DePaul University Top Questions

I would tell the pre-college me to stop looking at the world through a black and white telescope. I didn't understand that the vast majority of life is a gray, murky area where things aren't always one way or the other. Worst , I didn't understand that this was an entirely acceptable fact of life. I would tell myself that no matter how hard I tried, I wasn't going to make all the right decisions right away--I was never going to be the "perfect" white to the loathesome black I thought I was without embracing all the gray areas of my life ; without giving myself the power just to be who I was, to slow down and relish in every experience that came my way, to not give so much weight to the school I ended up at and the major I finally chose. In the end, I know I will get where I need to be, because I'm not afraid to see gray. The exact steps of my journey aren't so important as it is to allow myself to make it. That is the most valuable piece of advice I could give.

Don't be afraid of life, don't be afraid to take risks and chances. Don't feel bad when others do not support you, agree with you or recognize your abilities. Remain optimistic and confident. Sometimes, things will seem overwhelming and the bottom appears to fall out, but remain steadfast and encouraged, it is all a part of the process. We must have rain in order to enjoy and appreciate the sunshine. We must have failures in order to recognize and appreciate success. Past disappointments are only trial runs for future successes. Everything in life happens for a reason. Things are to be used and people are to be loved, not the other way around - loving things and using people. Life is not as difficult as it seems, it is joyous and meaningful. The future is yours, grab it by the horns and don't let go. Watch out for those who try to destroy your dreams and always, always, always believe in yourself. Do not succuumb to other's thoughts about you, good or bad. Those that sing your praises today will sometimes turn their backs on you. Life can be and is very rewarding - enjoy it!

People always say, ?if I only knew that when I was your age.? I have heard this time and time again, but I have never really understood its meaning until recently. I have been in college for almost two years now, and there are definitely a few things that I wish I could tell myself. I would tell myself that it is important to get to know your professor and get them to know you. It is important to go out of your way to meet people to make your college experience an actual college experience. I would tell myself to manage my time properly, that school needs to come before anything else. I would give myself the advice to ask question whenever I have them. No question is stupid, and they deserve answers no matter the type of question. All of these things were said to me growing up in school, but I never really understood them until I came to school. Therefore, I would want to reiterate these things to myself so I can make college and college life the best I possibly could from the start.

If I was ever graced with the window of opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself about college and what to expect, I would most definitely take this opputunity to tell myself to calm down and it is not as difficult as it is made out to be. Althroughout high school, students are told that higher education is no joke and they should use the time provided in high school to prepare for difficulty. Although this was useful advice and college is not a joke, the attacking of college often made adolescents in high school panic about where they would go to school and if they would succeed. Speaking from experience, I was a student that held my breath often when the "C" word was said. So for that matter, I would tell past me that everything will be fine as long as there is no laziness nor slacking off in my vocabulary. There may difficulty but it is not as tragic as once mentioned. Although I have little experience of the college life, I know what is ahead for me because hard-work and effort are necessary for success and these tools are in use.

I would tell myself to get involved quick. Make as many new friends as possible while maintaining the friendships from High School and earlier. The more friends there are, the more networking there will be in order to network with alumni, businesses, and other people. College is like the beginning of life where there is a lot more freedom as opposed to high school, and a lot of friendliness. It doesn't matter whether you were the nerd or the geek or the jock in high school, that doesn't matter at all in college because everyone is in the same boat. Also, get involved with the community because it makes you a better person overall and try studying abroad because people really look for things to remember you by.

Dear Keisha, I have just been given an unbelievable chance to send to you, from the future, a note. Tell you take the chance I knew I should have 14 years ago. I remember all too fondly how frustrated you are feeling about your limited opportunities this senior year. But you must fight the fear and the doubt that you're feeling and listening to, apply to Clark Atlanta, focus on school and don't get side tract by our families? inability to see what talents you have. I have been given a chance to advise you on college, I say go get all the knowledge and experiences you can. It is the one thing in your life that you regret most. Educate yourself on money- how to save and spend so that you can be successful after college and not riddled with credit card debt. Also choose a major you really our passionate about. You will be happy and at peace when you finally make that decision. Another thing never doubt yourself even when you've made a mistake learn from it and don't repeat it again. I leave you with this take a leap of faith!

STUDY, STUDY, STUDY. The strength of your future career will depend on how you break through in the face of adversity in college. Live in the moment to get you through. You will be the only person who will take care of you in the end. Prepare for your success. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a senior I would definitely give my senior year self a reality check. High school is fun and because you are a senior, you feel that you're done with school and you can take a break when in reality, the real world starts. Now the time has come to step up and take on the responsibility into becomming an adult. I would give my senior year self advice and tell myself that in college, it's all about who you hang out with and what you want in life. If you are focused and surround yourself around positive people then postitive things will evolve and you will get to wher you want to be in life. If you surround yourself around people who are negative and are only in college to have fun, then you will get negative results and end up with regrets. Think positive, be positive, and you shall have a college life thats full of happiness, fun, and success!

