Mercer University Top Questions

My freshman year at Mercer has greatly affected me. I have become a much stronger Christian through the BCM on campus. Also, I have discovered that Chemistry, a class I was dreading because of my lack of preperation, can be a great class if the teacher enjoys teaching and cares about his students. I have learned to force myself to sit down and focus on my studies before going to spend an evening with friends. I have also been given the opportunity to major in engineering and minor in music, a goal that would not have been possible else where. But the most valuable experience that Mercer has given me is a feeling of freedom and new thrist for knowledge.

I have made myslef a better person by coming to mercer university. I have learned that I can push myself to newer heights and still succeed. College has made me a more well rounded person.

My college experience have allowed me to grow,mentally,as well as intellectually. Since I had never had the opportunity to live alone,and make decisions independently, I was a little afraid to leave home. Attending college have allowed me to become independent, and more mature. I now understand what adulthood means,and the responsibility that comes with it. There are challenges that I face every day,from being sure to have time to study,eat, sleep,and do laundry,to maintaing a good grade point average. I have become a wizard at managing my money,unlike when I was home spending other people money. I now understand what it means to spend wisely. I will not only receive a Pre-med degree, but also a degree in life lessons.

Enjoy it but know that those are most certainly not the best days of your life. Greater things are to come, bigger things are to come, and most importantly - more rewarding things are to come. Study hard but have fun. If college has taught me anything it is that balance is crucial. Make friends, cherish them, and keep in touch after high school but know that you will make countless more when you go to college. I have formed relationships here that I know will last a lifetime. Ask questions. Do not be too proud, too scared, or too ashamed to ask questions. I have learned that this is one of the greatest keys to success. Stay confident but remain humble. Never doubt your ability but never be afraid to admit your doubt. BREATHE. Go for a run, take a walk, eat lunch with friends - overwhelming yourself with school work will only drive you mad. However, do not neglect your schoolwork. It is challenging but comes with so much reward and accomplishment. Perfect your study skills, become familiar with the library, and form bonds with your professors. Most importantly, enjoy college! It is what you make it!

During your senior year your social life becomes more of a priority than academics. I often chose not to take rigorous classes or classes that would require a lot of outside studying so that I would have time to socialize and hang with friends. When I enrolled in college many of my peers transferred AP credits and dual enrollment credits. This allowed them to not only to graduate earlier, but they also had an advantage when it came to study skills and time management. Being exposed to college level classes allowed them to be better prepared for the work load and expectations of a college professor. If I could go back in time I would have challanged myself more by enrolling in more college level classes. This would have made for a better transition into college by letting me dip my toe in the water before diving in the pool.

As a freshman at a large university, I was overwhelmed with the amount of people and the large variety of opportunities available to me. My reaction to this culture shock was to surround myself with comfortable people and places. That was the worst decision I have ever made. There are so many opportunities available to you in college - one's that you will never have the chance to take part in again. Seize the moment. The worst thing you can do for yourself is to stay in your comfort zone. If you are a religous person, find an organization that allows you to practice your religion. If you have played sports all through highschool but are not on the university team, find an intramural group and continue to play your sport. College is all about finding the "new you" but it is also very important to keep the parts of you that define you most.

First I would tell my self to start looking for scholarships sooner than I did. Also to not come in to school with the mind set that school is school and I can handle this with no questions asked. Another thing is that I would tell myself to get to know people before you decide to try to get close to them and try to get them to have your back like you would have theirs no questions asked.

I would be hypothetically honest with myself by saying conduct thorough research and visit the admissions office; talk to the counselors and program directors; become familiar with the campus; live on campus. I would want to expand my horizon. I would want to particpate in as many activities as possible to gain sufficient experience. I would just take advantage of the oppurtunities that college have to offer by utilizing the academic facilities. I mean, there is so much out there to learn about that we can never stop learning. Lastly, I would say to myself study, study, and study, focus on your studies.

