Salem College Top Questions

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

Kendra

As a college student now, I would tell my high-school self to be an overachiever in everything but, my main point of advice would be confidence. Confidence is essential in being successful in your goals because with it you can achieve anything. Along with that, I would tell myself that I need to show demonstrability as a female and not be threatened by male-dominated careers. At the beginning of high school, I wanted to be an orthopedic surgeon but after research I discovered that females rarely existed in this field because it was “more suited for men”. As a female with low self-esteem, I was threatened by this and changed by career option. Now attending college, I have learned that gender is not something that can hold you back from achieving your goals, only you can. I would tell myself to have self-confidence that I can achieve anything despite my gender and to view being female as an advantage that fuels motivation to prove to others the female capability as an orthopedic surgeon and contradict the stereotypical conclusions that females aren’t “acceptable” in this career because, now this is what I’m pursuing in college.

megan

Study hard, because your future depends on it. There is plenty of help at college never be afraid ask for help.

Pageant

Take Facebook with a large grain of salt. What you see on there is what people want you to see. Social media lies. If it doesn’t work out it's alright. Everything you encounter is a learning experience. You can always try something new. Don't rely on other people for your happiness. The only way to carry happiness with you throughout life is to find it in yourself. Focus on the things that give you joy. Be the person who points out the good. The more positive energy you emit, the more positive energy you will absorb. And you'll like being around yourself a lot more. Don't let comparison rob you of joy. All comparison has negative intentions. You and your experiences are completely different from everyone else’s. Remember to take time to breath every day. Good, intentioned inhalations and exhalations. Bring more hangers than you think you’ll need. Engage yourself. Write in lists because you (and I) are fond of lists.

Catherine

If I could meet myself in my senior year of high school, and I was able to give myself advice I would tell myself the secrets to having a succesful first year of college at a school we would both thoroughly enjoy. I would tell myself that I should try, and visit every school I could, and to apply to as many scholarships as possible no matter how long it would take or the effort I would need to put in. I would tell myself to jump headfirst into any school activity that catches my fancy, and to find those group of friends who had the same motivaton to succeed as myself. The last piece of advice I would give myself would be to invest in good habits such as getting as many hours of sleep as I could.

Nicole

Don't sweat the small things. Through my experience in college I have learned a thing or two about time and the transition to adulthood, and any transition for that matter. Any thing you do in life that you aren't particularly accustomed to is going to take a little bit of adjusting. Everyone is a little scared at first going in to something new, but we look back and find our fears to have been boistorous in comparison to the minute situation. Considering how long we are all on this earth for, four years in college is only a tiny piece of the life that we live, and it is nothing to be afraid of. Instead of spending your time worrying about how things are going to pan out, what if I don't fit in, am I going to make good grades, one should focus on the bigger things in life. Living life to the fullest and doing your best is what is important, and is the only thing that will make a difference.

Joanna

Prior to my high school graduation, I turned down two opportunities to participate in our Fall Semester theatrical performances--one a play and one a musical--due to busy class and work schedules. Although I regretted the choices I was forced to make, it was a feeling that passed quickly once I got caught up in the rush of finals and college applications. I have always been drawn to theater work, but I figured my life work should be focused in a different avenue. When I came to Salem College, I jumped headfirst into every activity on campus: I ran for (and was elected to be) Class President, I was on the cross country team, I joined almost every club available, and I auditioned--and was casted--in the Fall Theater Production. Nothing has swept me more off my feet then performing on stage, and I wish I had experienced this before college solely for the purpose of enjoying such activities earlier on in my life. But Salem College provided me with the opportunity to become a part of the Performance Arts family, and for that I am greatful to the fullest.

Faith

Before coming to Salem, I thought college was simply about receiving a “textbook” education. But soon after arriving, I discovered that my college education would exceed far beyond the four walls of the classroom and into the four corners of the earth. I’ve learned that my education does not stop after class ends, my education continues on from everyday simple conversations to attending community events. Here, I am able to truly learn about the world as well as learn different ways to become active and involved.

Retha

What I got out of my college experience was lots of multi-faceted preparation that gave me a proper foundation to meet many of life's challenges. In addition to achieving desired goals required in major and minor fields of study, I also gained the necessary skills to impart that knowledge to learners on different levels in and out of the the public school arena. As a result , I was selected County Teacher of the Year twice and was a Governor Terry Sanford state finalist for innovations and creativity in education. The receipt of such awards, along with many others, can definitely be attributed to my invaluable college experience. More importantly, my school provided ample opportunities for me to interact with classmates/schoolmates from different cultures and to further learn to always know and appreciate uniqueness. It is from this premise that I approach all I encounter in life whether in a classroom or world class.

Stacey

The experience changed my views on life in a way I never thought imaginable. I used to be intimidated by the thought of going back to school. Now I have a 4.0 and my mind is opening more and more everyday to the different aspects of my career choice. I enjoy the people that I come into contact with on a daily basis. it is very important to stay involved. I've never been more excited about my future than I am right now. I want my progress to lead me to an awesome future.

