Northwest University Top Questions

As a high school senior I was just ready to get out of my situation, but I wasn't preparing for the future in every way that I could. I am pretty happy with how I spent my time, but I could have benefitted from getting some experience in the work field. There are so many valuable lessons you gain from the responsibility of a job. I am a nanny now and I can't beleive how much I have grown as a person just because of my occupation. I am very appreciative of the funds I am now making but wish I had started back in high school. Even if it was just more effort put into scholarship applications. Also, I woud have tried to be more invovled in school. I was on leadership and a part of three choirs, but I had time to play sports and I could have done more in my surrounding community. I was heavily involved with my church, but there is never too much community and leadership that you can be invovled with.

Choose not to stress about school work. If you instead invest the time and energy into being proactive and preparing assignments and studies before the deadline, in the long run you will be a happier, healthier, higher GPA student. Also Ignore the students who say they do best when at the last minute they have to stress and throw out a small time investment on an assignment. If you do the assignment before the deadline I guarantee you will receive a better grade, as well as be able to enjoy at least half of a night's sleep, without the stress headache. College is a time when you learn to take care of yourself as a whole person. You realize your needs physically, mentally, emotionally, relationally and spiritually. Prioritize caring for yourself. You have value as a human being created in a loving God's image. Last but quite important, enjoy this time. It is a season in life when you have the opportunity to learn knowledge you actually desire to learn. I believe I learned more academically my first semester of college than I did all 4 years of high school, becuase I desired this knowledge as a person.

Knowing what I know now about college life, I would tell my old high school self to first and for most, learn who you are. And once you know who you are, be yourself 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the time and don't ever change. So often we get wrapped up in everyday life and activities we forget to spend time with ourselves, and pamper ourselves every once in a while. It's so easy to lose sight of who you truly are. I would encourage my old self to not worry so much on the future because when we slow down we don't understand the process of what's happening and you're scared because you are proposed the question, "Who are you?" in which you cannot honestly answer. "Do not conform to the patterns of this world..." a verse from the bible saying be you, be proud to be you, and don't try to be anyone else.

Have fun in college but always put your studies first.

I would tell the younger me to take your SAT/ACT test even if you don't plan on going to college immediately. Also, enjoy your senior year, participate in all of the senior activities and last year of high school sports. I was too rushed to just finish high school and finished a semester early to keep a job. I missed everything that happened before graduation. So much, that my senior yearbook has not one signature because I wasn't there! Enjoy the memories, make memories, and don't be rushed to be an adult.

Don't take that gap year, it turned into many because of your passion for people. Stay in school and stay focused on your goals. Don't worry about if there would be enough money for tuition: it is worth every dime borrowed. You are valuable enough and deserve the opportunity to do the things that you inspire you to learn how to give back to the world to make it a better place. Your thoughts and optinions are very valuable to society and really can make a difference. Keep the faith in yourself and your fellow human beings. Dreams become realities through hard work and perserveraince so keep dreaming because you have never been afraid of work and perserverance is like second nature to you. You have thrown more obsticles in your own way than any reality ever will and yours are overcomable. Therefore, your passion will pull you through anything you can think of as an obsticle and the world will be a better place with your degree because you can reach more people futher away, faster than without a degree.

I would tell myself to take school seriously. College is a lot different than high school. The classes are harder. Being a college athlete, I would tell myself to spend more time with professors on my school work that I have missed. Also, I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships and to save money.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior about college life and making the transition, the first thing I would tell myself is that it will take some time to get use to the change. I would tell myself that even though I will want to leave so badly and just go home the first few months things will get better. I would tell myself not to waste so much of my time crying over being so homesick. I would tell myself to go to the events offered, and to meet the people around you sooner rather than later. I would tell myself that everything will work out, and that I made the right college choice.

