St. Mary’s University Top Questions

College is more than just a school beyond highschool. When you attend college, for the college experience and not just as a school after highschool you will begin to learn more about yourself. You'll notice your strengths and weakness in social skills, your study habits, and your time management. College teaches responsibility and balance. A great college student is able to manage their time schedule for studying, as well as balance work and their social life. No more depending on every single adult in the family for help, college encourages students to step out, step up, and grow. My college experience has been valuable to my growth, my time, and my money. I have worked hard to pay for tuition and studied hard to keep my grants. I am almost able to say that I am well rounded in school, work, and social life. I recommend college to all high school graduates.

College is dynamic and so is life. The college atmosphere beings out competitiveness and realism. I have traveled the world and experienced four different colleges with the U.S. Navy. The drive you have to keep to finish college is one of pure strength. Money, children, and debt always seem to weigh in on futures. I strive to be the example of success for my children. My children do homework every night and I do as well. The push I want my children to see will reflect on their own lives. My later in life stepping stone might have a few pebbles missing here and there, but I will reach the top and my children will want to reach it too.

My college experience has been a great experience for me. I have learned and inquired a lot of educational information that will help me become successful in my professional career. I consider my college experience as an opportunity to share my intriguing personality with others. I learned how to become a better communicator and engaged in social interactions. I am very grateful for my college experience and consider my attendance in college valuable. My college experience was valuable because I learned and learning helped me to enhance my academic ability. My enhanced academic ability provided many other educational opportunities for me such as scholarships and other rewards. This would not have been achieveable if I did not attend college. I am thankful for attending college because going to college provided me with a gateway to success. Thank you

Even though I haven't really had a lot of experience in college life yet, I still feel as though I have taken a lot out of what experience I have. Before going to St. Mary's, I mostly just stayed close to my family. While I admittedly see family more often than I would if I had chosen to go to a college outside of Texas, I have learned how to live with people that aren't family, at least not by blood, daily. Over time, for some students, other students that they live with might eventually become family to them, like it has for me when it comes to my roommates. I've learned to open up more to people, and to speak up more. Even within one semester, I have come significantly more out of the shell I have been accustomed to for years, that I slightly started growing out of in high school. Becoming a more sociable and responsible adult is one of the most important things that I could get out of a college experience.

It is valuable to attend college because it is one of the few things that has made me grow in life. Since St. Mary's Univeristy is a school located in San Antonio, Tx while my hometown is in Mission, Tx I 've dealt with all the problems that I've encountered on my own. This has made me grown in a way I can not describe. Also, I have learned to manage my time and to focus on my studies, which is very important in order to make good grades and succeed in life. After being almost two years in St. Mary's Univeristy I can honestly say that If I hadn't attended college I would of regret it because it is an experience that has changed my life in so many ways.

I never realized how important highschool curriculum was until I decided that I wanted to go to college to not only better my life, but my childrens as well. Since attending college, I have gained a different perspective on life and realize how much a college education means, especially with todays economy. College has taught me discipline and respect, and has made me a better person. Although I haven't graduated I am planning to further my education so I can one day help others to realize how much education means and how valuable it is in life.

I have been able to be promoted and become a much better person all the way around. I not only have the education but am now applying the knowledge to everyday life which is also giving me the skills and often times that is what jobs wanna see. I love being in school.

Well first of all I come from a family who is a first year generation to attend a university, so when I recieved my acceptance letter that was one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. Now that I am here at St. Marys University it has drastically changed my life for the better. Being that it is a private catholic school I have really gone closer to my religion as well as God. Also St. Marys has showed me how giving back to the community is very important so I have taken the initiative to get myself invovled in Communities in Schools where I serve as a mentor to an 8 year old boy. Aside from giving back I have greatly involved myself with recycling, as a matter of fact I will be traveling to Brazil during the summer to work on a research project in Curitiba in regard to thier recycling program that has been very successful. Overall my experience is a life changing experience.

Don't slack off. As soon as you even show an ounce of laziness, karma will come back and show what a big mistake you're making. Do not let anyone get in the way of your goals, especially not yourself. You have an entire family backing you up, and they know that one day you will make something of yourself. You have friends that love you, but remember, they don't run your life, you do. Focus on your happiness, and that happiness with radiate from you onto them.

