Shawnee State University Top Questions

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

megan

1. Take every opportunity to earn scholarships. 2. Take time to find out what resources are available through the university. Such as checking text books out through the library instead of buying them, even if the library does not have them Ohiolink does and you can check the book out through them using the library. 3.Get involved in campus groups early on, it is an easy way to meet new friend, professors, alumni and ways to make college life a little easier.

Stacy

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to really think my college decision through before committing. I would tell myself that there is other colleges out there besides your first choice and transferring is not as easy as it seems, also that sometimes it is not worth it. I would also tell myself to study harder and to actually learn how to study and to not think that I can just look over notes right before a test and do well. I would say that I need to learn how to study and how to buckle down at the beginning of school and not at the end. Also, I would tell myself to stop procrastinating because in the end it is not worth it and it will just back fire with bad grades and a low GPA. I would end the conversation by telling myself to never give up on your dream and to continue persuring it because it is worth it, no matter what people say.

Kylie

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to try harder. I was taking four college classes per semester through my high school my senior year. However, because I was so close to finishing high school, I stopped trying to do as well as I could have. I didn't earn the credits for two of the classes I was taking, and I regret it every day. The credits that I didn't earn would have transferred over to Shawnee State and I would not have to have taken them again. So, if I could go back and tell my passed self as a senior, as well as anyother student anything about my experience now, it would be to give 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} effort in everything you do, because you might regret it later in life.

Rachel

The advice I would give myself would be don't be scared. I was really nervous and scared when I was leaving for college, partly because I didn't know anyone that was going to the same school as me. But now i know that a lot of people were going through the same thing as me. I would tell myself to be more outgoing and not worry too much about transitioning because my high school honestly did prepare me well. Of course, live it up because after college it really is time to grow up.

Alison

I have learned alot about other people, and things they must sacrifice to come to Shawnee. Those who are international students are the strongest in my opinion, to leave their families and friends to better themselves, it is a great environment to surround yourself. I have definately surprised myself in doing so well in college, because the assignments and classes are not easy in the least! I have learned to live with new people, living on campus; which can be very trying at times. But overall has given me a better perspective on how people do things in their daily routines, and how they differs from my own daily habits. I genuinely enjoy college. Doing so well has made me want to pursue law school at the Univeristy of Kentucky once I am finished with my Bachelors at Shawnee. Without Shawnee, I would never have dreamed of law school.

Steph

I have gotten so much out of my college experience that I don't know where to start. I came in thinking that going to college would be a lot like living at high school. I was shocked to find out that it was nothing like what I expected it to be. Work is harder, you have to stay on your work diligently, you have to focus a lot more, and a lot more of your time is occupied by school work and study time. You still have the social aspect along with the academic aspect. Friends are something you will definitely need in college, and they aren't hard to find either. Being independent and paying for college is a lot harder than most would think it to be. If you don't have money saved back and financial aid doesn't cover the cost, you'll find yourself with more loans than you'd ever thought yourself to apply for. Scholarships aren't easy to find if you're not an athlete or an A+ student. So you'll find yourself applying for a lot of those, too.

Colin

When you ask what I have gotten out of my college experiance its hard to answer because im not at my college yet. I have been working as a motorcycle mechanic for the past six years and that is what I love to do. Working in the field has taught me so much and I am pretty successfull for not having formal education in motorcycle repair/modifacaiton. It has also taught me that if I want to be competitive in this industry I need the knowledge I can get from Motorcycle Mechanics institute. That is why I have enrolled at Mmi and start April fifth. In my time at Mmi I will expect many things. First and foremost the Knowledge to become a expert motorcycle mechanic/fabicator as well as being well paid in my chosen profession. I would hope that my instructors would be able to give me insight into what I will be able to expect on a professional level in the motorcyle industry.I have done my research on the school and feel I will recieve the experiance I hope for at Mmi. The success is up to me.

elizabeth

The advice I would give myself is that not to go to a out of state college if you can not afford it. Chose the right school that is going to benefit me in the end.

