Olivet College Top Questions

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

Lindsay

If I could go back in time and give myself advice on college and the transition, I would tell myself that college is not like high school in the least little bit. Don't procrastinate on your homework, study everyday, and if you live in Shipherd Dorm; bring really warm clothes. Also head the warnings that all of your friends that graduated last year gave you. I would tell myself these things because I didn't listen to my friends and I was unprepaired for living on my own. I found myself slacking like it was still high school and I could get away with bad study and sleep habits. I've gotten better over the months but I wish I had done better those first few months.

Justine

As a senior in high school, I thought life was perfect. I thought I had everything figured out, I had a scholarship to play soccer at a private college in Indiana and was graduating with honors. Three short months later, my world was turne upsidedown. Both my parents were killed in a car accident and I was left with nothing. I finished the semester and moved back home. It took a lot of thought and tears, but I decided t enroll in a community college to save money. I wasn't happy there, so the only advice that I would give my past self would to be to live each day to the fullest and don't take anything for granted. Your life can change in seconds, and you don't want to be living with regret for the rest of your life. Go to school where you want to go, live your dreams, anything is possible. I am here at Olivet and although my life has changed dramatically, I am happy and wouldn't change where I am for anything.

Kazette

You need to know that college is different from high school. College stuff is much harder, and need more effort. If you want to achieve your goal, you cannot give up and need to hard working. Also, you should know more the college about the college you are going to. So that you could know the environment and majors better. There will be some temptations and rough time, but you need to get through them. You need to make your own decision and arrangement. Do not exect someone will fix things for you, you are on your own. Run to your goal, the only easy day was yesterday.

Danielle

Open your mind. Let ideas be free. Think outside the box. Really listen to people. Don't let yourself become hard heartened. Always let yourself be open to new friends but don't forget that your old ones are growing and changing too. Life is good. Enjoy it. You are beautiful. Read. Please, read.

Karlie

I would make sure I chose a college that would prepare me for the career I wanted to pursue at the time. In high school I thought I would go to college to pursue a career in the medical field, but I don't think Olivet College was the best college to prepare me for that. I chose Olivet because I was offered a full ride and because I was able to play on the softball team, and I have enjoyed my time here, but I do think I would have enjoyed working in the medical field. I will now be pursuing a master's degree in the forensic science field, and if I had known this would be my eventual career I would have taken different classes in high school, such as AP biology and criminal justice. Based on my last three and a half years in college, I would tell myself as a high school senior to make sure to relax and enjoy the college life because it passes quickly and you can never get that time back.

Lanette

The advice I would have given myself as a high school senior would have been to try harder. If I would have known to try harder, I would have had more scholarship money to help pay for college.

Holly

I would advise myself to stay focused once I got to college because I would not say the work is hard, but the work load is larger. Also, to be youself and not who others want you to be, if someone can not accept a person for who they are than they are probably not going to be a very good friend. Also, do not trust everyone you meet right away. Get to know everyone before putting to much trust on someone. And one las thing, go out and have fun. That does not mean drinking, but make friends and get to know different groups of people these are going to be friends that you make for the rest of your life.

Jami

I would talk to current students and ask them what types of things there are to do when one is not doing school work. Ask them how hard the classes are and how big to get an idea of the professor student ratio.

Chelsie

This is the first chance you have to finally live the life you've always wanted to lead. Go into college with a open mind and big smile, and it will be the best experience of your life. Try out for a sport, or join a club that you normally wouldn't. Now is the time to reinvent yourself! Visit every campus that you are considering, when you go to the right one you will just know. When you're on the visit, make sure to ask all the questions you really want to ask, don't hold back. Living in the dorms the first year of school is one of the best decisions you can make, it allows you to meet all sorts of new people and experience indepence in a somewhat controlled setting. Don't forget that you're also there to study ! So be smart, but have fun!

kelly

go where you feel the most comfortable. make sure you meet with professors in your department and with students on campus, also make sure that you visit the campus to make sure that the atmosphere and environment will be helpful to your learning and success.

