Johnson & Wales University-Charlotte Top Questions

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about the transition to college what would the advice be. I would defantly tell myself to focus more and go beyond in finding out information. Then I would make sure I know that college work is harder and more serious than high school so I would have to suggest extra math help. Once its completely clear to myself that college isnt all simple fun and games I would make sure I get and keep a job to understand time management a little more also a little smart money management. Finally and most importantly I would let myself know the importance of studying and keeping a good grade point average. Then I would leave by letting myself know its not that bad, don't stress, and enjoy my freshman year.

I would tell myself to look more into scholarships. I had two jobs and my savings didnt show for it, so i also would have told me to stop buying shoes and save for school. It's expensive out here, and its hard to get a job too.

If I were sit mydelf down when I was a college senior, I would say, "Lauren, you are doing the right thing." I have made great friends here, and consider them a second family. I adjusted to life far away from home very easily, and have done an amazing job living on my own and acheiving great success. The only thing I would have told myself, would be to applly for the catering job I have now, my freshman year, not my junior year, so I would have gained an extra two years of experience, which would have helped out on scholarship applications. I love the cirriculem that my school follows. Every semester I ave taken classes which pertain to my major, which makes school enjoyable. The school assists you greatly when looking for internships, or apllying to jobs. The teachers are helpful and knowlageable. Another thing I would have told myself would be to find a 4th roomate for my sohphomre year, so I would not have gotten the awful roomate which casued a lot of un-needed stress in my life. Besides those two things, I wouldnt have changed a thing.

I would tell myself to not fret over the little things. High School is an important time in your life but once your in college you will start to see things differentlly, you will be among people who are as dedicated to school as you are and you will be around people that have the same interests. I would also tell myself to not bring as much with me to the dorm room. The rooms are fairly small and you don't need every little thing in your room. Most things are just extra, the less you have to begin with means more room for you to expand with. College is meant to be a time to have fun and learn. So don't worry about the course load, with experience comes wisdom and you can handle everything in stride.

The advice I would give myself is to run full force and not look back. To stay focused and don't let the chaos of college life distract you from doing whats most important, homework. To be careful with who you trust because not everyone is nice in college like they are at home. To never, ever give up on anything, no matter how hard it is. And don't try too hard to make friend, you become a family with your roommates and classmates over time, so don't stress out when your alone, just use that time to study as hard as possible. You will never learn too much, so take lots of notes from your teachers and don't be scared to ask questions or ask for help. And most of all be yourself. Don't lose yourself in college life, stay true to yourself. People let you down, don't let people mess up your future.

If I could go back in time as a senior and talk to myself I'd definitely be completely open and honest. I'd explain to myself how hard it really is to maintain that focus and desire to succeed when you don't have anyone looking over your shoulder. College life and transition in general is not easy to begin with, but once you add things like drugs and alcohol and parties and things of that nature, it feels like something that's impossible to grasp. If I would've known half the things I know now back then I would've definitely did whatever it took to better prepare myself for what was to come. I mean no one tells you about all of the hardships of becoming an adult until you get there and then you feel like it's too little too late. So my word of advice to you would be to continue to establish who you want to be in life and stay focused on both the task at hand and the future you want and forget about everything else because it'll fall in line eventually.

Your college years that are coming up are the most important years of your life, you are educating yourself for your future career, you are making friends for a lifetime and you are getting out on your own. Don't be scared. It's hard at first, you miss home, you miss your family and your bed, you are in a new strang place all by yourself, but you aren't the only one who feels that way. Talk to people about what you miss, I'm sure they miss it too and thats how you start a friendship. You have to step out on your own sometime, this is the best time to do it, becuase you have others that are in the same boat as you. Don't hold back at doing your absolute best. You have all the potential in the world at being great! Have fun, study hard, make memories, make friends. It will go by fast enjoy it now.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitely say be aware of your surroundings don't put yourself in situations where you know your going to get in trouble. Stay away from the partiers and the druggies. Make sure you come up with a plan for your classes because you have so many. More than likely your going to argue with your room mates, but handle it like a civilized person. Always do you homework, get calenders and marker boards to help you remember important things like when homework is due. Don't get an alarm clock unless it is a reliable one, use your phone. Be persistent and on time to classes, teachers do not care if your two seconds late they will shut you out. Always study for tests, do whatever you need to help you remember things like flash cards, and study sessions. Do not freak out on final days its just another test, and usually is a smaller percentage towards your grade than regular tests. Don't forget how passionate you are for culinary arts, and it is a struggle at first but just have fun.