Chad

I would tell myself to forget everything i had ever learned about math and english. I've learned through my year of college so far that everything i was taught as a high school student is either completely wrong, or is backwards compared to how things are really done in the real life. Also I would tell myself to stop wasting money of tiny things, and to start saving up for bigger things that could help me during my college career. But for the main thing, i would tell myself to stop being lazy, and to get out there and search for scholorships and grants to help pay for college.

Brendden

I would tell myself to stop listening so much to the voices of others and listen to your own thoughts. I had so much trouble in high school with both grades and separating my wants for my future and what other said I should want. I would tell my younger self that they should simply stop listening to others so much and follow what they want and grab ahold of it with both hands and make sure that they realize that the end of high school is not an end just the beginning of something more. So often people made high school seem like all there was but I should of realized that to move forward in the future I had to begin the push there and I would sure that my younger self was aware of this. Knowing what I know now then would of changed some of my choices completely and saved me much trouble now. I would tell them to stop looking around and start looking at my work to actually do it, no matter how much I hated it, and get it done and over with simply because that was my problem that needed fixed.

Autumn

Don't give up. Stick with it. Stay in school and graduate. If not you'll be going back when everyone you graduate with will be graduating from college. Try to go away to school. Live life to the fullest. Don't let anyone get in your way. Try new things, take a chance. You never know what might come your way and change your life forever. And never doubt yourself!

Tasha

Walking through the hallways of Piketon Jr/ Sr High was a young women who didnt feel noticed, and because she didnt feel noticed she didn't care about much having to do with high school, including her grades. As you guessed that girl was me. If I could go back and talk to myself I would say " Tasha straighten up, theres a big world out there and you will see that once you get to college, you will notice that everyone is basically the same." The younger me would say " I don't think so its all just a fashion contest and the teachers pet wins". I would then tell my self " Your wrong, the one who works hardest and shows drive and passion wins in college. Theres no greater feeling then knowing that you are doing something with your life, and working towards a goal. The best feeling is that you will make a diffrence in your future and what you plan to do will make a positive impact on the lives of others... so straighten up highschool is just the beginning of a wonderful life."

Grace

Pack lightly when you move into your dormitory. If possible, talk to your roommates before move-in day. Rooms tend to be smaller in person than they look online and in my opinion, its better to have no microwave than a tower of four or five in your room that is already cramped. Get involved in your school. You're going to be away from home for weeks at a time. You have the choice to make the next few years of your life an adventure or just something you lived through. Make a real effort to go to as many on-campus events as possible. You never know what could happen or the friends that you'll meet. Also, being involved in service clubs and/or Greek organizations looks good on applications for scholarships and grad school. Apply for scholarships early and often. Whether your parents have been saving for college since before you were born or you are planning to rack up student loans all through college, its never a bad idea to apply for scholarships and grants. Usually, the earlier you apply the better. If you're lucky, you might even earn enough for living expenses.

Brittany

Don't sweat the little things! I know college seems like a big jump, and it is different but it's a positive difference. That taste of the real world is surprisingly sweet, and the feeling of independence is incredible. Campuses are large, and even a bit scary, but Shawnee's classes are small and strive to meet your personal needs and goals. Everyone is there to help you, so let them and together your college experience will go smooth and be fun. You may feel alone and like you couldn't possibly meet anyone you connect with now, but these students are just like you. You're going to meet some amazing new friends, I promise! Classes sound impossible, and they can be pretty tough, but it's nothing you can't handle. As long as you work hard and continue to be as dedicated to your education as you are now you'll be fine. Actually, even better than fine. We've all heard some pretty shocking and downright horrendous college stories, but there's even more success stories, and one of them is just waiting to be yours!