Transitioning into college life and college classes is extremely tough. The level of work required is incredibly more than what your used to in high school. The college life is amazing. There is nobody to tell you what to do anymore. That means there is nobody to tell you to do your homework, or study, or go to bed at a reasonable hour. You have to have your own motivation to do things. This is the beginning of the rest of your life. The past doesn't matter anymore, but what you do in the next few years will determine the rest of your life. Make sure you spend as much time with the family as you possibly can. Dad doesnt have much time left. He's not going to be here when you need him the most. He is not going to be here to help you transition into college. Any questions you have you need to ask now because your not going to be able to later.

I would tell myself to learn time management and do no procrastinate. In high school, it was easier to "get away" with the small things, like one missing assignment or essay. In college it is completely different. In order to maintain your grades you need to plan and use your time effectively in order to maximize your time for studying. Many time you hear the saying, "Sleep, Grades, Social Life, pick two. Welcome to college", well, this does not have to be the case. I learned this the hard way freshman year of college and now that I have learned to use my time wisely, I have now have time for classes, my greek organization, volunteer work and I have a job. It's all about being organized and using time management. I wish someone had told me that in high school.

I would tell myself to buckle down and make sure I get good grades. I would also, tell myself to not take the grant money for granted because, if I lose the grant, college is very expensive. Moreover, I would let myself know that although college is hard do not give up I can do anything I put my mind to.

The single best advice, that took me four years to understand, is strategic quitting. Strategic quitting simply means quitting the right stuff at the right time. Quit endeavors that will lead to dead ends. Instead, place that time and energy into projects that will produce returns on your investment of resources. One way to do that is to master something. Mastery is about being the best, which requires quitting other pursuits to focus on developing talents and work towards being the best in an area. People naturally gravitate toward a winner or someone who is number one. People want the best, whether it is the best heart surgeon or the best brand of ice-cream. It pays to be the best. But like most things, the definition of ?the best? is relative. In college, the best is determined by GPA; never let anyone persuade you that the value is insignificant. That number will be used by employers or graduate schools to filter the outstanding and extraordinary candidates from the mediocre ones. And because people want the best, the outstanding candidates with high GPAs will get the position. Invest time and energy in your education and it will pay off.

As a high school senior, I did not have the understanding of how to go about entering into college. My parents did not finish high school and did not have the understanding of saving for my college tuition. It was not until I married and had children of my own did I understand the importance of saving for college. If I were able to go back to my high school years, I would do more research and talk to my peers about entering into college. I would get help from them in choosing a college right for me. I would have begun to work on all of the things necessary to get me to the next level of education. Now at 46, I am still chasing my dream of being an educator. It took 10 years for me to pass a math test. I am now in the certification program and hope to complete the program at the end of this year. The best advise I would give to myself is, Never Give Up!

A piece of advice I would give myself would be to allow time to have fun and don?t be bogged down with so much work. I would tell myself to tackle homework early and study notes for tests more than a week beforehand. Reading over material and notes each night and picking up a little information along the way is helpful for studying for tests. That hinders the possibility of cramming the night before because the information would have been digested by then. I would also encourage myself to be involved and choose activities wisely so as to not eliminated study time. I would tell myself to ask for help at the first sign of trouble and not be ashamed for asking. The biggest thing is spending money wisely and buying cheaper books online before going to the bookstore. Other than that only experience can make me a better college student.

