Rhode Island College Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to go with my instinct and follow my heart. One of the main reasons I wanted to apply to Rhode Island College was because of their strong elementary education program. I did my senior project on effective teaching methods, and all my life I've worked with children; when I was accepted into Rhode Island College I questioned myself, and did not enroll in elementary education preparation classes. I decided to take the general education courses only, then decided my major my second year. I lost motivation and drive when I took classes that weren't related to education, I did poorly in those classes which greatly effected my grade point average. Once I enrolled in education classes my love for school came back and all of my grades improved! To avoid all of the struggles I faced during my first two years of college I would advise myself to focus on my goal, and enroll in education classes as well as completing my general education classes.

If you're going to commute, make sure to leave enough time to find a parking spot. Freshman should also know that there are plenty of places to be besides your car. During the summer before I started my first semester, I walked around the campus to apply for work study jobs and to learn the area. I think that's a a good idea to do to become familiar and comfortable with the campus while there's not too many people around and before the first weeks of school start and the campus is packed.

Because I have adapted well to the college life and transitions, I would not recommend any changes.

Dear Self, Go to class! Stop missing days and being tardy. You are capable of straight A's but you need to apply yourself. Stay at home with dad for a few more years because being on your own is difficult. Pay attention in AP bio you're going to need it later. Study anatomy and physiology alot more. Participate in sports and clubs. And most important; YOU DO NOT KNOW EVERYTHING so stop acting like it, its obnoixious Love, Me.

I would tell myself to make sure and focus on filling out all the scholarship applications I could. I also would make sure and tell my past self to make smart decisions and to think about what you want in life and not just about what you want right now. Focus on the future, it is coming fast and you need to be ready for it. Another thing is that I would make sure I told myself to take more time outside of class to do work. College is way more about doing work on your own. I would also say to become more independent, it is important to not rely on others for things and to be self-reliant. Overall I think I did a good job, but there are many things I would tell myself to do differently.

I would tell myself to take more classes in the social sciences and art history as I discovered over the years that these are the subjects most important to me. I would tell myself to only remain at community college for 1 year and not 2 1/2 like I did. I would tell myself to skip Johnson and Wales because I learned that I do not enjoy business or corporate America. If I can go back I'd also advise myself to volunteer more and get involved in after school activities. I would of started at a 4 year institution than a 2 year because I know now what I want in as opposed to when I was a senior in highschool. I would tell myself that its okay that'll it'll take myself 3 years to finally decide what it is that I want, but if I knew then what I know now I would definitely tell myself that my passion is in the social and political sciences, to help people and make a change.

My college experience has helped me to start navigating my way along the rocky path of adulthood. When I first came to college, I suddenly realized that I now had to be entirely self-motivated. My parents were no longer around to wake me up in the morning, tell me to do my homework, or remind me to eat breakfast. For the most part, the decisions I made were entirely up to me - a thought that was both frightening and empowering. Now in my second year at college, I am learning even more life skills, such as establishing credit, balancing a checkbook, and searching for my first car. I am even looking for an apartment for next semester and am in the process of figuring out what my monthly budget will be in order to be able to make rent. My college experience has without a doubt been a positive one thus far, and I fully believe that once I graduate, I will be a successful adult able to negotiate the ups and downs of life.

I haven't been in college for long. I'm just finishing up my first semester, but as I do so, I am quite proud of myself. In college I thought I would be a mediocre, if not terrible student. I always was in school. It's not that I am stupid. Because I am pretty smart, but I just didn't have the energy or the motivation to do the work in school. But college has changed that. I have become dedicated to my work, and I realized that I acutally like learning. I like going to class and writing papers. I even liked my teachers this semester. After mid-terms, this semester, I got an email saying that I might be on the Dean's List this semester because of my GPA. This encouraged me to continue working hard, and to do my best. College has been a more than satisfying experience, better than I could ever imagine. All because I am doing well. I now know that I have it in me to a great student.

