Red Rocks Community College Top Questions

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

Elizabeth

You are about to complete a big milestone in your life. You may find yourself with more time now that you are going to college. So high school senior me, please stay organized. If you are organized you won’t fall behind on assignments or classes. You will also be able to plan things better, such as know when you can hang out with friends and family. I would also tell you to talk to your classmates. Don’t be so shy! Talk to them, introduce yourself, so that way you won’t feel so alone. They can also help you create study groups and introduce you to other people that can help you in your studies. Also, really consider thinking about other career options. One last thing I want to tell you before I go back to the future. Do what you feel is best for you. Do not let others tell you what you should be. Give yourself time to think things through, enjoy college, make new friends, and just enjoy the great environment you are in. You won't be disappointed if you try your best, stay organized, make new friends, and do what you love.

Joseph

I didn't do very well in highschool but i did graduate and I know I could have done better. I would have told my self to keep working and start looking for colleges and financial aid at the beginning of my senior year. I also would have told myself to start looking into universities instead of a community college.

Lydia

Just as college can be compared to a circus, the transition can be likened to walking a tightrope while simultaneously juggling five balls. And just as a circus will not succeed without collaboration, you too should remember that you have just as much encouragement and backing. Teachers act as the ringmaster, there to instruct, advise and inspire you. Your friends, both old and new are your audience, both interactive and supporting; they will cheer in wonder at your achievements. Always keep an eye on your finances; those seemingly tame lions can become wild if left unattended. The financial aid office is a resource for you and will help you keep any monetary issue under control. Perhaps the most important aspect for a tightrope walker is the net; in this case: your family. Although they may be far away, they will always be there to catch you if you fall, they will help you land safely on your feet and get back up on the rope. It may seem scary and daunting at first but with perseverance and good use of your resources, you will make it through college unscathed. Best of luck and don?t forget to enjoy the show!

Daniel

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself many things. I didn?t really know the importance of school until I had to pay for it myself. I would tell myself how valuable public education was. I would also tell myself to take more college credit courses and saved myself sum time, headache, and money instead of having a light course. Instead of taking time off, I would tell myself to go to school right away. Although, I do think that my time in the ?working world? has helped me understand the true importance of a higher education. Because I took time off, certain opportunities are not available for me anymore. Things like financial aid, grants, and scholarships changed after I took sum time off. Also he cost of tuitions rises each year. If I had of just went to one college and stayed the whole 4 years, I could lock in a lower tuition.. Unfortunately, I cannot go back in time. The best thing I can do now is take the lessons I have learned and pass them on to others.

Annie

I graduated high school 30 years ago this year, and have returned to school (again) as a divorced mother of a 9 year old and a 13 year old. If given the chance to talk to myself back in 1980 I woul d try to convey to my stubborn self that a college education does make a diference if you want to be successful in life. the basic education courses as wellas course work to your major help you grow into a well rounded individual that can fit into most social and professionall situations with ease.

Samaria

I would of continue straight to college from highschool. I would of listen to my mom when she told to go to college. Now at age 30 I would of had a career. Now I am doing what I should of done years ago. School gets hard as you get older. College life make you feel like you are actually doing something to better yourself.

Matthew

Knowing now what I know about college and post high school life in general, I think if I were to go back in time to talk to myself as a senior the biggest thing I would talk to myself about is money and time management. I had always assumed that because my parents were well off and we'd always lived a comfortable life that it would continue and college would be no problem to pay for. Now that I've expierienced the college life and realized that the future truly isn't set in stone, I would tell my self to seek out scholarships with passion and devotion. Money and jobs are never secure and things do change, so to have a guaranteed source of college funding is an advantage students should never go without. I'd also talk to myself about really working on time management; Not just creating calendars and budgeting time, but sticking to it and getting the most important things done, and done before thier due dates. Searching out scholarships and committing to better time management are definitly the two things I would talk to myself about if I could go back in time.

Nicolette

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, i would explain to myself the impotance of getting my school work done and studying for the SATs and ACTs . I would also tell myself that if i try my hardest i could get into a college right out of high school i could be starting my career a lot sooner then i will be now. I would tell myself that there are teachers willing to help you if you were to just ask.

Sylvia

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would want to tell myself the most important things I've learned since starting college. First, I would tell myself that college is not as scary as I thought it would be. So many people are there to learn, its an amazing environment. Then, I would explain that there isn't more work handed out like I had thought but stricter rules on most assignments. All homework and class projects are extremely easy if the directions are followed correctly. Most importantly, I would want to ease the fears and worries of my high school senior's self. I would tell myself what I say every morning before school, "Only you can help yourself succeed. No one can motivate you like you can and no one can hold you back like you can. Just try your best because college is the beginning of your life and no great person starts at less than amazing." T

Harley

I would have said to myself, " Don't wait anymore, just go and do it and you will understand why once you have graduated!" I would try to convince myself that, yes, you do need to think better on what career suits you best and go for it now. Working these stale jobs since 1997 has been getting me nowhere real fast for a long time. I would convince myself that regular labor intensive and "store front" employement is not where it's at with "I've been working full time doing work that in a way I love and take pride in but they were not even close to feeling like a career that I can depend on and feel comfortable with the prospects of a nice future with ease" My best advice to my high school self is "Go now! because your mind is still fresh and willing to absorb and learn and you can still have fun while doing it!" Learning should never stop even if your parents and community don't force you to. It should be a choice but almost a necessary choice to better oneself and find out how they can better society.

Sandra

If I could go back in time to my senior year of high school, I would tell my self to focus harder in school. I would have taken classes then that I knew that I would need today. I would also tell myself to be more involved in activities. I was a cheerleader in high school; however, I would have been more involved in academic activities. I would also have went to college right after high school instead of starting a family first and not having to struggle with college fourteen years later.

