San Jose State University Top Questions

Dear Xiomara, I must infom you that I know the key to succes in college. I must inform you that You should not give up and apply to as many scholarships you can. Do not feel discouraged by the essays, or information you have to submit. Make plans for you and your son right no before you deeal with it in college. Do not procrastinate, even though you think you can let one day go by or two, do not. Focus in all your classes and do not put your homework on a hold. Read all the required books you need to. Save up as much money as you can right no so that when you start college, you do not worry about money. Do nt let others bring you down with words, and always do your best in college. Good luck, becasue you will need it, and study for tests. Do all your homework. -Xiomara

Something I’d tell the freshmen me is to not take school as a joke. I’d slap some sense into and make me realize that taking all the honor classes is important and to study every second that I could. I’d recommend to putting my social life second and get involved in school activities a lot more, as well as extra curricular. I’d tell myself to start searching for scholarships now and maybe even get a job to pay for college. Because there’s so many things I’d do different, I promise myself that in college, I will become a high school tutor so I can help as many mini “me’s” as possible, so they don’t make the same mistakes as I did. My number one advice would be “high school is no joke”. I am hoping to win this scholarship because I have the capability to follow through with all the hard work and I believe in myself and believe that with this scholarship, it’ll give me the foundation I need to build a better me, and enable me to become a person who makes a difference in this world.

I would tell myself to try hard, work hard and pay attention in high school. Don't worry about your friends or going to do things. your friends don't last but your education will. Be responsible nobody will be on you to do your work or to study so you will have to have discipline. You will feel alot better about your self if you just work hard and accomplish your dreams!

College is a time of finding oneself. Looking back, I am a much different person now than my high-school self. If I could go back and talk to that person, I’d tell her of all the hard work ahead. I’d encourage her to keep her GPA as high as possible, apply for numerous scholarships, and to borrow fewer student loans.As I approach graduate school, I cringe at the accruing amount of student loans that looms over my head. I will not be able to work during my full-time study, and am desperately seeking ways to cover my expenses. I have learned too little too late that if my GPA were two points higher, I would have been eligible for specific grants and possibly some scholarships. Regrettably, I never took the time to research and utilize all the resources available to me.As life goes on, my expenses will only increase. Because of this, I wish I had saved and budgeted more wisely during my undergraduate years. Though I cannot change the past, I have learned from my mistakes and look forward to a more promising future.

I have always been a good student, but I would procrastinate a lot during my coursework. My main advice I would give myself would be to manage my time more wisely and do not procrastinate because it does catch up during college. Furthermore, to follow my heart when deciding a major and do not second guess myself while doing it. Make a study plan with your academic advisor before signing up for college classes and create a class schedule that will benefit my abilities and personality, such as the type of learner I am and look into my strenghts when studying. Overall, do not be afraid to move out of my house and begin to make my life decisions.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to make sure to make friends early. Don't be afraid to jump in and start making friends. It has been said that friends you make in college are friends you'll have for life. I do believe that. The friends I have made will be my life-long friends. Making new friends when you get to college makes things easier. I had waited to make friends when I first started college and I wish that was something I could change. But now I don't hold back on making new friends.

I have to say that I am fortunate to be able to have this chance to be in college. There are many people that do not have this opportunity due to financial reasons or even geographical location. In my years of attending college I have learned many valuable life lessons I may not have heard through anyone else. I have met many wonderful people throughout these years with shared interests and the same school issues I'm going through. College education is something you take with you for the rest of your life. What you learn there, you apply it to real life situations. Oral communication and team work is something you must use in everyday life. While it is important to take studying seriously, it is also important to be a part of extracurricular activities because doing community work is very rewarding. I have done some extracurricular activities in college and has made my experience in college very memorable. When you get that opportunity to go to college, you learn many life experiences that will shape your future and the world today.

Attending my college has been a huge step to over come in my life. I grew up a troubled teen and originally had no plans for the future. I decided to go to school for my wife that I was lucky to find, I haven't been able to work in a few years because of complications the choices I made when I was younger caused. College was a last resort, I joined for an Associates Degree in Business Management I never thought I would be able to pull A-B average but I learned that it's not how hard school is, It's how much you put into it. After failing through school as a child I didn't think I'd be able to do this, but after this I believe the sky's the limit. I've learned from others in my school that we're all in a tough position with the economy the way it is, but with some dedication, a little hard work, and a good attitude change can happen with ease.

