Luther College Top Questions

go somewhere cool and not a podunk town in the middle of nowhere

Given the chance to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are a multiple things that I would like to be able to say. However, the main thing I would tell myself is simply to RELAX. Knowing what I know now about college life, I wouldn't have gotten myself so worked up about school work, and whether or not I would make friends at college. Everyone tells you that homework in college is so overwhelming, and a lot of times you have to be extra careful about what friends you make, and how you deal with your roommates. However, by just managing my time correctly, I have yet to be 'overwhelmed' by homework, and the friends I have made, including my roommates, are all great relationships. Having known this my senior year of high school, I believe I would have been able to have a much more enjoyable time, worry free and truly excited for my college experience ahead.

Take more AP courses and also apply for more scholarships. College is expensive and it's hard to find money.

Dear High School Self, College has definatly had its ups and downs. I never imagined that life would turn out this way. I have already changed my major once but I'm told that's normal. It's okay that you don't know what you want to study. Here at Luther College you have to take classes from all different fields and that really helps in picking a major that is just right for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The more you know before coming, the better off you'll be. As for the roommates, it's not as bad as you might think. What you put into your roommate relationship is what you'll get out of it. Be prepared to compromise, it's all a part of the experience. Remember that being social is a good thing and balancing social life with school work is very important. Keep your cool, you'll do great. Your Future Self

I would advise my younger self to apply to more schools, and to be prepared to have to change dreams and goals as one changes and as opportuinities open and close.

If I were to give myself advice as a senior in high school, I would first of all tell myself to relax about the whole thing. Although transitioning from high school to college is huge, I put way too much worry and thought into the uknown, and I wish I would have focused more on what positive things could happen. I would also tell myself to reach out to more people in the first few weeks and get to know as many people as possible. I would also tell myself that it is okay if I didn't have a major decided the first day of classes. Another important thing I would tell myself is to take time to focus and 'me' time and fun time. Most of my time spent in the first few years of college was on studying. Yes, this is a good thing most of the time, but it is also important to have time for myself to just relax, and thing about everything other than school and homework, and also to go out and have fun - trying new things, exploring the town, checking out local shops and businesses.

I would certainly tell myself to be more involved with the on campus opportunities on the very first day. Additionally, be ready to talk to people and try to make friends more quickly: don't wait for people to come to you, go to them if you want to hang out or want to form a study group. Also, be prepared to balance your personal life with your academic life: it can be a difficult task. In addition, follow your heart when it comes to your goals but also give your professors an open mind when it comes to career advice. When it comes to academics, make sure to get things done sensibly because something unexpected can happen and you'll have to whip up a two papers instead of one or a family member may pass away. Take the summer to further your professional connections in your given field and don't be afraid to learn more about your major during the summer months. Lastly, do not wait until the last year to take several of your general because it will adversely affect your social life. Though I have no regrets, perhaps this will create a more smooth transition.

If it feels right to the student, than you should go for it. That's about all there is to it. Don't go somewhere you are not comfortable. You'll feel awkward about it for that part of your life, and nobody wants that for you.

College becomes your home. It is a safety net in which you learn to explore your identity, find your vocation and discover what your life is all about. That makes college an important decision, but let yourself feel the decision alongside studying the facts. We all want a school that is going to make us employable, one in which the degree means something, but who wants to spend four years where they are uncomfortable and do not feel at home? Pick potentional schools that fit your academic or athletic requirements, then VISIT! Only you can experience for yourself what a certain college feels like, and how you see yourself fitting into that campus. Once you decide, be confident in that decision and enjoy. People don't lie when they say its the best (and fastest) four years of your life, so make it count! Keep up academically so its worth the tuition, but be sure to enjoy this unique community. Make friends, try new things, study something outside your major, branch out. Why not? What have you got to lose? Explore who you are and what you will become with new life long friends and your new community. Have fun!

Through my own experience in finding the right school for myself I learned one main thing, to take my time. You can never visit a school enough times or talk to enough people about that school before you end up making your final decision. Choosing a school is a huge decision and finding the right fit is so important. Looking back on my first year of college I learned some important life lessons, firstly, you can say no to friends and instead stay in and get your homework done, although it is not as fun; you can enjoy yourself the following day while your friends stress out. Also, get some sleep! I know mom and dad are not there to tell you to go to bed, but staying up until 2 AM your first three weeks of school really is not good for you. Thirdly, get involved! dont just sit around doing nothing, get out there and do something make new friends! and most importantly, have fun, because your college years will fly by before you know it! Making this transition in your life may be tough but its exciting too, enjoy every second of the process!

Save your money! I did not save really at all the summer before I went to college. I ended up having both on-campus and off-campus jobs and never had much time to do anything fun. Save your money so you can focus on your school work and still have time for fun. Also, stop saying "No" to things. Take chances, try new things, broaden your horizons, and let yourself open up to new and exciting adventures!

