Saint Anselm College Top Questions

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

Bradley

Dear High School Brad, Currently you are probably very concerned about your upcoming transition to college this fall but I am here to assure you that you will be fine. You are probably concerned about your friends and losing touch with them. To be completly honest about that, you are going to lose touch with most of them, but don't you worry because you are going to meet plenty of new friends here and will become close to them very quickly. I know how much you enjoy doing as many things as possible, but believe me when I tell you that you need to learn when to cut things out and when to say know because contrary to what you believe YOU CAN'T DO IT ALL! It's okay to tell someone you can't do something because they'll respect you more and you won't dissapoint those who you told you would do something that you can't do it then. This is going to be hard for you, I'm just learning now but it will be good for you. Good luck in the future, College Brad

Jorden

If I could go back in time and have a conversation with my high school senior self, I would tell myself to worry less and care more. Throughout senior year I started to lose hope, faith, and my passion for many things. Often times I felt lost and alone. I had many friends, a boyfriend, I was co-captain of the cheerleading team, I had a wonderful summer job, a loving family. Though even with all of those things holding me together, I still felt as though I was falling apart. If I had the chance to give advice to myself as a senior in high school I would tell myself that life gets better, that it is not just a simple saying that others say when you feel down. Life goes on, do not worry about the little things, and know that real friends will stick with you till the very end. There is a better life after high school, there is a whole world waiting to be explored, even though at times you can feel lost... as long as you know who you are and believe what you believe, you can achieve anything you set your mind to.

Steven

I would tell myself to prepare for the intense schoolwork and studying in college. I would tell myself to keep working hard and to stay focused on what I want out of life. Keep studying, reading, and achieving and someday my dreams will come true. It's as simple as that.

Sevda

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know about college life and making transitions today, I would advice myself to "believe in myself". I have been a strong person throughot all my life except when it came to college decisions. I felt weak even though I had all of my families support. I did not trust myself even when I knew I could do it. I was very nervious about the decision I would make in choosing the right college because there were many things on my cheklist and it was overwhelming to choose from so many. Nevertheless, I would have told myself not to worry and just believe in myself and that I would accomplish my dreams and make the best choices. Thinking about it now, it was very childish of me to worry about it so much because going to many afterschool programs they have all thought me the lesson of how important it is to believe in ourselves. Believing is a key to sucess and we should never take it for granted!

Smriti

If I could ever go back, I would definitely convince myself to study more and take more AP Classes. One thing that daunts me every night as I go to sleep in my college dorm is the regret of not taking any AP english classes or higher level writing classes. During my high school years I thought that since I am such a science nerd I am going to be majoring in sciences, hence i would only benefit from taking AP Chem and other higher level science classes. Nonetheless, it was my failure to notice the importance of writing back then. Now in college every single time my roommates are sleeping peacefully after only spending two hours writing for their paper, I lethargically gape at my computer screen at 3am as i write for my 12 page humanities paper that I started working for three weeks ago.

Jacqueline

I would tell myself that I am going to be lonely, and that is normal. Once I get to school, I will be on my own with no true support system around. I would brace myself for the loneliness and say that it won't last forever because it is not that hard to make great friends at Saint Anselm College. Also, I would tell myself to focus a little bit more on school once I get there because an education takes you further in life than having a fun Friday night.

VALERIA

Dear 17 year old Val, I know right now your biggest goal is to go to school far away from home, but it's really in your best interest to stay! You don't know what your major is or what school you want to go to, so why not just take your general education at Stan State and then transfer when you do know what you want to do? Choosing your major a year into community college will just slow you down! Staying home will make your parents happy, give you time to earn money, and give you a chance to really prepare yourself for the major you do choose (Psychology). You're a good student, and you deserve to go to a university. Really think things through, and don't make rash decisions when it comes to school-- you'll regret it in the long run. Don't waste a single minute! Believe in yourself and take as much help as you can get from whoever is willing to offer it, but keep up your hard work, both in school and at work. You'll survive, I promise. Love, 20 year old Val

Kyle

If i were to go back in time and be my own advisor there wouldn't be too much I would change or a lot of advice that I would give myself but there is one piece of advice i would instill. This piece of advice would be "to focus on life, be happy and enjoy it while it lasts. Don’t get caught up in the many distractions you will face, take it seriously when you need to and lightly when you have to. Surround yourself with good uplifting positive people."

