Gettysburg College Top Questions

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

Tammie

I would advise my high school self to study more than usual so that you can get good grades. i would tell my high school self to study very hard for the SAT and ACT so that you can get into a very good college. Get into some excellent school activities and college prep workshops and other activities. i would advise my high school self to pay attention in class complete all assignments even homework assignments. You can get into any college you want you just got to be able to work very hard to get accepted. If i could go back in time to give advice to my high school self i would tell her to apply to out of state colleges so that she can experience many different things, take new adventures, meet new people, and try new things. I would say do not worry about trying to fit in with different crowds just focus on your future and what you want to be and do when you get into college. Make a list of your goals so that you'll know how to go about being a successful person. Don't be afraid to be yourself.

Emily

I would tell myself that I should have considered what I wanted out of my college career more, and that I should have truly looked into the college I chose rather than just choosing it for cost. I am sorely regretting my decision now on the college I am attending. College is a time of exploration, but unforeseen family situations have made the distance from home an issue. My high school senior self should have been stronger in her decision and paid more attention to details rather than fantasies.

Jacob

I would make sure to tell myself that I have to study a lot more when it comes to test and also learn how to take good notes. Knowing how to take good notes is important in college because not that many professors are going to slow down for just one student or take his/her time to explain a certain subject. When it comes to the test, you have to study at least two to three days in advance and your notes better be good! Tutoring has become an every day thing! When you don't quite understand something in your classes, the students in tutoring are definitely going to help you understand so your not completly on your own.

rebecca

Enjoy the process. Everyone is applying and worrying about getting into the most prestigious college and university that when it's over no one cares about high school anymore. Everyone wants to move on and graduate. It would have been better to enjoy the time I had left as a kid and not worried about growing up. Don't compare myself to anyone else. Even though you aren't going to an Ivy League school, your college experience is still valuable and life changing. There are so many options out there at Gettysburg College and I should start taking advantage of them as a freshman instead of waiting for my friends to start and I just following them.

Christine

I would tell myself to reach out to a more diverse group of people and also to relax and have fun. I regret not spending more time with my friends because I put my schoolwork first an foremost.

Rosie

My college experience will help me grow as a person and allow me to individually set my path in life.

Ariona

As of me attending Gordon College, I have been able to get some very good things out of my experience here. One good thing that I have gotten out of my college experience, is that by me attending college it has taught me about responsbility. Another thing that college has taught me, is how to be the best that I can be at all the work I do. I have learned to take the time that I need to do all of my school work, and the time I need to study. All of these things have been a very valuable experience for me. I am very glad that I chose to attend college, and that I chose Gordon College to attend first. Gordon College has been a wonderful experience for me. The professors here at Gordon have taught me and other students to be the best at everything we do. I love going to school, and Gordon College makes me want to attend even more.

Lauren

I discovered who I was and that I could make a difference in the world.

Ashley

My college experience has been so valuable because of the relationships-personal, professional and educational, that I have gained from it. Attending a small 4-year college that is mostly residential has allowed me to create long lasting friendships with my roommates and fellow students. Sharing a home, going to classes, studying at the library, cooking together, working out, seeking advice, and editing each others papers are just a few of the valuable experiences I've shared with my fellow students. These moments all add up to create unique and lifelong friendships. Also at Gettysburg I had the ability to have some of the brightest and most interesting minds at my fingertips. The support I was able to glean from the faculty and staff at college have inspired me to work harder, ask questions, and even continue my education at the graduate level. Finally the amazing resources my college provided for networking and career building have been incredibly helpful as I have graduated and moved into a new chapter of my life. The Career Center was available to assist with such things as resume writing and continues to be a valuable asset for networking.

Amanda

I would advise myself to open my mind. I feel very small and ignorant just thinking about everything in this world that I have literally no knowledge of. I want to get a taste of everything. I do not know what I will do with my life yet but I do know this, if I do not try everything I can, I will never be able to find the one thing that I enjoy most. My first semster in college opened my eyes to a million and a half new possiblities. Clubs, activites, people, places, even books on topics I would have never imagined reading but after being assigned them in class I was eager to learn more. Never in my life have I considered acting but after being assigned a small role in a skit in class one day I became in love with it. Acting for me is similar to the rush one would get on a rollercoaster, it is exhilerating! But I never even considered it until I was forced into it incollege. But I do not want to be pushed into new things anymore, I want to jump into them and relish the new experiences.