So far, I feel as though I have gained important life skills like: how to drill a hole in my ID card so I don't lose it, that sleeping with a pillow over your head might keep you from hearing your alarm, and that you can make it to class even if you wake up fifteen minutes before it starts. In all seriousness, though, I think attending college is helping me become more independent. I now need to rely on myself to wake up, eat properly, excercise, ask friends for rides, look in a syllabus to find homework, and get a job. I feel like I am learning much more independently, which is perhaps the most important thing.

For me college has been useful in a many different facets, but I would say it has been most useful in helping me realize my passion. My passion is to work to create a better and brighter future for all of the people of the world regardless of their differentiating characteristics. The passion I have experienced from my teachers and the information they have presented has opened my eyes and ignited in me a fire that can only be satiated when I see my actions have a postive impact on someone else's life. Attending college has been very valuable to me, not only in the proposed monetary gain I may see in the future, but just in the simple fact that I have gained so much knowledge and been introduced to a multitude of people and ways of thinking.

College is not as easy as it might seem to many students. I have gotten many important lessons from my college experience. Many of the lessons have been responsibility, commitment, and most importantly I have learn to manage my time even though not completely. The classes that I have taken at RIC have helped me compare what I have learned with my everyday life. It has been very valuable because first of all, I have enjoyed my classes, and I have gotten a lot out of them. Also RIC is a good college that fulfill my needs, becuase it is not too far from where I live, and it is also a good Institution that has a good environment to study and also have fun while learning.

I have gained a lot of understanding about what the real world is. It not only about education or studying, i can now adapt to different real lifesituations.I have gotten good communication and social experience through college. In college my teacher gave me just as much attention that is desired of other students,not making me feel like the only person in class, but while i was in high school my teacher always wanted to know more about me and my personal life. College has given me the chance to know what i like to do and what i desire in future, when i was younger i gave out proffessions like "angel," and so many fantasies but now my decision is clear and simple i want to be an accountant. Most of all,college experience has given me independence to think by myself and use my brain not relying on my parents or siblings all the time. I am fortunate to gain such experience in college and i am happy that i made use of the opportunity i had.

I have only attended one semester of college and have experienced and learned a lot. Before I attended college I was very shy and introverted. After my first semester I met so many different and fascinating people. About half way through I began to come out of my shell and start to converse with the people around me. If someone would have told me back in high school that I would come out of my shell and start to finally be okay with myself I would have told them they were crazy. I took many courses and learned a lot of different things. The one thing I learned the most is, how to take chances and be yourself.

Personally, I got a reality check in college. I come from a town where everyone knows everybody else's business, where there are at least two cow farms, a main road that only lead to the library and teachers knew students on a personal level and how far to push them. I had always been self-driven, but, living on campus, self-driven took on a whole new meaning. Though the classes were interesting and and important, something else shaped my freshman year. I had taken DARE programs in elementary school, but I never expected to witness everything I saw at school: teen drinking (and what comes with it), financial difficulties, drug abuse, rape horror stories, abortion, crushed dreams, and so much more. I took care of friends that were too drunk to remember in the morning and cried with friends who didn't know where else to turn. Back home, this either never happens or everyone is just too proud to get help. I think the college experience prepared me for what I need to know- I now know even something as simple as a smile and a wave can have a huge impact on someone's life.

They say high school will be the best years of your life. I'm opposed of that saying. In my world, college is. It's a whole new experience and reality slaps you in the face really hard, but it's a good kind of slap. From college, I was exposed to more diversed people with different goals and dreams. Everyone here was here because they wanted a better future for themselves and their generations to come. Out of the people here and college, I learned that determination and hope goes a long way. Unlike high school, I actually want to attend classes in college because everyday was a different day. That's why I graduated high school early. Although I haven't been in college for very long, everything I've learned so far, I was able to apply it to the real world.

