use my advice for my future years in college.

Dear Amanda, College is amazing and you will want to "live it up" as much as possible. That is what college is for, to let loose and have fun, but to get a good education in the process. This is your senior year, make it count. Do not slack off, as much as I know you want to. It is so important to get into a good university because truthfully, that degree from that school will help you acquire a job or even jumpstart your career. When it is time to go to school, it is imperative that you keep an open mind to everything. You will be in a new environment, with new people who have come from all diffferent walks of life. They may have done or seen things you never could have believed was possible. Still keep your core values, don't misunderstand me, but be open to new things and just taking a leap of faith into new experiences. Do not have too much fun though, school is still important. It is neccessary to manage your time well, do all of your work, study hard and get amazing grades. Keep organized, work hard, and have fun!

1.) No matter what they tell you about college, nothing can prepare you for the physical transition. 2.) As long as you just get your paperwork applications in on time and keep your grades up, you do not need to worry about anything 3.) Your high school likes to blow this whole college process thing out of the water and inject a little paranoia into everyone. 4.) Some of your old friends from school are going to go off in their own directions. Accept this shift, and move on. 5.) Give your counsoler a hug. She works hard for you and she deserves it!

If I could give myself any advice in as little as 200 words it would be to be yourself and find who you are. As long as you stay true to yourself and find who you think you are nothing can stop you. There will always be bumps in the road no matter who you are and sometimes it may seem really difficult but just stay focused and remember there are always people who love you, even if you do happen to screw up. The most important thing is that the decisions you make are always affecting and changing the outcome of your life, and even if you have made a small mistake or even a huge mistake it helps to define you later on. So, never look back and regret your decisions because as long as you are happy with yourself and the things you have accomplished that is all that matters.

Going back in time to when I was a high school senior I would tell myself that I need to learn how to study at a college level, and get my homework done during the day and not wait till night to start it.

First of all, I would tell myself not to live in a self-created box. Beginning the journey to college means a new life and in turn, a new person. You are not necessarily the same person you were in high school and it is important to open yourself to new experiences. Next, do your research...ABOUT EVERYTHING. Everything from your perspective major to different universities and financial aide. It is imperative that you are well-versed in the ways of the college world, this knowledge will better prepare you for the challenges that face you. Next, when you arrive at your chosen university, remember...your professors are your friends! Faculty members are an important resource and they will help! Faculty members want to feel needed and are perfect mentors for new students. And last but not least, I would say keep an open mind and an optimistic outlook. These traits are invaluable and will help you reach out of your comfort zone and into a new, happy college life.

Hello, me. You're going to school for music education, and you've been accepted. Now what? I've made you a list of the things you need to know about yourself through college. Ready? First, don't worry so much about the logisitcs; it will all work out in the end. Your creativity and perseverance will serve you well. Second, professionalism with a good sense of humor will always place you at ease with someone or something unfamiliar. Do not take yourself too seriously. Third, do not feel guilty about pursuing music instead of a technical field that may earn you more money. You will learn later it is your passion. Fourth, do not feel guilty about leisure and downtime, but do not neglect your studies. You need time alone to balance yourself. Fifth, take chances and seek new experiences, but do not lose track of who you are today. You will look back and ground yourself in who you were. Lastly, never lose sight of your optimism. It is who you are.

I would advise high school seniors to focus on school, but also on making friends and getting involved. Its really easy to focus too much on one or the other, but both are necessary to enjoy college. School works a necessary evil, but how you do your freshman year sets the tone for your whole college career. But also the friends made freshman year are friends that will stick with you through out all of college. If your school offers any orientation activities go to them, you'll meet people and its a good way to get situated at the school. And if your struggling in any way dont be afriad to ask for help. Every school has psychological and acedemic counseling for a reason, to help students. Ask for help before its too late. People who work in these services have dealt with every situation imaginable so dont be embarrased if your struggling, depressed, failing or just homesick- many other students will be too, so reach out.

Cordelia, You are staring at six acceptance letters from schools across the state. As you begin to think about your decision, I want to warn you to not let anyone else make it for you. I know your best friend is going one place, your boyfriend to another, and your older brother is currently a student at a third. Your mother pressures you to go to one, and your father suggests another. You need to make the decision for yourself - do not let them make up your mind for you. Yes, listen to their advice because they probably have useful suggestions, but this is a decision that will affect your entire life from this point onward. You need to be able to be happy at this school, successful academically, and you want to grow and flourish while you are there. Think about your interests, needs, and academic, career and life goals; these should guide your decision. Please make your choice wisely, and make it for yourself, not for anyone else - your friends will be fun to visit, boyfriends come and go, and your mother will always love you. This is one decision you do not want to regret.