Kelsey

If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self, there are definitely some things I would mention. The first would definitely be to relax! There is no need to stress over applications and scholarships. Just get it done and out of the way, then stop worrying about it! Also, don't be concerned with how you will make friends. I know that I wanted to go to a school that would give me a fresh start -- Gettysburg definitely provided that as nobody from my High School has gone there in a few decades, if ever -- but I was always concerned with whether or not I would be able to start all over and make really great friends. There are so many ways to meet people with whom you share a common interest, so it is nothing to worry about. One more important piece of advice that would give myself is focus on time management. While college is not hard (or at least hasn't been thus far), there is a different sort of work load than I was used to in High scool. Manage your time well and get work out of the way early.

Kristen

I would advise myself to be true to myself and what my likes, dislikes and comforts are and go with my gut feeling. If I felt like the campus I was visiting could be a place I could call home and I could see myself befriending the people I met, and interacting with the faculty and professors I encountered, then chances are, it WOULD be a place I could call home. Despite what moms and dads and friends tell you, the decision is yours and you have to find a school whose size, programs and involvements match what's important to you, because you only go to college once and it shouldn't be someone else's decision, but your own.

Brencis

The best advice that I could give myself would be to organize my time management, commit to all of my classes 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}, and simply just be yourself. Being able to appropriately manage time throughout the day will make everything much easier. Late night study sessions in the library will virtually never happen if you correctly apply yourself. Committing to all of your classes 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} is extremely important. Just beacuse you might find one class being easier than another, that does not entitle you to slack off! Doing this will greatly hamper your chances of success in college and in life in general. The most important advice in my opinion is just be yourself. No matter where you go or who you run into, being yourself is the most important. By being yourself and marching to the beat of your own drum you will not live a life of dishonesty towards yourself. At any college that you decide to attend there will always be people who are just like you or close enough that you will get a long with greatly. Being yourself will also help you become more social since people will get to know you easier.

Joseph

My situation is somewhat different from most college freshmen. After graduating high school, I chose to defer my first year of college and do a full-time year of service with an AmeriCorps program called City Year. First and foremost, I would tell myself to serve as powerfully as possible, and to take advantage of all the opportunities I was presented with. One can learn from a myriad of different experiences. I would give this advice regardless of how my first semester went. The advice I would give reflecting my first semester would be to read as much as possible. The students at Gettysburg have very good academic backgrounds, possibly better than the one I had. The most efficient way to learn purely academic information is to read. Cover as many topics as possible, from education to philosophy. The final piece of advice I would have for myself is not to hold back the first semester. I was afraid I might spread myself too thin, and that I should focus on my academics, but I believe my over-all satisfaction would have been higher had I served more. One last comment?lift and train hard; you make the soccer team.

Colleen

Every day since the first day of my freshman year at college, I wish that I could go back to senior year and give myself one piece of advice and that would be not to underestimate myself. When I was choosing a college during my senior year of high school, I only applied to colleges that enrolled less than three thousand students and that were in the same area as I lived. At the time, I thought I applied to these places because I wanted a small, close to home school. Now, having attended such a school, I?m frustrated everyday by the realization that I was probably too afraid to even apply to a larger school or even one farther away from home. I underestimated what I could handle and now feel a little suffocated by my very tiny and rural school. I can accomplish more than I think I can if I let myself. I limited myself to a specific type of school instead to giving myself options or at least exploring other possibilities.

Amy

Develop as many interests as possible. Fill your days with involvement and fun. Expand your horizons daily, because once you surround yourself with an entirely new group that comes from many different backgrounds you will constantly find new things you'll want to experience. Academics are extremely important, but they are not the singular goal of a college. As much as a school wishes to challenge its students mentally, it also views itself as a social laboratory where lifetime involvements, enjoyments, and enrichments begin. Never pass up an opportunity!

Gianina

The two most important things when choosing a school is education and location. The student needs to pick somewhere that will give him or her a good education, but they shouldn't be hung up about whether it has a famous name. If the student finds someplace that makes him or her happy but is not widely known, they should go wherever will make them the most happy. If you're happy you will do well academically and socially. A student should not go to a city if they love the country just because it has a big name. They should go to a place that is a good fit for them.