If I had the opportunity to go back and revisit myself as a high school senior, the most important thing that I would tell myself would to keep faith and that to come in with your game face on. When I started college, I was not mentally ready for the college atmosphere. Unlike high school, in college you control your own fate. The teachers here are not here to be friends or hold your hand during the semester. As a college student you have to have a drive to achieve your goals that you set. I would tell myself to stay focused and to go in with Faith knowing that God wouldn?t let me get this far to fail. I would set in my head the hard work is what will lead to my success later in life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior after knowing my transistion to college, I would advise myself to work hard, stay on track, and succeed. The struggle that I think many high school graduates face is independence. While I see rising college students are coming into their adulthood and becoming more independent, they still need structure. I would tell myself to have fun and make friends, but work hard beginning to finish. Secondly, I would encourage the thought of staying on track. After a few years of the grueling school work and routine of classes day in and day out, students get boggled down. Though these moments arise, I would tell myself to pick myself up and continue the journey of excellence that benefits my future. By staying on track, I would be continuing my knowledge and skill, without the interruptions that life may throw my way. Finally, I would tell myself, you have succeeded! I once heard that action is the foundational key to all successes; working hard and staying on track are actions that would lead me to succeed! I would close with best wishes for my new adventure!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would say apply for early admission to the schools you really want to be admitted to. By applying for early admission, you have a higher chance of getting accepted into the school as well as the opportunity to receive more scholarships from that school. I would also advise myself to keep some of the material you received from your AP courses, because the material can be very useful for the courses pertaining to your Biology/ Pre-medicine major. Finally, I would encourage researching for scholarships and internships that will be very beneficial to your college success and hopefully future career as a Pediatrician. As far as the social life, do not be afraid to speak your mind, because some people actually care about what you have to say and you never know how your view could change others opinions on the subject. Overall, just be yourself and do not change for others, being you is what makes you unique and one of the reasons why the college accepted you.

If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now about college life there are several things I would discuss with myself. I would tell myself to open a bank account and start and continue to save money. I would tell myself to get one credit card and make sure I pay the balance each month to build good credit. I would stress not to fall prey to signing up for credit cards to get free items, and furthermore, to not buy things with my credit card that I could not afford to pay off at the end of each month. I would tell myself to live on-campus and not to lose sight of my goal: graduate with a good G.P.A. I would tell myself to continue to make short- and long-term goals and to keep these goals visible, so I can stay focused. I would tell myself to get good grades and apply for scholarships. I would tell myself to set up a study time and stick with it, and just enjoy college life because I will soon be a working adult with responsibilities.

Hey! Congratulations on your achievement. Your excellent study habits and desire for complete understanding will continue to serve you well in college, and you will be just fine academically if you continue along your current path of doing all homework on time and asking for help when necessary. Don't be afraid to visit your professors during office hours: they want to help you! Financially you will be fine, too - you won't spend much because of your thriftiness. But don't be afraid to kick back every once in a while and enjoy some free time - with how hard you work, you will certainly deserve it. You will make good decisions about who to make friends with; just make sure you let them know how much you appreciate them, and don't put too much hope in any one (or two) people. Your friends are loyal, helpful, and care very much for you, but they cannot provide you everything. Keep your faith in God, and continue pursuing truth and a deeper, closer relationship with Jesus; it is the only way you will be completely happy and satisfied. Oh, and always put your class ring in your pocket when eating.

Learn how to stay organized. Choose a school that you will be happy with. Go in with an open mind when it comes to picking a major. Chosse a mojor that has jobs available upon graduation. Get involved on campus and have fun. Stay focused and get your priorities in order.

Don't let school work take over your life. Allow yourself to find a equal balance between work and play. But also don't get too involved. Find the places where you want to plug in and enjoy the experience. Also, look into every major out there, you'd be surprised where you might be able to end up and what you might find that you enjoy.

Learn to balance your schedule and your life. Make priorities and keep them.

Being confident in what you do is the most important thing. Do not get discouraged because of the length of courses or type of classes required to meet you desired profession seems too long or extremly difficult. Nothing is worth having if you don't have to work at it, eitherwise everyone else would be doing it and the rewards would not be worth as much. Alway apply yourself and give more than what is asked of yourself to make yourself a stronger person. Find what your passion is and stick to it.

If I could go back to me in my senior year, I would tell myself to be prepared for a huge transiton and alot of hard work. I don't necessarily think that I would tell myself what my major would end up being, as I enjoyed my general studies. I would simply tell myself to relax, that these would be some of the best years of my life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school student, I would first congratulate myself for making it thus far in my journey to higher education. Then I would go on to say to remember to hold on to the values my family taught me while I was growing. I would also advise myself to truly cherish the friendships I will make.

