Oklahoma Wesleyan University Top Questions

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

Crystal

I would tell myslef that community college was the right choice for my first year. However, I would also say that I should transfer after the first year because transfering in credit is hard the less you have the easier the process. Being at home my first year made the transition to college much easier but I would have been totaly fine to transfer after the first year. You don't need the associates degree if you are just going to transfer on. You need to pay very close attention to making sure you are taking the correct classes to transfer. Also, transfering a large amount of credit really can be messy depending on the school.

Marie

Wow! I would tell my high school self to GET INVOLVED! My first year of college I secluded myself to one type of friend and I feel like it limited my success. Instead of having many new and different experiences I only had one and it wasn't a good one at that. I should have pledged a sorority, I should have bought those football tickets, I should have gone to that volunteer fundraiser. I would tell myself to enjoy being young with no responsibilies. Being an adult has so many responsibilities I would tell myself to live in the moment more, to be more spontaneous. I would tell myself to go out and find out who I really am. Realize, understand and live your morals in life. Don't back down, and don't apologize for who you are. Stand your ground, stay strong and life each day to its fullest!

Ginny

I graduated from a small high school at 17 y/o and was the oldest of 4 who grew up in a abusive alcoholic home. My parents only had an 8th grade education, so college seemed like only a dream to me. Even though I had more than a 3.0 GPA in HS I was never praised for my grades. I was so terrified of going off to college, and was I really smart enough to be able to go to college. I went off to a technical college instead and dropped out after the first semester to start a family, now looking back I wish I had the support to go to college like many of my friends had done. At 30 y/o I received my ADN and had always dreamed of not only getting my BSN but to go on for my Masters Degree in Family Nurse Practioner. Enrolling in OKWU is like a dream come true, I may be 52 years old now but I am on my way to reaching my dreams. If I could turn back the clock I would have told myself to reach for the stars at 17.

Katie

Get involved in campus life. Getting involved makes things so much easier. Even if you weren't involved in high school, get involved in college because you will meet so many new people and make so many new friends. It will also help you by getting to know people in your classes which is good for when you need to form a study group. And make sure you study. You can't succeed if you don't study and you can't graduate if you don't succeed, so study for every class, no matter how boring it may be.

Rachel

Honestly, as much as it might seem like it doesn't have to do with college, I would tell myself not to hang around the people I did and to concentrate on finding the right college for me. I would have studied harder and focused on my grades to help me earn more scholarships and extra help with college.

matthew

if i knew in high school as senoir what i did now i would be better prepared for college and study a whole lot mor e studying

Maloree

There are many things that I have achieved in my college experience but some of the most evident are perseverance, leadership, relationship building, and faith. In my career field, I have learned a great deal that has equipped me to be the great nurse that I am going to become.

Andrew

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to pay as much attention to the people teaching me just as much as the material teaching me. I would say that the connections I have made with the staff and faculty here at OkWU are just as important, if not more important than what they have been teaching me. It is incredible to watch them at work, not only in their roles as educators but in their personal lives aswell. I have mad lasting friendships here at OkWU, not just with people my age, but with my professors and administrators aswell. Its these relationships that have defined my education and made it worth while. I would also tell myself to take advantage of being almost debt free and to save up and make payments on as many loans as possible while in school when they do not require payments.

Albert

If i could go back in time and talk to my self as a highschool senior I would probably tell my self to not put off homework in highschool and that even though i was able to scoot by when it came to grades that college was going to be a whole different ball game. I would also tell myself to not put off planning for college when it came to financial and that although OKWU does give financial aid to 93 percent of all students most of us dont'g get very much. I would also tell my self that even though we wherent poor or rich mom and dad made enough to provide and be comfortable but not enough to qualify for loans. Or for myself to be able to get much financial aid. I would alaso tell myself to look into as many grants and scholarships as possible and talk to my counselor about getting help. The last thing i would tell myself was how great campus life is here and how i love every minute of it even though money is something that will be a problem. But i wouldn't change it for the world!

Andrew

I would tell myself to be ready to buckle down and have a mindset to study. There are many temptations in college such as parties and the new found freedom from parents that can get in the way of the number one goal, school. Also, make friends with as many classmates as possible so you can form study groups when needed. The last bit of advice i would give is to participate in more funtions that would benefit the major i have chosen.

April

What you are told about college is trueto an extent. It is true you can be who you want to be and the person you were in high school can be left behind. It is also true that classes are your responsibility to attend and homework is yours to do. There are many realities that are left off of the "college life list". When you attend to college it is easier than you think to fall into gossip and form your identity by the friends surrounding you. Take a step back and watch your actions to make sure that you are not being who peers want you to be. It is hard to be who you are meant to be when the world starts pushing you one way and you are caught up in it. Please remember God made you an individual who is different from everone else, but that you are not better than everyone else. Strive your hardest to help others in every change that comes because it can truly change that persons life. While helping others remember to do your school work. If you balance academic and social life you will learn how fun college is.

darcy

Darcy, I want to talk to you about your future. It is not a good choice for you to be putting off college. I have learned alot of lessons in life in the last ten years out of school and they all point to one bad decicion, not going to college. I thought it would have been such a hard thing to do but the wonderful people in college admissions made is so easy. I understand at the time you dont know what you want to do but any college will help you to figure that out. No matter what you do, no education is a waste of time or money.