Ashleigh

Be honest with yourself when choosing a school to attend- make sure it has everything that you know you need, without taking the notoriety of the school into account. After all, no matter how well-known the school is, if you yourself can't succeed there, it won't matter. Also, be yourself from the very beginning and make sure to balance your social life with your study time. Make friends with students who share the same work ethic, and you'll find that this balance is quite easy to maintain. Also, try new things and don't be too afraid to do the things you've always thought about doing. Experience college life to the fullest!

Claire

Overnight visits are an extremely important part of the selection process. For me, they were what helped me most in deciding which scool to attend

Sarah

There's an old adage that says "size matters" and for me finding the right college was all about size. I knew that the college experience I wanted would involve close relationships with my professors and advisors. I didn't want to be just a number in a lecture hall. So regardless of reputation, my first priority when searching for a college was to find the campus that would feel like a community, not a city. For me, Gettysburg was just the right combination of picturesque landscapes and old fashioned charm. Ultimately, cost of tuition is important, but my advice is don't make that your deciding factor. As a small private liberal arts college, four years at Gettysburg comes with a hefty price tag, but if I had allowed that thought to scare me away, I would have missed out on the intellectual and cultural opportunities that Gettysburg has to offer all of its students. Also, don't underestimate a school's alumni as a useful resource. My college may be small, but I believe that its vast network of alumni will help me to obtain the job of my dreams in today's uncertain economy.

Sarah

Do what is right for you. Don't worry about whether or not your major will get you a six-figure job, instead pick what you want to study, what you're interested in. Don't do it based on what's "practical" or "useful." Do what you love and everything else will come naturally. Make the most of your college years because, as cliche as it is, they are over quickly.

Elizabeth

Finding the right college seemed difficult for me at first. I am madly in love with choral music, but I also wanted to pursue biology. I applied to all different schools, and I gained acceptances to a music school, a school of science at an extremely selective school, and Gettysburg College, where I could double-major. I chose Gettysburg College because I was not ready to give up either music or science. Although Gettysburg was not the most selective school to which I had been accepted, it was ultimately the best possible decision that I could have made. I am truly happy pursuing all of my interests, and I'm so glad that I didn't let other factors get in the way of making the right decision. Therefore, my advice is to find a school that will truly offer EVERYTHING that you want to study, one that will give you options. Keep in mind that an extremely selective school is not automatically the one for you, even with an acceptance. Don't stop being interested in something to attend a college - make your interests and goals the number one priority, and you will have a truly amazing college experience.

Melissa

Above all, find a college that will challenge you. Whether that challenge is going somewhere where you are the minority to help change the campus, somewhere you will face an academic challenge, or even somewhere that challenges you to be different than you heretofore have known yourself to be. This is the institution that will put you on the path of who you will become for the rest of your life. Be challenged to do good work, to do something great! Find a college that will allow you to be who you truely are- or wish to become. A college which will nurture your spirit and your ambitions. A college which will be the stepping stone for your strengths and a pillar to lean on in your weaknesses. Don't be afraid to work hard for what you want, but also don't be afraid to nurture yourself. Have fun! Reward your hard work with friends, relax and recoup to keep your spirit and drive alive. The key to a successfull college experience though, is to find a place that will keep you involved, nurtured, and intrigued. A college that will challenge you to be strong, unique- to be Great!

Alexandra

What every parent or student must know about finding the right college is to find the best fit for their students' academics, comfort, and wallet. Going to a great school like Cologate or Harvard is wonderful on a resume but means nothing if you are struggling, depressed, or broke. Make the most out of your college experience by going out to parties, if only once to find out what it's like; go to a lecture on a Friday night even if everyone else thinks it's lame; hang out all day on a Saturday or Sunday and watch your favorite television show on DVD with your floormates; skip a class to enjoy the first spring day with your roommate. Just do what you enjoy and don't pass up the great opportunities that are being put before you. Study hard, but take time for your health and well being. Order a midnight Domino's 5 for $5 deal and resolve to start your gym routine the very next day. Enjoy that transition to becoming an adult...that's what college is all about.

Robert

be open to as many different possibilities of colleges as possible. choose a college that feels right on many different levels, like size, diversity, availableity of classes, food, extra curricular activities, and anything else you are really passionate about. also let the child choose for him or herself. they are the ones going to the college and they should be the ones to choose. take your time in choosing also. don't get caught into the early discision trap and feel like you have to make a decision right away.