What I have gotten out of my college expierence thus far is really dedication. I've learned dedication and hardwork is the way really to succeed in any of your studies. I went from not putting alot of time to study in high school, to dedicating many hours to my studies here in college. It has been a good expierence and I am getting new things out of college each day. Its a new welcoming expierence that is making me a better student with my studies espeically. College is alot but with dedicated and hardwork you can complete anything. It has been valuable for me to attend because I have learned alot and also have changed myself and came more welcoming when it comes to doing school work. College so far has been a good thing especially at Rhode Island College and I plan to attend here most likely for my four years.

I initially majored in Print Journalism, but newspaper jobs are rapidly disappearing. Now, I am pursuing Web Design certification. That, combined with my journalism and insurance sales experience, will enable me to transition into public relations or marketing. It also will enable me to continue writing, but for online publications and will open a whole new world to me. The future of journalism is pointing to electronic communications, so Web Design will enable me to upgrade my skills and compete in a rapidly growing market. Unfortunately, I can't afford to continue my education without additional financial assistance. And, if I don't continue my education, I will not be able to compete in my chosen job market. Attending college is my ONLY option. I love learning, and interacting with students and professors who hail from different parts of the world. College teaches us all about time management, how to meet deadlines, prioritize projects and other skills that will be put to use in the real world. College provides opportunity and teaches discipline while showing us how to work with people who might be different from us. I wish it was mandatory for everyone to attend for one semester.

In attending community college, I have learned that it does not mean any less to obtain the general education courses and/or transferrable courses at a community college as opposed to starting at a four year institution. While community college is significantely less expensive than a four year school, the financial aid received through FAFSA and PHEEA have been of no help; making attending college that much more difficult. Making the choice to take my first few years at a community college are helping me achieve better grades than I did in high school in hopes of becoming eligible for more scholarships upon transferring to a four year university. Another asset of community college is the size of the classes and the staff always being readily available for counseling, assisstance, and any concerns a student might have. Making the choice to attend a community college has really opened up my eyes as to just how beneficial a community college can be for students.

I am a proud graduate of an affordable state college. A liberal arts education is essential to modern success and my college provided a solid foundation. Facilities were not ideal and academic standards were not always appropriately challenging but I graduated with little debt and with certain invaluable skills. I learned to set higher standards for myself than were imposed and I learned how to find the resources to meet those higher standards. I commonly researched professor credentials before registering for courses and ventured off campus to connect with local professionals and professors at other institutions. Ultimately, a college education is worth only what the student is willing to invest. The value in my experience was learning to ask the right questions, find solutions and evaluate information and opportunities. I advise college applicants to base their decision on the institution?s ability to meet their individual needs and to proactively seek alternatives as their needs change. The independence, self-motivation and critical thinking skills obtained during these undergraduate years have enabled me to excel in the professional world and as a graduate student at a more prestigious institution. For this reason, I hope to be your choice for this award.

What I have gotten out of my college even though its a short amount of time that I have been there is the feeling privledged. I feel privledge to be there everyday. I am the first out of my family to attend college and felt that I would not be up to college standards but this college took me in. And I try hard to get to class everyday with commuting and doing my best to give the grades that the college should be able to see and get back from giving such and opportunity to me. I am learning everyday; my favorite class would be Anthropology: Introduction to Archeololgy because the class makes you think differently about the world around you something I would never question in any lifetime. But I am expanding my thoughts and my knowledge.

My college experience has intoduced me to many verious ways of thinking and preforming my music that I would not have known otherwise. I have learned not only how to sing in chours, but within two semesters have learned to sing also in Latin and Hebrew. I have learned how to preform on a stage with the entire department looking on, and how to play many verious musical instruments including the piano, violin, viola, chello, base, flute, clarinet, and obe.

It is valuable for me to attend my college because as a single mom my education is very important to me, due the the fact that it effects my career. I find that my school is easy to commute to, although sometimes it is low on parking. I also like the class sizes and think the professors are very much involved and flexable with students schedules.