If I were to go back in time and give myself advice when planning for college, I would emphasize the need to apply for financial aid. Education is vital for anyone to succeed in life, but nobody said education was for free. However, our government and universities offer us so many opportunities to get the financial help so that we may attend the college of our choice. Currently, I am a sophomore and I am just learning about so many scholarships that I had not heard of before. Thanks to our great financial aid program at St. Mary?s University, I got a hold of a binder filled with hundreds of scholarships available for all majors and people of all ethnicities. It?s amazing of what you find out when you actually give yourself the time to do so. A university level education is expensive, but it is available for everyone, even those who think they don?t have the financial means to attain it.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about college life I would have to tell myself be ready to experience a whole other world. Although you are offered freedom and great oppurtunities, responsibilty and self-deermination are well needed in this new life. Take full advantage of your studying time in high school because you wont be able to get that chance back. Use your time wisely and more important use your time more efficent. Procrasination is a huge issue that will continue to follow you so some wise advice would be to break the habbit early, stop procratination now s it wont follow you in college. And last but not least, the most important advice is dont let fear hold you back from anything. If you want some thing go out and get it.

Looking back to when I was in high school, with all the stress of senior year, I see that everything went by quickly. By the time I knew it, I was an undergraduate in a university. Knowing what I know now, I would definitely say that college is nothing like high school. Once you are here you have freedom, but at the same time you have a lot more responsibilities. Your education, money, and life are in your hands, so do not come to college and expect to do what you desire because in the end you will have to pay for the consequences. Second, I would say, time management is key. With it, you can have fun and still be able to get work done. Time management is essential to college life, and if you aren?t familiar with this concept, you will need to be because it will help you as you enter college. Last, I would say to choose your friends wisely, and this I stress. Many students come in and become really close with another person and in the end it doesn?t turn out good. So, be responsible, work on time management, and be wise.

"Close your eyes and see; imagine the impossible, open your eyes and make it possible. Fear is a state of mind. Don?t let fear take control over you when you can control it. Grab love by the horns and never let go. Believe in everything; one day you'll realize that believing in a certain religion or God is being too selfish and close minded. Never tell one everything you know and never believe everything one tells you. Sometimes life looks like a game. It either throws a curve-ball at you or deals you the wrong hand. Conform, be creative, and work with what you have. Never give up, and persist. Sometimes you have to learn how to lose in order to learn how to win. Things turn out best for those who make the best of the way things turn out. Don?t depend on others for your own well being and don?t let others depend on you for theirs. No matter what career you pursue focus on you ethics. You can be the scientist who comes up with the only vaccine for cancer or the scientist who comes up with a disease like Anthrax.?

The biggest thing I would change is not attend a junior college. It was a waste of my time because the education I am getting here at St. Mary's is a thousand times better. I would also tell myself to be more involved on campus. It allows a student to meet new people, build more reletionships, and gain more connections in their areas of interest. Last but not least, get to know your instructors. They will help you in more ways than you can imagine.

I would tell myself to focus on high school grades. I would have recieved so much more in scholarship money if I had done better, just strived for that A instead of accepting the B or C. I would also tell myself back in high school to be ready for challenges and being in places that may scare you but will not hurt you. I would tell myself to be strong and not to be too afraid to the point of self-detriment. I would also say just to be social. Be open to new expirences and social activities.

Wouldn't rush into it I graduated at 16 and skipped my senior year.

If there is any advice I could give myself as a high school senior it would be to stay focused and time manage everything I do. During my first year as a freshman at St. Mary's University there were no parental figures of authority to make sure I was on track. It was up to me to be responsible and make sure I did what had to be done. Sometimes I got sidetracked and would have to reevaluate the thing most important which is my education. My advice would be to stay true to myself, know that my education is the most important thing, and time manage wisely. It would be to know that I have accomplished something great and now I must make sure I do even greater. There is no limit for the amount of success we are capable of, it is up to us on how far we want to take it. I wish I had known more about discipline without my parents but I know that life is an experience and I'm learning as a go. I know now what I wish I'd known then.

