Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Top Questions

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

Elisa

If I had the chance to go talk to myself as a high school senior I would without a doubt take the opportunity. I would tell myself to first of dual-enroll. That way I could have a year of my first year in college done before I even get out of high school. Also I would skip or miss any of my classes for anything. Also I would work alot harder and try to get all A's in my classes as well as my assignments. Joining more extra-curricular activities would be on my list of things to do. I would also try and get a job to save up for college, as well as get help with applying for scholarships. I wouldn't let anything hold me back from trying to perfect my grades or my focus on school.

Amanda

I would inform myself that it isn't as scary as you think. You are going to make a lot of friends and you aren't going to loose the friends you have back home. Don't for get to call mom because this is just as hard for her as it is for you. Stay positive and just don't worry. Everything is going to turn out just fine for you.

Haylie

I would tell myself to continue working hard and to never give up. There may be some hard times in life but just push through them. You will be happy that you did. Make sure to get involved in college, you'll regret it if you don't. If you can go to campus events, then go. Whenever you need help with anything, there will always be someone you can talk to, so find someone and get the help you need. Even if you're tired of doing scholarships, continue doing them. You picked a wonderful college to go to, but there is a price you have to pay and all the scholarships you can fill out will be a help to you, and your parents! Be sure to thank the people who have made a difference in your life, big or small. Just remember, make the most of your college years, you won't get them back. Of course make sure the work gets done but don't forget to have some fun.

Devin

As a college senior, I was more focused on finding the program I wanted than finding a campus and school that fit me. From the schools which offered my program, I simply selected the school which would give me the most financial aid. If I were to give my past self some advice today, I would warn her to take a closer look at the school atmosphere itself - small campus or large campus? Focus on self or focus on the group? It's very important to fit into the school atmosphere as well as finding your program - after all, you spend most of your life there for four years! The transition is less stressful if you choose a place that makes it easier to feel at home.

Emily

Knowing what I now know about college life, the advice that I would give myself would be to relax. I found it very easy to get nervous and overwhelmed with studying, working, and making time to have fun. Now that I am in my second semester, I am much more relaxed and I am more organized with my work. It is wise to plan and be organized with school work, tests, and large assignments. Staying on track and not procrastinating will allow for a student to avoid unneccessary panicking and stress. Another piece of useful advice would be to not procrastinate. On top of being organized, it helps to make plans and schedule in when assignments can be worked on. With the amount of classes and work, it is easy to forget about assignments, so stay on top of your school work. These tips of advice would have helped me in the beginning of my college carreer, but now I know the methods to staying calm and relaxed about school

Casey

For starters college takes people beyond basic knowlege, however I've taken more than just that extended knowledge. I've take confidence in myself as well as others I've had to work with, I've taken on much more responsibility than I had thought I was going to encounter, and I've come to learn more about myself and who I really am, along with what I desire to make of myself. I believe that without my college experience so far I would be in a totally different situation and place. I was unhappy at the small community college I attended back at home in Alabama, but because I took a stand for myself and moved to the state of Florida away from my family and friends I've become a stronger person. A person who can fight for what she wants and desires. I won't give up without a fight, and I'll work down to my bones to recieve what I know I deserve. I didn't come all this way and deprive myself of my family and friends to go without a fight. I will fight for my dream, and my dream will come true.

Patricia

Out of my college experience I have received a vast social and business network wich will help me in the future when I set up and open my business. I have created lifelong friends which will continually help and support me through my journey. I believe it is valuable for everyone to attend college because technology is moving and growing faster than we could have ever imagined and in college you will always stay up-to-date with these changes. Also, there are many tricks-to-the-trade that I did not know or even think about before I enrolled in college. These are great valuable experiences and information that will help me grow as a person and a business women and I'm so thankful that I decided to go to college.