Mallory

I think the biggest piece of advice that I would give to myself as a high school senior is to cherish every single moment and realize that time really does fly. Being in college and realizing how fast growing up can be, I notice more how fast time goes by and it becomes almost nostalgic. I enjoyed my high school years but college is a whole new experience that I want to enjoy even more. In order to do so, I think it is important to grasp any opportunity that comes my way and to really take in the whole lifestyle of being a college student. This is the time where you truly get to learn who you are and utilize the tools you learned growing up when it comes to becoming independent and moving up in the real world.

Mishaye

The advice I would give myself in high school would be, the struggles are short and pass. You can do anything you want to do without people bringing you down. You can make yourself proud and to not worry about your parents that don’t care. I am in college and it gives me determination to reach my dreams. I am happy but you can make the future even brighter with better choices. We have a son now, and I don’t regret him but I wish we would have waited. Life would have been more smooth and school-orientated. I found ways to make it work with the odds against me, and you can too. You need to fight to get a career in nursing, because it will help people and make a difference in the world. There will be a shortage of nurses in the future and we need to join the fight to prevent that from happening. The greatest thing we can do is stay in college.

Schyler

I would tell myself the exact thing that I did. I used to be shy and I told myself to just be friendly and open. I went into college with the mindset that I would introduce myself to everyone I met, and try to be as friendly and open as possible. It worked very well. I made a lot of friends within the first two weeks, and I'm still friends with them going into our third year at college. I still even keep in touch with people who are Alumni of the school.

Vallerie

I would tell myself to trust myself. I had a lot of problems with classes at the beginning of college becaues I did not trust myself or have confidence in myself. I would know the correct answer in my head, but I would never take the risk and raise my hand. The best advice I would give myself is to take risks. When you trust yourself and take risks, you learn. Mistakes are a crucial part of gaining an education. I have learned more from my mistakes than my sucesses and I don't regret any of my mistakes. By being too conservative, I missed opportunites. When you take risks, you live. It is better to fail than to never take a chance at all.

Julianne

My high school self would have liked to know a few things about college life. For example, don't give away your roomcode if you don't want your friends running into your room at 3 AM screaming. Avoid sunday night showers that haven't been cleaned since friday morning. Essays definitely shouldn't be written 6 hours before they are due. And finally, boys only have two things on their minds: sex and the amount of money left on their meal plan. When you're caught up in the excitement and anxiety of transitioning into college these are overlooked. You might also overlook crucial pieces of the "Big Picture." Like the importance of finding friends you can party with on saturday nights and respect on monday mornings. How you shouldn't waste any weekends but you shouldn't get wasted every weekend because you're only a freshmen and you should respect your body. How procrastination will get you nowhere but exhausting all-nighters. How boys will break your heart if you aren't careful. College isn't just education for your future career, its experience for the rest of your life and not to be taken for granted.

Kaley

In going to college, I have gained a new appreciaton for learning. I did not enjoy high school that much, because it was fairly easy, and a lot of time was spent doing "busy work", work that does not require much thought, and only take up time. On the contrary, college does not involve busy work. So much of my college experience has been spent actually learning rather than just copying answers out of a text book. There's no such thing as busy work in college. You listen to lectures, you have to actually learn the material, and then you are tested on it. I have learned so much more in one semester of college than I have in four years of high school. In addition, my social skills have improved because I've had to make new friends. On the first day of school, I was out of my comfort zone. I did not know a single soul, and I really had to make an effort to put myself out there and make new friends. It was something I had not done in such a long time, and it was challenging, but it was worth it.

Erin

I suppose most of what I have learned from Saint Anselm isn't academic, though the academic experience has overall been excellent for me. Instead, I have learned what it means to be a member of a community, occasionally in spite of that community's best efforts to separate you. I have grown as a person, learned to stick up for my beliefs and take a stance, and I have solidified my own viewpoints through the challenges of others toward those stances I take. Saint Anselm has taught me how to believe in myself, though perhaps in spite of its actual aims. For me, college has been valuable not for the education aspect—most of the required classes and all of my classes as an English major have no practical application—but instead for the opportunity it has given me to interact with people in a controlled but still free environment. The value of my college experience lies in the personal relationships I have forged, and occasionally severed. I have made friends who will stick with me forever, and learned more about interacting with people than I would have expected. I've learned how to be human—which is invaluable.

LaRayne

As a person with a learning disability, I was doubtful, and unconfident that I would have ever been able to attend college because of the limiting set backs I had experienced all through out grade school. When I finally went to college, I realized that that only I could cage myself if I allowed it. I had made it through my first year with excellent marks and realized that I can succeed if I believed in myself. I have gained alot of confidence, self worth, and more importantly, hope for the future . I am attending my second year, the first in my family to attend college. My family is very proud and I am proving to all those who ever made fun of me and doubted me that anyone can succeed, that if you work hard enough, you can do whatever you want. I used to hear that in high school and thought the saying “You can do whatever you want if you put your mind to it” was very corny and unrealistic, but I know now that it’s true. I'm excited to go back. Attending college has change my mind set for life in many good ways.