Cherie

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would start by congratulating myself on becoming the first high school graduate in my family. My parents married at a very young age of 15 and 17 since they were pregnant with me (I am the first of their three children). My father earned his General Equivalency Diploma (GED) in the military, while my mother earned her GED years later and went on to earn an Associate's Degree. Both my sister and brother took the GED test at the same time. However, he passed it, and she failed it by two points. Needless to say, becoming a high school graduate was an achievement for me. The advice that I would give myself would be to continue improving myself through education by attending college immediately following high school, before marriage and children. Juggling the many ?hats? of adulthood is stressful, and although I enjoy being a full-time working mother who takes my college studies seriously, focusing all my attention on education first would have been easier and more beneficial in the long run. I would thank myself later for the advice.

Brenen

Try harder in high school so I'd have a chance for a scholarship because if not you will be poor!

Andrew

There are some things I want to tell you about college life and the things you may experience there. The most important is that you can not be afraid to ask questions. College is about learning and you have to question everything in order to truly grasp anything. You may find yourself too insecure to seek out an advisor or a teacher but the students who truly excel fight past insecurities in order to build a future for themselves. There are going to be times when you will have to take it upon yourself to find the answers you are looking for not just in class but at the offices of the bursar, registrar and financial aid as well (don't be confused, it will all make sense soon enough). Make friends with everyone you meet including instructors and administration they may have a profound influence on the path you choose to take someday. After you have all the answers you need, use that knowledge to benefit everyone around you; they will need help just like you did. You have the ability to make it if you apply yourself. Just imagine yourself as a college graduate! I believe in you.

Weslyn

My best advice is to visit the schools that you are accepted into. Then from there decide what campus fits you best. Then look into the activities and offices available and se if you can meet teachers in your chosen field. If you decide the teachers are not right for you because of their policies or other reasons, look into your next choice. Do not decide right away. Give it a little bit of time to figure out what you are looking for.

Ashley

Make sure you are financially ready, the economy is making it hard to get past a year at school.

nick

find one that fits you by figuring out class size and how the sorounding community is. class size can dictate if you feel you will need to work more as an individual or be motivated to praticipate in discussion. since you'll be living there you need to know how the community feels about you and the school. you need to know how safe it is, and how much there is to do there because chances are you will wonder off campus just to get away from the hustle and bustle of it. once you figure out these two things the rest is minor and usually falls into place.

Barbara

I would advise college students to recognize the value of independent scholarship.

Rhonda

Certainly look for the courses and degree programs available but look at the relationship that faculty has with the student body. My undergrad advisor was the best and she was truely there to guide me in every aspect of my education. Look for the positive aspects of school, find volunteer and academic organizations to be a part of and look for a school that cares about their community.

Ronald

The best advice I can give is look for a college that is offering a degree in the field that you are interested in, and I would advise to try a school that is a little farther from home, because it helps you to adapt to living on your own.

Jenn

Do as much research as possible

Jordan

My parents always told me to pick a major in something I wanted to do for the rest of my life regardless of money, and pick the college that best supports that major, and somehow we'd figure out how to pay for it. I got very lucky to find that my first pick was also one of the most affordable colleges, and they even offered me a scholarship! I later realized that I had the perfect view on college. College is a bridge to the rest of your life, it's important that you go for something you're willing to do forever. You shouldn't choose a college based solely on money, that focus is wrong. If you just go to college to get a degree, to earn more money, you won't get what you really need for the real world. The trick to college is to go for the education, and to enjoy the experience along the way! If you love what you do, it'll be one of the best experiences of your life!

Sweden

Look for safety, gettin a valuable education for the money bein paid, and look at the prices of off-campus housing.

Morgan

make sure the college fits your ethic background and your social and acadmic policies

Weston

The most important part of finding a school that is right for a student is not only the academics, but the people that will be attending the school with him or her. If the school he or she goes to is filled with people that he or she cannot see themselves being friends with or if the activities that those people do are not things that he or she cannot ever see themselves doing then that school is not right for him or her. If the student is not going to be socially accepted then they are going to have an overall bad experience.

Natasha

Go to a college that mets most or all of your needs.

DeRick

Make sure you find a college that has the exact profession you want to study. Also be carefull that you dont pick a school that has a lot of partying and drinking going on there because it makes it really hard to study and get good grades. Also pick a school that best fits your personal living style so that you feel comfortable while your there.