I would tell myself to get in gear and start working as hard as I can. I would tell myself that college is quite demanding both mentally and physically. It requires a lot of time and hard work if you want to succeed. I would tell myself to start taking life seriously because my whole future is riding on my success during these 4 short years, even though it seems like such a long time. I would tell myself to have fun, put my time in, work hard, succeed, and that at times the pressure will get to me, but it will prove to be my greatest ally during my time spent in college.

If I could go back in time to when I was in high school, I would tell myself to learn how to focus. College is not a joke and should never be treated as one, yet I didn't take it as serious as I should have. Now that I have been here for half a year, I have mellowed out and learned to concentrate. I would also tell myself to apprieciate everything that the teachers did for me. In college, you don't have to have teachers that go out of the way to help you. They give you your work and tell you to get it done. It is up to me to prioritive and find time to get work done because there isn't an extension, even if you were sick. I would tell myself that this is a priviledge and that since I am paying to gt here, I should be serious about it from the moment I step onto the campus. I would tell myself to work hard and not to get distracted because I am here for a reason, and that reason is to learn.

If I could go back in time and talk with myself as a high school senior, having the knowledge I have now about college life, I would tell myself that the transition to college life isn't as bad as it seems, college life is something that will form you into who you are going to be the rest of your life, and it's not something to be afraid of. People's fears make them believe the transition is worse than it really is. It's going to be hard at first being away from your family, but you'll do great, just be yourself and make friends. College life is something that is going to shape and mold you, you need this opportunity to become a professional and someone who is ready for the rest of their life. Their is no reason to be afraid of going to college because it's something everyone does, and most of the students their are in the same place you are; just as afraid.

I went into a very career focused university that is very specific. I almost wish I would of chose a more typical university where there is more culture and its ok to explore differant majors. For the most part look for a college that gives you the opportunity to meet many people and cultures because this is a time that is differant from the rest of your life. You will never have the chance to openly meet so many people and discover so many new things at one time. Embrace it! :)

The advice I would give myself is to take a few more AP courses and take the exams that go with them. Also, I would tell myself to work more and save up more money because living in the city is expensive. Lastly, don't take life too seriously. Make sure to have fun.

Knowing what I know now about college, I would tell my past self to push more to apply for scholarships. I would also tell my past self to check out many college and community college options. About college life, I would tell my past self to make sure you understand the rules about living with other people. I would tell my past self to have a back up plan of a few colleges if the one I wanted to attend did not accept me as a student. I would also say that getting as much financial aid as possible is a major plus because loans aqquire interest. It is not easy to pay back money, especially if you go for four years to the specific college that I wanted to attend.

I would tell my elf not to be so shy. You get so much farther if you speak up, be bold, and make friends with at least two new people in each class. Once I stopped being so shy, doors opened for me. My social skills allowed me to make life-long connections and contacts in the scholarly world. Speaking up in class also improved my public speaking skills and my critical thinking. I now give this advice to incoming freshmen, hoping that they can learn from my experiance.

I would have started to apply for scholarships much earlier. Now I realize how much time and effort they take. I also would have taken the SAT's. The school I'm going to doesn't require them but they would have been good for a lot of the scholarships I'm applying for. I also would have stayed to finish an extra semester in order to get extra credits and raise my GPA. Instead I decided to graduate early. I should have done a lot more research on different schools and options as well. I deffinately should have tried to get a part-time job during my senior year in order to ease the cost of tuition.