I have learned so much already. I had been in the work force 10 years holding minimum wage jobs. Now that I have begun my college education I can see how it will benefit me in the future. I am excited to continue learning and get a better job.

The experience i have got from college is one that i could not replace with any thing else . attending college is very valuable beccause it is helping me get closer to my dreams. also if you dont have a college education it well be harder to complete youre dreams, because the next person could have a higher education then me they well get the job befor i do.

I have learned to be more self-disciplined and I have learned time management. Attending has kept my mind focused and sharp.

I decided to attend a two year community college to learn many things. In attending community college i have learned responsiblity

In Rhode Island College I have gotten many views and experiences. I made friends that live all over the country and enjoy the diversity in such a small campus. The professors actually want you to learn, and it gives you a boost when you are having difficulty. In attending Rhode Island College, I have learned to be responsible and I have grown up a lot. Living on campus and making my own decisions in life, has taught me how to be an adult. Working on campus at Financial Aid has taught me a lot about expenses, and has given me experience in a office environment. I am starting to figure out what I want to do for a career and Rhode Island College has a pathway to reach my goal.

College had not been a big deal to me ever sence I could remember, I had not chosen what I wanted to be when I got older. I always thought I would end up at a fast food place. But when I want to my very first college I found out I could study my prereps befor I chose a career. As I studied, I found a part-time job as a substitute teachers aid job. I had not realized I would be helping disability students but I needed a job anyways. I thought it would be hard, but as I helped them learn I found out I loved the job. I loved helping so much I don't look at it as a job but as a hobby. I no longer work there any more but i do still help out every time I get a chance. If it wasn't for going to college i wouldn't have found the job, nor relized I wanted to become a nurse so i could help people.

Although financing my education is a challenge, I have faith that I will reach my educational and career goals. One person that has always given me strength and the will to always push forward is my mom She returned to school to become the first in her family to receive a college education. I was about nine when she graduated with an AA in Business and Accounting. I watched her juggle school, work and raising me and my older brother. She has not only been an inspiration but a motivator to not let things get in the way of my dreams and to never give up. I want to continue in her steps in attaining a college education. Going to college will benefit my family, my country, and my future. my college experience has been a blessing so far. i am so thankful for the oppurtunity to continue my education and to challenge myself. i feel that one can never stop learning, their is always room to grow and gain more knowledge. my goal in attending college is to learn and grow as much as i can, push myself to its limits and reach my goals.

The most beneficial aspect of attending college to me has been the curiosity it inspires. During nearly every class I begin to wonder about different aspects of the world, and so I ask the instructor, fellow students, and conduct research of my own. This curiosity has allowed me to know much more about the world, and I have been able to apply what I have learned both in my academic studies and in the real world. It is quite rewarding to see other people learning because of the college environment, and I have made many new friends because of our common interests. It is my hope that in the near future, we will be able to go past academics and truly apply what this curiosity has brought to us.

College has been the ultimate learning experience. I fully believe that you dont know yourself till you have the opportunity to get away from your parents and live you life how you want to. I did this in college. Not only did I increase my book knowledge I increased my knowledge of myself as a person. It was the most important lesson I learned.

So far in my college experience i have learend how to mange my time wisley and balnce out friends and school. Also learned the vaule of family since I am not able to go home all the time since my home is 4 hours away. This school has really showed me that I am able to grow up rather quick and doing just fine with out parents right behind you.

I just started college and this is my second week, but it's been an major wake up call to me. I learn that it takes dedication, hard work, focus mind state to be able succeed in college. Because college helps mold you for the career you would like to persue in the future it takes a lot of time, and if your not passionate about your major then you must find what is your passion is unless you'll waste time and money. That's another thing I learned from college; if your confused on what you would like to do in the future as a career, alot of different groups, programs, and classes and more expose to what you like and what you don't like, what your good at and what your weak in; and it allows to adjust & choose very easily. all in total college exposed me to a higher education, a higher sense of independence, and a new mind state and i'm pleased because not many are privilege to experience this .