I would suggest practicing more time efficient habits. Also, college is definitely not cheap, so putting more of an effort in searching for scholarships would have been helpful. Other than that, I would thank myself for wanting to be successful, because it has lead me to a positive college experience thus far.

If I was able to go back and converse with myself as a high school senior I would stress the importance of choosing a college that would enhance and encourage professional ability. Rather than make a decision based on friends and social scene, I would reaffirm my desire to choose a school that will be a personal and professional asset; specifically choosing a university that focuses on professional success after college. Despite worrying, I would advise myself that parties are fun but they don't get you a job. College is not all about parties, rather it is about forming relationships inside the classroom and through college organizations that enable success and creating lifelong contacts.

I would definitely spend more time on obtaining scholarships and grants just so I will be financially secured for college. From what I got after High School to use on tuition, it wasn't quite enough to put me through college. That would be my only main advice to myself or any other student looking to attend a private college. Being financially secured will help get you through college without the stress of having to find money. Being the first generation to born in the US, made it difficult to figure out what I should do correctly so that I would have enough money to attend school. I had no assistant on how to look for money. So, if I could go back in time to high school, I would definitely tell myself to start looking for money and get that degree with less financial stress. My neices have looked up to me based off my education performance in High School and I do not want it to stop because they don't see me finish college.

Slow down and have fun! College will happen, one way or another, for those who want it. There really is no need to stress so much over applications, or the ACT?s. High school only lasts for a few short years, so you need to embrace all those wonderful (and maybe not so wonderful) people you are around everyday. Life is too short to have grudges, especially with those people who may only be in your life during high school. By letting go of judging people you may not thin you want to be friends with, you can open up so many opportunities for the best night of your life. And by getting along with all your peers it will make every football game, homecoming dance, and pep rally all the more fun. Most importantly, community college really is the way to go. Take your general classes for super cheap while finding your own sense of self before stepping out into the real world of college where only you are responsible for yourself! And don?t forget... have fun!!!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to enjoy where I am. I have attended three schools in six years. In that time, I have often agonized over tough decisions (like changing schools and majors) and later doubted the choices I made. However, as I look back now, I realize that had I not made those decisions I would not have met some great people and had some awesome experiences. Had I decided to stay where I was, I would have graduated by now. I also would not have met two of my good friends or driven a Zamboni. Life is full of tough decisions and there will always be pros and cons to those decisions. People have a tendency to dwell on the negatives. My life experience has taught me that it is better to remember all the things I have gained rather than the things I have theoretically missed out on.

If I could go back I would tell myself to enjoy your home life as much as possible while you're still there. Because once you're at college you need to focus on being there and being present, you can?t worry about being home or missing home when you?re at school. If you do you?ll miss out on this amazing new experience and you wont have as much fun or learn as much. So enjoy home while you have it, and once you?ve left, make sure you make the most of you?re time at college.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to research schools I wanted to go to rather than applying to schools my parents wanted me to go to. I am unhappy at my current school and I feel that if I would have followed my own dreams, I would be much happier and not being affected by these budget cuts. I would also tell myself to participate in more sports and extracurricular activities that way I could have continued those activities and sports well into college. It would have made the transition easier since I would meet people with the same interests as me, especially since I live off-campus. Lastly, I would tell myself to apply to several scholarships so that I will be able to pay for half of my tuition. Because DePaul University is a private school and tuition is expensive, my parents will only let me attend their school if I can help pay. However, I feel that this year has been an eye-opener for me in the sense that it showed what I really want, not my parents.

I was definitely well-prepared for college academic-wise, because I took several honors and AP classes in high school. Also, I was involved in several activities. However, I would tell myself to stop being shy and self-conscious and to get myself out there. I was always afraid of meeting new people and trying new things, and I believe it is still holding me back in college because it is hard to break. If I could change this, I would have the ultimate college experience.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get a grip and work harder. I don't believe that I worked myself hard enough my senior year because I ended up unable to attend college that year. I would also tell myself to think hard about what I want to study, and what would make me happy in the long run.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself that only certain courses are needed in order to transfer to a 4-year university from a community college. I would have constantly talked to myself and made a clear and detailed plan of my courses needed by semester to maintain on track to transfer to my choice university, versus my counselor selecting courses that did not transfer over or that weren't even remotely related to my selected major. That would have alleviated the 5 years I spent in community college to at least 3 since I was attending part-time most semesters, and full-time others. I would have been graduating from my 4-year university now instead of spending another 2 years. in the system. Also I would have told myself to really consider my career options earlier, job outlooks, salary ranges, instead of just being thrown into the college system without knowing what a college degree can actually do for my career options or what types of degrees work for what sort of career fields .

