Eastern Kentucky University Top Questions

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

Charis

I would have tried my best to warn myself about how difficult it can be to make friends in college. It's odd that in a small school I had more friends than I could keep track of but upon moving to a medium sized school, I have barely begun to make friends. People assume that it is easy to make friends in places where there are more people but that isn't necessarily true. It is much harder to find one person in an ocean than it is to find them in a small lake.

Caitlin

First it should be noted that I am the oldest in my family. Neither of my parents attended college as traditional students and many of my family never attended college either. Asking for help while choosing a college was near impossible. While I loved my high school, counselors gave us what I now know is false hope. Their motto was that if you apply for FAFSA, you can choose any college you want. I learned differently when I found out that I couldn't attend Miami University because my parents could not afford to pay for tuition. Prices do matter for many people, including myself. College is not free, and loans are not something anyone wants to rely on. Saving money, which I did not do, is a valuable lesson to learn. *Pick a college with a good background but an affordable price also. *Save money. Work hard. *Don't take college information you've heard at face value. Do extra research And the most important lesson I've learned is to always ask questions. Do not be afraid to call the college. Because it's YOUR EDUCATION at stake!

Melanie

If I were to travel back in time and provide myself with advice regarding college, there are several things I would bring up. First, I would be sure make myself aware of application deadlines. Many colleges have early application deadlines, rolling admissions or just early deadlines in general. Becoming aware of application deadlines allows time to adequately complete the application, write thorough essays, and provide your highschool with an adequate amount of time to send the appropriate paperwork to the university. A second piece of advice I would give myself would be to decide on a major as soon as possible. After deciding on a major, it is much easier to find colleges. While it may seem hard to decide on a major, it will eventually save time as it is easier to find a college specializes in a specific field. A final piece of advice I would offer mysef about college life is to try to pick a college that I would truly see myself succeeding in. Picking a school in an aesthetically pleasing area will do nothing in helping me succeed if the academics of the school are poor and I won't be happy.

Whitney

Don't pack too much stuff, or assume that your random-assignment roomie will be the devil in disguise. Remember there are always people around to help, just ask someone. Go to class, unless you can't move or are infectious, and do your homework and research ahead of time. Don't worry if you decide to change your major, you've got a while, do some gen. ed. classes and try out a couple of introductory major courses your first few semesters. Make new friends, but don't forget the friends from home who came to your school. Talk to strangers - or at least, the ones in your classes, and in your dorm, and in whatever organization you may want to join, don't get kidnapped - haha. Take a few risks, never forget to have fun every once in a while, and don't forget to buy milk! (Seriously, you'll want to stay in your room and eat cereal rather than going to the dining hall or out to eat sometimes, trust me.) ...and, above everything else, don't stress!

Kelsey

Oh Kelsey! You've finally made it to your senior year, but don't get too excited yet. You still have to do just as much work, if not more, than you're used to. Remember that it's okay to ask questions. I know you get embarrassed and you feel like everyone else knows the answer. But I've recently found that sometimes I am the only brave enough to ask the dreaded question, and classmates thank me later. Like your dad always says, "It's your money, you might as well ask questions and learn a few things". Also remember to stand up for yourself. If you're with your bes friends and you're afraid they may not like you if you don't do what they want you to do, they aren't your real friends. BUT DON'T WORRY!! You will meet some of the most AMAZING friends in your life that you will love forever. These friends are the ones that are with you through thick and thin. Most importantly, don't stress. Have a little fun! Oh! One more thing: Don't forget to do the second essay on Biddle's last test!

Jill

I would tell myself to go in as an undeclared major to get all of the general education classes out of the way so that I could focus on my major later in college.

Brittany

I would tell myself to move onto campus my first semester and not wait. It's better on the main campus then on the extended campuses. Then I would say thing about not getting behide in class and keeping up with all of the class I was taking even if the class was a waste of time. Then I would say start getting things done and not wait to last mintue to fill things out. Work harder because even though I wanted to have fun, it was time to grow up and get what needed to be done, done.