Courtney

I cannot thank the Saint Anselm College community enough for giving me all of the tools necessary to fulfill a successful and happy life. I cannot believe how much I have matured from the timid and insecure freshman moving onto campus just a few years ago. Saint Anselm College prides itself on the strong sense of community, derived from the Benedictine roots. Through this community I have gained the confidence needed to reach my personal goals. One of the policies of the college is anti grade inflation, which has given me true feeling of satisfaction for the well-earned grades I receive. As a liberal arts college, Saint A’s has a nationally recognized humanities program, “Portraits of Human Greatness”, which has given me the opportunity to analyze and reflect upon what it really means for a person to be ‘great’. Through my philosophy and theology requirements, I was able to contemplate aspects of life that I would have never touched upon in my biology courses as a Biology major. I have been blessed with a foundation upon which I further grow and mature in my future endeavors. The value of my experience at Saint Anselm College is irreplaceable.

Megan

Since I have been attending college, I have gained many friends and a lot of wisdom that is invaluable. I am making a way for myself in the world with the knowledge I have obtained and I will use my skills to provide a better life for my family.

Kristin

College has been beyond what I could have ever imagined. I went to a very good private highschool and thought that I could never get an education as great as that, but I have at my school. I have a passion for the humanities and feel that I am learning truly about the human condition. I believe that everyone should study the Great Books in order to fully understand the past, present and future of the human experience. Not only have I found that I am gaining valuable knowledge and work ethic, but also some great friends that I wouldn't have been able to live without.

Aleta

My college experience has led me to become more independent and it helped me figure out what I want in my life (both career and personal goals). Participating in community service oportunities at my school has opened my eyes to public service. I now see that gving back to the community is important and want to do so even when I am a lawyer. When I vonunteer with other students, it increases our sense of community and the friendships I will have forever.

Deanamarie

Be flexible. A lot of things change when you go to college: people, living situation, attitudes, etc. Nothing is set in stone because there are so many people all living their own lives in a little place. Be flexible to what people say to you, don't take everything at face value and don't disbelieve everything either. Learn to be able to try to distinguish truth from life. Above all, stay true to yourself. People will try to change you, even say your view-point is stuipid if they don't agree, but if you believe it, then that's what matters. Don't let people change who you are at the core of your being. Especially when it comes to religion and politics-- show someone you are weak or uncertain in those area's, and they pound on you unmercifully. Be strong in your convictions and what you believe in.

jonathan

Jon, being in the position you are in now, id know that telling you to improve your grades would be pointless. You did get a GPA of 3.8 your senior year but the three years before that really hurt your cumulative. Don't worry about that though. right now just concentrate on improving your writing skills as this is very important in this college. You are working full-time in conjunction with school to pay for gas etc., you will need to save any extra money. you will also continue to work while attending college in order to commute so saving is key. Transitioning into this school is going to be easy so dont get worried and distracted about not making it. Instead focus on writing as i previously said, as that really is your weak point and will make getting grades above a C+ very difficult. keep up the good academic work and dont be so hard on yourself, good luck.

Erin

College is a fun and exciting time. You are on your own, separated from your parents, but you still have a community of peers experiencing the same situation to help you through. You have all sorts of freedom. You can do what you want and your parents cannot do anything about it. Though you have that freedom just remember that you are in school and that should be your first priority. With freedom comes responsibility. Sure you can eat ice cream for every meal, but it will make you sick and rot your teeth. Staying up until three in the morning with friends can be fun, but what about that class at eight in the morning? Remember that college is preparing you for the rest of your life. Have fun, but be responsible.

Zachary

This is your chance: it doesn?t matter who you were in high school, the choices you made or failed to make, the grades, the social pressures, the mistakes; this is a fresh start to be who you've grown to become. Over the past four years you worked hard and endlessly to get the grades to get you to this next stage of your life; you graduated from high school, you passed the bar, you made it into higher education and from this point forward you've entered a true sense of the real life. Be hopeful, but also realistic; you'll make friends, friends who you will have for life, but you'll also meet people who will consider you their enemy, their rival, and don't let that phase you. You cannot and will not be loved by everyone, and if you are, than you aren't being true to yourself. Remember why you're there; focus on grades, but balance social interaction. Finally, and most importantly, never forget that we live only once and die for such a very long time.

