Corning Community College Top Questions

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

Danica

Hello High School Danica, I'm very proud of you for putting so much effort into your studies. Graduating with a 4.2 GPA is pretty impressive. I'm here to tell you though, it's different in college. It's not enough to just throw yourself into your academic learning; you've got to put effort into socialization, too. What I remember most about my first two years in college is not theorems, equations, nor history dates. What I remember, what has shaped me the most, are all the extracurriculars: choosing to take theater class, becoming President of the International Club, picking up that Meditation class, learning to play pool down in the game room. Thing is, you didn't know this. I wish I could really go back to tell you. You wasted your first year of college working too much and going home straight after class. Take time to get to know your professors. Take time to breathe and notice everyone around you Take time to go to open mic at the local coffee shop. Take time to find yourself.

Tiffany

Dear Highschool Tiffany, We can both admit that there's not a lot on your mind right now. You want to enjoy your senior year, and that's just fine! Relish in it. It's going to be great, I promise. And when it's over, things are going to change, but they'll be fun, too. You'll like CCC. It's just big enough that you can get away from the things and people from whom you need space. But it's small enough that it will soon feel like home. But don't get too comfortable too quickly. You are going to make one dumb mistake, and it's simply because you're lazy. You are not going to want to apply for FAFSA. Do it anyway. There's a lot happpening right now, and it's very tempting to let it fall through the cracks, but that debt that I'm facing now is not fun, and you don't want to deal with that if you don't have to. Take the time, argue with your parents, and fill it out. You'll be thankful that you did so later. With love, College Tiffany

Sarah

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would definately tell myself to make sure i do well in all of my classes. I would tell myself that after i worked as hard as I did in my ACE classes, the transition will be very easy. The best thing that i could have done was stay in the state and attend the local community college before I try to make a transition to a larger school. Taking the whole process one step at a time was the best possible thing I could have done. It saved me thousands of dollars. What I could have done differently was get a steady job much earlier on in high school and saved more money. The tuition gets expensive. Also, applying for more scholarships would have absolutely helped me make the transition easier. If i could have graduated with more money in the bank would have relieved a lot of unnecessary stress.

Andrea

I would give myself a variety of advice. To start with I would've told myself to take all the college credit courses offered in highschool that i could. I was lazy about it and just wanted the easy classes. But now that I look back I wish I would've tooken all those classes. I also would've had told myself to get another job, so i could help my parents pay for college. I don't like the idea of them struggling to pay for my college, even though they offered to pay for it I would rather be more independent and pay for college myself. If I could go back and do it all over i definitely would.

Charity

Be kind to everyone. Try new things. Don't miss out on the fun of college by being afraid. It's ok if you don't know what you want to do the rest of your life, but you also need to seriously evaluate were you are headed. My sophomore year I knew that the major I was in wasn't going to work out in the long run. However, instead of cutting my losses and figuring something else out I stayed with that major for another two years. Now I'm returning to school with a completely different career path in mind. While I don't regret the first major I picked, I wish I had been more open minded to other possibilities. Most importantly, discover who you really are and what is most important to you.

Jade

I would tell myself to be ready to take care of myself. I would tell myself that college is different from high school. There is a big difference in homework and studying. You better listen there is not enough time to goof around in class. Every class is imporant no matter what the it is. Classes equal money and its your money and you need to grow up and take this seriously because you should do what you need to. Without concentration and a good work ethic and an idea of what I would like to do with my life it will be callegning to focus on what must be done. I would like to let myself know that while things happened in high school life happens in college and while you are atteneding college. Lives can change in 4 or even 2 years and its ok to make mistakes but do not give up. This is worth all the trouble that it takes because it will change your future for the better. I would like to tell myself that it is just like a softball game every inning , every swing, every play can change the outcome and future.