Norwalk Community College Top Questions

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

Omar

Take your time. The road to success is a long, harrowing journey. It can be scary. It can be ruthless. But it's important to move at your own pace. College is a whole different animal than high school. Your success in your hands now. You'll have to make the time for schoolwork, and it will seem difficult, but it is manageable. You may not succeed at first. But no matter what happens, know that you're not alone. A recent study indicated that almost 30 percent of first year college students fail their first semester. It is a difficult transition, but it's not impossible. If it happens, It's not the end of the world, but you can't feel sorry for yourself; it's up to you to take initiative and pick yourself up. Take it slow if you need to. Everybody has their own way of attaining success, and you will find yours with time. There's nothing wrong with starting off with a few classes at first. As you adapt to college, you can take more, and it will be easier. Eventually, you will find yourself, I promise you that much.

Margaret

The advice i would give myself in high school is to start the college application process sooner and look for more scholarships. I would also tell myself to apply to more than one school.

Ryan

Cause and effect is not just relegated to science or chemistry, it applies with equal force to decisions. Our future can be profoundly impacted by our pursuit, or lack thereof, of additional education after high school. The degree to which we try to gain more knowledge, is the degree to which we can enjoy more success in life. Of course, such educational goals require sacrifice, and as a young person we may be hesitant not being able to see the benefits immediately. Nevertheless, benefits are there, they are real and tangible, and become more apparent as our life goes on. College can be challenging, forcing us to grow in ways beond just our grasp of basic concepts of reading, writing, and mathematics. It can teach us to be more courageous, independent, and outgoing. These qualities are appreciated by employers, family, and friends, and these relationships determine to a large extent our happiness in life. Higher education by no means guarantees us a great future, but it does increase our chances to be happy. So don't procrastinate, or be too timid to make a decision about college, since as a 'cause' of our decision there will be an 'effect'!

Vennette

If I could go back in time there is so much I would advise myself. When I was a freshman in High chool I had a child and was in a horrible domestic violent relationship. I was living in a state of poverty and all I could think about was how I was going to get through school, work 2 jobs and feed my child. I didn't go to college after high school because I thought it would be impossible for me to make it. I thought I wasn't smart enough and that there was no way I would have had any help from my mother or the teachers to help me make it through such a had circumstance. Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to "Go For It, You Can Do It". You can take college at your pace, don't get overwhelmed thinking you need to do it all at once. Find out about how you can be helped in defferent areas, including finances. There are so many different resources offered to help you though this process. Don't wait so long to do something you can do right now.

karen

This is speed race to finish first, but take classes you know you will pass, first. Next always stay prepared and write notes from book. Make daily scedules weekly. Bring extra reading books for study-breaks. The path does not have to be chosen right away but chose two subjects you like from either liberal arts, computer science and physical science to research what you do well in and/or like. Ignore anyone who laughs at you. Do your best.