College life is very intersting. It is the the important place where you can get good knowledge. In order to enter college, you have to do many things. You are expected to study hard. Besides this, you are also expected to adjust your studying as well as learning styles. This helps you to have good grades and satisfaction with your performance. The other important thing you have to consider is the management of time. After completing high school, you may be involved in some other jobs to meet your financial need. This may reduce your time for study; but if you have good schedule for both your education and job, it will not be as such hard. You have also think about the extracurricular activities. These activities play a great role in strengthning your skills in a variety of acadmic tasks. In addition, involving in voluntary and social works also prepare you for your future career and develops your knowledge well. I also advise you to find out your interests and talents. This makes your academic path very easy and you will not be confused in selecting your major. Finally, try to have good discipline and ethics.

I would convince myself to save up my money. I wasn't careless with my money in high school, but I sure didn't save it, so by the time I started going to college, I had none. I had a great job as a waitress, but I never accepted the extra hours given to me because I wanted to hang out with friends I don't even talk to any more. I didn't work hard enough to earn money, and now I'm literally living off starbucks gift cards from Christmas. I would have urged and advised myself to spend money on the things you need at the moment, (which, considering I was living in my parents house and not having to pay for meals, I didn't really need anything other than gasoline for my car and books for school). Saving money isn't just a smart thing to do now, it's critical.

Work hard during your first semester at a university. I know it's tempting to slack off, and community college will be easy for you, but for goodness sake don't slack off. Your G.P.A. will suffer if you do. Also, make friends, college is an experience, a time to bond and share interests with those like you. You're lucky enough to be going to a God centered place, thrive in that environment . Get involved, join Choralons, join Drama team, do something and make memories.

Dear Self, Don't worry - college is so much better than high school. You can forget about the drama, cliques, and chaos (for the most part, at least!). But college won't be easy. You'll have to work hard, read a lot, and use your brain in new ways. Studying isn't all you'll be doing, though. You'll make new friends and have a lot of fun. You'll be busy, but don't get too caught up in the daily grind to miss out on the little things that make college life worth remembering--the dorm floor parties, the late-night board games, the inside jokes, the movie nights. Four years in college might sound like a lifetime now, but you'll be surprised how fast it flies by. Enjoy it while you can, before you have to enter the mysterious corporate jungles of the "real world"!

I have wondered about this question several times. I took a twenty five year break between high school and collage. I would try and get the point across to my high school self that in order to get a well paying job, you need to start and finish collage now. The other point that goes with the urgencey of now, is you are single right now coming out of high school you do not have any major responsibilities, i.e. family ( wife and three kids as I do now). If collage can be done right now after high school you could have it all done in four years what has taken me almost eight years when I finially graduate. One last note to high school self, the joy of having a family is spending time with them and watching them grow, not doing home work every waking moment so please consider going to collage now and not later.

I would tell myself to study hard and get into a more structured role and practice discipline since there is no one to guide you through college. Also, think about what you want to do now so when you get to college you will already know but keeping in mind its ok to change that goal. Also college is about location so go somewhere you really want to go to get the full experience. I would have told myself to look into scholarships of all sorts before leaving. Warn myself about g.p.a's and how important they really are to succeeding. I would have also told myself to start saving for educational expenses as well personal experiences. I would also stress the importance of being prepared, finishing task and being much more serious.

Go to school for general education requirements. Once you decide your major, you have the credits that can be applied.

The most important thing a student can do when making the transition to college life from high school, is to build and maintain a strong support system. I had a very difficult journey post high school graduation. It meant the world to me to have strong relationships with my family and friends. When the class loads seemed overwhelming, they were able to teach me ways to become more organized. Advice came mostly from those who were with me during my high school years but may not have taken as seriously as i should have.

While academic success is extremely important, it is only important if there is a purpose behind it. I would advise myself to explore and experiment with learning about different areas of study in order to have a wider understanding of the people in this world. While doing so, do not get caught up in striving for achievement for achievement’s sake. What good is an award or a high GPA if you did not apply that knowledge or experience in your own life or use it to impact the lives of others? Experience, learn, and grow as much as you can, but always do so with a purpose. Do not be afraid to be different. Challenge the “normal” ideas and modes of operation respectfully. Differences in thought and idea spark creativity and encourage cooperation. People who are different from you have a lot to teach you and you have a lot to teach them. Love them and love yourself for who you are. The opportunity to attend college is an incredible privilege that most people in the world do not get to have. Use this opportunity to bless and serve others.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself that college is a lot more challenging intellectually as well as emotionally, and I would take more honors classes. I would tell myself that worrying about being popular is a waste of time because in college, everyone is friends, it doesn't matter which group one is in. I would tell myself to save my money because in college books are not just handed to us like they are in english classes in high school, we actually have to pay a lot to get them. College has taught me to look outside my own surroundings, and broaden my scope to others around me, and offer a helping hand to those in need. I wish I could have told myself in high school that the world is a bigger place than my group of friends, and going to the mall every friday.