My college experience so far has taught me to be responsible. It was my own choice to attend college, not my parents' choice, so I take full responsibility in everything I do. My college experience has so far been spent in the classroom or in the library, and if I am not in either of those two then I am at my part time job earning money to pay for my books and tuition. I never had to be responsible before college. In high school I would not take school seriously, but now I realize that in college it's all up to me to be successful. It is up to me to go to class. It is up to me to go to the library to study on my free time, and it is up to me to go to work and earn money to pay for my tuiton. My college experience is valuable because it not only teaches me the importance of a higher education, but it teaches me of how to be responsible for my actions, a skill that everyone needs in order to be successful in life.

I am about to start the 2nd half of my first year of college and I already feel like a whole new person. I have developed socially and intelectualy beyond anything I could have imagened. In high school I felt like I had to be there, and therefor didn't take it as seriously. I have always done better at something I choose to do. College has brought out a type of motivation that could only be discribed with acheivments, not words. I have high standards for myself and bright goals for the future. College is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

Out my college experience, I've been able to witness a variety of different things. I've never been around such a diverse community! It's wonderful and you get to meet people from all over! I am a first generation student and getting the opportunity to go off and to explore new surroundings has been such an amazing and mind blowing experience. I imagined college to be much like high school, but it is far from it. I noticed that you don't need to raise your hand to excuse yourself to go to the restroom or to leave class early. Everything you do in college is all on your own and you grow or become even more independent in college. College thus far has been a tremendous experience for me and I would do it all over again if I could get a chance to. I love it a lot!

What I've gotten out of my college experience so far is time management. Although I don't have many responsibilities besides going to class there are times when I have to stay up all night in order to finish an essay or a project. In my second year of university, I've learned that sometimes saying no to friends and staying in to do homework is the best decision I can make. It might be tempting to go out on Thursday and party instead of getting a head start on a research paper, but in the long run skipping the party and beginning the paper make for a less stressful weekend and a better paper. I've learned this lesson the hard way -several times in fact- but every time I decide to skip the night out in favor of a night working on a paper, I've gotten a better grade and more sleep.

Being in college (and away from parents) has allowed me to form my own opinions and what I truly feel about my future. I have been able to meet people from all different walks of life and make friends with people whom Inever thought I'd be compatible with. I am able to see how far I would go to succeed and what my limitations are. I have truly discovered my own preferences and what lifestyle fits me instead of trying to fit into societal norms. Sometimes I find myself feeling quite conflicted between family traditions and personal goals, but being in college has given me the confidence to take the path least treaded.

Upon coming to college i got a sense of the adult world by being on my own and experiencing what it is feels like to enter adulthood for the purpose of furthering my education. I have made so many new friends along the way of my first semester at San Jose State and those peers of mine have all given me valuable advice and information on how to be safe and successful on campus. The benefits of having so many new friends is that many of them can guide you in the right direction if you ever encounter some sort of dilema. In a time where unemployment and a failing economy exist, its crucial to be as competitive as you can be in the job market because having a college degree will help you stand out of the croud.

My college experience has permitted me to realize that I am capable of accomplishing anything I set my mind to. I have had the pleasure of meeting and interacting with many people of diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds. It has been an especially significant eye-opening experience for me because I did have doubts about whether or not I would be able to succeed after having been out of school for so many years. There have however, been times during my college journey that I felt as if I was on the brink of throwing in the towel due to a heavy workload. Yet, each time I thought of quitting, I somehow summoned the resolve to continue pushing myself, all the while remaining focused on my goals. It has been valuable to attend college because it has allowed me to acquire a wealth of knowledge that I would not have attained had I not enrolled.

