Saint Francis University Top Questions

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

Brandon

My best advice for students in making the most of their college experience is to put yourself out there. This applies to dating, applying for scholarships, speaking up in class, and almost every aspect of college. Too many of my friends are constantly worrying about failure, which ends up becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy. If you believe you won't win any scholarships for school, you probably won't. There are many opportunities in college for those who are willing to stick their neck out and take the risk. The worst that can happen in applying for a job, internship, or scholarship is rejection, not execution, so there is no need to act like failure is the end of the world. Some of the most successful people are those who have failed before. Michael Jordan's quote sticks out in my mind, "I've missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I've been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed. " Most importantly, do what you love and find happiness.

Bill

Take your time, look at all your choices and options. Visit the school and pay close attention to the finacial information. As a student choose the first one that feels comfortable because usually thats the right one for you.

Kathleen

College is supposed to be one of the best times of your life and choosing the right school is important in order to ensure one has the ultimate college experience. I have found that one of the most important things about choosing the appropriate school is simply going to visit the school that you are interested in more than once. I think it is imperative to visit more than once because one gets the opportunity to see the school in different weather conditions, at different times of the year, and experiences points of view from either two different tour guides or see parts of the school that they did not have the opportunity to appreciate the first time around. I think part of the college experience is also living on campus because commuters miss the whole aspect of campus life and living on their own for the first time. Lastly, I would like to reassure future students that it is okay if they do not know what they want to do for the rest of their life. Freshman year is the time to get the liberal arts credits out of the way and discover your passion in life.

Alan

Choose wisely. Make sure you choose a college that fits with there personality. The better they fit, the better they will do.

SARAH

REMEBER TO STUDY THATS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. YOU ARE THERE TO LEARN NOT TO PARTY!

Marie`Matarazzo

Make sure when you visit the school that you do not just look at the facilities, but that you also get a feel for the students who attend. Observe if they are friendly and willing to help you. You might be able to observe how they interact with each other to help determine if people at the school tend to be friendly or distant. I strongly recommend sitting in on a class that directly applies to your major. When I saw one of my professors teach I knew that this was someone from whom I wanted to learn. During the application process find a book about how to write an admissions essay. You want your essay to be unique and show who you are rather than simply state it; reading examples can help you get a better feel for what admissions staffs enjoy reading. Also, apply early because some schools only offer certain scholarships to those who apply before November or December. Once you have chosen a college do not allow yourself to simply fade into the background. Visit professors in their offices to better understand the material and let them know that the subject is important to you.

Abby

Saint Francis University is a wonderful school. Though it may be small it is very friendly and helpful to many students. It has a great reputation and a very high hiring rate. The small classes make it very personal, which is nice when you are in need of some extra help from professors or your advisor. The campus is beautiful and relaxing to be in and small enough that you can walk all over it! Overall I love my school and would suggest it to anyone.

WESLEY

To save your money before attending or choosing a college. College is expensive and if you dont plan you are scrambbling every semester to make ends meet and to meet your tuition.

Logan

I would say to pick a school that the prospective student will be comfortable at. Don't pick the school based on highschool friends because everyone inevitably makes new friends at college. He/she should pick a school that offers a degree in something that he/she enjoys doing, not necessarily the salary that goes along with it. Pick a school that puts a lot of emphasis on academics. Pick a school that is affordable, but do not limit yourself based on tuition. Find a school that offers a lot of on-campus activities, and most of all, GET INVOLVED.

Anna

I would advice parents and students to start looking for a school early, in their junior year of high school, and to look at a large variety of schools. Even if a student is sure they want a certain type of school, such as a small school, I would encourage him or her to still look at different types of schools. College forced me to grow up a lot, and I am happy I did. If I was to do it all over again, I would look around at a variety of campuses and further from my home. I would also advise students to seriously consider their prorities and expectations about their future college experience and to be honest with themselves. Some schools are more social than academic and vice vera, and I would encourage a student to know where they will be happy. Finally, I suggest students ask their parents for advice, because parental imput really is valuable, but make the final decision themselves. Starting college is one of the first major steps into adulthood, and it is a decision a student should make with careful consideration.

Mitch

Find a college that will take you as far as you want to go.

Katelyn

The best advice I can give to the students looking for the right college would these few things: -Check out all your options that would affect your time at college. Don't be afraid to ask questions and seek the answers. -Dont sell yourself short! Be confident in the abilities you have and the accomplishments that have come through the years. -Be prepared for the unexpected and be open to anything that comes your way (I got rejected from my top picks and ended up going to my last choice and I dont regret it at all :o) ) For Parents: -Let your kid make the decision about what college he/she wants to look at -Provide you kid with the necessary information about financial things...and if your kid looks at a school that maybe outside of the limits, dont count it out...but trust you'll come into the money (there are tons of scholarships out there!) -Just be there for them...it's very nerve raking for us during this time and it is for you as well...and don't open the letters that come from the school haha, we kids don't like that.

Kala

To find the right college, you need to consider the type of environment you learn best in. For example, I was accustomed to small class sizes in high school, so I knew that my college would be a perfect fit for me because it is small. Be sure that your college will provide you with the necessary tools and experience you need to be successful in your future job field. Also, to make the most of your college experience, I would become involved in a few activities, but not too many so that your schedule is not overloaded. It is important to get a taste of everything that your college has to offer. It may seem difficult to get involved at first, but take advantage of opportunities to do so as they come along.