A college education is about more than just academics, it's an experience. True, academics is the main part, but it’s also about the other little things that you go through that make it all come together. Things like friends, lessons learned, mistakes made, and finding out who you are make college what it is. College is different than high school, because you’re taken out of your comfort zone and thrust into an unknown environment. It is in this new and dangerous place that your limits are tested. My first year away from home, I have struggled with fear of the unknown, loneliness, stress, and sleep deprivation due to poor time management. But through the trials and stupid mistakes, I have grown stronger, in what I can do and in my faith. I have met friends that will get me through anything and I have found wisdom that will last a lifetime. My college experience has not only made me a more educated student, but has also made me a better person. This is why I would not go back to tell my high school self anything, because it is through trial and error that college is experienced.

Some things I've gotten out of my college experience include, relationships, adademic and social skills, education about different cultures and our society, and leadership skills. Northwest University works hard to fight Human Trafficking. The faculty is very supportive of student groups. This school has let me direct a program called Embargo that fights Human Trafficking. NU lets us to many findraisers. Last semester we sent over 6K to a safe home for trafficking victims! Through this I've learned how to keep my studies in tact while doing this program, as well as keep an off campus job! Also, there are many on and off campus internships availible for students from NU. Since I've started at NU, I've had an internship at World Concern and I still continue to work with them on projects. Also, leading Embargo will have given me 2 years in internships when I graduate. There are also many great study abroud oppurtinities availible at NU which I am thinking about taking advantage off, although my major has let me chose Urban Studies as my concentration so I do not have to study abroud if I chose not to!

I have learned more about myself at this college than anything. I have learned how to manage my time, I have made a lot of new friends, I have learned how to save money and what its like to truly be out on my own. I love it here and I would not trade this experience for anything. It has been a valuable experience becuase I feel like I am now more ready to take on the "real world" with an adult and mature view. The education is great and I have already been able to apply what I have learned here in real life situations. I love Northwest University and I would recommend it to anyone.

I have discovered to think on my own and formulate thoughts and ideas about things completely independently of everyone else around me. I have also learned to be self sufficient, dedicated, responsible and hard working, because without those things, you fail. College is not easy, but it prepares you for the career that you seek after you graduate. If you seek to do something impactful, then you must have the training to prepare you in order to do so, and college can be and is that training.

My college experience has thoroughly challenged me, not just the way that I view the world, but also the way I connect with the world. Albeit a music major -focused on performance, theory, and history- the interpersonal skills that I gained through my four years of college redefined the way I live in relations to my community. It's all about community. Even the professors treat their students as individuals, not just names on their class lists.

I have become a much more accepting person since coming to college. Before my freshman year, I lived in a very small town where everyone knows their neighbor and people didn't talk to those who were different. Since coming to college I have learned to enjoy how people vary in their own ways and accept individualism. The best example I can give of me broadening my horizons was in hignschool my town taught me to shun those who were not traditionally heterosexual; I am now starting my honors in the major thesis project on the anxiety of homosexuals who do not feel accepted and comfortable with their identity. College has made me a better person. It has taught me to fix my own car, to make my own doctors appointments and to learn, not because my parents tell me to but because I want to. My own self worth and satisfaction has increased immensely, which then in turn lets me accept others for who they are. That is the most valuable part of my post high school educational experience.