Molly

I would tell myself to be more outgoing. Moving on is never a trouble-free process, but it's important to remember that it's okay if you make a mistake. It's crucial that you realize it doesn't matter if someone doesn't like you, or that you made yourself look like a complete idiot on the first day of class--what really makes people admire you isn't your perfections, but how well you deal with your flaws. If you trip down a flight of stairs in front of 100s of your classmates, so what? Of course it's embarassing, but just get up and laugh it off. I've always been a semi-chronic worrier--whether it's about grades, friends, family, or being on time to class. When I make a B on a Calculus quiz or have a fight with my parents, it's not the end of the world; sometimes it might feel like it, but life has a strange way of working itself out. People always tried to tell me those things when I was in high school and I'm finally realizing that they were right.

Deborah

As a high school student, I was used to being in the same classes with the same group of students for four years. As a college student, you may have a class with a set of students you may never see again. If I was to give myself some advice as a high schooler, I would recommend joining a club to connect with a group of students to form lasting relationships. Because I was a commuter student, I figured I had no time to participate in such activities. However, I now see I could have had a much richer, and fuller college experience if I had formed friendships with others on campus instead of only traveling to campus to attend class. Friends can help encourage you in your studies, and provide a support system in times of emotional distress. I have lost contact with most of my high school friends that attended another university, and have discovered how important it is to have a network of friends. Thus, I would recommend to myself, and any new college student to get involved within their university to establish friendships that will be supportive and make their college life more enjoyable.

Justin

My first big advice would be to take all the AP classes you can your final year of high school because you don't want to be in college forever. Also at the end of the year when you are ready to get out of school and be free from the "evil" place remember you still have scholarship chance so fill out that scholarship form and turn it in early. With a weighted GPA of 4.0 and Ranked 12th in your class you should get something. So do that and your college life will be much much much easier.

Megan

Do not be afraid and intimidated! College is about beginning anew, making everlasting friendships, attempting new activities, and being challenged by new concepts and ideas. Mentally prepare yourself because no one will rouse you from sleep if you ignore the piercing alarm clock. Avoid skipping classes, unless you desire a one way ticket to failure. Always attempt to sit near the front of the class or in the instructor's T-zone. Not only will you pay more attention, but the instructor is more likely to notice you. Converse with the instructors so they may better understand you as an individual and will be more willing to supply aid in your time of need. Decide if you can handle early morning classes or if you would rather pull off night classes at the beginning of the semester. Also do not be afraid to talk to others, engage in lively conversations and make friends in each class, in the event that abscences are unavoidable. But mostly importantly enjoy your new found freedom and always be willing to experience new things.

Nathaniel

Get in as many upper level classes as possible.

Kiah

If I were to go back in time to my senior year I would tell myself, "Self, you need to stay motivated. College can make you lazy, fat, a procrastinator, a bum, a freeloader. College life can distort your thoughts. Infleuence can change who you are and what you are capable of. So self, do not forget the reason for college. Self, you do not have to go to every party, do not forget about studying, do not blow off those "worthless" assignments. Self, you can do all things throught the great one. Only you can make or break you. Do not lose your assets. Love yourself, and your future."

Lee

I would tell myself to try hard, dont take the easy paths in college, remember to stay focused on what the teachers have to say, study a good amount and always double check on things.

Marin

Follow your heart and do what you want to do. Don't let your high school friends influence where you go to college. You'll meet amazing people no matter where you go. Don't forget to be yourself, they'll love you for who you are, and don't be afraid to put yourself out there and be a little crazy sometimes. Make the best of every situation and love the opportunities that arise. Your roommate isn't your worst enemy, they could be a future best friend. Just relax and have fun, you're not the only one who will be starting brand new.

Rebecca

If given the chance to speak to myself in the past, I would tell myself that all the complaints over the applications would look utterly ridiculous in retrospect--Mom knows what she is doing so listen to her! I would say, when you get there, jump right in and help people move in, study, or anything, and give out your name like there is no tomorrow; meet everyone you can. I was shy and quiet my first few weeks, and I do regret that. I would also make sure I understand that college is a lot more challenging than high school, and that no one will tell you when to do your work and when to play. As soon as my parents leave on drop-off day I am an adult, and on my own--I did not understand that the first time around, and I would want to have known that before they made me grow up in a weekend. The last thing I would tell myself is to have fun; college is only four years of the rest of your life. Do not fool yourself--you will screw up. However, you can bounce back and learn lessons quickly.