Nicole

If I had the chance to talk to myself as a high school senior ,I would talk about how to be yourself and don't try to impress anyone, because you will make friends ,who are real friends ,who will stick by you. I would tell myself not to get worked up and nervous because there are people exactly like you in that position. If you can be true to yourself than everything else will fall into place. Most importantly,just relax these are the best years of your life. If you can do all your work and still manage to fit in some fun ,whether it's sports or community service, or just hanging out with friends, then you will be a better person for it

John

As an athlete, I would simply tell myself that in college, you are a student-athlete. The student comes first for a reason. There is no real off-season in college (I play baseball and we play our season in the spring, but we also play in the fall and have mandatory winter workouts). It is important to stay on top of your courseload and manage time wisely because there is so little time to get things done at the last minute as a student athlete. I think I would have told myself that in order to prepare me for what I went through and learned freshman year.

Justine

Finding the right college for yourself or your child is a trying but necessary process. It may take some work to find the college that suits one's needs, however the effort is well rewarded. There is a place for everone, mine is Saint Anselm College. Research your choices and above all visit the campus! It is important to get a feel for the environment and community of the college. Talk with students and professors and ask yourself, "Are these the kind of people I wish to make my college experience with?" The students and faculty have insight and advise on everything you would need to make a decision. Make sure to visit multiple campuses and always maintain a positive outlook on the future. This will shape your college experiece.

Andy

Make sure to take the time to look at as many schools as possible! If i could have changed one thing, it would have been starting earlier and getting out to more schools. Talk to current students, sit in on classes, and stay a night if possible. This is definitely one of the most important decisions you will make in your life. Although I am happy with the school I ended up at, I wonder what could have been if I had taken this process a bit more seriously. The old saying is certainly true, college will be the BEST four years of your life, don't waste a minute of it!! Get involved, try something new, take a chance. You will never get these years back and I am making the most of them. Finally, open your mind and take in all the information you can. I've only completed one year and I can't beleive how much I have learned. Have fun!

Michaela

You will regret more the things you don't do. Be involved and squeeze all you can out of it...it's expensive.

Kelsey

Look around and give every college you look at a chance. If you do not have an open mind when you visit or research schools, then the perfect school may pass you by. Also, know where you want to be located (state-wise, climate-wise, etc.) because it will help you to narrow down and eventually find the school of your dreams. Knowing what you want to major in will help too, but if you are undecided, you can still find the school for you.

Rebecca

First of all I think parents need to show their children many different opptions of schools, but should not tell the student what their first choice for them is. Second every student needs to determine what the most important thing about the college is to them. If they know that they want a small school focus in on small schools. If it's a certain major then focus on schools that are strong in that major. Saint Anselm college is a perfect example I wanted something somewhat small and that had a good politics program. When I made my decision I based it off what the fact that th program was really good. Now college is really what you make of it. If you want to party you will find the parties, if you want great work experiences you will find that too no matter where you go. You need to get involved and be active in this new community it is your community until you graduate and you need to own it. That's whate makes a college's alumni so faithful and supportive. With strong Alumni networks you will be giving more students opportunities they never dreamed of!

Brianna

First, what are your interests and do those interests coincide with a career? If so, then you are one of the lucky few who have it all figured out. However, make sure that the school you select offers a good internship program in your senior year. Internships are not as ominous as you think; they are the key to landing your first job. Secondly, if you do not have a career in mind yet, then that's okay. The transition from high school to college is bigger than you think, so consider community college to narrow down your interests and save money. You will be kicking yourself if you spend the first year or two at an expensive school trying to figure out what you want to do. Even if you are lucky enough to find it, then it is unlikely that you will graduate in four years anyway. Furthermore, can you succeed in a classroom with one hundred others? Or would you prefer a smaller student to teacher ratio? Think about it before you select the school that is right for you. Lastly, maintain a balance between work and fun; too much of either is rarely a good thing.

Allen

Go with your first choice college. Visit as many as you can and stay over night to get a good feel for what it is really like. Take advise from as many people you can whom already attend college.

Laura

make sure you like the size and class size

Katelynn

Go on campus tours

Natasha

Take the time to reflect on the type of person that you are and the individual that you wish to become. At each potential college ask yourself a series of the same questions and answer them honestly. Do your answers coincide with who you are and who you wish to become? Try to stay focused without putting too much pressure on yourself to find the "perfect fit". College is about adjusting, about discovering, and about leaving as a more defined, more educated person than when you arrived as a freshman. You may not find the perfect fit; don't feel like a failure. Choose the school that best meets your desires and needs. Remember that your college experience, as with any experience in life will come alive and produce fruits based upon your interaction with them and the energy you decide to give. You may wind up attending the school that was last on your list (I did) but it will be okay. Sometimes not getting what you think you wanted results in an unexpected gain. Try to relax and enjoy the possibilities that each school could have for you. Whatever your school, make your experience count for yourself.