Breanna

There is not a lot that I would say to myself but there is a few things. One major thing I would say is to not take AP classes lightly. I wish in high school I would have taken them more seriously and passed the test for college credits. Another piece of advice I would give myself is to not worry. Everything will work out, you will make friends and it will be fun! It really is true what they say about college being the best years of your life, so take advantage!

Shelley

I would tell myself to definitly go, don't wait. I would say to do the best job you can in all classes. One very important thing I would say is to be involved. You need to be involved in your school, not only by going and make good grades, but be involved on a social level. Be involved in committees, boards and decision making bodies. School can be fun when you are involved on all levels. Studying and grades are very important, but life lessons can also be learned outside the class in real life situations. Dealing with other college activities is a great way to learn and have that social aspect everyone must learn. These are the things I would tell myself or anyone starting college. Thank you. Shelley Meyers

James

It is important to visit any college you are seriously considering. When visiting the college don't just look for what you are directly interested in, i.e. your preferred sport or degree. Make your decision based on how welcoming and accomodating the school is and how much extra curricular activity is offered. Students, when you get to college: Get involved! Enjoy all the experiences you can. However it is important to remember you, or your parents, are paying out of pocket for an education so don't take your classes and and class time for granted.

Anna

It is important that your student can feel comfortable especially if they are not use to being so far from home. Comfortable with the people, environment, and expressing who they are. A support system in school is important especially for those long-distance students. A campus that is friendly but academically challenging & stimulating. A place that holds fun and relaxation, but also a place of serious study.

Cyndi

Make sure you find a college that matches with your core values.

Jeremy

I would tell parents and students that it is important to not only look for a school that is acedemically suited for them, but also one that will meet their extracurricular needs; such as sports or social life activities. If religion is very important to you, then I would stress that you find a school that agrees with your religious framework, so you are recieving an education grounded in your religious beliefs, otherwise you are creating a false dichotomy and what you are learning will not agree with what you believe, which essentially would diminish the value of your education. In order to make the most of your college experience it is a must to get out and go to campus activities, starting as soon as you can, by doing this you allow yourself to meet a lot of new people that are in the same position you are. By going to activites and meeting knew people you will meet lifelong friends that will make your college years the best of your life.

Michelle

I would advise them to take a look at many different colleges and see what works for them. Then I would advise that they take a look at what financial help is available.

Tracy

Finding the right college depends heavily on your personal goals and priorities. You definitely want to consider the school's academics, cost, extramurals and social life. Academics and my spiritual life are the important factors behind my choice. Once the semester gets going it is important to know how to balance fun and friends with homework time. Balancing sleep, nutrition and physical fitness are necessary too. I'm not banning fun -after all it's the fun times we look back on. But if you are apathetic about your studies, it would be better not to go to college then to waste thousands of dollars and four or more years of your life. College life gives you many opportunities. Last spring I was able to go overseas because of fliers I saw around campus. College is also a period of growth from a teenager to a young adult. The experiences, professors, friends, dorm life - everything has an affect on shaping you as a person. You choose your influences. Whether you come out of it with a career, lifelong friends and/or a spouse, choosing a college is one of the most important decisions you will make.

Nicole

I would say to students that they should not let their parents pressure them into choosing a school which they are not completely excited about. Parents should serve as guide, but should ultimately leave the decision up to the student because from now on they are going to have to start making decisions on there own and parents need to trust their student to make wise choices. Students need to really evaluate what aspects of a college are most important to them before making a choice because there is no college that will fit them perfectly. Decided whether it is cost, academics, extracurricular activities, social life, distance from home, cost, religious affiliation, or any other factor. As far as maximizing the experience all I have to say is balance. If you are an academic don't forget to relax occasionally, and if you are a partyer don't slack off on your studies.

Johanthan

Parents: It's time to let them go. Sure, you may want to have a say in where they go, but they are adults now. It's time to let them call the shots. If you've done a good job, they'll be fine. Besides, don't you remember being in their shoes sometime ago? It's an exciting time where they get to learn how to handle responsibility and make the transition to adulthood. And the first part of this process is letting them choose where to go. Students: Welcome to the best years of your life! But first, you need to chose where to spend those years. College is a crucial turning point in life: It's where life-long friends are made and memories are created. Oh yeah, it's also where you're likely to meet your future spouse. It can seem overwhelming to think about these things when choosing a school, but relax and enjoy the process. You're not going to be a failure in life if you dont' go to Harvard, so go with your instincts. Find a school that fits your style, and make the most of your college experience!

Travis

For the students: Be open minded and ready to participate. Don't be quick to judge and give people the benefit of the doubt frequently. Don't return home too often, allow yourself to be invested in the relationships at college; make friends, have fun. For the parents: be willing to give your student space and be patient. They will return to you eventually, even if it is only for food. I know that i appreciate my parents far more than I did in high school, and I look forward to returning home when I can. That being said, i don't get home very often, so home is a treat and a retreat, give your student space to make it that as well and life will be good.