If I was able to go back into time and talk to myself as if I were still a high school senior I would have many things to tell myself. First I would start by telling myself to work even harder than I did during high school. During senior year in high school I wanted to cruise my last year. But now that I?m here in college I see that classes I?m taking right now are classes I could have taken then. I could have been in college ready with the right set of mind if I had pushed myself to the end. From what my older friends and family members would say about college, I thought college was one way but now I see that it is totally different. I see college in a different point of view from what they once saw. Some reasons are because the expansion of communities and inventions of technology. Another advice I would give meself is to contribute to help others and have good time management. I learned here in college that you to know how to conserve your time management around everything that happens on campus.

I wanted to go to a school that feels like a home away from home that offers an environment where I can explore all my interests while still feeling a sense of community. What ended up happening was that I didn't really do any research on schools I applied to and in the end, I came to a school that I was unhappy at. Although the school offered good financial aid, in the end, my happiness meant a lot more than money could ever mean. I hope to transfer to another school and get good financial aid there and I wished I had put more thought into college when I was applying. My advice is to do your research. College is the place where students will spend four years of their lives and it deserves a lot of thought and research. Otherwise, you might end up somewhere you're unhappy.

College isn't a place where you can show up and expect to pick up right where you left off in high school. I went to a very small all guy private school in El Paso, Texas, where a students needs were always met. Teachers and staff were always on top of us and making sure we were doing what was needed in order for us to succeed. Althoug in college it is completely different, you don't have teachers on your back constantly or the Dean making sure you are doing what you are suppose to. You have to be mentally prepared which was something I think I lacked my first semester. I struggled a lot my first semester and was unsure about what I wanted to do. I jumped ahead of myself and got in a major that was not for me. Now I find myself trying to make up for that first semester that dropped my GPA really low. Therefore I would probably tell myself to hold strong and not to give up, to be ready for whatever came my way and to be sure of what I really wanted, and not to let down.

Take every chance to learn something new. Never take education for granted as it is a doorway to opportunities that many people will never experience. Never give up hope for as soon as you stop dreaming, you die. The sky is the limit and you are only bound by what you allow yourself to accomplish.

I would tell myself to be more personable and not so quick to judge people. I would stress the importance of being accepting to all people no matter their sexuality, their religion, their color, and the way they dress. I would tell myself that creating good study habits and a "can do" attitude will be one of the most important things I learn in college, so to start know will get me so much farther ahead.

Don't be afraid. Open your mind. I was so fearful of the transition and close-minded to new people, ideas, and experiences. After having such an awesome high school experience with education, teachers, friends, and environment in general, I was convinced college would not be nearly as enjoyable. I told myself that I wouldn't establish the same kind of wonderful relationships I had. After arriving at St. Mary's, I continued to believe that no one here could possibly measure up to my old friends and teachers. Boy, was I wrong. If I could go back, I would tell myself to get out there, to not be scared or shy, to know that I was exactly where I was suppose to be with the people I was suppose to meet. I wish I would have gotten involved sooner and know that there are plenty of amazing people who wouldn't necessarily take the place of those in high school, but they would still be just great.

If I could go back and talk to myself, I would say, "Amanda, even though you're away from home for the first time and you want to try a million new things, you have your whole life to do that. I'm not telling you not to have fun, or to not make new friends, I'm just saying that you need to be just as careful about your school work at St. Mary's as you are about it in high school. You have this idea of college just like everyone else, but things are not always as they seem. This is one of those things. Work hard, study harder and make your mark. It doesn't have to be a giant foot print, just something that you know makes you happy. Focus on what you love and fight hard for it. Do you best. That's all anyone can ever ask of you." That's what I would tell myself. A mini-pep talk it is, but sometimes, that's exactly what someone needs. Most high school seniors have no idea what they're getting themselves into when they start college.

I would have to say visit the campus and look into a overnight stay. Get a tour during the Fall session when all the students are present. If teh campus feels safe and home-like than its where you belong.