Matt

go where it feels right, not where your friends are going not where the biggest parties are just go where you could see yourself for the next four years. in terms of making the most of your college experience, simply live and learn. the only way people can truely figure something out is experience. go out, make friends, make your own decision, experience is the best form of learning in any situation. even a bad decision can be a great tool for learning what not to do.

russel

look for a college that is fitting for you and know that once in college your perspective on things in life will probably change. also look for a place that will help you grow as a person.

Sarah

Be open to change. A school that may look very attractive at first may not actually be "the one". Don't get your heart set on one school; consider your options. Also, be realistic. If you are thinking about college but may not have the grades, there is nothing wrong with doing a year or two at community college and then transferring to your ideal school. When you get to college, it is all a learning experience, but don't forget to LEARN. Go to class, study, and do your work, then play. You're paying thousands of dollars a year for the school to educate you, but if you don't hold up your part of the deal the whole thing is worthless. If you utilize your time wisely, learn as much as you can, and spend your time wisely, then that is a quality education, no matter where you end up getting your diploma.

megan

1. Look at and visit many colleges 2. Ask around for the best colleges in the major that you are looking for 3. If you dont think you can afford the school (even after financial aid), ask for more financial help from the school. They want you to attend their university, so they will work with you. 4. Sit in on a class and stay overnight 5. Meet professsors (they will be the ones helping you mold your future) 6. Don't be scared to ask questions 7. Get involved 8. Don't e scared of meeting new people and experiencing new things.

Megan

Look around and find all the information on the colleges you're thinking about going to. Once you have your research go and visit the schools and make sure to ask lots of questions. After seeing the campus you'll have a better perspective on which colleges you like better than others. If possible, and this is most important, try and go for an overnight stay sponsored by the school. Also try to sit in on a class. Doing all of these things will help you get a feel for the right college for you.

Cody

When students are finding the right college for them they should look at three things; programs, school size, and location. Students should go to the college that offers them the best education foremost. They can do this by comparing board exam pass ratings, reputation, and speaking with faculty. School size is the second most important aspect of picking a school because a small school will offer the best opportunity for student-faculty interaction, and the chance to focus on school work. A larger size will undoubtedly offer a more typical college experience many students desire. Third is location; a school close to home will allow the chance to continue visiting friends and family, while a distant school allows a student to start anew. To make the most out of the college experience it is important for the student to stay true to his or her self. Incoming freshman have a clean slate for the next number of years, and changing oneself to fit in with a certain crowd would ruin this slate. College is a time for discovering oneself , and staying true will allow everything good to fall into place.

Kateri

It is essential for parents and students to find out as much information as possible about the various colleges the student wishes to apply to. Visit the different colleges to make sure that you like the atmosphere. It might be best to visit the schools at times other than open houses so that you get a true sense of the college. Open houses make colleges out to be more than they truly are. Even your first choice school is not going to be perfect so try to roll with the punches and let college happen. College is what you make of it. Do not procrastinate too much or else you will find out how stressful college can be; but as long as you stay up with your work load and remember to take a break once in a while, you will have an amazing experience. I repeat, remember to take a break and enjoy college life. Overworking yourself will only provide for poor performance.

Mary

I would tell them to very carefully consider what college they are going to. There's more to a college than just academics, just like there is more to a college than socialization. I would tell them to go to the college that jumps out the most to them, and if it doesn't turn out perfectly, don't worry about it. Just because a college is smaller, larger, more rural or more urban than another college doesn't mean yours isn't the right one for you. College is as much about the experience and the independence of being away from home as it is the knowledge you gain. It is about how you develop as a person. Someone once told me, "Learning HOW TO learn in college is more important than what you learn." I agree; college is a four year period where you learn how to grow up, become independent, and become the best YOU that you can be! My best advice is to enjoy college to its fullest, and take absolutely everything you can away from it; never again will you have so much time to learn.

john

before you give advice on colledge make sure you have attended first and are not guessing what it is like also if you are an athlete, look in to the program and ask questions and look at the schools academic reputation as well as do they offer studdy abroad and good financial aid

Matthew

I say Just make sure it;s everything you want and there's little to nothing that you dislike like. That's what made choosing St. Francis easy for me, it was everything I wanted and needed

Alisa

My suggestion would be to visit the schools that you are interested in and to explore what major you want to study. Picking the right school will be one of the biggest decisions you will have to make. Making the wrong choice in schools could decide whether you succeed or fail. You also do not want to jump into a major that you are not sure about. If you are unsure what you want to do you can always enter college as undecided and get your undergraduate classes out of the way and decide what you want to do as you go.

Maureen

If I had a dollar for every time I heard "college will be the best years of your life," I would have enough money to pay for books this semster--and that's no small fee. While this idea certainly proves to be true for many, I also know that it pressured me to come up with a list of expectations I really had no basis for, and then to sit back and wait tensely for them to be fulfilled. Needless to say, this isn't exactly how it works. After being honest with yourself and your needs and finding a college that you truly believe will help you become successful, try and keep your expectations limited. Open-mindedness makes it a lot easier to meet more people, take interesting classes, and to truly enjoy all of the unexpected joys of college life. Also, I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to get involved. The best piece of advice I received about college came from an older student; she took a more proactive approach to the old pearl of wisdom and simply told me to make college the best years of my life.

Shannon

Find a balance at your school. Become active in extracurricular activities but find a balance between those, your social life, and your school work.

Mike

Never stop looking at colleges untill you find one that you feel comftorable at. Remember that college will be your home for the nest four plus years. Make sure it fits your life style.

Alexia

Don't go to a school just because your parents want you to go there or for financial reasons. Make sure it's exactly where you want to be.