This university has many flaws. It is really expensive and very stressful. There are many rules that restrict the lives of the students and that tend to cause many enemies. Some of the teachers do not see the struggling students and therefore do not help them. There are many other flaws but this school tries to focus on what is good for the students and how to follow the Word of God. Coming here has taught me many important things. I am the kind of person that seems to follow the bad crowd if left alone. Even though the school's flaws can be seen as a restriction to our right to freedom as Americans, it has done nothing but good for me. It's kept me from spending my money, since the take it all, and has taught me to save what I can. The stress has made me a stronger person. The rules have kept my party lifestyle down to the minimum and has kept me out of trouble. The teachers who do not pay attention has taught me to work things out myself. I am eternally grateful to this school for helping me become a better person.

I have been in the doorms now with everyone, they are so friendly. There is no hazing or bad mouthing, and every one is trying to help me fit in. We are almost like a family. I have less than 25 days to come up with $90000.00 and i am going to be so sad to have to leave. The people and professors are so accomadating working with me on how to attend a large school considering i came from a class of 4 and homeschooled most of my life. This money would help to see me through to the next semester at a school that really cares for me as a person and not just a number paying them to boost their ratings. I am gratefull for a chance to be here with people that care for oneanother. The campus is so pretty with an amazing layout. Out of 15 schools in washington state i have chosen this one even though i was accepted to more than 8 schools. In short this IS A GREAT SCHOOL!!!!!!!!

I have learned to be a responsible student. I have learned to be in a community of people and make them my family. I have also learned that deadlines are very important to life. Being at Northwest University has tought me how to be in love with Jesus and follow the call that he has put on my life. It is a community of encouraging professors, and people that want to see you succeed. This has been a big part of my growth and I wouldnt want to change it. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to go here, and I would love to continue my education.

Through attending college, I have found a constant maturing growth. I have learned how to take responsibilty for not only my actions, but finances and time as well. This year as I am now at a four year univirsity rather then a community college, I have to manage my time without the help of others telling me what to do. Community college, though it usually teaches responsibility, I found that I had still had the pressure of parents telling me to do my homework and be in home at a decent time. In addition to managing time, I have learned how to live with no money. As a college student I have learned what it is to not have money because of the rising cost of education and the difficulty to get a job in the current recession. Learning to save my money, and live sparingly. I have also realized how important it is to be here to continue my education and get a degree rather then dropping school and trying to get a job so I have money. OveralI I find these experiences have been very valuable to learn and will help later in life.

Self, you are a farmer and enjoy science- why don?t you think about a science major. Don?t be afraid to commute a little farther to go to a college that offers a few more options in classes either. Work hard for your grades they really make things easier when applying for colleges and scholarships. Be confident and don?t be afraid you?re going to do well. Do your best to tentatively plan the next five years of your life; set goals and don?t be confined by others? expectations and limitations. Success is nothing to shy away from, you don?t have to always be the underdog. Talk to older, successful folks about things they would have done or done differently when they were my age and what they did to land them where they are now.

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior about future college life, I would start off by telling myself life in the future isn't all fun and games. I would warn myself that dorm life, out of anything, can distract me from what my main goal is. In this warning I would say, make sure you work before you play. You have the chance to screw everything up if all you do is enjoy the social aspect of college. Yes, social life in college is something you should participate in. However, you need to balance your time in the books and your time with the friends. Along with this warning I would say make sure you buy a daily planner. Being in college means you have many different professors with many different assignmets. Make sure you keep yourself on top of your work load with a planner to tell you what and when an assignment is due. Those are the two main warnings I would give my past high school personality.

Knowing what I know now, if I could go back to my senior self, I would tell myself to have an open mind about college, the people there, and the career path I was so determined to follow. I think it's very important when first starting college to really be open to other people's opinions and ideas. Even more importantly, it is a good idea to try out different classes to really find what you are interested in. College presents a world of opportunities through the people you meet and the classes you take. Being closed minded or too focused on one area of study can actually hinder you in ways you wouldn't expect. I am very thankful I got a chance to meet some of the people I did and take classes that really showed me what I want to do with my future.