Even though highschool may have been a breeze, college requires work. It will be hard but it's completely do-able and you don't have to spend all of your time studying or completing homework, just an hour or two a day is fine. Also you won't be in class all day unless you want it to be that way and that usually means you'll have at least one day with none or only one class during the week. Everything is in your control. If you're not a morning person, don't take any classes in the morning. If you don't feel the need to go to class and you're not feeling well or you have another imnportant assignment to finish, it won't kill you to skip ONE class to finish it or rest up. Professors will not hound you for work, so with college comes more responsibility. Those responsibilities don't just include schoolwork however. You're gonna be responsible for eating healthy, cleaning up after yourself, resolving any conflicts with your roommates, and/or finding a job. All of this may seem overwhelming, but there are always people to help you.

If you aren't sure what you want to do in life, are afraid in any way of college, or aren't sure where you want to go, community college is definitely a good idea. But, make sure to check to see that ALL of your classes will transfer. Transferring and getting set back a semester is not fun. Going there for a year was a smart idea for me. Also, check out a lot of schools and visit as many as you can. Be sure to check out all of your options. Look into as many scholarships as possible. There is so much money that no one uses (plus, with tuition going up, its getting hard).

Focus a little more on your writing ability; it is a very valuable tool. Don't worry about fitting in because you will meet people more compatible with you than you could ever imagine. And finally; set goals, but not in concrete.

I would say focus on your life. Know that the next step is major. Do not worry about what your friends are doing. You have to make your own decisions now. Make positive decisions, "they will follow you for the rest of your life." Have a clue to were you are heading. Work hard at what you are doing. Be positive about everything that is taking place from this point on. Tell yourself you can do it. Believe that you can do it. Put God first! The rest would soon follow.

Continue to study hard and continue to listen to peers, parents, and those you look up to. You'll do fine. I know.

Aim for a balanced life. Academics is not everything in life. Join different clubs and meet new people.

I would tell myself to actually read. I almost never read the assaigned reading for my classes and if I had it would have greatly helped with my grades. I would also say get more involved. There were plenty of groups and clubs in my high school that I could have easily have joined and met new people. Not only do you meet new people but it also looks really good on your resume. Another piece of advice would be to go on more college visits rather then just looking at pictures of the campus online, it is not the same as seeing it in person. When you do go visit ask students what the teachers are like, class sizes, how popular are sports and Greek life, and also don't be afraid to ask how the party life is there, although with tour guides they may not give you a straight answer since it could jeopardize their jobs.

College is a time of change and challenge as well as a wonderful and enlightening experience. Maintaining balance is the key to success. This includes balancing classes, jobs, friends, relationships, love, jobs, campus life, roommates, homework, sleep, exercise, family relations, high school friendships, health, personal time, community service, program requirements, social life, and a balanced diet. Learn time management and the value of making and following schedules. Be your own best friend and know yourself well. Know what conditions enable you to do your best and seek them out in all areas of life including friendships, class times and styles, and daily schedules. Set attainable goals to maintain motivation. Strive to achieve them with everything you do. Be intentional in all your actions. Stay focused but allow yourself to be open to experiences. Know that you are the one in control of making these four years a time to cherish and remember with zero regrets. Take advantage of all possibilities around you for these will set you apart and build your identity. Laugh hard, live hard, love hard, study hard, and sleep well!

I would give myself the advide of learning the right study skills. studying in very important in college, especially if you want to succeed. My study skills were not hat great at all, but whn i came to this school they made all freshman sports athletes attend a study hall 3 times a week for an hour and half. We also had mandatory mentors to help us get through our first semester. Then is when i realized that i needed help when it came to my acedemics, and now i am more prepared for classes than i have ever been. I am so grateful that Christopher Newport wants their athletes and students to do great things in life, and htey pointed me in the right direction when it came to my classes and hopefully my future.

Graduating a year early was great, and then attending the local community college was an awesome way to save money and think about my major and my future. Transferring to CNU second semester freshman year was not such a great idea. I should have waited until my sophomore year to transfer. It was not such a great idea to jump in halfway through the year. Do not just run away from your problems. Wait and work it out and think about your decision before you make it. Do not let someone else's views or opinions influence you. Stay in community college for the two years and then transfer. There is nothing disgraceful about that.

The college experience may be exactly like everyone said it would but that is not a bad thing. You'll meet some of the best people that allow you to reflect on who you are. Even though it may not be harder than high school or that much different socially, you will grow like you never thought you would. Trust me when I tell you that you don't know everything and you're kind of stupid. It's not the end of the world to get rejected and its not the end of the world to have to start over. Everything you do from this point on will be worth it, even the mistakes, all of it will lead to a better end than you could ever imagine. Trust that you'll be okay despite anything that happens after this moment. Keep working hard and keep focused and you'll be golden.