If I could tell us anything our senior year it would be to apply to any and every scholarship that we possibly can. We were out of school for a year and almost did not make it the second time around because of low funds. Heck we still might not be able get through it the second time. No matter what happens down the road never give up and never give up on our dreams. We go through certain things in life for a reason. You will know what I mean when we get to college. There are going to be times when you feel like people are just testing you for no reason at all. Just take everything in stride and just know its going to make us a better person. People are put in our life for a reason even if we don't know it . Be assertive and make yourself known and know that its okay to let loose every once in a while. Most importantly never forget who you are, where you came from, and the future instore for us.

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First, I would tell myself to really think about if this is what I want to do for the rest of my life. Make sure that I'm making the right choice. And think about if it is worth the cost. I would then tell myself to stay focused in school and keep my grades and not slack off. I would tell myself to apply to more schools and to weigh my options. I would tell them to apply for as many scholarships as possible. tell myself to keep trying keep working at it and never, ever give up. I would let myself know that someday all the hard work will pay off and it will be worth it.

Apply to more than two schools and study hard wherever you decied to go to school at.

I don't really miss my high school days, yes they were fun, but college is definatly the place to be. Back in high school I was playing varsity soccer, basketball, and travel soccer. I was going off to competitions for my vocational school. I definately would have tried to have been more involved with my schools. I already was secretary for FCCLA and did hospitality competitions but there is so much more I might have been able to do. I could have volunteered more like I do now, I could have worked more and saved more money. My advice would have been that i could be doing more with myself.

Go somewhere else

Ha, this would be easy. Going back to myself in High School would be fun because I would easily be able to warn myself of what is ahead. I would tell myself that college life is NOT what everyone makes it out to be. I am a very self-controlled individual so I would tell my "High School" self that it would be easy to stay focused on school work and things that are more important. I would also mention that the transition from HS to College isn't so bad either. Also, I would be sure to prepare myself for having to go to school full-time and work 40-45 hours a week because of the biggest financial bind that I would now be in because of HUGE HUGE ENORMOUS student loans that will more than double a typical annual salary. I would make sure that I tell myself to stick it out though, because in the end, it will have all been worth it. (At least, I sure do hope it will be). Other than that, I would tell myself to take nothing that I learn for granted and learn how to make the most of it.

if i could go back i would push myself to work harder, even though i was faced with alot of challenges, i would have overcome and perservered through it all

I would tell them that the primary focus should be finding a school that is reputable and will help you to get a job when you graduate. An education is great, but it means nothing without a real-world, practical application. It is also improtant to consider whether or not you would feel comfortable at the school; ask yourself if it is a place where you feel you would be able to suceed. If grades or finances are holding you back from the school of your dreams, don't despair--take advantage of the colleges that are available to you and don't rule out a school transfer. You can save a lot of money by taking your general education classes at a community college. Having goals to work toward is vital, but you can also waste time and money by forcing yourself into a workload that you're not ready to handle, so make your goals realistic. Most importantly, always remember that as significant as your college career is, it does not define who you are and no matter what school you choose, your education will only ever be as good as the effort you put into it.

Just find something you love or take a risk. Thats what college is about getting out there and being on your own and trying new things. Our parents made the foundation as there children, but it is up tp us to become adults. My dad is the only person helping me with school and I thank him dearly and one day when I get out of college I plan on repaying him. So it is not about going out and finding the most expensive or high dollar school, it is about how you are going to feel and did you really sign up for something you can see yourself doing in the future..

You have to visit the campus and see what type of community exists there and think if you can live in that type of community

Students, pick a your top three majors and tob five schools and apply to all. Apply for as many scholarships as you can and try your hardest to stray away from student loans. If you feel financial strapped there are many community service opportunities to help you pay for college (ex: Americorps or the Peace Corps). Not only will it help you pay for college but it will also change many peoples lives and change you as a person for the better. Also, as much as you may want to do not get caught up in the peer pressure you will come in contact with. Stay focused on school and your studies and graduate with honors or a great GPA to help you get a great job right out of college. The partying isn't worth loss of money, knowledge, and focus. Parents, I just say stay in touch OFTEN and offer as much support as you can. It sometimes can be very hard to adjust in a new environment. You may feel like you are bugging them but they will thank you in the end.