Starts off with what school who have always wanted to go to for college since a kid. Visit the campus too see how it feels. Look into information about the school and how succedful people after they graduate there. If you dont have enough to afford, looks ways to pay for, including loans because in the end, it will be worth it. And make sure you get innvoled on your campus to get the full feel of being a college student.

The advice I would give is search, search, search! Look for what you want in a school and you will find.

St. Mary's University is a great place to get a great education. The cost to go here is expensive so i would edvice to get the aid and payments on time or else it will be hard to get it done later on.

My advice would be to begin the search with a goal in mind. Don't pick the school for the beautiful campus or for the dorms, but for the academics. Does the school offer you a degree that can pack a punch? Also, it is important to find a school that offers good advising. Honestly, a good academic advisor is a big part of achieving success in college.

find alot of scholarships

don't just look at the price look for quality not quantity

Don't look for a career that pays the most money but instead for a career that will give the most happiness! Money comes and goes but being happiness with everyday life is so important!!! Look for a college that will expose you to differen ideas and situtions of life and our amazing world.

To make the most of a college experience, I would say that students need to remain true to who they are. There are pressures in college, no matter where you go, that reach everybody. So staying true to yourself, but also adapting to the "college lifestyle" is very important. Being open is a big part of this. Though some people, like myself, are more quiet and shy than others, being open to the people you meet and the new things you are learning is a very important part of adapting to college and making the transition from home easier. Another important thing to remember in college is to do as much as you can handle. I know that students and parents might think this sounds strange, but being involved will help with the previous topic, help the student grow as an individual, and looks good on a resume. That never hurts! I'm not saying that extracurriculars should take over a student's life, I'm just saying that being involved helps students make friends, expand personally, get involved on campus, help the community, and help set the stage for their careers and the rest of their lives.

Finding the right college can be a stressful decision for students. A student should conduct research on a variety of colleges they are thinking of attending and pick the college he or she likes. Visiting the campus and classes should give the student a taste of what that particular college has to offer. Finding the right college can be a stressful decision for students. A student should conduct research on a variety of colleges they are thinking of attending and pick the college he or she likes. Visiting the campus and classes should give the student a taste of what that particular college has to offer. ?What college am I going to be happy at?? This question should be posed to the student deciding which college to attend. The college that the student is most happy at is the one surely to grant the student that perfect college experience. Making friends, being part of organizations on campus, and talking to your professors on a daily basis will make a student's college experience a memorable one. Finally, what the student learns in college is detemined by how much the student is willing to put forth the effort in college life.

I would advise parents and students to look not only at the academics of a school, but also at the community. I think that the community is often overlooked, but it is one of the most important parts of life on any campus. While academics are obviously important, there are so many colleges that you can find a campus in an area you like that also fits your needs academically. If you are not comfortable with the feel of the campus, that will infringe deeply on your schoolwork. If being around family is important to you, it will be hard to be comfortable far from home, and that will impact both social and academic aspects of your life. In the same vein, it's important to choose a school that is a comfortable size for you. Just because a school is better known does not make it the best fit. Understanding what makes you comfortable and what makes you excel will make a world of difference in your college experience.

Do campus tours to get a feel for the university!

Talk to the school staff and faculty, get a feel for how oriented they are on helping students. Secondly, be sure to visit the schools your are considering. Walk the school during a school day and on a weekend, especially if you plan on living on campus and staying during weekends. Check what types of organizations they have and how easy it is to join them. Check how successfully they are on placing students for internships and jobs after graduation. Last of all, talk to students that are already attending the school to see how they like it. But make sure you talk to the students that are just there on campus, not those that are escorting the visitors around and things like that, you want to get the truth of how it is like there.

My advice to parents and/or students on choosing a college is to start small with a two year community college that has a two plus two program. It can save you quite a bit of money. You can follow a degree plan that has credits that can be transferred to a four year university. Keep in mind that private universities may not accept all credits. Two year community college gives you a chance to see what you want to pursue and complete your core classes. When choosing a university, take a tour of the campus first. This gives you an opportunity to see if it is the type of atmosphere you want and if you would feel comfortable there. Make sure to check what the college specializes in and what type of degree plans they offer. It will be easier to choose a school that best suits your needs. Finally, there are scholarships, grants and student loans available and should be taken advantage of. Start your search as early as your senior year of high school. If you keep these few things in mind, finding a college suited for you will make for a smooth transition.