Kristen

I would tell myself to be more devoted and STICK IT OUT! When I was younger I did not understand the responsibilty that would be put on me, I had never had to "try" in school, it came natural. But if I could go back I'd tell myself and my peers to be ready for the challenge because the reward is so great.!

Steven

I would tell myself to not give up. I've never had anything over a 2.5 G.P.A in my life during high school but now i'm in college and I have a 3.16 G.P.A . I would also tell myself not to be in a hurry and get distracted by little things that may come up. Theres a plan and a reason for everything that happens so just do what you know you got to do and let everything else just fall into place as time goes on. I've seen a lot of people drop out because they would get caught up in the freedom of college isntead of focusing on the responsibility that comes with that freedom. I would tell myself not to take advantage of that freedom but instead use it responsibly so that my college sucess would start earlier than it already has. Thats what I would tell myself.

Nathan

If i could go back and talk to myself as a senior things would definatly be different. I would have first told myself that i needed to get more prepared for college and find out what i wanted to study and what schools were known best known for degrees in that area. I was a huge procrastanator when it came to choosing my school and i ended up going to a community college for two years before i came to a university. If i knew then what i know now i could have came straight to eastern and i could have kept from taking classes that are useless to my degree

Marissa

If I were able to go back in time to talk to myself about college, I would tell myself to learn how to probably study. I would tell me that college is hard work, but there is no need to stress out. Also, I would tell myself to never stop applying for scholarships and trying to save money (art supplies burn a whole through a wallet very fast). But what I would really focus on telling me is that it's ok to feel as though you're not the best artist. There will be projects that will stress you out and make you want to kick and scream, but it will ok. You are not perfect, you are human and everyone has their moments that they feel as though they aren't good enough. Just have faith in your talents and in yourself, and you'll do fine. All that can ever be asked of you is to just try.

Caitlin

I would tell myself and others that college is amazing. The experiences you have and the people you meet will change your life forever. There is no reason to be afraid of transition. Getting out and getting away from home will be a growing experience for you personally. You will find out who you are and what you can truly do when you set out on your own. Things you never thought you would have to do will knock at your door, and somehow you will prepare yourself for the challenge. College is a chance to become wiser through knowledge and social experiences. Realizing the one person you can always depend on is yourself. No one else can write those 10 page papers or pull an all-nighter for the big physics exam for you, it is your choice whether you succeed or fail. Friends you meet in college will be those you CHOOSE to befriend, those you make an honest connection with. You will make friends that last a lifetime and learn information to take you into a new stage in your life, educationally and personally. College will be a wonderful experience in itself.

Jacob

If I could go back in time I think that I would have taken advantage of post secondary courses. This is where high school students can take college courses for free while getting both high school and college credit. At the time I felt that I would just concentrate on taking advanced courses at my high school instead of getting college credit. If I had taken these classes I would have had alot of my general courses out of the way. Luckily one of my advanced courses, Calculus was a college level course and I was able to get credit for it.

Jessica

If I could go back to myself as a high school senior, I would have a lot to tell myself about college. I would tell myself to not worry so much about classes because they are notas bad as I make them out to be in my head. I would also tell myselfto tryout for EKU's volleyball team because I played intermural and I enjoyed every minute of it and I was great at it. The most important thing that I would tell myself is be prepared to come out of my comfort zone and embrace the change, because it will be better for me in the long run. Coming out of your comfort zone and putting yourself into new life changing events is really want college is all about. It is the final stage of shaping you into the person you are going to be before the world swallows you whole.

Jeremy

Do not procrastinate college is one of the biggest challenges and milestones in your life. Be sure to take meaningful classes this year and not those fluff classes where you don?t learn anything. Work on your ACT score the better the score the better the classes you will get and also KHEAA will give you money for a good ACT score. If the opportunity arises take a college class early because anything will help. Most of all enjoy your last year of school but make it a productive year.

