Monmouth College Top Questions

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

Yaritza

Yaritza you will be told plenty of times “your college years will be the best years of your life,” “college will be fun” but guess what? It’s not true. College will be hard, it will be challenging and there will be moments where you will find yourself questioning why you even went to college to begin with. There will be moments that you want to give up, but the best advice I can give you is the following: Life is hard, nothing good comes easy. Don’t ever seek the easy way out, because there is no such thing. You simply have to find something hard that is worthwhile to you!

Jacob

If I could go back in time and give my high school senior self any advice, it would be the importance of networking. What I have learned while here is that you need to get to know people, because you never know how they will benefit you in the future. For example, I talked with a professor who is not even in my department and she got me in contact with a former student of hers who is now working in the White House as an aid. Another very important thing to remember is that it is not who you know, it is who knows you. What this means is that people you get to know can give recommendations for you while you are searching for oppurtunities, internships, and eventually jobs. You never know who you are talking to and how they can benefit you in the future. What I would suggest to do is make business cards to hand out to people, because that gives them your name to remember.

Elisabeth

Hey Elisabeth, Congratulations! You've officially graduated highschool. And now you're off to bigger and better things,college for one thing. You're most likely a little nervous about what exactly lies ahead in the next chapter of life and well, I wanted to make things a little easier for you. A couple things I've learned : You can do whatever you put your mind to. You can learn new things even when you think you can't. And you can suceed at things you've never tried before. Hard work does pay off. So does being kind and gracious to those around you. You never know when your smile might be just the remedy for someone's bad day. Remember that who you are and what you believe in truly does matter and nothing, absolutely nothing is worth tossing that away. It's not worth trying to fit in with the "In Crowd", it's not worth getting that perfect grade or dating the perfect person. Remember to keep your head held high, even when you don't feel like it. And remember that you are beautiful, just the way you are.

Shawndra

I I could go back in time to give yself some advice, I would just remind myself to remain focused even throgh the tired nights I am struggling, take advantage of any opportunity that comes my way, and become more skilled at networking and contacting people who can potentially help me with a problem I may be having.

Taylor

I would tell myself to choose a school based on your future, not what you are interested in right now. Making the transition from high school to college, I choose a school where I could play softball. Softball was a great thing for me to join but I was very close minded coming into college. I believe I would tell myself to get involved in other things and meet people who are different from you because they truly do have amazing things to offer you such as different views on the world. I would also tell myself to get out of the dorm room and meet other people other than the girls that mainly lived on my floor. I would tell myself how important it is to think outside the box and be accepting of new experiences because those experiences will make for a life changing college experience.

Andrea

I know that it will be hard, but you have to stop worrying about what everyone else thinks. What your fellows students, friends, family, and teachers think of you doesn't matter. You are a procrastinator because you worry about not living up to their expectations. So you put everything off until the last moment; which causes you so much stress that you make yourself sick and have to miss class just to finish assignments and make yourself feel better. This doesn't help, because now you start feeling bad about missing class. Just stop. Everything will be fine. You are very smart, even if you don't want to admit it. Find the things and the people you love and cling to them. They will get you through the scary times. Just let go. Not everything have to be perfect. Trust me, the best papers are the ones you write on a spur of the moment inspiration. They are also the ones that your teachers will praise you for. Live your life, don't let the day-to-day tasks put you down. You are so much better than that. So don't give up on yourself.

Marian

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have so many things to tell myself. Words of caution, words of warning, and words of reassurance would all fly to my lips. Don't focus so much on boys--the end of a relationship is not necessarily the end of the world. Be careful who you trust with your personal life--people so seem to be friends in the beginning may turn out to be not-so-friendly later on in the school year. DO NOT PROCRASTINATE! Last minute projects and papers that you could pull off all through high school will not cut it in college. This is the grown-up world, and you're going to have to start acting like it. On the other hand, I would also tell myself to loosen up. Being away from home isn't nearly as scary as you think it is. Go to parties, talk to people you think are interesting, put yourself out there. These are your college years--make them as memorable as possible. Those are the things I would tell myself if I could go back in time.