I would tell myself that although at times college will be harder than I expected it will never be to much for me to handle. I would say if you take every thing one day at a time everything will be alright. Also, that getting to know Professors well is one of the best things a college Freshman can do. Not only does it help you academically but it will also help you mentally. Also, never get to caught up in learning and fitting in to college that you loss your identity and self. Always keep in mind that college is just a short stepping stone to a much greater future.

College is a time of transition and a time of major changes. Oftentimes college students are thrown into a world entirely different then the one they left behind in highschool, and a lot of pressure comes with such a big change. The pressures of college include maintaining a satisfactory gpa, deciding what career pathway you are going to follow, and building relationships with your peers and professors. With all these stressors in a college students life, it would be a relief to not have the additional worry of finances. Higher education is extremely important, but unfortunately it is also expensive, and worrying about finances can potentially drag down a student's gpa, confidence, and social life. This is why if I were able to go back and give my pre-graduated self one piece of advice, it would be to make sure I had a financial plan for college and was working to save money towards tuition. Not having to worry about money would enhance my college experience, so that is what guidance I would give myself as a highschool senior.

Knowing what I know now about college life I would tell myself to start college as soon as I graduate high school when educational concepts are still fresh in my mind. I waited to attend college at a much older age. I am a sophomore in college now and am a 31 year old single mother of 3. I live on campus while attending classes. My children live with my parents 3 hours away from the Northwest University campus. I know in the end it will all be worth it. It is a challenge spiritually, financially, and emotionally but I am very happy to be in college. I would tell myself to stay in school and go to college and get it over with before you have children! God Bless! You can do this!

I would tell myself not to listen to the people who said I was stupid. I would tell myself that high school no longer mattered. I would also tell myself to go after my pre-med from the get go and not wait until I was 29. I would also relay to myself how smart and beautiful I was, and no one should make me feel insecure. I'd also tell myself that Northwest University where i am now should have been a choice right away.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to stop worrying, trust God, and follow your heart. I had a very difficult time deciding between Northwest U and University of Washington, as I was accepted to both schools. For me, it was about choosing between the school with higher status or the school I felt I would receive a more personal experience with the student body and professors. By praying, and trusting in what I knew would be best for me, I definately was moving against the grain of what most of society would have told me to choose. I would have also told myself to keep every situation in the right perspective, as I have a tendency to make mountains out of molehills. If I trust that everything will work out if I set my mind to it, I would save myself a lot of worry and stress.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would encourage myself to examine my real reasonings for wanting to go to college. I would make sure that each reason is because of a goal, expectation or want of my own and not of someone elses. I would tell myself over and over that I don't need to know what future career I want right now, but that college will provide me with the opportunities to discover many different options. I would make myself realize that it's only going to be 4, maybe 5 years and it will put me so much further ahead in life, doors will be open after college that I would never have been able to walk through without a degree! I would describe the fun and the amazing people I would meet along the way. I wouldn't quit, I'd make myself be everything I've always known I could be!

Mkae sure you kow what you want to do in life, it makes all the difference when it comes to class time.

It is always important to pick a school that has a strong focus on the program you want to be a part of. I also feel that environment is important, you should choose a school in an area that is aesthetically pleasing to you. I believe that is conducive to learning. The size of the school isn't as important as the strength of the program, which I can't stress enough. Independence is important to college age adults, so an area with a good economy and a good chance of getting a job is important. There are many reasons to pick any one college over another, but I feel that what I just described is mostly universal in the decision making process.

Finding the right university can be a daunting one, because there is so much to consider. I would reccomend that you base your initial search on the field you are looking to study- try to find a school with a reputable program for your field. Narrow that search by deciding on the size, and preference for private or state universities. Continue to down size your selection by deciding climate and geographical area you prefer. Make sure you research your (hopefully manageable in size) each school by visiting their websites; write down the things you do/don't like, and any questions you have. The most important step of this process is to visit every school on your list. When you are on campus, ask all your questions, take a tour, talk to current students, and speak with the financial aid office. If you still have more than one school that you love, and feel would be a good fit for you, then apply to them all and make a decision based on finances. Potentially, you will spend the next 4-6 years of your life at this new place, so make sure that it can be home for you.