Make sure you have criteria before starting the search. Do overnights at colleges you want to go to. Choose the school YOU want to go to. Not the one 3 generations of family have gone before. Name of the college isn't everything Take average ACT scores of schools with a grain of salt, the higher the ACT score, the more scholarships. Remember homework is only part of college. Live each day fully. They go fast! Get off campus and out of the town every once in awhile. Take advantage of your professors! They have office hours for YOU! Don't be afraid to ask them questions. If you still don't understand, go to the free tutoring. Get involved in an extracurricular. At orientation as a freshman, everyone is new. No one knows anyone and this is the only time in life where there won't already be connections. Take advantage of this and talk to whomever you want. Go abroad. Don't worry about what your major is. Take classes that interest you. GPA is only a number. Don't stress about it too much. Above a 3.5 is good despite what you got in high school.

Look for somewhere where you feel like you really belong. Don't look at the price, or the quality of the education first, determine how you feel on that campus first. Safe? Belonging? At home? If you feel uncomfortable there, don't go there. If you do feel omfortable there, then start to weed out the colleges that are too expensive, don't have what you want in the terms of education, and don't fit your other standards. Hopefully, you will have found the perfect college if you give yourself enough time and choices. Be sure to visit at least one or two of the potential colleges before you decide to attend. When you are in college, don't be afraid to get out there. Even if its hard for you to make friends, don't be afraid to get out there. Spontaneously hug a person and introduce yourself if you have to! Staying in your dorm room with your studies may be tempting, but not all that fun. Make friends in class; go out to a local cafe; volunteer! Just get out there and do something, and you'll find yourself with a worthwhile college experience.

Do not just look at the school, but also the community it exists in. The size of the town/city can affect how you spend your weekends and free time.

Transitioning to college is a hard thing to do; finding the place that feels like home, saying good-bye to those you love, and figuring out what you would possibly want to do for the rest of your life. However, the most important thing to do is find some place good enough to call home. The minute you step on campus should determine if it was meant of you or not. You will feel it, an excitement that runs through your veins; an excitement which will fuel your drive for success in college. To the parents, if you have already had a son or daughter go through this college transition, you will already know this, but please let your children go. It is a difficult idea to let your children loose into this new realm of independence, but please do it. This new independence and responsibility will help shape our lives and who we will become. Help us along the way, but let us lead for a while.

Don't look for the school with the strongest academic record or the longest list of accreditations. Those are important too, but you can find all kinds of schools that excel in those. Find something that you want out of your school that most schools may not have, and then out of those schools make your pick. For me, I decided I wanted a midwest liberal arts school with a good music program, from which I could whittle it down to Luther.

Visit every college you can as often as possible (while not intruding too much on high school!). Personally, I set aside five Fridays in the fall of my senior year to visit colleges. I made sure to visit colleges I wasn't entirely sure about for the experience of visiting more colleges. After that, just wait until you get that 'special feeling'. Be careful, though. That 'special feeling' must come from you, the student, and not the parents. After you have moved in, be sure to fill your time without overloading your schedule. This is a difficult balance to find, so having an easier first year will help gauge your capabilities. Last of all, but most important, you must enjoy yourself completely. Without entertainment, friends, and fun, no college experience is complete. Best of luck!

My advice to the students when checking out colleges, is ask yourself "what does it feel like on the campus." If you feel like you belong, or you can see yourself spending four years there, then it is a good choice. As for the parents, don't limit the schools your child can pick from based on cost. My parents were hestiant to let me go to a private college because of that, but I love it. I can't see myself anywhere else but Luther. In order to make the most of the college experience, meet as many people as you can freshmen year. Some of these people will become your friends for life. They are also your support system when things get tough. I can't stress enough to have fun. I struggle with that sometimes, I get so stressed with homework and exams that I feel I have to spend all my time studying. You need to enjoy this experience too, studying will get done but take a break and spend some time with friends. College is alot of work and is stressful but you will never get these years back, so make the most of them!

Each individual's college experience is unique, so don't let anyone try to tell you how college will be! What your parents experienced will have been very different from what you will experience. Also, find a school that fits YOU! You want to spend four years at the college or university, so you want to be happy there. Visit, get a feel for what the campus is like. I knew my college was right for me because when we drove down the bluff that brought us into the valley the school is situated in, it immediately felt like home. Although it has been challenging being away from home and in an isolated location, it has been worth every minute of it. I will be leaving this community with wonderful, life-long friendships and experiences that have enrichened and prepared me for what I will experience away from the academc setting. Be bold and find the right place for you, and no one else!

Though it may seem cliche, the best way to choose a college is to follow your heart. When you find the perfect college, you'll know. It's as simple as that. Some people get the 'Aha!' moment from class sizes, the student body, or, for the more shallow high school seniors, it could be the attractiveness of the students! But really, the quintessence of the perfect school differs from student to student. The only way to find which factor is the most worthwhile for you is to travel as much as possible and visit as many colleges as many times as you can. That way, your chances of finding that 'Aha!' moment sooner can increase dramatically! The investment of time in your college search may be great, but your choice of colleges, though not final, will define you as you grow into the college life. Follow your heart, and the right one will appear! I wish you the best of luck in your search for your 'Aha' moment and the epitome of your future college.