The advice I would give myself is to try and find a focus for your education. It is best to go in and know what you really want to do. Find your passion. It will make your college choice and course choices much easier. Make sure you keep in contact with your counselor they will help you stay on track when it comes to taking the required courses. Also, dorm life can be very challenging. If you know someone that is going to your school try to room with them so you do not have to deal with a total stranger. I also would recommend getting some type of job whether it is on campus or off that will help towards your major. There are plenty of positions out there and it will look good on your resume after college. Most of all go to class, keep up with your homework and assignments even though attendance is not always taken they know when you are there.

Well, seeing as how I was homeschooled all the way through High School, I have a bit of a unique perspective on this. I would say that taking as many general studies classes as possible before hand would have been a great idea. I did take a few, but looking back there was so much more that I could have done. I took a few classes at a community college near where I lived, and it would have been so easy to take more. This is a good idea for anyone because it is a good way to free up more time when you go for your degree, but also if you're not quite sure what you want to major in, this may be a good way to try and figure it out. For me it was good to take this classes because before hand I had mostly studied by myself with little classroom experience, so i was a good way to see how an actual classroom works. But like I said, it would definetly been good to take more of these classes, because there was still a bit of a jump going from quiet homeschooling to college classroom.

I would tell mtyself to not procrastinate , because that will affect me much. I wouls also think about the difference of college life to high school life, teh change is grandiose and to be prepared for anything. I wouls also mention that to give my all because this is my dream and I am going to make it come true!

My father was killed when I was twelve. My mother enrolled me in a vocational school, so I would be able to develop the skills to work in business. In my senior year in high school, I worked part-time and went to school part-time. My mothers concern was for me to find a job to support myself that offered medical insurance. Going to college was only a dream - not a reality or option. If I could go back in time, I would have encouraged myself to apply for colleges and seek the help of my high school counselors to apply for scholarships. It is easier to go to college while you are young. The challenges of an adult non-traditional student is not easy. You have to balance school, work and home life. The transition is not difficult from high school to college. Just remember to focus on your studies and you'll do just fine.

Allow yourself to succeed. Enjoy every accomplishment while in school. Get to know your professors, they can be the biggest help and asking lots of questions will let them know you want to succeed. Attend every class, not only will it make studying for midterms/finals easier but you're paying for them even if you don't go! Tuition is expensive at DePaul, make the most of your money and get good grades. Study alot and take classes you'll enjoy! It'll make the studying easier and you'll get excellent grades! Take advantage of the tutors available, they're not only free but very helpful if your professor isn't in office hours. These are supposed to be the best years of your life, don't be shy, involve yourself in every activity possible and meet lots of people. All of the people you meet could be a potential connection that will land you a job. Most importantly, be yourself.

Go to a community college and take advantage of the writing labs. The professors at the city colleges are helpful and very understanding, and to mention very dedicated to all their students.

Don't listen to the high school academic advisor. Though, I knew this when I was a HS Senior too. No one knows what college you belong in more than yourself. I chose DePaul because it is close to home (a 5 hour drive to St. Louis, MO) and is a big city with a lot of jobs. When I was a Senior, my first choice was Loyola Chicago, but when I visited DePaul, I knew I belonged here before the campus tour even began.

My college experience over the last year-and-a-half has been rather unforgiving to those who are unsure of their life path. I applied late to the school of music and, despite my first chair audition scores, recieved no financial aid as punishment for my delay. This has caused a lot stress for myself and my parents as we navigate through FAFSA and the loan process. Thus, really make a wise use of your high school years to discover what you want to do. More importantly, do yourself a favor and really look for a school that speaks to you. Don't be afraid to go somewhere far your best friend. College is not the end of your youth, it is a transition into the real world. So prepare for it. Visit a variety of schools. Big schools, small schools, state, and private. Eat in their cafeterias (it'll be your new diet for the next four years, you know). Talk to the professors, talk to students, and don't be afraid to ask questions. You wont offend the institution, but you will get a much better idea if that school is right for you or not. Good luck!