The advice that I would give would be to start off early, don't wait until senior year of high school to try to figure out where you want to go and what you want to do. Research different schools. Most school websites have tons of information, and you can always contact the admissions office and they can send you information packets in the mail. Also, if you know someone that has attended a college that you are interessted in, ask them their opinion of the school, and learn information from their personal experience, but don't base your opinion on the school souly on the opinions of others. The best way for you to get a feel of a school, is to go visit. SIgn up for a campus tour, or an orientation. To make the most out of your experience you have to be open minded, and not feel shy about talking to new people or trying new things. Join a club, play a sport, get involved! Go to class, and learn as much as you can, and ask all the questions that you need to. And keep in touch with your parents, and your friends back home :)

The advice I would give parents or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience would be to do a lot of research, complete and submit FASFA as soon as they can so that they can get as much financial aid as they possibily can. I would tell them to pick five schools that they are really interested in and take campus tours, review possible scholarships, and look at how much tuition will be yearly, talk to as many people as they can. Attend informative sessions about the schools of their choice and once they have narrowed down their choice choose and submit the college applications and wait for the college acceptance letter to roll in. Once the student and parent make the final choice its on the student to do his or her best at what they are chasing after. The student must know that college and high is different and that its all work and no play, some play but not all play. They have to stay focus,manage their time, study and make good grades and it will all pay off in the end. Enjoy college and all it offers.

To parents and students i would tell you college is the best thing the world has. you learn a lot and you get to meet a lot of people that have the same and different major as yourself. You get to meet people from all around the world and its a good thing but the money to pay for school now is out of this world and its hurting parents pockets.

Look for the school that have a variety of options such as school activities and academic goals. You may have a change of heart while in school and it's good to have a variety of options.

The advice i would give to parents and students looking for the right college is, dont base picking your college on how far it is from home. make sure you choose the college the best fits what you want to do in life.

The college application process can be an incredibly stressful time for both students and parents. One of the best things to take into consideration, especially if you are going to be living on campus, is student life. Make sure that the school offers opportunities to grow and express your talents in more ways than just academically. No matter how large the academic benefits may be, students easily become bored if the only thing the school offers is academics. Also make sure that the size of the university is to your liking. For example, if you are generally close with your teachers and like to get feedback from them, by no means should you consider a large school. In other words, you have to make sure you are happy with your choice in all areas. Without certain aspects students may be looking for in a college or university, they may eventually become depressed. If this is the case, not only does their overall mood decline, but also their GPA and overall health. Don't be afraid to ask the colleges questions you may have....Its YOUR future! Both students and their parents deserve answers!!

When trying to decided what college to attend, make sure you pull students aside on campus and ask them how happy they are with their campus life. If you are on a tour and simply ask the tour guide or orientation leader, the answer you receive will probably not be truthful, but what they are told to say. As far as making the most of your college experience, if you are the kind of person that makes friends easily, do it early. If you need help or a little "social push," surround yourself with people like you and a conversation is bound to be struck up. If worse comes to worse, surround yourself with what you love to do and chances are, you will meet at least one person that shares your interests. Take advantage of the clubs on your campus because apart from being fun and an easy way to meet people, it could also lead to additional scholarships through that organization later on. Even if it is a small amount, every penny adds up when it comes to money for school. My final piece of advice is to live on campus because everything is within reach.

Size matters, make sure credits transfer.

When I was three years old, my parents noticed I had trouble with arithemetic. They had me tested for a learning disabiliity but the test did not conclude I had one. They homeschooled me until I went to high school because they knew something was wrong with my ability to sequence and tell stories from start to finish and they did not want me in a special classroom without a confirmed diagnosis during my elementary school years. When I went to high school, the public school counselors told them they could not test me when my parents requested it to see what math class I should be in. Then after I failed the first semester of Algebra, the school decided to test me and place me in the correct math class! Because my parents were persistent, I graduated high school on time despite my learning disability in math! So the advice I would give to parents is to know what makes your child tick and persevere with them when they fail. Know your kids' strengths and weaknesses and you will eventually know where the right college is for them and they will trust that you can guide their decision!