My undergraduate university was extremely valuable in the sense that I was able to grow as an individual through the adversity I faced there. Since I did not have ample resources available at San Jose State University, I was forced to seek out resources in the greater Bay Area and at neighboring schools with much more resources, such as Stanford University. Through Stanford's minority medical outreach program, I was able to find a medical student mentor to help me on my ideal career path of becoming a medical doctor. Thus, from my college experience I have become proactive , persistent, and resourceful. This has served me well in medical school as I continue to utilize these skills to succeed in the rigorous medical school environment. I know that I will continue to employ these skills in my future career as a medical doctor as I fight for underserved patients' rights and find creative ways to ensure that they have access to quality healthcare.

I am currently a sophomore at San Jose State. This semester I decided to pledge for a community service co- ed fraternity, Alpha Phi Omega, in order to become a more involved individual on campus and in the community. The principals of Alpha Phi Omega are leadership, friendship and service. I can honestly say that the contributions I made in the Fraternity has helped me develop into a better leader for both my brother and friends to look up to. Throughout the ten weeks of pledging, I got the chance to meet and know why the 64 amazing people, who pledged with me, are the way they are. I know the friendships I made within the fraternity will last forever. By joining Alpha Phi Omega and participating in the hundreds of service projects available, I was able to give back unselfishly to my chapter, campus, community, and the country. Since pledging Alpha Phi Omega, I feel like I have a purpose at San Jose State and a second family that I can lean on when I am down.

The one thing that I have gotten out of my experience and SJSU is that you really have to work hard if you really want something. I thought that SJSU would be relaxing, but it's not. I am really pushing my self to make sure that i am doing everything right. So now in my everyday life i push myself to make sure i am doing the right thing and not just coasting through life.

I love the astmosphere and the ability to increase my knowledge. I feel that college can bring out the best in people and it gave me a new sense of responsiblity. By living on my own and finding my way around I was able gain independance and know how to tell the diifference between whats real and fake. Everyone should go to college whether it be close to home or out of state it is just the best experenice that I would never trade for in the world.

College is so very different in high school, in so many ways. There are no teachers to nag you about homework. It's so nice to be treated like an adult. I have been going to college going on 3 years now, and I have to say that the most valuable experience I have had thus far has been in learning about myself. I've learned about my own educational needs, of course such as the fact that I take in information very well in a lecture and note/taking environment. I've learned that I am very gifted in the writing department, while I do struggle heavily with mathematics. I've also discovered by complete and total chance that I am extremely interested in archaeology. More then that, I have also found that I get along better with people much older then me, usually when they are in their late 30's to early 40's.

I have gotten alot of friends out of my college expereince. By going to college i have created a network which might help me through out life. The people I have met want to make change in world and stand up for what they belive in. I have learnt a lot about different social issues and how they relate to my own life from the people who I have interacted in life. Which in turn has made me grow and think about my own views and has challenged them too. San Jose state university is a very diverse campus which means its diverse racially/ethically/spirtuallity/ class/majors and peoples interstes in life. Because of the diversity the campus has allowed me to explore my self by talking and interacting with many people. I have been able to see what I like and dont like and what works for me and what is not. I think college is a place to figure yourself out and SJSU is able to provide this, but only if someone is looking for it and is ready to step out of thier comfort zone.

I have only started to attend San Jose State University and so I have much to learn about everything it has to offer, especially discovering who I am and finding my own style of independence. So far I have met many new people, my age and especially older. The upperclassmen are very kind at San Jose State, they help me out when I am lost on campus or do not know what to do about a certain educational problem. My friends are very valuable to me, they are there for me for the fun moments as well as the serious moments such as studying or helping to cope with stress. Also, there are various clubs offered that further enhance my social network and social skills. I believe having a huge network of acquaintances/friends and a fair amount of experience in people skills will greatly benefit me and my future in becoming a Veterinarian. With social skills, I am not shy to ask for help when I know I need it and I know that I will always need help somewhere in time.

That College isn't for everybody, and some people really just don't make any sense , but i will be the first person in my family with a degree....And make sure everyone else under me get one too. It hard work being the oldest but somebody has to be it. I've learned, its all about setting a good example.