Jerrica

my advice to my self would be to have better study habits.

Maryssa

I would tell my more naive self to work on becoming more outgoing the summer before freshman year and do this in order to be more willing to reach out to new people. I would have loved to have been able to make my group of friends more diverse quicker than I had because I was shy. I would have told myself to go through sorority recruitment that first fall because all the other big extracurriculars at the school weigh that heavily in allowing who they will allow to join them and community service is number one to me.

Kristen

Don't take a year off of school. It would be so much easier to just start right off the bat and not have to relearn everything. You can always change your major. But make sure your 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} happy in the choices you make. They are what forms you as a person

Lorie

Don't be afraid to take "hard" math classes. They really aren't that bad. Remember that anything is possible if you just take it one step at a time. Work hard and save your money. Budget your time and your money wisely. Invest in a really good backpack, comfortable walking shoes, and a waterproof winter coat. You'll need it! Eat Breakfast!!

britney

I would tell myself to lay off the sports and study more. The hardest thing about college is having money to afford it.

brandy

My advice is to choose a career that interests you and stick with it. You need to get some work experience in the field of your choice before you make a decision. Talk with career counselors or advisors at the colleges you are interested in. Get involved with clubs or organizations within your college. The more involved you are with your school, the more likely you will be to stay focused and graduate. Do not let work interfere with school. You will be better off in the end, if you put graduating college first instead of advancing in a menial job. Work experience will not carry you to your full potential. College will be fun and awarding for you. You will learn so much more than you ever imagined.

Stephen

Stop studying in high school, its a waste of time. Try to figure out what you want to do in life, because you are just wasting money in college without a major.

KatherineHouse

I would tell myself to take it seriously and leave the partying to when the semester is over! Be strong with the things that happen in the first two years of school. Not to let anything distract me and pull me from school.

Dylan

I would tell myself to always put 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} effort into every assignment that I take on. I would tell myself that no matter how stressed out you get from assignments, social life, and any other situations that it will pay off in the end, and to keep pushing for your goals.

Troy

I would study more in high school, and take my classes more seriously. College is so much more different and more hard than high school!

Mick

In order to fully take in and appreciate the life of a college student you must devote yourself to being one. Immediately get involved with clubs and take at least a semester before deciding to join any lifelong commitments, like fraternities or sororities. Rediscover yourself using the new friend base you have from orientation classes. Try to get into whatever Honors Program the school offers, they typically aren?t terribly difficult compared to regular general education class but offer way more opportunities. Do not allow yourself to get caught up in superficial things like: cars, money, sex, drinking. Appreciate those around you and remember that for the next two to four years, or even six, school and everything that comes with it is your new life.

Betsy

I would let myself know that EKU is a very good academic school even though it lacks in the social aspect. I would remind myself that working hard in college pays off in the long run. By keeping a positive outlook on life and setting goals for yourself, makes you successful. It is very important that you keep your future in mind while making decisions and to stay focused. I would also remind myself that school is very important, but a person needs to have fun. It relieves stress and makes life more clear. I would tell myself it is important to make close friends because you will need them when times get hard.

Holly

Being in Advanced Classes does not matter as much as you would think. At college, people don't care about your skin color, they don't care about your sexual orientation, they do care about each other. Living in the residence halls and going to programs that your Resident Assistant has for you, will allow you to meet so many new people, all with different stories to tell. Study like you should, have a social life, and live every possible minute to its fullest. Having friends and a social life is very important, these people are the ones that support you when family is not around. These are the best years of your life, they really are. You have the friends that you want, people are at the maturity levels that you need, and you are becoming more and more independant. Get involved on campus, because having friends and doing things with them is one of the biggest stress reliefs. Get excited about moving on because, in college, you have everything you have ever wanted.