Caitlyn

To Me: You don't know it yet, but right now you are a college Junior. As soon as funding comes through, you will be leaving the community college to set off on the new adventure of finishing your Bachelor's degree. But, I'm getting ahead of myself... Right now you are a high school senior, preparing to embark on your first college adventure. Here are a few pointers to assist you in the transition. The first couple weeks will be terribly overwhelming, but you will survive. Just take it one step at a time, smile, and don't let people get you down; intellectual, moral, and ethical differences exist. Spend the extra money to get good mechanical pencils. They seem expensive, but will be worth it. In Chemistry class, study extensively the nomenclature and the "irritating" flow chart of matter that appears verbatim on all exams. College Algebra isn't that bad; don't freak out about the final exam. If you do, you'll fail your final Psychology exam. Neither exam will affect your final grade, just your pride. Be yourself, you don't have to live your resume, relax, have fun, learn, and enjoy the ride.

Marie

Unfortunately, I never made it to my senior year in high school. I was a drop-out and due to family problems and poverty, I never did graduate. I did get my GED, however, and if I could go back, I would tell myself to never give up hope. It's never too late to turn things around and become a success. You don't have to feel like a failure or loser because you've made some mistakes and didn't have an ideal home life. You can still go on to get good grades, and have an amazing career if you just believe in yourself. There are lots of rich kids in college who have a charmed life or who live at home and get to graduate early, but pay that no mind. As long as you are putting forth effort, you can succeed no matter what hand you were dealt. I would also tell myself that in highschool people check up on you and make sure you know where to go but in college, you're on your own. You have to be your own cheerleader and guardian. You can do it!

Jenny

I would tell myself to stay focused and not to forget about your dreams.

Travis

I would tell myself to find a decent job that can get me though college, and research college grants and scholerships, to help out with college fees.

courtant

If I could go back into time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself alot. I think ,that my most importaint peice of advice I would tell myself about how to prepare your self for life in college, it would be to save money and dont party to hard during the summer. The reason I would tell this to myself is for two major reasons. I didnt prepare for college expenses like books and such so I spent all my money on "Yea! I 'm finally out of high school!" drinking parties. Secondley I didn't get enough sleep because I partied away the night all summer long. So when I finally began my freshman year, I wasn't at all ready for the long days of school and work, or the long hours of homework I had to do after I got home from my job. So in conclusion , I would tell myself to be prepared because if you do not prepare, reality will set in and you will kick your self the whole first year your there.

Hannah

Hannah, Apply to the schools that you want to go to. dont choose based on cost. You will regret not leaving home and not having more college experiences. Red Rocks is a great school but even saving this much doesn't make it much easier to pay off. But if you do still choose Red Rocks, Make sure it's because it's what you want, not what Mom an Dad want.

D'laina

Well even in high school I have always knew what i wanted to do after high school. I always wanted to start at a community college because I knew i could save money with my minimal budget. However, if I could go back I would encourage myself to apply for many scholarships. In high school so many scholarships were available but I have let them go by. All my teachers were being extremely encouraging to all of the students but I think I was being lazy and just being exhausted from high school. So if I could go back I would not change anything except encourage myself to apply for scholarships to help assist myself for the future.

Nicole

Apply for as many scholarships as you can, it increases your odds of winning at least one or two. Never be afraid to ask a professor for help, that is what they are there for. Surround yourself with people that you can talk, hangout and, most important, study with. Know that if you have a bad day or have a bad test, in one or two years it won't even matter. Just keep pushing through. Make sure the degree you are going for is one that you truly want and the field you are goint into is one you will truly enjoy.

Sydney

If I could go back to high school and give myself advice, I would tell myself to trust my instincts on everything. I realize now that I have always know my true passion was health care and that I should have followed that passion from the beginning of my college career. Over the past 5 years I have been in many other situations where I did not trust my initial instict and the outcome would have been better if I had. Trusting my insticts become a way for me to succeed in my personal life and in my education life and I wish I would have known to trust myself when I was younger.

Richard

If I could give advice to myself as a senior in high school, I would have been better prepared for financial aid, education demands, and choosing a degree. Financial aid was a one night event in high school. When I began attending college, I found out that there was more to financial aid, than the two hour semniar I had as a senior. I was also not prepared for the demands professors had for students with class projects. Homework I had an idea, but the in class expectations was something I was not prepared for. In high school, counselors told me to choose a degree and go from there. By taking their advice I choose a specialized degree, and one year later found this was something I nio longer wantred to do. Unfortuately, since this was a specialized degree, I could not transfer the credits towards a general degree. This set me back another year in school, all thanks to not being prepared for college as a high school senior. I never knew there was so much to the college process, that I should of started getting everything in order by choosing a general degree at the beggining.

Chelsea

Don't skip all the math classes and wait till the last year to do them. I have now not taken any math class for almost 6 years and I have to take them now in my last year in college. In fact it will take me a semester longer to get the degree because of my delay in math. I would also say that making a schedule for yourself is very important because you go from a scheduled day in high school to the freedom of college, it's a hard transition to make; the freedom can be overwhelming for some, it was for me.

Rebecca

I would tell myself to do exactly what I've done so far. Be openminded about the classes you choose and about what you learn in them. Don't put your assignments off. Work hard and be dedicated. Don't worry about the drama involved with all types of schooling. Last but not least... take weekend and or accelerated classes, they are the perfect learning style for you.

Jade

I would tell myself to find better ways to study and take more time to study because studyin greally does help. Also start study groups because they really do accomplish something. Also get extra help from the teachers because they might be able to help you grasp a concept easier than in the actual class time. Never second guess yourself on test questions.