The main experience I have gotten from my college experience is that it is important to be social and network but it is more important to be able to become and individual and stand your ground. Over the past couple of years I have faced many hardships in life and school. I was forced to stand on my own and become and individual and learn to stand on my own without having someone next to me. This experience has been valuable to me because it has helped me grow and become an individual. Learning that I am responsible for all my actions and learning to do things for myself without having to rely on someone else was the biggest lession San Jose State University could have taught me.

There is so much that I have recieved out of my college experience. Here is a list of all that I have recieved during my college experience. 1: A great education in a field that I love and have a passion for. I have recieved an Associates Degree of Applied Science in Veterinary Technology. 2: Respect. I have a great respect for teachers who love their job. I have found that teachers that love their job seem to teach better. 3: Friends. Priceless friends that will stay with me forever and always. 4: Knowledge. Knowledge in helping those around me and giving back to the community. 5: Reverence, for hard work and those who work hard to achieve their goals. I have spent the past two years as a full time student, taking 19 credits every quarter and working hard toward my goal. 6: Rewarded. Rewarded for all the hard work I have put towards my goals. 7: Determined. Determined to continue striving toward achieving new goals. My college experience has been most valuable to my personal growth. I have learned and gained all of the above during my college experience and would not change it for the world.

Having a very eclectic and diverse background I often find myself looking for the right place to fit in. At San Jose State University, upon transfering to this inner-city university, I was immediately approached by members of clubs which made me feel like I belonged. Since day one I have been challanged by professors to succeed academically, I have even been awarded the Ronald E. McNair Scholarship because of my diverse background, which enabled me to get training to go to graduate school. A Valuable education is demonstrated by the availability of financial aid and resources that will help students get ahead, which can be seen at San Jose State University. Furthermore, San Jose State University has always subdued an environment that calls for social change. I have always been worried about others and how to fix our problems in America, such as weak health care, unemployment, and poverty. I have been able to succesfully fight for these causes at San Jose State University because both the professors and the students are always thinking about these issues and looking for ways to change them. Value and experience can be found at San Jose State University .

I've learned a lot about myself, to be honest. Simply being in a new place and out on my own has allowed me to grow in to myself, as it were. I've made lifelong friends here, I'm absolutely sure of it. I've also learned how to handle dealing with people. Plus, college has given me opportunity to go out and find new interests! I've had the opportunity to shine in choir, debate, community activism, as well as in politics. It's definitely made me a more well-rounded person.

My college experience allowed me to have a fantastic career with great pay. It was the smartest thing I have done for myself.

Out of my college experience I learned time management, this is an important thing in succeeding because if you do not know how to manage your time, you will not get a lot of things done! Also, I learned that it is really bad to procrastinate and that in college you must always keep up with your schoolwork because most of the time when you fall behind, you're way behind and it's hard to catch up!

I've realize how indepenent I am. i thought it would be hard to be on my own but, i now know i am capable of doing it. i have become more responsible, smarter, my time management is better, and just overall I'm growing into an adult. It was important for me to attend college because it was a first for my family, I am the first to leave home. I wanted to give my mother and grandparents the experience of taking their child, lettting them go, and seeing how good of a job they did. Also I know that without an education i won't get anything i want out of life and with it i know i'll be able to live.

My college experience opened up a new world for me. I was able to design my first building it was a commercial building at an specific site. It took a lot of hard work, goin to one college full time with 15 units, to another college part time with 3 units, working about 20 to 25 hours a week. It was hectic, stressful, nerve wrecking, but once i was done with my design I knew that all my h ard work and sacrifice was worth it. I developed a passion for Architecture which I had never met before, because I knew i would sacrifice just about anything in order to finish my career. Seeing my project done witha 3'X6' print out of sections, elevations, floor plans and renderings left me speechless, and thats when I knew I wanted this more than anything I had ever wanted.

