Southern Virginia University Top Questions

Many students, including myself, had a slight fear when transitioning into the so-called "real world" of college life. This entails a much more predominant financial, educational, and social weight than ever experienced before. However, many transitions in life are inevitable. All we can do is roll with what we are given and hope that there will be someone to guide us along the way. The biggest piece of advice I would give myself would be to simply enjoy the transition for what it's worth. In retrospect, I probably took high school too seriously in many regards. And although balancing a social life is important, I also probably worried too much about what people thought about me. But, I digress... My advice? Dance around in the hallways more. Talk to people outside your cliques. Make friends with teachers. Schoolwork in high school is important, but it is static and somewhat trivial-- concentrate on finding out who you are. High school is light compared to the weight of college. Enjoy and embrace your freedom-- college boasts freedom too, but a different kind.

College is a transition. Coming fresh from high school, it's easy to feel like you're just taking another step forward through the high school experience instead of climbing up the steep staircase that leads to adulthood. Everything is pretty much the same-classes, sports, clubs, and tuitions, but the attitude and emotional atmosphere is completely different. You no longer have the set of rules or immediate and direct consequences that kept you tied to your responsibilities in high school. You are only tied to yourself and what you want for yourself or what you are determined and dicsiplined to keep. If you don't really know what that is, it will be difficult for you to keep up with the responsibilities. It won't affect you as immediately and directly as before, but the slap of reality will eventually come in a much harsher way with a longer sting after it hits. While it's difficult to transition from being a teenager in school to being an adult earning a degree all in one summer, it's necissary if you want to be successful. Don't waste time, slowly build yourself into the adult you would admire now!

If I were still in high school, the one thing I would tell myself would be one simple thing; work hard, save now. In fact, save ten years ago. No one ever told me that college was expensive. I was never told to save money because college was going to burn a hole in my pocket. During my senior year of high school I had no savings and complete intent on attending college. It wasn't until I realized how much money I would have to take out in student loans that I started to think, "Wow, I really should have saved up for this." Refusing to shorthand myself by attending a second-rate college, or start my life in debt, I decided to take a year off of school and save up funds so that I could attend my desired college without worrying about money. Currently, and for the past 7 months, I have been working three jobs and 75-80 hours a week so that I can build a better future for myself. Only now do I understand the value of hard work and the importance of staying out of debt.

"Don't pick the school based on basketball. It's not going to turn out well, and it'll just be a frustration later. The other thing is your major- change it. Sports management was a cool idea but you'll be super bored in the classes. Philosophy is a better pick, and you'll enjoy the work. Outside of class, I know you hate working out, but after the seaso,n you really should consider going to the gym. (You do gain the freshmen fifteen, it just hits you later.) Other then that don't pack so many books; you're never going to read what you brought. However, leaving those books at home will give you space to accumulate more books- and these you'll actually read. Now you'll read these when you should be doing homework, but in end they work as motivators to get the homework done." To myself, from me.

If i could go back in time to my senior year of high school i would tell myself a lot of things. I would tell myself not to worry so much about the smalls things in life and focus on the bigger things. I would encourage myself to make goals for my future and stick to those goals no matter what. I would also tell myself to go to SVU to start out with instead of the University of Missouri, this would have really helped my GPA as a freshman. It is more important to get your homework done than it is to be out till fourin the morning with a cute boy. If i could give myself those few words of advice i think my freshman year would have gon a whole lot smoother.

I would tell myself, "Care less about what other people think. Be yourself. Think outside of the box, be more analytical. Do not push yourself so hard, because you know what you are doing, you know how to get where you need to go, so you should not stress yourself so much. You know where you are going, you know where you came from. Now act on that, do not wait until the last minute to be sure of what you want. Take it and go with it. You are capable of being strong and independant. You work hard. Keep working hard, because it will pay off. Keep good friends, because they will either make you or break you. Pay more attention in math, learn to like it, or at least learn how to do it. Keep reading, because you learn so much from it. Stop worrying about the drama. It will not matter after graduation. Be more outgoing and more aware of the people around you. Do not be so easily discouraged. You really can do and be whatever you want to be, if you only set your mind to it. Set the bar high, you will succeed."

