College of Marin Top Questions

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

Rebecca

Go to community college first. The notion that College of Marin is bad and only losers who cannot afford a 4 year university and who could not get scholarships go there but it isn't true. You can make new friends if you put yourself out there and the staff is amazing when working with you on financial aid as well as the admissions process. The professors are willing to work with you and really spend time with you moreso than in high school and they are easy to talk to. They don't think they are above you in any way and they work to relate to you and they are very good at it. Many of the professors keep things lively and it really is a great way to make it through college with a smile on your face.

Frances

I see my 17 year old self walking out of campus boundaries while class continues on. I tell her to stop, turn around, and make wiser decisions. I tell her that education is the catalyst for success, a key to an open-mind, and a reason to keep living. I would advise her to go to the counselor's office and ask for an early start on applying for scholarships, because being under the poverty line isn't the only quirk of her character. I would tell her that she is bright, innovative, and has the gift of being able to influence the people of our world to make it a better place, all she needs to do is believe in herself, else others will fail to find faith in her. The young girl would take my words to heart, and see a greater self 3 years in the future instead of letting herself become a late bloomer. We have all made mistakes, but it is wise be open to the life-lessons mistakes teach us, so i'm fortunate to have grasped the importance of education.

Shastina

If I could go back in time and speak to myself as a senior in high school I would say: take time to discover your true self, stay balanced, and utilize your schools resources. Taking the time to find out what your passions are and what excites you can pay off in the long run. If you choose to major in something that you love to do, you will be happy! But first you have to take time to uncover the real you. Experiment with classes that are intriguing and fun. Don't be discouraged if you don't know what you are going to do with your life right away. It?s important to balance the fun classes with the general education classes. When you balance them correctly you don?t get overwhelmed. It will also help you along on your track to getting a degree. Talk to your counselor for advice on what classes you need to take. Talk to the financial aid people about scholarships and grants. There are lots of resources available to you. Remember you are going to school for you. It?s your experience so make the best of it! Stay inspired and curious.

Jeff

If I had the ability to travel back and time to the time that I was a high school senior I would tell myself to pursue my interests no matter how silly or unattainable they might seem. I would tell myself that good people with good intentions would give me advice such as; ?Choose a career path that will make lots of money.? ?Make sure you have a fallback career.? and ?Learn how to be successful in business.?. I would then tell myself to always be thankful for well-intended advice and also know that if you give everything to what you love you will be successful at it. Have the courage to be who you want to be regardless of what anyone tells you what you should be.

Brendan

First of all, I would tell my past self that once he graduates from high school and starts attending college, he will have the opportunity to choose his own classes and workload as he prepares himself for a career in architecture. However, he will have to exercise initiative and responsibility in completing his assignments before the deadlines. I would also recommend that he take at least one AP class while he is still in high school to give himself a leg up in preparing for acceptance into a school that specializes in architecture. Preferably, that class is a subject he knows fairly well and feels confident in undertaking. Last of all, he should learn how to prepare his own meals and do his own laundry while he is still living with his parents. That way, he will be prepared to live away from home without Mom or Dad aroundto cook for him or get him out of bed.