Anna

I went to college to appease my parents. This was ten years ago. I tried hard to please them, but there was nothing for me in those early school years. I hadn't yet developed an internal focus. I'm so glad I waited to go back. I am returning to school with a concrete idea of who I am and who I want to become. I am a professional writer already, and I have enough drive that I know I won't stop trying until I am a published author and college graduate. There are fields of study now that weren't available ten years ago when I started my college education. When I was young, college was a way to escape an oppressive life. Today, it is my ticket to a true life full of potential, creativity, and dedication. College is a welcome challenge in a world that has forgotten why it needs to be challenged. I am ready to become the person I am meant to be.

Cortney

I have learned how fun it can be to be an quasi-adult. I have also learned that you have to put aside fun and buckle down to get your work done. I also have gotten job experience working on campus and made friends. It was valuable for me to attend because I have had the time of my life here at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods.

Melanie

Getting good grades in highschool does really matter in your future so its important to focus on the grades and concern yourself less with the "fun factor." Also, make sure you finish your degree straight out of highschool, because the longer you wait the harder it becomes to finish the degree when "real life" starts to creep in.

Abigail

I would tell myself to make more of an effort towards my studies. And to be more organized and disciplined with my time. College life and studies goes so much quicker then high school. It is so easy to get wrapped up with new friends and a new life away from home that if you are not ready you can really fall behind with your studies. Sometimes in college you just feel overwhelmed with everything. I also would tell myself to get more involved in activites and clubs. It will help when in college to be more involved, which would help to get the full college experience. College is the beginning of your future. You need to take it very seriously. And it is so important to chose the right college for you. You need to consider all that the college has to offer you towards your career. It makes all the difference in the world towards your future.

Victoria

f I could go back and talk to myself during my senior year of high school there are several bits of advice I would like to give myself. When I was a high school senior the idea of coming so far from home and all that was familiar was scary. If I could go talk to myself, I would say not to worry; you are going to meet people that will be friends for life. Remember your family is just a phone call away night or day. I would tell myself that tuition is going to go up and some of your scholarships you will not be able to renew. So apply for as many scholarships as you can as often as you can. I would tell myself to talk more to my little sister. I have learned that she really looks up to me and misses me. It is important that I make the time to talk with her when I call home. I'm sure as time goes by that there will be more things I would want to tell myself when I was a high school senior.

Kara

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior knowing what I know now I would have sugguested many things to myslef. The first thing of advicewould have been to take scholarship applications more seriously. I would have also told myself to plan life a little better not just live day to day. The third thing that I would hav encouraged myself to do would have been to set higher goals for myself and work at them until I succeeded. The final thing that I would have said even know it propabably would not have made a difference would have been to try to get though college and get a job before getting married and starting a family. The truth is that we can not do this but we can stay positive and go from where we are , therefor; from now on I will work to pay and find was to pay for the education that I am going to get.

Peggy

If I could go back in time and talk to my eighteen year old self I would defiantly tell me to take college more seriously. When I first attended college ten years ago I treated it like high school which it wasn?t. I would tell myself to study harder and focus on my social life a little less. I would also warn me about the consequences of failing out of college. I lost my financial aid for some time because I didn?t take college seriously. I would remind me to make sure that I keep in mind that potential employers may see my college transcripts and that playing around might cost me a good job in the future.

Jordan

I would have applied to more universities out west. I would have enjoyed to go somewhere a little bit farther from home. I would want to consider the price of this institution a little bit more, and possibly picked a college that cheaper. Overall, I am happy with the friends that I made and wouldn't have it anyother way.

Caron

My advice to myself would be to start Nursing School right out of high school. Not to stop at an Associate's degree, but to continue onward to my BSN. After a few years, continue on to get my Clinical Nurse Specialist certification. That would be my scholastic advice. Personal advice would be the following: "Caron listen to what Grandpa had told you. "You can be whatever you want to be." Don't live in fear of failing, but learn from your mistakes, and continue on the path. You don't need to live for someone to recognize your achievements, but believe that you are a strong woman."

Rebekah

Going to college is not always an easy decision, but not going to college can be a huge mistake. I wish I would have stuck to what I wanted to do and not let myself get strayed from the path. I am now going back to school with a full time job and three kids. School is hard to fit in. It would have been much better if I would have stayed in college and finished. I would have a teaching job making much better money than I am now. It is just important to follow your dreams, set goals, and stay on track.