Sarah

To make sure that the college you pick is the one you really want to attend. Look at all the possabilities they offer.

Melissa

My advice to parents and/or students about finding the right college would be to start early. It is never too early to start looking at different colleges and universities and figuring out what you want to do for the rest of your life. Keep your options open and take plenty of college visits, you want to pick the campus where you are going to be the most successful. You don't know what a campus is like until you go and visit and at that time you have an opportunity to ask any questions you may have. Advice I have for students going into college is to not forget why they are here. Many students get caught up in being away from their parents for the first time and dig a big hole that they spend the rest of college trying to get out of. While college is stressful at times, it is also like they say the best four years for your life where you are able to discover who you are and what you are about.

Christina

I would tell them to be sure to visit the campus! Try to go during school hours so you can see what the atmosphere is like. Look over the housing options, and the majors that the campus offers. I would also tell them to drive around town to see whats remotely around them. Ask how much the school cost, and is they offer any assistance to students. Just really get involved before you committ your time and money.

DONCHE

First,parents and students should know that EDUCATION is a very important factor in human life,its also said that,the root of education is bitter but the fruit of it is sweet. The right college is that where there is a true spirit of education between the students and their teachers,the plenty of learning facilities that enhances the best education eg best library and book stores with right materials for students, plenty of co-curriculum activities and facilities to help students grow physically and avoid adleness(IDLE MIND IS DEVILS WORKSHOP).

James

Personally i believe each student has a specific idea on what type of college would be best from them, and i believe that its the parents job to listen to their kids to where they want to go

Jesse

With the price of everything going up do not choose the college just by price. Look at everything that the college have to ofter. Look at different web sites about the teachers at the college. If you look online you will find information about the college. Look at the crime rate in the area as well as jobs. There is a lot into looking for a good college. Just remember going to college is not the time to play. This is the time to work harder then you every had to. When you get out of college and get a job will be easier then learn your skills in college. But what every you do have time for you family and most important yourself.

Sarah

I think that the student needs to visti the colleges and needs to mke up their own mind instead of going to the school that there parents want them to go to. To make the most of college i would tell someone not to be afraid to try new things and be open to people that are nothing like you.

Emily

Look at everything when you tour, ask lots of questions. Come prepared to ask questions, possibly sitting down with your child and coming up with a list of questions. Be realistic and understand that your child is going off to become an adult, give them room to grow and trust that you have made wise choices in raising them. Look at everything and don't pick one major, pick several to tour from. This gives you a broader sense of what the school is made of. I looked at three different fields of study. My parents went one way, I went another. We met in the middle and shared our experience. I chose my field of study after meeting lots of people and asking questions. Parents need to remember it is the child going to college, it is their choice and comfort level is vitally important. If your child tours a school and doesn't like it, they won't be happy attending. So give them room to feel it out. And be prepared financially, start searching early, even as a junior in high school.

Whitney

Really check out all ascepts of the college - especially when it comes to money. Some schools could say one thing and do the completely opposite. Even going on a tour of the campus, they usually make everything seem better than what it usually is once you start going there. Think of a lot of questions before committing to a school and find someone who can answer all of them. If they meet your needs, that's probably the school you should go to! College isn't as hard as what most think. But, if you don't work hard enough, you won't get very far. It's not hard, but people won't stand over your shoulder and tell you what to do in order to succeed. College is a real eye opener. It's ok if you don't make straight A's your first year, as long as you try your best and don't give up or give in to other people's bad ideas! Remeber that you're paying for it, so make the most of it!

Jesse

First you need to check on the cost of the school you are attending. Find out how you are going to pay for everyday living expenses. Check on what your books and material is going to cost. Go to the campus and look around and most important ask question about the school and the area. Then to the student get involve in the school programs. That advantage of all the free and useful stuff your school offers. Then have time to your self. If you study too hard you will not do as good. Take one day out of the week to have time for your self and do something fun. When you do something fun don?t do something that you will regret later. Make all the new friends you can. Friends at school can help you get through school weather is it to have someone to talk to or to help you study.