Just see what college fits you the best. Dont judge it on what everyone else says, but where you feel most at home and welcomed.

Really research your type of school and the inhabitants that are there. You really need to find a school that is as well-rounded as you a place where you can find your niche, a good set of friends and always some good caffiene for the long nights. Diversity is always a good option, but make sure that you are adaptable to the campus, professors should always be willing to help you out but a good social life, with not too much partying is really a good balance. Find out who in your department is really open to telling you about their students, the sororities and fraternities. (These groups make a big difference in the social aspect of college) Overall, visiting your campus and using their public facilities like the gym and cafeteria can really give you insight to if a school is fitting for you!

I would advise to investigate as much as they can, to ask many questions as they can to everyone from every campus they are considering.

I would tell parents and students to look at the whole aspect of the school. Just looking at academics is ignoring the fact that your school is often also your home for several years. Being comfortable with the community and the type of students that go to the school is just as important as the academics of the school. Also, find a school that offers class sizes that you are comfortable with, because this will greatly affect your ability to succeed. Be aware, especially at smaller schools, that much of the socialization happens in the first weeks, so be prepared to go on a limb and be outgoing. Never lie on roommate applications to make yourself sound better. It can be an awful year if you don't get a compatible roommate. Lastly, don't forget that it's still school, even though it's not like what you've probably known as school. Don't forget to find a balance between studying and socializing.

The best advise from my experience would be for in-coming freshmen to stay in the dorms at the university for the first year, this is the best way for students to make friends and get to know people, as well as having the availability of their peers for help on school assignments and projects. Staying at the dorms is also a great way for students to better interact with activities and organizations that the university has to offer. For the first year living in the dorms, it can be a great way for students to learn how to live with a roommate(s), and share tasks that could/ would be applied in life later down the road.

Anywhere a student goes can be a worthy investment. However, to really make it the great learning experience, I encourage students to really think about their priorities and what they want and choose that which will make them happiest in the long run.

Choosing the right college for you is one of the most difficult things you'll ever have to do. There's no "right-way" to turn or path to follow that will assure you that the choice you make will be the best for you. The only thing you can do is go out there and visit every college/university that you're interested in. College can get expensive and there's nothing wrong with settling for a school that is willing to pay for 3/4 of your tuition as long as you get a decent education out of it. At St. Mary's they provide almost 3/4 of my tuition and i still have to take out loans every year for $10,000 not to mention the $900 i pay every semester out of pocket. Finding the right school is something you'll just feel in your heart. It's something you know is right as soon as you step on campus and start mingling with the faculty and students. The college that's right for you will feel like your home away from home. So make the best of it, join as many things as possible.

In order to find the right college you need to sit down and look at what values are most important to you. From these values or expectations that you have for a school look at the college that best captures all your values, or at least the most important. For example, if family is important to you and you are close to them you should probably look for a college close to home verses one that is far away or out-of-state. Also the best way to determine if a college is right for you, you need to ask current students how they like it in order for you to get a feel of how the college is from the inside.

I belive that you should visit the campus before deciding which one to attend. Notice the atmosphere, the surroundings, the interaction of students. You will know which one is the right school for you. Being comfortable and enjoying the school is top notch. Also make sure that financial aid is available so that you are able to attend you full course years. I would also recommend a setting with small class rooms so that you are able to interact with the professors and know all the students.

I would advice students to think real hard at what kind of enviroment they want to be in. There are many factors that made me decide to go to St. Mary's University. I first decided that I did not want to be in houston anymore but that I still wanted to be in a university in the city. I also said that I wanted to leave but not I did not want to be so far away from home. San Antonio seemed like the perfect place. A student has to also take into consideration the size of the university. I decided in a small university because I wanted small classes. As for the parents I believe that they should help their children in visiting universities. It really helps to visit the university before diciding to go there.

Keep your mind open and look for the college that will make you the most comfortable. If you like smaller classes than look for one that has a close staff to student statistics.

Find a place that feels like home