I would have listened to my teachers and applied to DePaul earlier. I then would have withdrawl all other applications so I could have no doubts what so ever

I would remind myself how fun and fufiling it is to be active on campus. I went into college worried that I would have no time for extracurriculars, so I was hesitant to join any student organizations. But half way through my freshman year, I felt that something was missing and that is when I began to get more involved on campus. I loved it! I became an officer in the DePaul Music Business Organization, joined University Ministry to serve the community and travel to other communities to serve, and joined the Liturgical Chior. I am actually doing what I want in college and still building on my career and getting an education.

Get involved your freshman year of college, join social clubs and particiapte in intramurals. Academics are different in college than in high school it requires more out of class effort and constant studying. Have the time of your life, but keep school your number one.

Don't buy books from the bookstore!!!! Biggest mistake you can make. Find a way to either trade books with fellow classmates or friends. I usually wait till the first week to feel out the teacher and see what they say about the books. If you buy books too early, sometimes they will tell you you don't need one or two of them and now your stuck because in general you can't return them. Half.com became a friend of mine saving hundreds of dollars each trimester. College books are expensive and teachers require 5 or even more books for a single class. College students are usually strapped for cash and teachers require books that are rarely used to their full potential. The transistion to college life was quite easy and I officially finished college a few hours before I filled out this survey. Time flies, embrace the experience.

Do not hold yourself back from being as social as possible. The most important thing for you to do here is meet people and make connections with people that will help you in your future career and life. The winters here are not fun, but do not allow it to affect your mood, otherwise you will miss out on a lot of these social opportunities.

My advice to myself would be to just remember what your parents taught you. Study hard and have fun at the same time. Just remember that college is very independent and that it takes a strong person to make it. But as long as your rember who you are and your values, you should be fine.

I don't regret anything I have done in my life, am actually extremely grateful. Having said that, I would offer one piece of advice to my younger self. It is a quote that my mom shared with me during my freshman year of college when I was going through a time of struggle. "Storms always lose to the sun." As a senior, I had a great group of friends, was playing as the principal flutist in our orchestra and band, I had been named the Music Sterling Scholar. Being a naive senior, I wasn't prepared to be a freshman in college and have to work my way up again. If I had been able to ponder that quote, I might have taken some of my challenges in my first two years much better. As a freshman, I was considered the most inexperienced flutist, had to make new friends, and found college coursework to be much more difficult. Thankfully, I have learned from my experiences that things always get better with time and hope. You must have blind faith going into every day and know that somehow, "storms always lose to the sun."

I would tell myself to get involved in more clubs in order to get a better idea of what I want to do with my future. It would have been a good idea to take a wide range of classes and try harder to absorb the material and see what I really am interested in. Also, I would have joined more organizations in order to get to know a wider range of people.

I wouuld deffinately have told myself to work harder and take those AP and honors classes becasue it helps you get ahead in college.

This has been a question that I have actually thought about. It is very unfortunate that my high school did not prepare students for college and the number of students that did attend college and finish is very slim. I would tell myself that college is in the near future and is possible continue higher education. Work is very hard and do not let monetary things get in your way and continue to focus on my near and far goals. Set realistic goals both small and large to achieve the final destination.

DePaul will give you a great first year experience, but since it is a comuter school, the friendships you make your first year will break. away. It'll be sad but you can get through it. There will always be at least one friend who will not leave you. Don't choose a college just because it is in a city and you don't want to go to an in-state school. If you choose to go to an in-state school it does not mean that you are any less than you would be if you went out of state. I know you want to race out of your hometown and fly away from Ohio as fast as you can, but remember your past will not disappear if you do. Don't get so stressed out about which school to choose, yeah its a big decision, but you can always change. Please take into consideration the money situation. Just because a school is expensive and private doesn't mean it is better than a cheaper public school. Don't hurt your parents by making them pay DePaul's overpriced tuition.

While which college you attend is important, your happiness is more important, so you should listen to yourself and not anybody else in making this decision. If you get to college and realize you made the wrong decision, life isn't over; you can transfer. Just do your best and everything will fall into place. Forcing decisions hardly ever ends up the way you would like, and in the end what is supposed to happen will happen. Remember who you are and where you came from while you learn even more about what you're capable of. Life is beautiful.

Make sure that you stick with your goals that you have had and don't ever give up when your classes become extremely overwhelmingly hard. Everything always will work out for the best. Make sure that you stop procrastinating because once you're in college, it's going to become a heavy burden upon yourself. Strive to meet others and interact with them. You will come to find that the other students that are a part of DePaul have a lot to offer and can become some of your best friends. You will be amazed as to how many opportunities are awaiting you once you come to DePaul.