Branden

The advice that I would give to parents and/or students is based on three factors. 1. Find out whether you are comfortable in a large city setting, or would rather go to a small town college. 2. If you have any idea what you want to do with the rest of your life, try to go to a school that specializes in your specific major or profession. 3. Make sure the maskot is something you would want to root for. At Olivet College, you say "Go Comets!" That's not very intimidating.

Olivia

When looking for the perfect school, you need to go and visit the school. I found my perfect school when I visited it. It just felt right. It had everything I was looking for, not just a good football team or an active party life. Find a school where youre comfortable. Some people prefer large schools, I personally will always choose a smaller one because of the small class sizes and the personalized attention you can get from your professors. Being on a first name basis with my professors has helped me to be successful in my academic life and in my extra curriculars. When you go to a large school, the teachers don't care if you pass or fail. Again, it's all about personal preference and how you feel there.

Travis

Go check out a small university, a big university, a small college, private college, and a big college, and then decide where you think you would like it best. College is where you will be spending a portion of your life that you will never forget. So make the right choice by looking around, and deciding what is best for your own personality and lifestyle.

Amy

Make sure that you look at numerous college's before you pick the one you want to go to. Also, see if you can stay over night on campus so you know it is somewhere you really want to be. Make sure that you feel safe.

Jim

Try different things in life so you can discover what you enjoy and are good at. and have opportunities to develop your skills and abilities to build competence and confidence. College can help you to explore this as well so look for one that will allow you to explore. It can help to check out resources online and at your high shool counseling office to help you figure out what kind of career you would find satisfying. Take advantage of every opportunity you can to learn stuff.

James

Go on as many visits as possible so your son\daughter can get a feel for what school suites them the best

Anthony

They need to do a lot of visitations to the schools that they are thinking about attending. Ask a ton of questions to be sure that you are getting what you want. make a list and write down the pros and cons of each school you attend, and also what you want out of a college. Be sure to find out weather or not credits will transfer to and from that college incase you don't want to stay there. when you get to the college, be sure to talk to everyone so that you have a good group of people you hang out with, go to a lot of the social events and get involved a lot. no matter what happens, if you like it initally or not, remember that there is always the optoin to transfer, because there is no guarantee you're going to be able to tolerate the school you're at for four years.

Margaret

Be sure to check out a few different schools. Be sure you make the decision for the right reasons and try to steer away from the typical freshman 'wants' such as partying, malls, fast food, restaurants, etc. The education you will receive and the support from a college and other students will be more beneficial, uplifting, and fun than anything else!!!

Ryan

Depending on what you are planning on going to college for, i.e; sports, location, or a certain major, look and ask about the atmosphere on campus, look at the student to prof. ratio, ask the current students about the social life. All of these things are some times more important thean the reason you want to go to a certain college in the first place. How comfortable you and your student are about attending this college is greatly influenced by what goes on outside of the classroom.

Rich

Make sure that you have done your homework on the college before you have sent in your final paperwork. Many schools try to portray a certain image then when you actually get there, you see that the school is not the same as the recruiter had described it. In the end, you want a college that wants you not just your money.

Nicole

When it comes to picking the right college it all depends on where you feel at home. When you first arrive on campus for a campus visit you should almost immediately feel connected. When choosing a college it is important to not only keep in mind the academic quality but also that the school you choose will be your home for the next four years. The more you love the school you chose the more enjoyable your experience and the easier it will be to go to class. The most important thing freshman need to do when they first get to college is to not be afraid of taking chances. The best thing about college is making friends. The freshman that always has their dorm room door closed, and doesn?t join an organization or play a sport will not enjoy whatever college they go to, no matter what college it is. College is what you make it. It's a place to make memories and friends. If you never leave your room or try something new, then you'll never make the memories. What's life without the memories?