NHTI-Concord’s Community College Top Questions

First of all, your senior year, although it is exciting and you are ALMOST finished with high school, is NOT the time to relax and slack off. Work hard now! All of the difficult classes you decide not to take in high school will come back to haunt you in college. Get those Chemistry and Biology classes out of the way in high school while they are free! You will be much more prepared for tough college courses with this basic knowledge also. Next is that I had my son when I was 20 years old. I will be 30 this year and I am STILL going to college. Since I have been a single Mom and I have had to work, go to school, and take care of my son, I have only been able to take 1 or 2 classes each semester. Now, while all of my friends have graduated college and are working at their dream job, I still don't have my degree yet. College is difficult for everyone. Having to juggle work, kids, laundry, college, school plays, and bills is even more difficult. Wait until after college to have kids. Please practice safe sex!

Turning back time, and returning as a senior in high school I would tell myself to spend some more time focusing on what I want from college. I should have visited surrounding schools in New Hampshire and maybe even extend to Vermont, Maine, and New York. I am happy where I ended up, but the next step is to focus on where I should be going after my two years is up at New Hampshire Technical Institute. You don't realize on how big the world is out there until you are in it yourself, and that?s the hardest part to do.

If I was able to go back and tell my high school self and give my self advice about college life I would tell my self to work harder. I have learned that college is much different than high school and there is no one there to make sure you do our own work. The freedom of not having a parent there is fun but at the same time it hurts you if you are not self motivated. Days in college can't just be spent doing what you want. you have to also do the not so fun homework and classwork. I would tell myself to set aside time to study more often.

I would have done alot differently. I would have stayed in college in the 80's and pursued a bachelors degree. but i felt at the time i wasn't ready. i should have just pushed for it and had it over with. But I was doing a job where I wanted to be and didn't have the degree to get a promotion. I went back and got an associates degree. but now in my life I don't feel i made a bad career choice i felt comfortable. I achieved some goals but lost 10 years in time. Now i feel i want to help poeple by going into the healthcare field. When I was in high school they didn't have the options for careers that they do now like forensics, and so many more fields. i wish there were more options to us back then. The advice I would give myself would be go and look around at different colleges to see what kind of study programs they had. And not being limited to stay close to home, where there were limited careers. Thank you, Jackie

The advice I would give is to explore as many employment hats, internships and job corps training programs that I could find. Asking myself to spend time determining my likes and dislikes and interests, then work at strengthening weaknesses that might get in my way. Starting at a local community college to complete my general education requirements course work has several advantages. Not matter what college you ultimately graduated from we all need to take the basic?s like English 101. We can not graduate without it. So why pay more money. Wait and spend your money at your transfer school that you researched thoroughly for the best program, professors, campus life and class schedules that fit you as a whole person. College is expensive but also a valuable investment in your future. A smaller in-state college in your backyard is the most affordable. In short do you research, ask questions, ask for help and most importantly do not rush it. It is a big decision. If you need more time to figure out which college is right for you take the time. College will be there when you are ready. It is worth it in the end.

I would had stayed in college and went straight to a four year college, i would had lived at home for as long as i could had as well.

If I could go back and have a chat with myself I would tell myself to not sweat the small stuff. For example, instead of worrying about what others think of you don't worry about it. You are who you are. Work on yourself and not others as you have the power to change only yourself. Feel good about yourself and be confidant that you can achieve any goal you set. Your self esteem will carry you through life. As Rick Pitino says "extraordinary self esteem produces extraordinary things." You have control over your life and it is up to you to determine if you want to be successful or not. You have to take action to be successful because it is not going to happen unless you act.

If I could talk to my high school self about college I would start with number one, fill out your FAFSA early because its better to get done early, and also continue to fill out scholarships because it will increase your chances of getting extra money. Another thing, be organized because it will help out a lot in the long run. It will help you keep you on track with important dates to help you stay focus during your college life. Secondly, try and join college club/groups because it will open more opportunities for you, and you will experience college life in a different way. Also, it will help you make more friends which is good to become more envolved in social activities. When it comes to buying your books I would say buy used, it is just as good as buying a brand new book and plus it saves you money.

My senior year in high school Ididn't want to go to college, I actually only went to stay on my parents health insurance!! I ended up getting into nursing school and my father paid for it all. I didn't take it seriously and ended up failing out of the program. I joined the Navy 5 years ago and am just now getting out and going back to nursing school. I learned a lot over the past 5 years and traveling around the world, seeingthe things I've seen and I've learned to appreciate things so much more. I would go back to my 18 year old self and make her understand how lucky i was to have gotten into the nursing program and to have someone to pay for everything for me. I woud remind myself to not take these things for granted because if I don't do it right the first time, the second time I will be doing it on my own, which is exactly where I am now.

I would tell myself, college life is different than highschool life. You are going to have to study harder and plan effectively. Focus on your education of your career choice. Get as much financial help as possible. Be excited for yourself because this step you will be taking is going to provide for your future and possibly for your families future. Stay motivated to succeed . It is demanding and requires a lot of your time. You will enjoy studying something you are interested in and you will make the Dean's List your first semester! Stick to the method you will use your first year. It works for you. Aim high at your goals. You will also develop good relationships with friends who are aiming for the same thing as you. Your teachers will be very helpful and will guide you. Stay focused on the finish line and obtaining your degree. You will be a focused student who will do really well and will always look toward the ultimate goal, getting your college degree!

The advice I would give myself would to be not to stop college education twice, and focused more on educational and employment opportunities.

The advice I would give myself would be to be more serious about finding out information to go to college instead of waiting until now. I could have easily gotten myself into the SEED program so that I could attend a community college tuition free. But because I wasn't serious about finding out more information in school, I missed the oppurtunity when times are really rough and I could have really used that help. Another piece of advice I would give myslef would be to take advantage of the scholarships, grants, and all kinds of awards that I could have recieved. I was a great student in high school and I could have benefited a lot from the money I could have gotten. But instead of taking my future seriously and thinking ahead, I thought that I could take a break and still get what help I needed to be able to attend school. Obviously, that didn't work out too well. Being out of school now has given me a new lease on life and I am more than ready to get back to school and start a whole new life.

"Emily, get your priorities in order!" Those would be the first words I would say to myself. As a high school senior I didn't realize how big of a transition going from a small town high school, such as John Stark Regional to college would be. High school was so easy to me that I'd definitely tell myself to prepare more. With grade school coming to simple to me I didn't realize that this community college would be a large difference, but it has been. I'd tell myself to be more comfortable meeting new people and accepting people for who they are to make more friends and meet different people. Lastly, I'd tell myself to try harder than I ever have because I'd never reach my goal of being a teacher without drive.

I would give myself the advice that taking a year off was the best choice I have ever made. However I would start really saving money for college back a long time again. Also I would do as many running start classes in High School as possible because it truely helps in college.

I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as I can, because school is not cheap. Even the community college isn't cheap, and I would tell myself to be prepared for the three to four hour classes, but work hard.