Josh

Make sure you go to a school that is the "right fit" for your student.

Miles

I think it's very important to fully understand the social dynamic among the students before choosing a college. Doing an overnight is a very valuable experience, and one which I unfortunately missed at my college. Had I fully understood the paradigm among the students, namely, in Greek life, I might have selected another school.

Jessica

Make sure that you are aware of the location of the college as welll as make a visit to the school prior to going. I never visited Gettysburg College, and I was lucky that the school was pretty good, but not everyone is as lucky.

Ellice

I would give students this advice: go somewhere where you feel comfortable. If a small college in a small town is the right fit, don't stress yourself out by going to a college in a big city. To parents: our education is worth the amount of money you pour into it.

Karen

shit. cock. balls.

Victoria

Have fun and enjoy everything to the fullest.

Lindsay

Choosing a school is a personal process and knowing what you want is key in making this decision. I think the first step is determing what you want to major in or what you might like to study and find out which colleges offer this. Next, there is the basic criteria of what you want in a school. This includes size, location, cost, class size, campus resources, social life, etc. Compile a list of colleges/universities you are interested in and gather research and resources on these schools. Then, weed out certain ones based on the previous criteria that is most important to you, until you have a managable list to apply to. The best way to get a feel for a college is to make a visit and take a tour. If possible, meet with students and/or stay overnight. Visiting is very important as it really affect my decision in choosing Gettyburg. The last step is to apply to the schools that match your criteria and make a final choice on the ones that accepted you.

kyle

don't settle for anything less than perfect

Megan

Choose a college that offers a variety of majors, especially those you feel may interest you. Talk to current students at the institution and ask their opinions. Student to faculty ratio was important to me. College is the best thing ever created. It is a not only an opportunity for education, but also a great learning environment for other important "life lessons" that can not be taught, only experienced. Work hard, go to class, and have fun!

Jamie

Pick a college that fits, not one with a reputation!

Sarah

When students apply for college, they must consider tons of information. Financial aid, the availability of majors, class ratios, on-campus housing, career placement, recreational facilities, Greek life and diversity are among the hundreds of factors the student must consider. Urban or rural. Large or small. Practical or career-driven. However, most of the criteria are inconsequential. Students, you need to rely on your instinct. Sit down under a tree or on a bench of the school and simply think, will I be happy here? Do I feel I belong? Look around and picture yourself in the area. Despite your classes and research projects, GPA and soroities, this college will be your home for at least 4 years. Yes, think about the academics that you need for your proposed major or field of study. But remember that your interests wax and wane. You will make friends wherever you go. But you aren't just school shopping: you are looking for a place to live. Find the right habitat and the perfect expierence will surely follow.

Josh

You need to find the college that you feel the most comfortable at. You may realize that this was not your first choice when you began your college search, but it feels right when you get there. Do not worry about whether or not you have friends there. If you do not, ther are people who are attending the same school as you in the same situation. I suggest that you stay overnight at the schools you are trying to decide between because this will give you a better idea of the social situation. Most schools have students who volunteer to have proepective students stay with them. This is a great opportunity to also make a connection at the school. All in all, it comes down to whether or not you think you will enjoy four years at the school both socially and academically.

Jessica

Parents: The most important thing for you is to let your son or daughter make the decision for him- or herself. Give them advice, if they ask for it, as parental input is oftentimes the best there is, but remember that you aren't the one spending the next four years at this school; your child is. Students: Go with what feels right. While the opinions of your parents, teachers, and counselors are important and valuable, the final decision is up to you. Look for a school that fits YOUR needs rather than the needs of your parents or other relatives. You need to be able to make the best of what your school has to offer, so make sure that the school you choose actually offers what you need! Once you've found the perfect school and are attending it, be sure to go out on a limb on occasion. It's hard, but it will be worth it in the end. Make a new friend, join a different club, or take an unusual course - you never know what may happen.