College thus far has given me the tools to be competent, and diverse. Deciding to further my educations after high school has to be one of the best decisions of my life. I've had the opportunity to meet new people, explore different avenues of life, and decide what makes me happy. After taking numerous classes at a higher education facility I discovered that the perfect major for me would be International relations, this educational topic makes me happy and I can see myself having a connectionn to this for the rest of my life. Attending collese has opened my eyes to world much larger than the small town that I had grown accustomed to. I have a better education, I'm well spoken, I have had oppotunities that may not have come my way had I decided to stop after high school. College is an invaluable experience and I believe every person in this world deserves a chance at it.

in progress as a first year tranfer student. not much to say yet. thank you

The college experience here ar SJSU has been phenominal for me. I am an exectutive board member in my fraternity Delta Upsilon, and also the club lacrosse team treasurer. As a sophomore I was a Resident Advisor in the dorms on campus, which was a great work experience that has completely built confidence in myself being able to perform in the professional world. Because of my college experience in all of these organizations, i have completely evolved as an individual. I have changed so much that i do not even recognize or remember the person i was before i started college. I am also 100 percent sure that this change has been nothing but a positive change for me. I have become more aspirational, competent, intelligent, hard working, and well-rounded in every facet of my life. College has been almost a rebirth of myself in to someone that is much better than before. This experience is so valuable to me that I cannot put a monetary value on it because i wouldn't trade it for anything. Honestly, if I was to win the lottery tomorrow, I would stay in college to keep growing as a person.

What I got from my undergrad college experience has broadened my horizontals. I do not see the world anymore with a close mind and attitude to make my opinion be the only and right one. I now value all types of values, opinions, religions, and more. I don’t think that I ever was a close minded person, but college has made me seen that there is always grounds to learn more and to be better. Now, that I’m a graduate student in a new and different city, I’m learning a lot more not only academically but also culturally. College makes me grow as a person, intellectual, and as a professional. We need more college graduates to make our world better. Therefore, please consider me for the opportunity to continue my education with the help of your scholarship.

Socially its has neither helped or distracted me from my college experience. Academically I have been continually challegened to excell above all others in my class and I believe that it has better prepared me for when I graduate and obtain my career.

My college experience was not what I expected. During my first semester, I thought it would be easier to make friends, be involved, and make a lasting impression on this school. But my preconceptions were wrong. I entered a place where I felt isolated and apart from the population which made me feel smaller than what I already felt. I missed my old life, my high school days where everything I needed to do was set before for me. Now, I was in a place where I had to make my own decisions. It was not until my second year that I learned to open up. I joined a club, thanks to my roommate who pushed me to come out of my shell, and I slowly came to like and eventually, befriend these people. Being forced to work in groups during classes led to group discussions, which turned into study groups, which ultimately became new friendships. Although I have muchmore to work on, this experience has allowed my personality to shine. It is not the end of the journey I will look forward to, but the people who will be there with me, coming along on this ride.

I believe that the most valuble thing I've gotten out of my college experience is my abilty to understand new situations. I feel so because it has prepared me to deal with any curveballs life may throw at you.

My college experience for me has done several things to help me not only improve my own life but the lives of those around me. With my experiences, I have been able to gain new friendships and learn new cultures that I would not have learned had I not been exposed to the diverse atmosphere. Rotary club and other organizations that are similar to it have allowed me to do just that. I have also both learned and embraced my joy for helping others. Not too long after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, I and a small group of students chose to give up our spring break to help rebuild the homes and lives of others. That experience truly gave me great joy to see the smiles on the faces of the people that we helped. My college experience has also given me a sense of personal autonomy. My first year of being "thrown into the wilderness of independence" I had to learn to be my own person. I had discover what I truly wanted and what my goals and dreams were and all of the steps that I needed top achieve them. College helped me do just that.

I have learned that college is not for everyone, at any time. When I graduated high school in 1998, I had a 2 year old daughter. At that time, I was not ready for college. I have aged and gained experience since then and am now ready to complete my degree. I realize that a person can be happy and content with out a college degree because I have been that way for the past 12 years. However, I am looking forward to starting a new chapter in my life. So far, my titles have been mom and wife. I now want to become more.