Kamaria

I have learned so much while attending college so far. The ways I use to study in high school do not apply to same way in college. I have learned that to maintain good grades in college, I have to put a lot of effort into all the work I do. Attendance to classes is very important as well because I have realized that if you miss a few classes it can really effect your grade. I think attending college is one of the most important things for a person. It is becoming harder for people just out of high school to get well paid jobs. If you have a college degree, you are more likely to have a better paying job. I have learned so much from attending college and I can not even imagine what more I will learn as I continue my education.

Angela

Out of the many things I have gotten out of my college experience only one jumped out immediately after reading the question. Time Management. If college did not teach me anything else it taught me how to manage my time or pay the consequences. In high school it is all fine and dandy because everything is set on a schedule and its a routine day after day. In college everything changes, you have to learn how to deal on your own and get things done on your own time without schedules or people telling you what to do. Time management is crucial, manage your time wisely or don't and fail miserably. Not only does it help with classes but it will be a huge help later in life when we really have to do things on our own. Makes you think.

Racheal

My college experience at first was scary. Im not going to lie, I wanted to go home the first week I was at Salem. But after classes started and I made new friends, everything seemed to be a whole lot better. Here at Salem College I believe I have made the best of the best friends I could ever ask for, which is why its made Salem so valuable to me. Also, being a first year college student, I have learned how to be independent, how to be on my own and make my own decisions. Salem College has made me into a Woman that knows how to be on her own. College classes hav given me more responsibilities and respect to my elders and peers. Going to Salem has probably been the best decision I have ever made.

LeeAnn

If I could go back in time and talk to my highschool senior self, I would be one talented individual, probably wanted by government agencies such as the CIA. In all seriousness, I would have informed my past self of many things to come in my future. If I would have known my parents were planning on going bankrupt in the middle of my first year, I would have made a lot more changes in my lifestyle. I already knew I had to go to college on my own terms. What I didn't know was that my parents wouldn't be able to spare any money to help me pay for tuition, books, or food. College is an educational, social, and financial experience. Education is the most essential part of college. If I would have delved deeper into Salem College's academic majors I would have discovered their Creative Writing program is fairly new and would have considered other colleges based on this information. Secondly, college is stimulating socially. There are many opportunities to make new friends and connections in social activities provided by the college. Finally, keeping a budget and spending conservatively will benifit me now and later.

Johnny

Have all the fun you want now because once you hit college your going to have to give it all up in order to get serious with school.

Maggie

If I could talk and advise my past self now on what college life would be like I feel as though the transition would have been a lot less confusing. I would tell myself not to worry to much about fitting in, the most important thing is to just be comfortable in who you are as a person. I would also caution myself to be open to the fact that the friends that you had in highschool might not be your friends in college, everyone is in different environments and this changes and effects everyone. The most important thing is to always know who you are and recognize when things are happening that you are uncomfortable with or that you know are outside of who you are. College opens up new worlds and experiences, it is important to develop as an individual during this time. However, becoming an individual does not mean that you lose who you truly are in the process.

Katherine

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would assure myself that transitioning to college would not be a scary experience. I spent the majority of my senior year stressing over keeping up my grades while filling out college applications and essays. I did not spend much time thinking about what college would actually be like. Once graduation came and passed, I realized that my college life was about to begin. I worried about adjusting to my peers, campus and classes. By move in day, I had worked myself into frenzy over every possible problem. After the first day on campus, however, I realized I worried for nothing. The faculty and students were so friendly and made sure I felt comfortable in my new home. My roommate and I became great friends. As I started classes, I got to know my professors and I felt more and more comfortable on campus. Had I known how great Salem was going to be, I would have warned my high school self not to worry so much and to relax. Your college years will be the best of your life so take it easy!

Amy

The only advice I would give myself is to prepare for the workload. It is nothing compared to highschool sometimes, even in the AP courses I took. But mostly, it's the writing of essays that are the hard part. Other than that, it's been pretty simple.

Danielle

I would advise myself to take the opportunity to have fun and learn about new things. I would not put as much stress on academics but make myself happy. There is no need to please everyone around you or be like everyone else but to be yourself and to enjoy the time you have. College goes by quickly and have fun while you're young. Even though you may not know for sure what you want to do in life, do not stress about it. Stay focused on learning, don't party like all other college students but learn to live life enjoying the friends and family around you.

Dana

If I could give myself advice as a high school senior concerning the transition to college life, I would tell myself to get organized and to learn how to prioritize my time. These two things will help anyone be successful. Some ways I learned to be organized and to make good use of my time was by having a day planner. This kept my assignment deadlines close at hand and helped me not wait until the last minute to get an assignment done. I also quickly developed good study habits which helped me to stay focused. Setting goals for yourself is another way to be successful. I would tell myself to re-evaluate often to see areas I could improve.