Allison

It's okay to jump right in and go for something. However, no matter how carefully or randomly you choose your school, there is a chance that it might not be the best thing for you, and don't let that faze you; transferring can also lead to a positive and rewarding experience. The exact titles (prestigious school name, difficult major) mean less than the experiences you gain, as I have learned from recently graduated friends, so just be sure where you are going contributes just as much to your personal and professional growth as it does to your academic growth. Also, be sure to GET ENOUGH SLEEP!, and to have a lot of fun :)

Megan

My best piece of advice would be to visit your top choices before making a decision. The school I chose wasn't my top choice and I almost decided to not even bother visiting it after visiting my top choice turned out to be a huge disappointment. But my Dad convinced me we should still go and I am so thankful because I fell in love with Gettysburg and spent an amazing four years there. Had I not visited any of my schools I would have probably just chosen my original first choice and ended up transferring after a semester or two. Instead I graduated in four years, had amazing experiences with all of my extra-curricular activities, and made friends that I still talk to every day, even now that we're living on opposite sides of the country. For making the most of the experience I'd say get involved, whether it's sports, music, Greek life, etc. Being able to do something to help the campus community is a great feeling and really enhances the whole college experience.

Keri

If possible get the full experience before you make your decision: tour, interview, sleepover. Make sure you see the campus when there are students around!

Jason

Don't get caught up on rankings. Spend time on campuses, take an overnight trip, do whatever it takes to immerse yourself. You're committing a lot of money for four years. Might as well be happy where it's being spent.

Laura

It is important, when considering a higher level of education beyond high school, to look ahead at what interests you most. Its okay if you don't know exactly what you want to do when you grow up, although it is important to have a grasp and understanding of particular talents and interests that collectively define you as an individual student. By weighing these particular talents or interests you must choose a college that has the tools necessary to sharpen these skills. If you are uncertain as to what you want to do, a liberal arts college is a positive direction for you to take. Most liberal arts colleges revolve around a curriculum of core classes that allow each student to get a taste for each field. It is also important to decide what kind of learning environment best suites you. Is it a small class room, in which you would rather learn? Is it important for you to build relationships with professors? Is the learning environment suitable to your overall needs? All of these questions are important ones to consider, however, the feeling of belonging that one gets when stepping foot on the "right" campus is the most important.

Courtney

Get involved in as many things as possible. Meet as many people as possible and develop relationships.

Marie

Think about the student body before applying to college. A school may be perfect on paper, but it's the people that really make the college experience. If you're looking for an academic environment, don't go to a school that focuses more on the social scene, and vice versa

Alonna

Be open minded for each school you visit; be sure to visit all your favorites. Overnight visits are better. Make lists of what you want out of each school; be honest. If a school doesn't have something you think is essential to your experience, consider taking it off your short-list. Once at your school, socialize! Meet different people; international students, students from other states and religions. Join clubs and organizations. Try to be as involved as you can. As for balancing classes and work with your social life, each person does that differently. Make friends with upperclassmen that can tell you what the workload is like for certain courses so you can plan you schedule accordingly. Don't do what I did and take three sciences and a language in your first semester, unless you're a science major and it's been deemed a sane undertaking by your advisor. Get to know your advisor; the more he/she knows you, the better he/she can help. Most of all, have fun. The process of choosing a school, preparing for the move, and settling into campus can be a lot, but it should be fun above all else.

Scott

Make sure that you have an overnight visit.

Heather

While I would love to impart the secret of college to the masses, I believe that chosing a college is a highly personal choice. The first step is to recognize what it is that you want out of a college. If you are not yet sure, visit a variety of schools for perspective student experiences to refine your ideas. Then, look for a school that has the right balance for you. The key thing to remember is that your choice of college should be yours and your alone. Just because your parents attended a school, your friend liked it, or greater society says that it is a good school, does not mean that that is the right school for you. Make your own decisions based on your own values, opinions, and experiences. Even if you can't afford your dream school, make sure you apply; you may recieve enough financial aid that you can afford to attend, especially if it is a private school where scholarship and grants are funded by wealthy alumni.

Sarah

Look for that feeling that everyone says you'll get. If you don't find it, keep looking, and branch out from what you originally thought. Pick a school based on what matches who you, not who you want to be. Never settle, find the one.

Katherine

Always keep an open mind when looking at schools. I'm a tour guide, and there are always those skeptical parents who twist around everything we say. Also, let your child make the first opinions about something. A perfect school is different for every student, and every child will not want to necessarily go to a school that parents think is best for them. Parents should stay back, and take in as much information as possible, but keep in mind that this is THEIR decision, and parents should not be influencing their opinions.