The advice I would give to myself as a High School senior would be to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. There have been and still will be many opportunities for me to learn and gain experience in life and it is important to take advantage of those opportunities. To take the extra religion classes, or participate in travel study programs, or volunteer at Project Horizon or a local hospital, just anything that would help me grow emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, or mentally. I would suggest to all to take advantage of programs and clubs that are offered on their campus or in the local community. Out in the world you recieve a totally different kind of education than in the classroom.

My college experience has been priceless thus far. I wouldn't trade it for anything. It has been vastly different than I had imagined, but I have learned a great deal. I have learned the value of work, and how to get things done. I have learned about scheduling and planning, making goals, and prioritizing. I have learned that things don't always go as planned. Although being a perfectionist usually results in good products, it is not always the wisest method. I have learned to manage my stress and balance my life. I have learned about true friendship, relationships without high school drama, and about love. Most importantly, I have learned about myself. I have a much better idea of who I am, what I want and where I am headed in life. My classes have enlarged by view of the world and taught me to ask questions and find the answers. Knowing who I am and how to learn are skills that will help me succeed throughout my entire life. It has been a hard journey, but as I said earlier, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

To this point of my college expeirence I have learned that it is very important to speak up, get involved, serve, and do my best. Southern Virginia taught me those values. I attended another college that did not show these values. While in High School I was the only Mormon in my school and wanted to have the opportunity to be surrounded by Mormons and to have the benefit of a diverse campus. Although the majority of people here are Mormon there are still some that are not, they are respected and valued and make a huge impact. We have a lot of International students which gives a lot of opportunities to meet and learn about other ethnic groups. I am so excited to be at school at Southern Virginia University because the atmosphere, values, and challenging school work allow growth with a wonderful support system. Although school is stressful and there is stress on this campus we are able to get things done that we need to and are able to succeed and feel completely empowered with the choices that we make. This University has given me an amazing education with amazing teachers who help and care about me.

I started college last summer and learned so much since then. College is more hands on than high school, and I learn better by doing something, so I benefit from the college experience. Also, college has taught me responsibility and time management. I no longer have my parents there to tell me to do my homework and get things done. I have to get myself to clean, do my homework, and get all the necessary things done. Time management is a huge thing I had to learn when starting college. Getting up in the morning, being on time for class, making sure I had enough sleep at night, taking time for homework instead of doing something else were all key factors that I learned through college. Also, with today's society attending college is a must in getting hired at a job. Even if the job does not require a college education, the person who has the college diploma will get the job over the person who does not. Lastly, the people I met at college are ones that I will never forget. Overall, college has made me a better and stronger person, and it is very valuable to attend.

College will change my life, from where it is now to be more independant. I believe that education is very important to improve your life. It is said that Knowledge is Power. With out knowledge I can not improve my sitituation. I plan to take this knowlege and better my life for me and my family with a full time job that pays better than minimum wage.

During my time at Southern Virgina University i have been taught effective ways to study. I have made many important contacts that are well connected in my field. I have learned how to be a leader servant as concert master of the small orchestra here. I am not a music major but was able to fill a gap in the orchestra. I have learned of the joy that comes from serving my fellow man at our regonal area medical drives that give free medical care to those that stand in need but cannot afford. I have learned tenacity and hard work from small classrooms and professors that do not comprimise on thier core outcomes and expectations. This school has excellent professors that are leaders in their fields and well experianced. The student body here as a whole is involed in the community, has a spirit of service about them, and a dedication to academic exellence. I feel confident in my abilities and that no matter what situation I may be faced with, thanks to what i have learned here i know i can succeed. I have already started preperation for the L-SAT and i am confident I will excell.