Visit as many college as you can and really find out what place fits you best. Try to make as many friends as possible so you'll have many different opertunites with your social life. You never know who you might come to know while your in college.

Don't settle for a college, make sure it is someplace you love and can see yourself at for four years.

There are many things that I know all parents would say are the most important things about the college experience like study hard, go to class and get good grades. I do agree with all those things but I disagree that they are the most important. I feel that the most important advice I could give to an up-coming college student is do what you love. Find a school that fits you and your passion. Why waste your time and money on something you don't enjoy doing? Don't worry about how much the school cost if it's right you the money is out there. "If there is no passion in your life, then have you really lived? Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen FOR you, TO you and BECAUSE of you. " T. Alan Armstrong. BE PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR LIFE!

Look for a college that satisfies the students needs. Look at the location of the college as well as the type of people that go to it. Always remember why you came to college... to get a degree. Keep school over a social life no matter how important it may seem at the time. Tour the campus of the colleges you choose to make sure it will be the right fit for you. Remember to try and have a little fun and don't spread yourself too thin. Become active in your campus so that you can meet new people and become comfortable faster. Also remember that everyone else is in the same boat as yourself and they are all nervous to start college as well. It won't be hard to make firends. Just be yourself and let someone get to know you. Everyone else wants friends just like you do.

Look up all the information you can about the schools and take visits to the school to see how it runs.

Consider the economy, your child's happiness, and the environment that the school is in.

The advice I would give to parents and or students about finding the right college and making the most of the college experience is before chosing any college, tour the college first. Many colleges offer shadowing and tour weekends. My university for example is holding a WildCat weekend this weekend. This is where potential students stay near campus for to have a weekend to explore the University and the city. Parents and students should take the opportunity to explore campuses. If you do not sign up for a tour you will go to college blind. Touring the campus gives students a change to meet other potential students who are looking at the same college. They will already have a sense of the atmosphere and will have the change to meet other professors and students who already attend that college. This will give them a taste of college life and what they expect from college.

My advice to students and parents about picking a college or university to attend is to consider every aspect such as location, job placement, financial aid, professionalism, student services, etc. Dont necessarely choose the most popular school and dont choose a school all of your friends are going to. Just really make sure your going to the college that best suits you and your future.

The best advice that I could give up-and coming students about choosing the right college, is to expore all of your options before making your decision, and also to remember that college is goign to be a time of self-discovery, meanign that you will more than likely eventually choose a career path. Furthermore, try not to compare your college experience to anyone else's, as every experience is different and unique. Last but most definitely not least, choose the college .major that is best for you, follow your true passion, no matter what others may think.

Finding the perfect college for you is key. If when visiting you do not feel comfortable and can not see yourself living there, it is not the right college for you. Getting involved even when you don't know anyone will help you to make new friends and have a more enjoyable overall experience.

make sure the student has some clue of what they want to do in life, there are many schools that offer many things, and if you dont want to do there is no point in going to a arts school, if you want to do law. get the free money, use FASFA its easy and will help alot... visit the campuses before making a final decision...

Take your time when searching for colleges. You may or may not be able to choose a college without seeing other schools. When you go on the college tours, ask lots of questions . Before you go on the tour, write questions down and then ask your tour guide. When choosing between cities and smaller towns, think of which you like better. Do you like to hear the hustle and bustle of a city, or would you rather be in a place where there is nature all around you. If you haven't chosen what you want to do with your college career or what major you want to study, no worries, because once you get there, there will be faculty and staff that can help you decide. One final thought is, if your don't want to be far away from your family, don't go to a school hundreds of miles away, choose one in the vicinity or your home state. If you feel that you can be away from family and not get home sick, then maybe you can go a few states away from home. Its all up to what you feel that you can do.

Choose the school where you can follow your dream and not your parents and/or boyfriends/girlfriends.