To manage my time efficiently, always strive to be the best not the average student, figure out what I want to do later on in my life so that my schedule of my classes will allow me to graduate earlier. Also chose wisely who my friends are.

To hide who I really am because Mercer doesn't like people who express themselves. Other students pick on you because you read Vonnegut in your free time and not all of your clothes come from J.Crew. You can wear your Sperrys, but the Frat boys will still call you ugly and the sorority girls will tell you that you're just not special. Altogether, go to a different school.

Just make a choice and live with it. If you know what you want to study, make a list of five colleges in your area that provide the appropriate courses and majors, then pick one based on something silly, like male to female ratio, or something like that. Then, commit to the college. Learn its history. Learn its faults and successes. Give it your all. Become a "member" of the college. Try to hold it to whatever ideals it espouses; make it a better place for you to attend. Start a club that you see a need for. Don't pick a college that seems perfect. First of all, no college is perfect and those that appear to be have the worst problems. Second, if you pick a college that is perfect, there is no reason to invest in the college. Give yourself something to work for and strive to achieve. Try to make your school a better place. Live. Learn. Practice Resurrection.

If I could go back, and talk to myself as a senior, I'd sit myself down and say, "Katie, you need to reevaluate your study habits." Naturally, I would be shocked at myself, because I've always made A's, but then I would continue. "Doodling in class and floating through your homework isn't going to cut it hear. You need to do portions of reading and homework every day, not just once a week or right before the assignment or test. Stay focused! Day dreaming will get you nowhere fast when you have three chapters to read, two papers to write, and 100 chemistry equations to solve before tomorrow morning." By this time, my senior self is blinking in utter disbelief and shock. "Don't stress yourself too much; remember to hang out with friends once in awhile too...keeps you sane". I hand myself a mint musketeer bar and a box of tissues, and with a pat on the back say, "You're going to need these."

I would tell myself that my high school did not prepare me for Mercer Universtiy. Mercer is much more demanding than I have been dealing with in all of my school years up to date. I will make friends, but they will soon realize that I am too busy for them to even invite to thier activities. I will have to pick up a third job in order to still be late on my monthly payments to Mercer. I would tell myself that I need to find a college with dorms and activities that include friendly people that actually care about thier school and classmates. Stay on campus and enjoy the social life while staying connected with my classes and homework. I would finally inform myself that I cannot let myself find the need to borrow money, get behind, stressed out, or take on a third job that will cause even more distraught than I will already be stuck with while attending school.

If I could go in time knowing what I know now, I would go to a state school instead of a private school, because state schools cost less than private schools. Private schools can be very good, but a person could get an education from a state school that is just as good as the education from a private school. I would also make sure that I knew exactly what I wanted to do before applying to a four year school. I would also think about what type of degree programs that the school offers. Some schools are known for certain things, and a degree in a certain field from a certain school might be better than getting a degree in that same field from another school. I would also tell anyone going to college not to let anybody influence their choice of college. A person's choice of which college to go should be that person's choice because they are the person that has to go to that college, not anyone else.

Visit lots of colleges. Don't pick a college because of anything that anyone who works for the college has said to you. Remember, colleges are a business, they see you as a potential customer, and will say almost anything to sell themselves to you. Use that to your advantage. If you have the credentials like a good GPA, lots of extracurricular activities, and strong test scores, do not let a college offer you less than you believe you deserve. Pit the colleges against one another to see who will go the farthest to win your business. As for being succesful in college, it takes two skills. Time management, and responisibility. On most college campuses there will always be something more fun going on than studying for that big exam. Learning how to say no when that person down the hall comes and asks you to go to a kegger, or trivia night, or some other social event is crucial. Engage with your professors because you will get a lot more from their lectures when you know where they are coming from. Also join the professional society for your major. This will provide invaluable support, and networking when job hunting.

Students should choose a college that they like and not where their parents would like them to go, and once you get to college, continue to work hard and enjoy the fun times.