So far, I would describe my experience at Southern Virginia University as a very positive one. Being at a school of under 1000 students and in a city of under 10,000 people really makes you feel like you are part of a tight knit community, and not just another fish in the sea. It's been a great experience for myself as a student, because I feel like my questions and needs are met by the professors, and they genuinly care about my well being on an academic level, as well as a spiritual level. I have thrived in SVU's academic environment thus far, and don't see any reason on why things would change any time soon. At first, I was nervous to come to school at SVU because of the strict rules and the rigid format things seemed to be laid out in, but in time I've grown to love the standards here and appreciate the emphasis placed on becoming a leader/servant, and know that I'll be a better person for the things I've learned from this university.

Even with my learning disability, and high cost of living, It is time for a change to improve my family income through going to college can assist me in giving my family better life. For William J Johnson receiving a college degree is chance to improve the family income, give me a better career. Because the ability to put food on the table, light in home will stay on; Have better life for family give me as the husband to hand my wife a safe home to my wife and family. My wife won’t have to worry about wear will our next meal come from. College experince at Henderson Community College is teaching me daily i need learn more in addtion work hard in learning new things and don't give up. Scholarship will help pay for private tutor assist for the whole spring class.

During these past few months at Southern Virginia University, I have been blessed in many ways. From orientation to classes, the entire experience has been wonderful. I have gained more understanding of the both myself and the world. I am currently taking a philosopy class, something that I never planned on doing. Philosophy is not something that I ever imagined myself studying, but the small class size here and the wonderful professors have made even a difficult subject like philosophy interesting. It has been valuable to attend this university because I have been blessed with wondeful lessons. I have learned about the nature of the soul from classes as well as the nature of humanity from literature. The opportunity to attend college has enriched my life. In coming away from my family to attend college, I have been able to truly discover myself.

Upholding a high GPA is not only a good idea, it's essential if you want to get to the places you dream of. You need more than luck and wit to achieve, you need skills and optimism. It's alright to make mistakes, as long as you correct them when you learn better. Be respectful to your teachers, because some of them will inspire and encourage you for years to come. Listen to your parents when they tell you to manage your time wisely, because this ability will dictate whether or not you succeed in college. Pay attention to your friends, give and accept encouragement with them as you all enter this new phase of life together. Treat everyone as if they have a broken heart. Above all else, never give up!

Time travel, the impossible dream of the modern world. What is so appealing about time travel? True there are many uses, most of them dishonest and bent on self-gain. many people say that they would use time travel to go back and bet on a certain sports team or pick a ceertain to win lottery number. Few admit to thinking of bettering their past selves in a way that is beyond financial gain. Honestly, a nice sum of money falling right into your lap is a very appealing idea, especially when it can pay for your entire college tuition, but even more important then financial gain is learining about oneself and the world around you. If i could go back in time, I would advise myself to look past the wordly items, as appealing as they are, and to look at my life and ask myself what am I doing? I would stress the importance of that question and then I would encourage me to stpp being idle, don't just laze around staring off into space, grab a book and learn. There is nothing more exciting and self-fulfilling then having knowldegeof and understanding the world aroud you.

I would tell my self to apply for more scholarships and don't worry so much. Be yourself, you make the best friends when you just be yourself right from the start. Don't get overwhelmed from the homework load, Its really not that bad. And relax and enjoy college, it will be the best years of your life!!!

The advice I would offer to myself if I could go back and do so would be to work diligently, and stay focused and my academics. It has taken me longer to obtain my higher education because of the immaturity I exhibited coming out of high school. I jumped into a junior college after high school, becuase that was suppossed to be the next step. I floated through my classes, and wasn't focused nor diligent in my studies. I spent two years out of the country on the islands of Samoa serving a church mission to being a servant for the people within the community. That was an extrememly positive expereince for me, and it taught me how to study and work diligently. I had to learn another language to communicate it was a very daunting task. I would tell myself that you get out of life what you put in. Succuess is earned everyday to those that WORK for it.

Welcome to the real world. You can not just 'do enough to get by'. The curriculum is much more challenging than high school; you have to work for your grades. In regards to a social life, you can come out of your shell a little more. There are so many things to get involved in-things you did not know would pique your interest. Don't be afraid to 'sail into uncharted waters'.