Yuliya

College can be the most exciting time of your life, but remember if you don't maintain your grades, it will be over quicker than you think. Get your studying and school work done during the week, and then you can go to the college parties you were looking forward to without a guilty conscious. Managing money in college can be very difficult. It is very important that each college student can keep enough money to last the semester. Typically college students do not have much money at all, and need to stretch each dollar as far as possible. Peer pressure, socitey and other factors can make it even more difficult not to buy nice clothes, or hard to say no when college friends are going on an expensive trip. The key is to budget your money and pad your budget for unexpected costs. Your primary focus should be on developing your college study skills and successfully completing college.

Kimberly

I would have told myself to stay focused on the future and to not get sidetracked by the moment. I would have choosen Salem College and I would have participated in several of the extracurracular offerings. I would have savored every moment of college life knowing that I was growing personally and professionally. I would have taken time to think about what I want out of life and the best route to take to make that a success instead to surviving from one day to the next. I would have valued education for myself the way that I value it for my son and daughter. It is usually easier to proceed to college immediately out of high school but for those of us who took a detour or two the most important lesson is to obtain our education at some stage in our lives enabling us to be all that we can be for ourselves, our children, our peers and our communities.

Adina

My advice to the students would be to write down all of the pros and cons of their choices. For example, if the student is use to a smaller classroom setting, it is best if they look for a college with that setting. Financial Aid is also a part of the choosing process. This is where the parents come into play. Students want to make sure the quality of the education that the school is offering, is worth the money. Money shouldn't be the reason why you cannot go to a college/university that you really love. Students want to also make sure that they are not going into a college environment that is all about parties. It is college and there will be parties anywhere you go. Just make the best choice for yourself and make sure the school and its environment make the student feel comfortable.

johnson

Make sure you know the university's personal and academic history. Make sure that whatever you decide to do has already been planned ahead of time so that selecting a major and classes will be a simple task. Work hard because all of your hard work does account for something.

Elaina

Visit each campus more than once....and speak to students who are not "reps" of the college. The "reps" are only going to give you the details the college wants you to have. Speak to random students...this way you will have an overarching view of the student life.

Brittany

Pick a school that will bring the most out of you and will that will challenge your mind at every turn. Pick a school that will also show you the true meaning of school spirit and will help you embrace it.

Andrea

Do not allow your parents convince you to go to the college they choose.

Ariel

To the students first searching out colleges: there is never a perfect college. Pick a college where you would be comfortable, in a big city or small town. You don't always have to follow the crowd and go where everyone else is going. Going off to a college alone is an adventure on its own. The college experience is called an experience because it is a time to discover new things about yourself, friends, life and world. Never settle for less, always strive for more. Be involved with as much as you want or enjoy, there are numerous organizations available to try or explore. Don't be afraid of not having the most ideal roommate situation. Alot of the time, it doesn't work out, but other times, your roommates end up being your best friends. Don't be afraid of changing, this is the time of your life that you can blossom into the person you can become. To the parents of new college students: It is fine to be sad to having a child leave for college. Just dont hinder their growth. Let them grow into adults and blossom into people you can be proud of.

Sydney

Really look at the schools closely not just the academic world. Look at what the school offers off campus as well as on campus.

Kelly

Just to make sure you research everything about the college you want to attend. Look at important things such as whether Freshmen can have a car, living conditions on campus, tuition, financial aid, learn about loans, and what you need to bring to school. And remember, you have to buy your books in college, they are very expensive.

Tiffany

just be yourself

Kenza

Visit each college and plan ahead

Jennifer

When looking for the best possible college experience for yourself it is important to look at yourself and figure out who you are and who you want to be. The latter is the most important. If you know that, you'll know what size school that will be best for you, you'll know the best location for your college experience, you'll know the kind of notoriety you want your school to have. And it's also important to realize that you may not know who you want to be. In that case, it's best to look for a school that will foster many different ideas and career paths in you. Once you get there, it's important to get involved so you can make yourself a well-rounded, well-informed person. Get to know the professors and get involved in your campus life. If you have a hand in what's going on, you can help make it the best experience possible for you. Get to know the upperclassmen, but more importantly, make friends with people in your class. Make friends, make memories, make connections.

Elizabeth

Visit the campuses, try to start saving early, and dont take too much out in loans.

Latrieva

Make sure you give yourself time to research all options and weigh every factor you can think of including financial aid, housing, location, accredidation, social life, academics, post graduate opportunitites, etc to make sure that the college you choose is indeed the right one for you. Talk to alumni and current students to get an idea of what you will see in order to avoid the often sugar coated admissions facts. I encourage you to visit as many as possible and sit in on classes, visit the dining hall, and just simulate yourself at the particular college or university as much as possible. Most importantly, think of what you really want to get out of this experience and really try to make sure that this college is right for YOU. It's easy to get caught up in where your friends are going, what your parents want, or even the popular schools but it's important not to lose sight of that fact that YOU are the one who has to spend the next couple of years of your life here and you want to be happy with your decision!

Caroline

Use your best judgement, when your looking for a school make sure you look in to everything, every little detail. Make sure you tour the school and that is the right fit for you. When you get to school make sure you don't hide out in your room. Get out there and socialize with your fellow classmates, and get involved in anything you can.