Morgan

While in high school I had the opportunity to do otwo years of high school and two years of college. As my senior class moved throughout early college we always had the oppourtunity to talkto the upcoming freshamn and explain to them what was ahead of them. While talking to them I always tried to explain to them that college is completely different from high school. The number one objective that they should remeber is to stay focused. From the time i was in the ninth grrade to the tweleveth , early college lost over one hundred students due to the fact that they let outside things distract them. So if i was to give advice this would the number one tip I would give them.

Esa

I would tell myself that I should have studied harder in my first semesters at school. That it is vital that you go to professor’s office hours and ask questions about topics, concepts, and problems you do not understand. I would have also told my self to save money, save as much as you could save because you will need it in the future for school, bills, books, etc. In addition to these I would have also told myself to become more involved in every aspect of your school, classes, and classmates. The reason being that, you make your own experiences and the more effort, time and heart you put into your classes the more you will benefit and become a better well rounded individual. Lastly I would have told myself to organize your time efficiently, be cautions of time spent on things you do just for enjoyment versus things that need to get done. Time, effort and dedication are the biggest factors for success and if you are managing these things at a constant basis you will succeed and you will achieve anything you set your mind to.

Anthony

Work harder! Those two words are the best things I could possibly tell myself at any point in my highschool career. I did well in high school, but I was unprepared for the rigor of the coursewoork that I would experience in college. In the first week of college, I was assigned a seven page, single-spaced paper that amounted to about 4,500 words when finished. Needless to say, I was unprepared for this level of academic challenge. I was not ready to invest so much time into one assignment. I did not anticipate the amount of research that assignments of this nature entailed. Although I have since gotten used to assignments of this level of difficulty, I know I would benefit if I could go back in time and tell myself to work harder during my highschool career.

Brianna

Make sure you live up your senior year. don't regret anything. Make sure you take all your final exams if you have a choice not to. Make family relationships strong before you come to college. They will be your rock through your transition.

Tatiana

Some advice I would give myself is to not be shy. The people that are more open to talk to others and join more things will have a better college experience. Always remember that the upper classmen were also in your position before and they can be a great help if you have any questions. Also the last thing I would tell myself is to not pack a lot of stuff because you end up not even using half the stuff that you bring up from home. So pack only the necessities.

Adam

College is the threshold to responsibility. No one reminds you to do anyting, unless theyre being nice. You wake up on time, and make sure you do everything you have to do, or you fail. No hand holding, no teachers chasing you down for missing assingments, youre literally on your own. Its a huge change , and it can be fun, but you have to take the responsibilites of independance with the freedom.

Elisa

What I have gotten out of going to college was that it isn't always about grades in school. It is about what you learned and how you use it. I've also learned to be more mature and independent since I'm living on my own.

Ryan

I would have told myself to go to this school first instead of starting at a community college like I did. I would say that it takes effort to be successful in college. Both in classes and in the social aspect of college. It took me two and a half years to realize that academics are really the main focus of school, and that the best way to study is in the library. I would tell myself that my track team is really the best form of support and to really invest in relationships with them. Finally I would tell myself to have fun. College is really a great experience and I needed a push to let myself enjoy that experience.

Andrew

Go to as many schools as you can and make sure when you find a good school that fits sleep on it and make a sound decision. Then make sure when you decide on a school make sure it can be a good home for the future.

Andrea

I would have gone to a four year college immediately out of high school. Parents and others convinced me to stay at a local community college; it was not the best choice for me. So I would say stick with your gut instinct. Find out what you truly love and stop trying to make others happy. You have to make yourself happy before you can please anyone else.

Colleen

Don't consider the distance away from home or where the school is located, out in the middle of no where, but consider what you want to get of going to college and go where it feels right. The science program is amazing and the school is small enough to actually learn something with the avaiblity of being able to get to know the professors when the courses get more difficult. In the end money doesn't matter, if you get to learn so many interesting things and the experience is as good as you imagine it could be, possibly even better. Take a deep breathe and just choose where the next four years of you life will be spent because once you do that, I can promise you won't be disappointed.