Do your research. Visit schools on their off tour days to see what it's really like. Spend the night there. Imagine staying there for 9 months. Can you do that? Once you've picked that school, make friends that while they may have fun, they know that college is for learning and partying 24/7 is not a good idea. The more you can pay for college yourself the better. You take college more serious because you have to pay it yourself.

Try to visit a college of interest that maybe a friend goes to, or someone else you know so you can visit it on a non-visitor day. Days set aside for visit tend to try and make their school look great that day, and put their best foot forward. When you finally move in, you realize it's not like that at all. Stay the night if you can to get the full experience. Go to classes. Living in the dorms is a great experience. Even if you aren't a socialite, there will be oppurtunities that you wouldn't get if you choose to commute or live in an apartment. You could choose to do those your last two years, but try to live in the dorms at least one year, with a roommate. Not only do you have great friendships made, but there is always something to do. Study buddies are not too far away, and they can always remind you about that paper that you need to write. And if you're not in a talking mood, all you have to do is close your door. Sure, the sharing is tedious, but it is definiately worthwhile.

Pick a school with a rich heritage. Don't worry about the money too much, but don't just go to the most expensive school because they might be better, go to the school that will help you learn and reinforce your core beliefs. I believe that is what you are there for. The choices you make at this time in your life WILL affect the rest of your life. Make sure you utilize the resources the school offers to get the most out of what you are paying them. Get involved, first in your schoolwork, then social activities and sports. I know the second and third options are more fun but if you put the time and effort into your grades the rest will follow. Don't neglect your liesure time alltogether, your mind and body need that time to reset, recharge and refocus to preform well.

Enjoy the whole process! There is no perfect school, but there are great fits for you! Once you get started, soak up all you can and take each week at a time. The whole picture can be daunting, but if you focus on each assignment, it is doable.

I would say that finding the right college has to be something that fits you and your personality and what you want to get out of the whole college experience. Don't go to a college just because your parents went there or they say that you should. It might be a good college for them but not the right college for you. Only you know what you want and need in your life to succeed. Pick a college that will help you fulfill your dreams.

Go where you feel you'll be happiest at. It makes all the difference!

Students should apply to multiple colleges/universities well ahead of application deadlines. Apply to schools where you could see yourself succeeding. Later, after receiving acceptance letters, pray for direction from God. Ask that he would make it clear which choice(s) would be best for you, and then watch for his confirmation. Finally, make your decision and don't look back! Just enjoy the ride.

The advice I would give students and parent about finding the right college is to take the time to actually go and visit the campuses. Many times the atmosphere on campus is different from the way the brochures make it seem. It is just as important that you find a campus that you feel a part of as one that meets your academic needs. To make the most of your college experience get involved in extracurricular activities freshman year. This is the best way to make friends and it gets harder to join sports teams and clubs the higher you go in school because of the workload. It is also important to find a balance between friends and school. Work hard your freshman year, realize this is not high school anymore, and you do need to study for the tests. If you get a low GPA freshman year it will take the rest of your college years to make it up. At the same time make friends and take your mind off the stresses of school once in a while. It is all about finding that perfect balance, which unfortunaltely, is something that some people never learn to do.

Parents: Do what you can to get your child into the school that they want to go to. If they aren't living at home let them have their space, don't call daily. Students: Have fun because this only happens once. Have fun but don't do anything stupid. Meet as many people and make as many friends as you can.

Parents - I understand that for the majority of parents, the cost is one of the higher priorities when deciding your student's future college/university. Let me encourage you to consider your student's tuition as an investment rather than a purchase because not only is your family paying for their education, you are investing in their future. To find the right college is ultimately going to be your student's choice and the best thing you can do for us is listen. Listen to our dreams and desires, we understand that many of you would like us to follow in your Alumni footsteps walking the paths that you walked. Our generation is more independent, not choosing your school is not out of spite or lack of love; but rather out of independence, ambition and challenge that we seek for our own lives. Students - Trust your parents, trust your counselors, above all else though, trust yourself, it is your future and your decison so make it great. Do not worry about fitting in and attending all the right events, there will be plenty in the next four years. The best thing you can do right now is build quality relationships.