Since I was completely unprepared for college it would be a long conversation with my high school self. The first thing I would have told my younger self would be not to move to Rhode Island and attend Rhode Island College. I went to school with the same people my whole life and was one of the only one that didn't go to a school in Connecticut, which meant I came to a large new school with no friend, so I would tell myself to be more prepare to make a whole new group of friends. As for the major I would tell myself to focus more on mass communications instead of film studies, since film studies class tend to be all the same at least at my school. The most important thing i would tell myself would be to apply for more scholarships since college is extremely expensive.

Kailyn, don't worry. High school is almost over, and you will enjoy college much more. You have more freedom and independence. It is quite scarey at first, but you will quickly adjust because it is much more enjoyable to not have someone telling you what to do all of the time. My biggest word of advice: learn how to NOT procrastinate and how to manage your time. This make your time much more enjoyable and MUCH less stressful. Be yourself, don't be shy. There doesn't seem to be as much drama in college as there was in high school. Everyone is there to get an education. Try not to sweat the small things, have patience, work hard, but do not forget to have fun. Life is what you make of it, so make it the best you can. Surround yourself with people who will lift you up and who will have a positive influence in your life. If you do your best and can honestly say that you are happy with yourself, then that is all that matters. Everything else will fall into place.

I have always been a hard worker in high school and I feel that it is very important to have a good work ethnic to be able to keep up with all the work load. Always try your hardest and do your best work. In the end it will be worth it , to do a job that you want to do for the rest of your life.

Honestly, I would not give myself any advice for picking a college except to follow my heart and mind. That is what I did when I picked Rhode Island College. In my mind it was where I fit in best and where I would be happiest. I am very happy with my decision and thus would not give myself any other advice. The only advice I would give myself for the transition would be to keep working hard like I did in high school.

Making the transtition to college wasn't difficult, it was just moving up into the world. The best advise I can give is to stay true to yourself and your values. Having a social life and making new friends is inevitable, but keep up with your work and remember that your future is in your hands so don't blow it. The school work is a bit more intense than in high school but its nothing a committed scholar can't handle. My biggest issues in college have been when it comes to my morals and "social life". Stay true to yourself. Your views may change a bit, and it's ok to be open minded, but don't change your ways for anyone but yourself. If you think you may feel poorly about a decision you make, go with your impulse and do whats right for you. Never change your mind or ways for anyone else's approval. Try to surround yourself with people who make you feel special and and equal part of the "crowd" or friendship, and let NOONE make you feel insignificant. College will be amazing if you are honest with yourself.

By the time I graduated from high school, I was already a parent. I made my choices without regrets, and accepted this change in role from potential college student to Mom. My responsiblity to my child superseded all else. Without question I was determined to give him the best I could offer; to love and care for him with all my heart. I could be no other kind of parent. That said, I had a longing to continue my education one day and firmly held on to that goal even as it dropped lower and lower on my list of priorities. Throughout my adult life various factors have caused me to postpone my studies. Some were of my own choosing, and some were not, but all moved me forward to where I am now: A college junior, finally pursuing my goal of Bachelor's degree and dreaming of graduate work. Today, I would tell my high school self to hold on to what is important to you, live your life with purpose, listen to your own beliefs, trust your inner strengths, and remember to play and laugh every day. Your time will come.

If I had the opportunity to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would give myself tons of advice. First, I would stress the importance of financial aid and finding money through scholarships and grants, which is one of the best ways to possess money that I do not have. With that, I woluld give the advice to find a more efficient way of obtaining money, rather than relying on my parents. Another piece of advice I would tell myself is to not be afraid of asking questions. I found that asking lots of questions made it easier for me to communicate with my professors, as well as to clearly understand the materials being taught. Lastly, I would tell myself to never give up on any dreams; set the bar high, and don't ever feel the need to give up on something that makes you, you.