Andrea

First of all...BREATHE. You did it; you finally escaped from this social experiment called high school and are ready to go into the world of higher education. Remember that shy, awkward girl who spent the last four years wandering her high school with her head down, too afraid to talk to anyone? She's gone, so kiss that goodbye and say hello to the new you, because four years from now, you'll be amazed at who you've become. I have so much to tell you about, but I don't want to ruin the amazing surprises in store for you. So, remember these three things: one, GO TO CLASS. I don't care how tired you are, you need to suck it up and go. Two, whoever ends up breaking your heart in the next four years doesn't deserve your time anyways. It hurts, but it heals. Finally, follow your internal compass wherever it takes you. You will never have this kind of freedom or opportunity again, so value it, cherish it, and find your bliss. I'll see you on the other side.

Jeffrey

Knowing what I know now, if I were to speak to myself as a high school senior, I would give one piece of advice: don't worry. As a high school senior, I was very worried about nearly every aspect of college. I was worried about making friends, doing well in classes, and keeping friends from high school. Looking back now, I realize that I worried for no reason. I realized early on that to make friends in college I just had to be myself. Once I realized that, it was easy. Getting good grades was not so easy. However, once I had a study routine everything became simpler. Surprisingly, keeping in touch with my friends from high school was a lot less difficult than I originally thought with the help of Facebook and simple phone calls. If only I had known these things before I had come to college, I could have saved myself from worrying.

Michael

I would only tell myself to listen to my gut and go with what I was feeling because it was right.

Hope

The best advice I could give would be to find a place that feels like home. The instant I stepped on the campus of the college I attend, I was at home there. As far as making the most of college experience, get involved, not just on campus, but in the community as well. I have found that giving back to the community in which my college is located has been the most rewarding experience of my time there.

Kylie

Make a college visit! You cannot tell if you like a school just by the internet. Get as much information as you can about all of the services provided by the school.

Kyle

When advising on choosing the right college, parents should encourage their children to step outside their comfort zones and aim for a school that will help them formulate a fresh adult identity, separate from their childhood ties. Essentially, this entails seeking an educational environment that will become a unique ?home away from home,? instead of an exact replication of home; higher learning, after all, is about the pursuit of new enriching opportunities, as one?s eyes and mind are opened to different lifestyles and ways of thought. For example, if the student comes from a more rural area, s/he might consider attending an institution in an urban or affluent suburban community. Also, if the student?s hometown population tends to be homogenous or lacking in variety, s/he could find a university that prides itself on its diversity. These, along with numerous other factors, can be imperative in selecting a college that will offer the best prospects for overall growth, enlightenment, and achievement. From making a fitting decision for himself/herself, the student will inevitably interact with peers from other backgrounds and they will interdependently broaden and influence each other?s insights and awareness of the world at large.

Melissa

Choose a place that you are comfortable.

andy

You need to visit as many colleges as you can untill you find the one that just seems to fit and feel right.

Ben

Visit the school and spend time looking around and asking questions away from your tour guide. This is necessary to get the full experience of the school. The quide wants you to attend this school and they will tell you eveerything that you want to hear to get your attendence. Talk to faculty and staff in your department and begin to look at your specific focus to find out if you can get exactly what you are looking for from the school. Talk to the students that you see walking around campus. See how they feel about this school and ask for their complete honesty. And finally, eat a meal or two at the school and see what their diffferent food options are.

Caleb

Make sure you find out what really happens during the weekends and week nights at the campus you choose. Most of the time the academics will be fine, but its the other extra-curricular activities that will really make the difference between the colleges, especially at smaller schools.

Rodney

Visit as many colleges as you can. You will know when you pick the right one because it will feel right.

Shannon

I would say that students should develop strong relationships with peers who share interests and should also spend time getting to know their professors. Some of my most important relationships were with professors... and they helped me get a much clearer idea of my direction in life.

Kayce

For the students, I think the most important thing about finding a college is look at several differnet options. If you look several different places you will know where you belong. When I went to visit Monmouth it was like a home to me and I knew it was the place for me. College is a time in ones life that will be unfogettable, finding the best college or university is challenging. However, if you feel home, I can guarentee you will succeed. I would also suggest, that as soon as you enter in college join something that will get you involved. The more involved, the more expierence you will have at school. This also leads to a memory's with the friends that you will have. For the parents, I would say let your child pick where he or she wants to go then worry about finicial situations. Many schools have scholarships and financial help if needed. My family was very worried about money but Monmouth was willing to give loans. College is an amazing time and I would suggest that every child should go through this expierence because it is a once and a life time opportunity.