Take all those college advice books with a grain of salt. College is what you make of it-- make it your own experience, and stop trying to follow every piece of advice everyone else gives you.

Make sure you look at all the options, don't just look at the monetary amounts. Even though you may have recieved some kind of scholarship to a school, it does not mean that it is the correct choice for you. Look at the educational aspects, the clubs and intramural events, the school spirit factor, and whether the people have the same goals and ideas you do, because those are same people you will be living with for the next four years, and you can't survive happily without friends and friendly classmates. Also, make sure that the educational requirements are to your level, if you look too high your work may suffer.

The first question I recommend asking is "does the school fit me?" If you want to graduate and still party four nights a week, then you need to ask how academically demanding the school is. The more academically challenging the school is, the less you will be able to party. If you want to go to grad school, then you need to look at the strength of the program you want to go to grad school for. The second question I recommend asking is "does the school feel right?" Visit all of the schools you are considering and get a feel for the school before making a final decision. In order to make the most of your college experience, you must decide what you want to achieve while at the school before classes start. Do you want a B.A.? Do you want an MRS degree? Do you want to leave with a marriage ring as well as a class ring? The answers to these questions will indicate how much time you will want to spend sleeping, studying, and socializing. Of these three categories of activites, humans can only do (at most) two of them well. Stick to your plan.

My advice to students or parents looking for the right college is to start applying early to a few schools. Students should also visit the different colleges that they are interested in, to get a feel of what it is like and the environment. Do not fall into the trap of deciding to follow your friends to the colleges that they are planning to go to, rather choose what is best for you. Also, do not decide whether a college is good for you based on its tuition. Most colleges offer a good amount of financial aid, so if you did well in high school, applied early, and searched around for outside scholarship sources, you should have no problem getting a reasonable financial aid package. College is a fun and an exciting time of your life. Unlike high school, where the work was easy and you rarely studied but still got good grades, college is about working hard and using your time wisely. There are alot of distractions like parties and friends, but if you are focused, you will be able to not only do well in college, but also have alot of fun. Good luck!!

Make sure you can afford the one you choose.

Look for a college that has a history of producting graduates that are outstanding in all fields of study, that offers programs in all fields of study, that is also small enough for students get individual attention from the staff and admistration, that is greared towards learning more that sports or partying. Look for a college that offers moral guidance without interferring or judging your beliefs or lack there, that is in a community large enough to offer much but not be distracting and where the whole community respects and supports it colleges, is one where people of the city are friendly and caring as a way of life. A school where emphasis is always on learning, self improvement and service to the world we live in. A college that has all these thing but isn't overpriced.

Visit every campus and ask copious amounts of questions to admissions and financial aid. You really want to be sure about how stable the tuition rate is before starting at a college and finding out for next year you need $2000 above what you had for the previous year because tuition has gone up. To really make the most of your college experience you do not want unexpected problems with financial aid. You must also get involved on campus. Find a club or just a group of friends to hang out with at leats once a week. Study enough to make exceptional grades but do not lose yourself in textbooks. Find out what your school offers to struggling students before you start to struggle in a class that way you will not panic when you need some help.

Look at as many colleges as you can, near or far, and narrow your possibilities down by truly thinking about what it is you want in your college experience. College isn't just about books and classes. College is a lot about what you learn outside of the classroom and through experiences you can't find in books. Students, don't feel pressured into going to your parent's alma matter or the college they think is best. They may be helping you pay for your education but you are the one that will be headed into the "real world" after graduation. Don't stress too much over it because that won't help you make the right decision. Have fun in your search and good luck!

My advice I would give to parents is no matter what, always support your child in the college of their choosing and their plans for the future. If they have a very strong interest in something and will stick to it.....support them. My advice I would give to students is to say that there IS a way for everyone to go to college. Starting with high school, do your best in school, talk to your counselors about your future plans and they can help you find colleges and scholarships that match your interests, attend college fairs, apply for financial aid even if you think you might not qualify, research and visit the college campuses you have an interest in so you can get a feel of the atmosphere and see what that college has to offer you and if you like it APPLY! When you do get into your dream school, attend the orientation so you can learn about all to the exciting opportunities your school can offer you and learn as much as you can so you can make the most out of your college experience!