"In your journey for applying to a college, the first real step is researching all of the potential colleges you're interested in. You should compare and contrast the prices and programs of the schools so that you can determine which will be better beneficial to you for the price you're paying. Disregard the level of competition and the pressures the school, or any peers, may put on you to be successful; you should do the best that you can in every subject and never settle for slacking if it is common amongst the students - just because people may want to settle for 'ok' grades doesn't mean that you should - ALWAYS work hard. Join some clubs, you might find yourself interested in things you never thought of before, and it will help you gain a better focus on the paths you may want to take. Do your work ahead of time, this will leave space in case something comes up. Also, remember take care of yourself so you have the energy to focus on other things. Most importantly: work hard play hard - find time to enjoy yourself and socialize to give your brain some off time."

Assuming I could go back in time and give my self advice as a senior. I would tell my self, "go to class early". the reason being is because when I would wait for the last minute to go to class I would sometimes go late and miss important information the teacher had to talk about. Knowing what I know now about college, so much is cramp into one lesson is crucial that I get to class early and listen to every thing the instructor has to talk about because I know what he says is important and may be on a test or final exam.

If I could go back in time to my senior year as a high school student i would tell myself to try harder in classes now because college is nothing easy. The transition from high school to college is not as difficult as everyone says but its more towards the middle of the first semester where it becomes difficult. Don't just try to get by in your classes strive for more because not all professors teach the same or grade the same, what may seem like just enough won't always be just enough.

I would have paid for all the college credit classes I took in high school and started college with over 12 credits. This would have allowed me more time on the classes that pertain to my major, rather than the general education classes I am taking now.

If I were allowed this chance, I would tell my high school self to really put all of their energy into making sure college applicatons are completed correct and meet the highest standard during the heat of College Application season. Also I would advise that my high school self should figure out all of the financial parts for EACH INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL. The school may be the school of your dreams, but it may also cost 40,000 dollars a year. If you know your realistic financial situation then be realistic when picking schools. On the contrary, if you will stop at nothing to go to the school of your dreams, then find ways to pay for it. The transition from High School to College is extreme. It's extreme because of one big thing that College students are given, FREEDOM! Freedom is not free, so DO NOT abuse the privilage. When you start to abuse it, you will lose yourself and the plans you had for your life. Use your freedom wisely, because one little mistake could change your life forever, which is especially hard when you are an independent. In short, stay focused on YOUR own goals and aspirations!

I would prepare myself more for the experience of going to college. I didn't necessarily feel like I was ready for college when I graduated. I would love to go back, and study a lot harder then i did. even though i studied really hard when I was in high school.

The advice i would give myself is that college is a place to meet new people and open your mind to new ideas and beliefs. One way is join clubs thorugh these you can meet new people and gain better communication skills. Also to always study and not allow yourself to get distracted, the major that you chooses you have to stick with it and never second guess yourself. If you are willing to sacrifice a lot to get into college it is worth in the long haul. Never be afraid to ask any questions, and there is no such thing as too much knowledge. The more you gain the better you become academically and allow to accomplish things like honors, dean's list. etc. As long as you stay motivated there is nothing you cant accomplish.

If I had an opportunity to return in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advice myself not to wait to return to college. I would tell myself that regardless of the issues and trials that I may go through, and I will go through them; that I must continue my journey of a higher education. I would example to myself that even though I feel as though I am having a hard time now, quiting would be the easy thing to do. In addition I would tell myself that I would be able to fit into college life with greater easy as a young person, verses an older adult returning after graduating high school 20 years prior. I would tell myself enjoy and treasure every moment of my experience.

I would tell my younger self to believe in yourself even when it seems that no one else cares. Try harder and be confident so that you can choose any school in the world regardless of your financial status. Finally, read, read, read because knowledge is power.

Reasearch more schools! Try to find one that you can afford that offers the best facilities and classes in the major you want to attend.