Shane

Find a college that fits your needs and personality first and foremost. Second, look for a college that offers a wide variety of extracurricular activities that you WILL join.

Alex

Finding the right college is about understanding what kind of person you are. If the social scene is vital to your college career then you should look for bigger schools with even guy to girl ratio and a greek life but stay away from technical schools such as engineering schools that might not provide as much of a social scene. Visiting potential schools is very important to gather insight about the campus 'vibe'. Students will exemplify their attitude towards you as a potential student. Most importantly, make sure that the school will give you the best chance to be successful after graduation. You do not want to enroll in a school to find out later on that it does not have the resources that you need to study your field of interest. Good luck!

Amanda

Visit all colleges you are interested in, talk to people about them and make sure you don't settle for something less than what you want. I know prices of college are high and ridiculous now a days, but if you aren't going to be happy somewhere, choose the place where you will be happiest. Also if you go one semester and don't like it, don't give up. At least try the second semester and keep your mind open to all sorts of things. For students, don't pick a college just because your parents want you to go there, go somewhere you want to and don't let anybody try to stop you from achieving your dreams. It will pay off in the future. For parents, push your children to do the best they can, but don't let your ambitions get in the way of their developing. They are growing up and need to figure things out on their own, with a little help from mom and dad. Overrall have fun, college is a blast and goes by way to fast so enjoy it while you can and pick the school that works for you.

Lauren

Make sure to get involved. I didn't get involved with the campus activities and clubs available and I wish I had.

Eric

First of all, I was lucky. I was accepted to three schools I really liked, so I chose the cheapest one (which was very cheap by the way with the financial aid). As far as finding the right college, you need to get out there and see them. Go visit, get a tour, meet some potential professors, learn as much as you can about wherever you are interested in going. One of the hardest things to do is to "try to get the most out of your college experience." Just make friends with people you like and stay with them. You're going to build relationships that will stick for the rest of your life; much stronger than any prior time in your life, whether you choose to believe that or not. Do things that interest you, don't feel forced into doing things that don't interest you. It's going to be one of the hardest adjustments you've ever made. But once you get used to it, which won't take long, you will not want to go back home.

Kathleen

I think the most important thing that you can do in looking at colleges is to ask a lot of questions, and not just to your tour guide or admissions officer. Find people who go to the school, even if you pull students aside during a tour, and ask them whatever questions you have. You can expect more of an honest response from them. It's also important to make sure you get a feel for not only the school itself, but the type of student who goes there. You don't want to be an artsy student at a school full of preppy business majors. Also, if you have a specific career goal in mind, find the school with the best program for that. The social scene is less important than being adequately trained in your field. If you're still choosing between programs, make sure you take into consideration that the schools you're looking at offer all of the programs you're considering. If you really have no idea what you want to do, look at schools with a wide range of majors. You don't want to limit yourself because of the school you chose.

Tara

College is all about finding yourself so it is important to find a school where you feel comfortable enough to be yourself and grow as a person educationally and personally. To me it seems if you visit a lot of schools you get a feel for what youre looking for, i know i knew exactly where i wanted to go when i saw my school in person. It also helps to know what field of study you are interested in because that narrows down schools for you depending whether or not certain schools have what youre looking for. It is also good to know the size of the school you want because there are many schools that are high school sized or the size of a small town, and depending on who you are as a person and what you prefer those are options you have to choose. Overall the college you go to is what you make of it and the people who are there with you along the way, so make the best of it cause it goes by before you know it.

Ashley

Be mindful of your child's specific needs.

Catherine

College selection is all about what will fit with your personality. Don't jump into the selection of a school simply because it's your reach school, or it looks like it will be the most fun. Visit the college overnight to get a good feel of what the students are like. College is what you make of it, and you should do everything you can to try and get involved in the campus and build life-long friends. You will not and cannot survive college without good friends, its almost impossible.

Emily

wrsdrgh

Sean

a

Megan

Start early and give yourself alot of options to choose from. Dont wait til the last second to choose. Athletes must contact coaches early especially if they plan on trying to receive a scholarship.

Nicholas

Look hard, follow your heart, go out of your comfort zone. Once you get here, work hard, prioritize, socialize, have fun, and enjoy the ride!

Kyle

Make the most out of visiting schools. It is really important