The University of Findlay Top Questions

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

Jackie

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to work even harder in college. Don't get behind on your readings for classes and study even more than you think you should. But more importantly, be more outgoing. Get involved in more clubs, talk to more people and don't limit yourself to a group of people that you don't even know if you'll be friends with after freshman year. Keep yourself focused on your passion, the reason why you're going to college in the first place. Keep volunteering with people with disabilities because they'll be your entire world throughout college. But the best advice I could give myself is to just be happy, work hard, and have a great time!

Brittany

It does not matter what a school costs as far as tuition goes. You need to fallow your instincts and go to a school you fit into and not let people talk you out of it.

Tyler

In high school, I didn't understand the importance of taking as many classes for college dual credit as possibile. Not only are these classes cheaper in high school, but they better prepare you for the college environment. Classes in college are bigger, with less student-teacher interaction. Had I known then, I would have enrolled in as many college dual credit classes as possible in order to get some electives and even major classes out of the way before reaching college. That would jumpstart me directly into my major instead of taking the required general education courses. I could start college studying for the career I would like later in life. In addition, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible. College is expensive. Not only must you pay for tuition, food and books, but also day-to-day living expenses. These could include rent, utilities, gasoline, course fees, etc. Therefore I would apply for all available scholarships and even save money from my job in order to provide myself with a suffiencient starting amount.

Madalyn

If I could go back and give myself advice, I would encourage my past self to do better in Physics, Anatomy and College English. These three classes my senior year have helped me tremendously in college. I complained a lot when I was taking these courses, but I am forever thankful I took advantage of my resources. I would also tell myself to complete as many scholarships as possible. I knew it was important but, I wish I would have searched for more that applied to my degree. The last piece of advice I would give myself would include shadowing. I wish I would have shadowed all of my local veterinarians and recieved as much experience as possible before starting my freshman year of college. This is very important not only for college and job applications, but for myself and to learn more.

Kendra

Assuming I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior and give myself advice about the college transition, I would tell myself to not hold back. I would tell myself to not doubt my talent and hard work. I would tell myself to not let others hold me back from being involved on campus. I would tell myself to be happy with who I am and to have the confidence to pursue my interests despite what others decide to do for themselves. I wish I wouldn't doubt myself, but rather go forward whole-heartedly and accept the posssibility of defeat. There are no regrets in trying.

Brittany

If I could advise myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get more involved. I worked very hard in school, but I never took time to get involved whether it was in sports or school government. In college, I have learned that getting involved is both important and beneficial. It's a great way to make friends, and it looks good on applications. In high school, I always had my nose in the books. If I would have gotten involved more, it would have made my senior year ten times better. I didn't have very many friends, and I now see that getting involved makes more friendships possible. I never played any sports, and now I wish that was an experience I could have had. In high school, nobody told me to do those things. Although I can't go back to tell myself, I am always encouraging young students to get involved.

Jessica

I have grown in more than one way since High School and if I had the chance to go back and give advice to myself I would without a doubt take the opportunity. First and foremost I would say take as many college prep courses as possible and work hard to receive the best grades in all the classes. If you do not understand something ask questions until you do understand. Focus on school first and friends second. Although friends are important, planning for your future is imperative at this time. Do not worry about what others say or think of you because once you’re in college chances are they will not be around anyway. If you choose to slack off it will take you much longer to graduate college. Some may tell you that college is not a possibility for you but, do not listen. Remember you can do anything and you can be anything however, you must work hard to get there. Time is of the essence so choose to not waste one more moment.

justin

I would lie. I personally do not half the greatest study skills, but i still get A and B grades easily. If I could go back and talk to myself, I would tell myself that I need to buckle down and go the extra mile. However, knowing myself, I would have blown this off like the others who told me that I needed to imporve my habits. Therefore, I would exaggerate the necessity of imporving my habits. I would essentially scare myself into thinig that if I did not change my habits, that i would have a horrible life. This would then make me have a reason to imporv my studies and cause me to got better grades now. It would also form the habits necesarry to keep my grades up throughout all my school years ahead of me.

Michelle

If I could go back in time and give advice to my undergraduate self, I would tell them two things: make sure to get an internship and double major! At the time I had no idea how invaluable internships are when seeking employment. Not only do they give you a skill set and experiences that can be applicable in whatever career you choose after graduation, but they also show potential employers how you handle yourself in a real world, professional setting. Internships are also a good way to test out the career you think you want before committing yourself to it. My major was something a bit esoteric, Japanese, and I really wish someone would have given me the advice to still pursue a degree in what I was interested in, but to also double major in something that would give me more skills in the working world. Being able to speak a foreign language is great, but I would be even more marketable if I had matched that with something practical such as business or accounting. These pieces of advice would have been invaluable to me, but unfortunately some things can only be learned in hindsight.

Colin

There are a few things that, as a high school student, you don't realize are extremely important in transitioning into a great college student; one of which is time management. In high school, I would come home and do things that were fun to me and forget about the days work at school until around 10 o'clock in the evening. This attitude as any kind of student does not equate to a good student's attitude. In college time management is absolutely imperative to getting good grades and reducing the stress put on yourself (by allowing proper sleep, getting homework finished earlier, etc.). Another piece of advice that I would have give myself as a high schooler would have been learn to study and learn to do it often. In high school I did not have to study and in college studying is necessary. I did not know how to study going into college which meant that my first few weeks were much more hectic than they needed to be. Studying is something that needs to be done often and effectively in college and in high school I did not know how to do that.