Elizabeth, do not worry. Worrying only causes stress and doesn't get anything done. College life is not as intimidating as you think, and most schools are there to help you succeed in your career, not to watch you fail. As a high school student, with no family who's attended college, it is understandable why you would feel completely lost. As you've probably discovered, however, the best thing you can do is sit down with an academic advisor and talk about your plans. Even though you have no knowledge of how college works, along with the financial and academic aspects necessary to attend a college, everyone learns through experience. A fews years from now, you're going to have to help your brother with the same things, and it's better to know as much as possible than none at all. You've done well all throughout high school, making the transition to college is not going to be very difficult in your case. Keep studying hard and focusing on your dreams. If you don't know what you want to be, explore different subjects because you are bound to discover something of extreme interest. Best of luck!

GO FOR IT! I would encourage myself to dream big and to jump high because I know I'll make it. I have always had such an amazing support system that has kept my head held high. No dream is ever to big when you have people behind you to help achieve it. College life has been nothing short of extraordinary.

I would remind myself first to relax. It is a tedious process picking out a new school to attend but you will get through it and hopefully make the correct decision. I was not that lucky the first time around. Although I had been accepted into some local Private Universities I decided that it would be financially easier if I attended a state school. The state school was too large for me and I did not adapt well at all to my new surroundings. After a semester I ended up transfering to a smaller University. If I had thought more about my needs as a student I would have realized that the state school would not be the correct choice for me and although the private school cost more with the help of my family and loans I have been able to make this experience one to learn from. Money is not all that matters. Cost is not all that matters. Want it bad enough and you will figure a way out to reach your goal no matter the obstacles in your way.

To be honest, I don't know what advice I would give. I did what I needed to do for me as a high school senior, and I really don't think I'd do anything different if I were to go back and do it again.

My advice to them is to take advantage of the offers the school gives you, it will help you make a better decision. Offers such as campus tours or live with a college student over the weekend are some offers given by DePaul. I live in Chicago so I got to experience the university more often that those who travel far away to visit their colleges. Furthermore, there are many school events that you should attend because they are not only fun but you get to meet new people. And if you love sports but you are not competitive enough for club sports, try intramural sports. Anyone can make a team and play!

Finding the right college cannot be done over the internet or a magazine! I cannot stress enough how important it is to visit and stay on prospective campuses before choosing the school for you! Also ask questions! It is important to know the boring questions like how many students to a class, and how available will your professors be! Anything that you may be unsure about RESEARCH it! Finances are most important! Apply for everything and pay attention to the funding you will be rewarded! College is the best time so do the needed research!

The advice I would give to a new student upon entering a college is trust your gut. I had no intention of going to DePaul when I applied and I only did to simply see if I would get accepted. I didn't visit the campus and I did little to no research on the school at all. I did, however, talk to students and take a tour of the campus after I had been accepted. Like everyone embarking on the collegiate journey, I was nervous until orientation where I met fantastic people and soon we became great friends. I do know that people are not always as lucky as I was on this, but I do value our friendship and I feel that it helped me adjust to life at school even better. I do suggest to anyone going into orientation to just be yourself and to try and not freak out about the new school. It was the best thing I did while entering this university and I have great friends now and a great college life because of it.

A tour guide can rattle off fact after fact, but when it comes down to it only the student can decide which school is going to be the best fit. The only way to determine this is by visiting and exploring. Take the tour, but go a step further! Try the food, get lost on campus and ask for directions. Pay attention to the type of students around campus- do they seem happy? Can you see yourself hanging out with any of these people? Answers to these questions may come naturally, a sense of belonging and community at a school is something that can be hard to define but may easily be felt. Taking in a sense of a school requires more than a 60 minute tour. Be adventurous and ask the risky questions, the responses you get might surprise you. Choosing a school can be a scary and stressful process, but putting the work in can make it a rewarding one. After all, college is supposed to be the time of your life, right?

The best advice that I can give any parent or student regarding the selection of a college is to know exactly what the college can prepare you for and how strong or successful the institution is at placing a graduate upon completion. I say this because, once a student is bachelor conferred; Pell grants are no longer offered. It is extremely important to know what one is going to major and minor in from the first day of class, if coming in as a freshman. This would eliminate wasted time and expense in classes that one can't apply towards their careers or degree, unless its a prerequisite. With the economic climate being what it is, the lack of funding on all levels have become increasingly scarce (from an out of pocket perspective). Our country has becoming less competitive on all levels, we as american students need to gain back the competitive edge in order to be strong in the market place again. Our students need to take more science & math in order to fill jobs that go unfilled because of unqualified candidates. These are some of the reasons why I feel its important to find the right college.

let your child(ren) decide what school they want to go to

Go early. Go often. Graduate. Don't be a bucket-head.