Try to work on coordinating a roommate ahead of time that has similar interests or classes as you do. My roommate and I ended up being fellow lacrosse players as well as both being in the leadership program. That keep us with similar schedules so we are not bothering each other at odd times - for instance - we need to be up at 6am for workouts. That would be really annoying for someone who did not have that same kind of schedule. Our suite mates are both musicians - again, needing to practice might be annoying for a non-musician. Try to work it out with counselors, coaches, curriculum specific professors, etc. It can make such a difference in your college living.

Looking back to my senior year I know I was ready to get out and for college life to start, but at the same time I knew would miss my family, friends, and boyfriend very much. Many upcoming freshmen are in the same dilemma and are unable to see outside of the box of their town or friends or boyfriend at the time. They are all very scared and sometimes that make some of them hold back from opportunities that could change their life. My advice to myself would be not to worry too much about what you leaving behind but completely focus on where you are going and what that university has to offer you because that will be your life for the next four or five years. You do not want to sacrifice anything for something that will soon be in your past. Take every advantage you can and appreciate it. Having great accomplishments is much more valuable than preserving yourself for what you are scared to leave. Once you get to college everyone is just as scared as you are and somehow that draws everyone closer and you end up finding you new family and best friends.

Give a lot of thought to what exactly is it you are looking for in a college. This includes understanding your own learning style to ensure that the college or university is compatible with it. For example, I learn best in small classes with lots of interactive discussion. With that in mind, I made sure that the colleges I considered did not have a lecture-based program of courses. Also, take into consideration the location of the school. Government and law students may want to be closer to a city in which they can find ample interships. Look for a school that has good job placement services. Consider what type of social life you are looking for whether it be a school with a heavy concentration on greek life or many campus sports and clubs. Is the party life a big factor in your decision? Just know exactly what is is you want before you get started and do no be afraid to ask questions. Remember what is that was important to you in the decision making process and remind yourself to stay committed to those things to not get lost in the college life. Keep end goals in mind!

Many colleges can be misleading, mainly because of the other students that go there. Find a college that suits you and make sure the school ACTUALLY suits you, just because they say they have something does not mean they do, they will lie through their snaggled teeth to get you and your money. Research the school in depth, do not look solely at the outside. Ask people who have gone their about their experience. Do not be a follower, universities tend to pull kids in and poison them, brainwashing them to forget the real world. Challenge every word spoken.

Visit, you don't want any bad suprises.

The advice for parents about finding the right college is to allow your child to choose. A parent can offer suggestions but never give their oppionion on which college they want the child to go to. Parents should expect the child to be very homewisck the first month of the college experience. However, parents should encourage their child to stick with it. The advice for students is to challeneg yourself to new experiences this including both social and academic. If you want to learn Italian but have never spoken a word before in your life then try it and see it. Join an art club so that you intereact with people that you noramlly do interact with.

The best advice I can give to parents and/or students about finding the right college is to go where you feel connected. This doesn't mean attend a school because it has your major or it's close to home or it's cheap; choose a school that speaks to your soul, that excites you about the idea of learning and living, go to the school that just feels right. This will ensure that you feel happy, that you want to work for what you're doing, that you will appreciate where you are and want to give back, and that everything will fall into place because you followed your heart.

Don't force your kids to go to a school just because it's close to home or because you think it's all you can afford. Let them be the ones to make the decision based on the school it's self. Support them. :)

I would try to explain to the student that this is not only a large step in their learning, but in their growing. College can be what the student makes it, some unfortunatly are just looking to move out of their parents home and be on their own, sadly these are the students that most likely will not succeed. College is a place to grow and learn, but to also have self control. This could be one of the most important things a student learns and it will benefit them for life. I would explain to the parents that thier child will always be their child, but is growing up and must be allowed to succeed and try new things on their own. They can and will learn to wake up in time for class, and yes, even learn to do laundry (at least we all hope they do!). This is a new phase in their life and they will make mistakes, but they will learn from them. College life is a safe environment for them to be in and should be enjoyed.

The first thing that I think is valuable to students and parents when looking for the right college are the interent sources in which you can compare colleges. I also think that it is monumentally important to actually visit the colleges that you are considering and get the "feel" of it. Lastly, talk to professors, admin, and multiple students that go to the school. It is also a good idea to stay the night in one of the dorms with current students so you can see how things are run . Lastly I would suggest attending a few classes that you think that you are interested in to see if they are taught in a style that is cohesive to how you learn!

visit all the campuses you're interested in to see which one just feels right

Sometimes the largest and/or most popular schools are not the best. Choose the college that has the major you want to pursue and that has clubs or sports that interest you. Also, tour the dorms and dining facilities, as these are places that you will spend a lot of time at when at college. It is also a good idea to ask students about the college they attend--ask questions from students when touring a campus.