Self, You know what you have learned so far, be your own person, be an individual. This is the one of the most important lessons life has to offer, don't forget it. College will allow you to become your own self more than ever, choose a school that will give you freedom to become whoever you want to be, not one that mass produces assembly line clones. I recommend SVU highly. There you won't be programmed to perform a function, you will learn to think like and be an individual. Life is dynamic, and individuality is important to succeeding. Odds are you will change occupations several times before you retire, so don't worry so much about having a set "career path," just get an education, learn, think, grow, become an enlightened individual and you will find many opportunities open to you. Other than that you are in good shape. Have fun, work hard, and be yourself.

If I had the opportunity to give my self advice as a high school senior, I would say, "Get involved!" The transtition to college life can be very difficult; however, it is much easier if you get involved and by doing so create a support system for yourself. In searching for colleges be sure to find a school that hosts programs and activities that you are interested in on a regular basis. There are many incredible and interesting people on a college campus to learn from, but you will never come to know them if you seclude yourself in your dorm room! Strive to find a balance between school, work, and fun! Doing so is absolutely necessary ito maintain sanity at critical periods during the semester, like midterms! Getting involved in study groups or tutoring is a wonderful way to do well academically! The key is to put yourself out there and get involved in your campus community!

Finding the right college is a very important and tough decision. My best advice I can give would be to, if possible, visit the schools the student is interested in. I was not sure where i wanted to go to college, but after I attened an open house for the shool I knew thats where I was supposed to go. Also make sure the school will work for the student and their family; financially, religiously, and in its location. Finding the right college is not just about the school itself and the acedemics, its about the location and the setting of the school. The right school is different for every student and its important to make sure all aspects of college are looked at before deciding on which one to attend.

Search for schools that allow for your values. Do your research and talk to the professors before attending. Attend an open house!

Southern Virginia is a wonderful school and it will continue to grow and expand. However the school will never allow itself to getso big that it alienates the students. We will always be seen as people, and young scholars rather than just a number. It is impossible not to have friends or feel like you do not belong because everyone is so ready to love and accept you, faculty and students alike. The administration is remarkable and concerned about our wellfare and our future and urge us to succeed and improve in order to become leader-servants and give back to the community and our society. Southern Virginia is a beautiful place full of amazing minds and talents and it is only getting better. It is well worth a look and if you come in the fall I assure you, you will never want to leave our Eden. The mountains offer a serene quiet place to study, ponder and reflect and gives you plenty of oppotunities to discover who you really are.

It is so important to know the environment you will be in so it is important to visit the schools you are considering. It is also important that you know what you want from a college and find out what the prospective schools have to offer so you will not be disappointed. You should also learn about the rules of the school because if you don't, you could be breaking a rule that you didn't know existed. I think the most important things are that students are not forced to go to college or a particular college because they will be the one going through the experiences of a new life. The next most important thing is to have an opened mind about the school you choose. I have had a great experience at my college because I was very opened to new things.

I would advise you as a student to think about what kind of atmosphere you want to be in. That will affect your entire college expereience. As a parent, I would look financially what would be the best situation for your family. Does the school offer financial aid? Are they willing to help with scholarships? To make the most out of your experience I feel that you need to keep in mind why you are there. You are there to learn but making long lasting friendships is another huge part of the process.

While searching for what college would be best, the best thing to do is go to the campus and personally experience what it is like at that college or university and then make an educated decision.

Pray about it.

Decide what it is about your high school that you like and dislike, and start from there.

Make sure you're comfortable with the people and surroundings, that they have the major that you are interested in, and when someone tells you that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the campus, don't believe them. Look for the bad in the campus as well as the good so it doesn't surprise you later.