Above all else, make sure that your first determining factor is the quality of your program. Money is definitely an important factor to consider, but make sure that the program you choose is high quality and will provide challenges as well as a place to foster love for your desired career path

I applied to eight schools. When the acceptance letters started coming in I started a pro and con chart. Something that I was not prepared for was the feeling in my gut that made me disregard everything my pro and con chart stood for and pick the school that I had applied to on a whim because I thought "why not". I drove down a week before the decision deadline to look at the campus. I had previously decided that a state school was were I really wanted to be and was perfect. When I got out of my car I was hit with the feeling that this place was perfect. It was everything the the other school I had decided on wasn't. It was states away, more expensive, a lot smaller and was conservative Baptist. I did the most scary thing deciding to go to that school. I have never regretted it though. My advice would be to make the pro and con charts if you have to, but in the end be brave enough to recongnize your gut feelings no matter how scary the truth it is that they are telling you. You won't regret it.

Future college students need to only look at the colleges which they are sure they will be accepted. One does not want to put themselves into the position where they are frantically trying to apply to the colleges who's application deadlines have not ended. Also, personal thank you notes to the conductors of tour or admissions counselors. In the way of making the most out of your college experience, live in the dorms, meet as many people as possible, and try to remember that high school is behind you. The parents of future college students should be as active as possible in their students choice of college. Attend tours, help with financial aid, and give them your opinion of each institution. Also, try not to discourage their choice of college. Encourage your children to not get too stressed out and take some time for themselves. Also, try to reframe from visiting their college too many times a year.

consider all things but then go with the heart.

I suggest that the parents and the future students go to the campus of the school that you are interested in. I was not considering the school that I am at now until I walked onto the campus. By visiting the school you are able to envision yourself attending there, and you are able to interact with students and facutly. You are able to see what opportunities are avaliable to you if you attended that college. While visiting you can begin to get a feel of the campus to adaquately assess whether it is the right size for you. I would also suggest that the parents and future students try and visit when school is in session. This will allow you to interact with the current students to see what the clothing style is, the atmosphere is, and how happy the students are. It is very important that the future student feels at home when he/she walks onto the campus. For me it was love at first sight, but I had to first take the time to travel to my Universtiy and experience it. I wish you all luck on finding the perfect school for you.

Do not encourage your child to participate in college athletics. Intramurals are much more fun. Let them get the education they deserve in college. Mercer has the best professors and an excellent classroom size. Everyone is friendly and people easily adjust to this small college life. It's like high school without parents, and a lot more partying... but I still have a 3.9, so that is not a bad thing (we're just socially well rounded).

Starting your Junior year of high school, think critically about yourself. Think about what you are passionate about and what you want to do for the rest of your life. Remember that you are going to college for a reason: to work toward a career. It is important to remember that your first choice might not end up being the one you stick with, so think of a variety of things and try to find a school that has most of them. One of the greatest things you can do to help yourself is to talk to people who've done it before. Talk to your parents, a guidance counselor, or a teacher. They will give you better advice than I can ever give, but remember that it is only advice. You are the one who makes the final decisions in your life. The most important thing to do is to know what it is that you want to do. Nosce te ipsum. Know thyself.

To find the right college you have to keep in mind what you want from your college experience. For some people large lecture based classes are what works best for them, and for others they like the ability to have one on one discussions with their professors. To make the most of your college experience you have to get involved with more than just your classes. If you lock yourself away in your room then you will miss out on so much. Living on campus also makes a huge difference, you have to learn how to take care of yourself and how to get things done without mom or dad to tell you how. College is supposed to be a fun experience, but you also have to keep in mind what you are really there for; you're there to study, meet people, and prepare yourself for the rest of your life -- not to drink yourself stupid and kill your brain cells.