Laura

I would tell High School self to have fun while in college, and not to stress myself out too bad, because the friends and memories you make in college, you will carry with you for a lifetime. You can't relive the years you were an 18-24 year old college student, so make the best of it, go to a lot of sporting events, campus events, concerts, and lectures. Even if it's something you might not be that interested in, you never know who you could meet and it's an experience. Basically I would just tell my high school self to make the most out of everything, good and bad, in college. Those experiences will also help you figure out what kind of career you want to pursue. I would also recommend going to several job fairs and atleast talking with possible future employers just to find out what they do on a daily basis, to see if that's possibly something you want to do later in life. Lastly, I would say to join some kind of group, either a sports team, intramural team, sorority, or church group, just be a part of something.

danielle

i would tell myself to take more college oriented classes in high school to prepare myself. i would also take high school alot more serious.

Patrick

I would tell myself to look at organizations to get involved in ahead of time and learn how to get involved.

Troy

I would tell myself to study study STUDY!!! I never had to study in high school, and now that I am in college thats all I have to do in order to be successful!

BreAnna

Be responsible and remember to keep a balanced social life as well as academic life.

Nathan

If I could go back and talk to myself in high school I would have stressed the point that college life is about having fun while doing good in class. I would also have explained that professors expect excellence out you rather than letting you slide like some high school teachers do. I would have reminded myself that hard work got me that grades in high school and to make sure that I carried them over with me as I made into college. The point would have been made that I was becoming an adult and remind myself that my parents wouldn't be there to get me up in the morning and help me along the way. Time management would have been part of the discussion. I would have also chosen to have come to EKU straight out of high school because that is where my occupational choice would lead me to in the future anyways.

Samantha

Be as prepared as you can be, and make sure that any orientation or program given for future students, you attend. These always give information that most likely wouldnt be told to you otherwise, and they are always a large help. I would also say find a school that you can truly see yourself in and feeling comfortable. Otherwise you will not have fun and gain the college experience you should, so deffinetly look at more than just a few schools so you can be sure that you picked the right one just for you!

Heather

The best advice that I could possibly give to parents and students when looking for the right college is to simply do their research. Picking the right college is just like picking anything else in life. There are many different types with different emphasis. The best thing is to make a list of possible schools then look information up online and once the list is altered afterwards then you go and visit each school. By visiting the school you are able to get a tangible feeling of what it would be like to be involved in that specific community.

Seth

Look up their majoring they're interested in. Look up as many on campus organizationsas possible such as Gospel ensemble, Frat, or Sorority and etc.

Noelle

Some advice I would give to parents and their students when trying to pick the right college is to always remember that the size of the school does matter. When I picked my school it wasn't too big and not too small, so that gave me the at ease-at-home feel, which I absolutely loved. Pick a school that when you are walking on campus you run into people that you have met along the way, but run into someone new, which could in the end be a friend that you keep for a lifetime. Making the most of the college experience depends on the school, the friends you meet along the journey, and the activities you become involved in. Without the people that I have met and without the school that I have chosen I would not have gotten the ultimate college experience that EKU has given me and the wonderful journey that I have been on with the most unique and wonderful friends that I will always keep and remember because of the memories we have made.

Melissa

It can be very overwelming when it comes time to start thinking about your future. What do you want to become? what do you want to do with yourlife. I found that It was easier to pick a college that was suited towards what I wanted to to with my education. If you want to become a nurse, it may be a good idea to look into universitys or colleges that have well known nursing porgrams. You also have to keep in mind how far away from your family you are willing to go. My first year of college I was a little over 3 hours from my family. I liked the independance, but I wanted to see my family more. Most importantly, when you are choosing your school, pick the one that will make you happy. Don't choose your school because you have a boyfriend/girlfriend and they are going to that school. Don't let your parents push you into a decision. You should choose the school that you like, and that you feel comfrotable at. After all, it will be your home for at least the next 4 years.

Jennifer

To find the right college to attend, you must find one that once you attend, you will not want to leave. Parting from friends, professors, and the environment of the college saddens you. It should help make you a better person by influencing you learn and also how you will become once you begin your career.

Regina

College students need your support. You are their cheering section! If possible choose a college close to home to save your student the cost of living on their own. Of course this isn't alway possible or wanted so the best thing parents and students can do is to listen to each other. Parents have already been through college and want only the best for their student. What ever choice is made parents alway support your student, whether your student knows it or not they need you.