Denys

No comment

Laura

Visit, ask questions about academic requirements, at this school there are many requirements that i found out after i already enrolled. ask what there is to do on weekends. make sure there are movie theaters, malls, mini golfing places or whatever. academics isn't the only thing to do. Also, see if it is a party school. Small schools are generally centered around drinking.

Natalie

College could be the best or worst years of your life. It is your job to make the best of it. Finding the right college for you is huge, and parents remember that it is not you who will be living there for the next four years so make sure your son/daughter has the majority of the choice. To the student, don't be afraid to leave home and the friends there. Making new friends in college is quite the experience. You will go out of your comfort zone, you will cry, you will laugh, and you will find people who will become some of the best friends that you will ever find. College will help you discover who you are. You will take the journey from a teenager to an adult. By the end of college, you will be ready to live on your own and appreciate as well. Don't let college fly by you, enjoy every second of it.

danny

Look at as many schools as possible, both large and small, to find the best one for you.

Melissa

I would strongly advise that students spend the night at a college they are looking at to make sure that they are comfortable on campus. Find out what kind of extracurricular activities are available on campus, and see if you would want to be active in any of those activities. Also, make sure the college has the department you want to study in, and ask to speak to some of the professors in that department. Finally, make sure that you get all of your questions answered before saying yes to a college. Know exactly what you want in a college, and pick the one that you feel fits you the best!

Teresa

This is a hard question for me since I definitely did not choose my school conventinally. I went with a feeling more than a real logical reason. I think it is important to understand what you want to experiance and what you are comfortable with. If you grew up in the city, you may feel out of place in a small rural college, but you may also find it refreshing after the speed of the city. The reverse way is a student living in a small country town may be dieing to get to the big city, but it is easy to get overwhelmed. Be sure you have really thought about your temperment and what you wnat to experiance besides learning, because college is so much more than academic learning, it is life learning. After you have really looked into yourself and decided what kind of atmosphere is best for you, it is time to think academically. do you want a liberal arts school to get a well rounded education full of different experiances, or do you just want to focus soley on your major. Niether is bad or good, just different, and it depends on what you want.

Catherine

My advice would be to go with you heart. Choose a college that feels right not what college you think you should attend. Going away to college is more than learning acedemically, you also learn so much about youself on a personal level.

Emily

I believe that you should choose a college based on what you would like to pursue in the future. For example, I want to be a teacher, so I chose a school that specializes in education. If you do not know what you want to pursue I recommend choosing a liberal arts school in order to get the largest variety of options available to you on one campus.

John

It is important that you visit the colleges you want to attend! Getting on campus during the school year when students are around will be helpful in seeing if the atmosphere is right for you. Also it is important that you do not count out small schools that you have never heard of. It is not the name of the institution that determines the value of your education, it is the work you put in. I go to a small private liberal arts college that is not at all well known and does not have the reputation of being a "good school" like for example University of Illinois in Champagne Urbana. What people think and reputations should be irrelevant in the decision-making process. Pick the school that feels right, put in the effort, and you will get the best education around no matter where you go. When you do pick a school and arrive on campus for your first term, take risks and step outside your comfort zone. The best way to succeed in higher education is with an open mind. Good luck!!

Chelsea

Take into account the location of the college and what you're expecting. If you come from a big city, its probably best you go to school in a big city. Plan on getting involved. If you aren't getting involved, school can be boring and pointless. Find out what kind of activities are really on campus from the students themselves. Do your homework, and before applying, find out the average workload from students that attend there. Check out what kind of food you'll be eating everyday, and if you can make your own food.

Michael

The first thing that I would tell parents and prospective college students would be to look at many colleges. They should also make a planned and unplanned visit to each of the proespective colleges that the student is interested in because this will allow the student to receive a guided tour of the campus as well as a close up look on campus life. There are many things that can be done in order to enhance a students college experience. The most important thing to do is be involved on campus. Join a club, or organization. This will allow you to make friends, do something you enjoy, and get your mind off of schoolwork for a brief time.

Catherine

My advise would be to go somewhere that you can not only grow as a person academically but socially. There is so much learning that goes on at a college outside of a classroom and once you get past trying to choose a school based on cost and location and size look to see what the college environment can offer you.