You don't need to know what you want to "be when you grow up" before you start school... very few ever do... some never do. In fact; I think that is irrelevant to life in general. If you can't be happy until you get where you're going... you will never be happy. Career goals are like horizons, once you get there you see another one in the distance, which is a good thing if you enjoy the journey. When you think about a campus; make sure you can be happy in the here and now of it all. Chances are, if you enjoy your schooling, you will enjoy your life. You often hear people say: "Enjoy college; best years of your life." But I seriously doubt that a younger, sleep deprived, final-exam-stricken version of that person would say the same thing, however; I can imagine someone saying, "Chemistry final was a killer! Good class though, huh?" and that same person, in retrospect will say "Enjoy college; life is too short not to."

Find a college that fits your social needs and one that will provide the best structure for your academic success.

To the parents, let your kids make the decision it will be them that will be spending the next four plus years at the school, so if you opinions are different talk to your child are really listen to what they have to say and how they feel about the schools that are or are not right for them. To the students, don't fall behind. Stay on top of your school work. The worst thing you can do is fall behind from the beginning. Do your school work and i promise that you will still have time for fun.

My best advice to parents and/or students who are involved in the search for the right school is to start early. I began looking at different colleges through search engines such as Peterson's during my sophomore year. By using a search engine I was able to search for what I wanted and get a list of schools that would fit my needs. I wanted a smaller campus and a school with a very good Business program. I also was a constant in the guidance office in my high school, scanning viewbooks from colleges all over like it was my job. Due to the fact that I started a search so early I realized what I wanted, and what I was absolutely not looking for. This search eventually lead me to Southern Virginia University. It was my top pick for almost 2 years to the date when I got accepted. A student who is in the search for the perfect college needs to start early in order to weed out all the schools that will not provide them with what they need and to find that perfect fit that will provide them with knowledge for the real world.

Many students use college as an opportunity to find themselves. So my advice would be to pick a college that is going to help you become the person you'd like to be five years from now. If you think partying and having a good time is all that is important then it doesn't really matter where you go and I wonder why you're even bothering. But if you're like me and you have goals and dreams and are willing to work hard and do whatever it takes to reach them, then make sure you pick a school that opens doors to your interests because ultimately if you don't, you'll always wonder if you could have succeeded had you choosen another college. And let me emphasize "variety of interests" you want a school that isn't going to draw limits, you want a school that is going to broaden your life experiences and give you a chance to learn everything you can "hands on". Lastly, if you want to rise to the top, learn how to serve classmates in leadership positions, it'll help you grow as a person and as a leader.

Look for a good environment, and not the biggest school either. Small school means that your child will get more one on one time with their teachers. And they will feel more at home because they will make many friends and you don't have to worry about them having friends that are into bad things.

Have an idea about what you would like to study, and make sure that your school offers that. Be sure that the location of the school is where you want (or the type of atmosphere). Make sure that tuition is something that you find resonable for what they offer. Check to see if they have clubs etc that you are interested in.

When picking the right college I feel the student needs to research what colleges they would like to go and then pray about. Pray about it as a family and then let the student pray about it by themselves. Trust you son or daughter with the choice that they had made. Making the most of the college experience get involved! Meet new people and always particpate in class make your teachers notice you as someone who has a desire to learn and always be exrtremly friendly with the college's faculty and staff they are the ones who do most things for you while you are there. Just remember to smile and have a great attiutde about your school and life.

First off, do your research. Find out general facts about the school. Size, cost, etc. Then, compare those factors to other options on your choice list. If a school on there sounds better than most, you should go visit it. Stay there long enough to go to some activities and socialize with the people. Both students and staff. Maybe even attend some classes. Observe how you feel when you are on the campus. Does it suit your personality? Could you see yourself coming to that school and liking it? Keep a journal or record these thoughts. If there was more than one school you visited, then compare your feelings and observances. Take some time to ponder these things in your mind. It is a big decision and you should cover all the bases before you commit. It is better to take more time deciding because you will graduate quicker and happier if you chose the place you will get your degree. It will reduce stress in the future because you won't have to repeat the decision process again and worry about transfer credits. It takes a leap of faith, but if it feels right, let nobody stop you.