I have not attended college yet, but will be in the fall. However during the college process I can say that it has brought me to the realization of being independant. I have already had to pay bills, so it has helped me realize the financial world that is included with my education.

from my college experience i have gooten different variety of people to know alsoa different enviroment from my home to call my home

I think two things are invaluable when one attends college-regardless of age. The obvious one is the focus of study. This will usually steer you in the right direction concerning what career path you may choose, and as a result can help you get a better job when you get your degree. The second one is by far the most important one for me. Going to college enabled me to think much differently. Before, I was much more narrow-minded in my thinking. Now, I am more understanding and accepting of other peoples' views even if they are very different from mine. I may not always agree with an idea, but I respect the fact that we are all entitled to an opinion. I also have learned to question authority much more than before. How can positive changes ever be made without doing that? Equally important is that how can we ever rid ourselves of the "Toxic" things in our lives if we don't inquire about them? Sometimes I would run into someone that I hadn't seen for awhile and it would amaze me at how differently I thought about their opinions!

Passionate teachers- make learning fun, engage the students, keep me interested beacause they really enjoy what they are teaching. Independence- No one cares if your alone or w/ friends. -No one judges you. Freedom to chose my own classes- Enables me to enjoy what I am learning because I get to chose the class/subject. Schedule- I get to decide on my own schedule---so school does not interfere with my personal life.

When I first started college I was at a four year college then after a year and a half I switched to a two year community college. I did this because at the four year college I felt lost and the advisors there were not helping me in the ways I needed. At the two year college classes were smaller and my advisor answers my questions and were very helpful. I have learned by being in college to keep pushing myself to study and keep my grades up because you need good grades to accomplish the things you want to accomplish in college. It has been valuable for me to attend college because I am gaining knowledge in the field of study I want to pursue, even though I have had some bumps in the road to my success.

Even though I have faced difficult times as a student, the experience has given me valuable insight on preparing me for the real world, and the hard work I achieved in both community college and as a transfer student is one of many motivations for me to finish my education. The past taught me that education is very valuable to me, and I acknowledge the same expectations at San Jose State University. As I approach late in my junior year, my semester so far has become valuable in a sense of preparing me for the engineering industry.

So far I have gotten a lot out of my college experience. I attended the Fashion Institue of Design & Merchandise for a year, I loved it and I learned a lot. Unfortunately I could not attend my second year like I wanted to because it is too costly. My mom and i now have to pay off all the loans that we took out for my first year. I discovered that i can pursue the similar degree at City College of San Francisco. There I will hopefully be able to recieve financial aid for my courses. I can not wait to start. I am waiting for the next semester to begin August 2010. I already applied now I am waiting for the time to pass by.

I have learned so much about myself and who I want to be while attending college. I understand that I want to help people and want to major in Psychology-which I did not know before. I moved to San Jose and did not expect the people to be so nice which has helped a lot as well. I learned to be more accepting of people no matter what background they come from. Basically, I realized that my life has been challenging but there are many people who have had worse lives and now I want to be able to use my background to help me. My father is an alcoholic and my mother was recently arrrested for drugs and although there is much turmoil in my family I am strong. College has helped me reflect on my life and realize that I can help people.

My college experience has been valuable to me so far because it has allowed me to see the bigger picture in my life. After growing up in a small town in northern California an only child living with my two parents I had a very stable yet single minded view of the world and what I wanted to do with my life. Having the opportunity to attendcollege has opened me up to new ideas, people, and cultures. Not only has it made me a more focused when it comes to my education but it also has made me a better person in general. Being surrounded by such a diverse group of people and getting to know them over this past year and a half on campus has taught me to be more accepting of people who are different than I am. It has helped me find the true meaning of friendship in my peers and given me numerous teachers that serve as mentors and role models. Attending San Jose State has made me want to be a successful person not only in terms of money. I want to make a difference to the world and to the people around me.

I would have to say that the best thing i have gotten out of attending college is the independence. I have learned to live a more independent life in which i do not have to really on my parents as much. I have really changed from the transition from high school into college; it has made me a much more mature. I have more pride in my education and I try to do my best; i admit that i still try and have fun, but i try and balance school, work, and fun alot more than i did in high school. I find my self trying to schedule my time instead of going with the flow. Also i enjoy learning about stuff that i can actually use and apply in my life or in the near future when i am looking for a job after college. It is difficult to explain but I feel like i have grown up because of college and i have more pride in my education now that it is all up to me to do well.