Chelsea

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would probably give myself the advice to avoid getting sick with the awful virus known as senioritis. I would tell myself that even though I was taking fairly easy classes at my high school and community college and I knew I would get an A anyway, to not slack off and do the minimum work required. It really kills you your first sememster of college at an actual university. Also, I would tell myself to get to know my roommate better before I came to school. For example, text her more, find out her interests, and what we had in common. I would have told myself to prepare for homesickness and for separation anxiety from my dog. Finally, I would have informed myself to not be afraid of being myself as soon as I arrived, because it makes it a lot harder now.

Alberta

If I know thenlwould study harderto enable me to get a good GPA. The foundation I lay inhigh school is whats going to take me through my college academic degree. So if I were to go back I would be an advocate for high school children to be serious and dedicated to their school work for instance someone wants to go into Pharmacy. I would educate them about what classes they need to take to strengthened them before they get toPharmacy school cos its adifficilt programin the sense that they are harder cls.have also started from a private school to get a good foundation and the skills I need to help me succeed in graduate school,Knowing that one comes from a poor background I would encouraged them to learn hard to get a good GPA to enable them to get schorlarships for college. This is pertaining to people coming from third world countries and not only that but also poor background about education in the U.S. I would educate them and insist in doing programs they can get jobs in even when they return back to their home country so they can educate the less fortunate ones.

Chelsea

If I could give my high school self advice, I would relay the same information that I am currently sharing with my siblings. College is a whole new world, where you will without a doubt study hard, but also make new and lifelong friends. Going to college is an opportunity that I think all Americans should take advantage of. I have grown so much not only in knowledge but as a person. College has given me opportunities to volunteer, to meet new people, to network, and to learn. During high school I couldn't imagine ever growing up, moving out of my parents' house, and essentially doing almost everything on my own. I would tell myself not to worry, that things do get better, and there are some amazing people out there that are dying to meet you. I was bullied mercilessly in high school, but college has allowed me to really show people who I am and what I can offer.

Wesleigh

I would tell myself not to give up and to always give my hardest effort. College has been a huge transition, but it's been a lot of fun. Keep trying hard and never quit studying.

Timothy

Take AP classes so you do not have to take them in college.

Joshua

If I could go back in time and talk to my senior high school self, I would let him know that it is okay that he takes things slow, but that he does not need to worry so much. The staff and faculty on campus are there to support him and have been in his shoes and God will also be there to take care of him. I would let him know that he should relax, continue to focus on writing, and apply for a few more scholarships. My younger self would also need to know that there are varying degrees of friendship, that not everyone he is going to meet is going to be a close friend, but many will be good friends who will see you through. I would also let him know to continue to be patient, that despite his fears, he is going to do just fine in college and in life. His journey would be slower than most, but in the end it would help him to grow into being a leader, into a person who could encourage and help those around him to the point that they too could move forward in their lives.

Tara

If i could go back in time and give myself advice about college life, i would tell myself that Findlay is not at all what you expect. Since its a mostly Equine dominated school i assumed the students there would be rich and stuck up. I came to Findlay without knowing anyone and no roommate to lean on, i assumed everyone would be mean to me because i was a freshmen. This was not the case at all, everyone was so warm and welcoming. I made friends within the first day, and within a month i found a best friend that im sure will be life long.

misty

If I could go back and have a conversation with my high school self, I think I would tell myself the same thing everyone else would; to buckle down and work harder! I would also tell myself to not take a break from school. Although I was undecided about "what to be when I grew up", I would say to at least take the basic college courses and what you will figure out what to be in life. Life is so much harder than what a high school student realizes, especially without a college education. I don't think children really know or understand how the real world is and as much as teachers try to prepare you for life, one never really understands until they experience it for themselves.

Jessica

The advice i would give my self, is college is a great experience and everything i have completed in high school will and does pay off in the long run. All the notes i ever took will come in hand so dont throw them out.. The one main piece of adivice i would give my self is too, know where the classrooms are before the first day of college and sit in the front and not be scared of the teacher or the fact that there are older adults in the classrooms, because everyone deserves a college degree.

Victoria

If I could give myself any advice as a high school senior it would be to start looking earlier in my HS career for scholarships and grants! I would have advised myself to apply to as many as possible and never give up hope! There are thousands of programs out there looking to help students, such as this one. I never had parents who pushed me to fund my future education and I often felt discouraged. I have found that there is nothing harder than wanting to go to college and not having the financial resources needed. So if I could go back in time, I would find motivation in the things that moved me. I would have started early and stayed on top of my progress scholarship hunting so that I could afford to attend the college I do without the daily worries about money. Filling out scholarships may be a long process, but it is quite the rewarding process.

Megan

Take everything in school seriously, especially the SAT and ACT testing. You may think it was a joke then and not important, but it is the same thing with GRE for grad school. Scores mean everything and it can sometimes mean more scholarship money which will make life much easier when you have to start paying back your student loans!

Jessica

Go to college for the right reasons. An education is vital to your future and wellbeing. Remember who you are, and who you want to be, and stay focused. If you are unsure of what you want to do, that's okay! Everything will fall into place as long as you take classes that you enjoy taking. If the classwork just is not appealing to you, find class work that does excite you. The classes should be your main source of happiness in school. If you are not feeling certain classes, look into a different major, until you have found the right one. Never give up, and have fun!

Melissa

I have learned that it is acceptable to not have my entire life planned out at this point in time. College is about experiencing new things and taking seemingly random, but interesting courses just for fun so find something you enjoy. At twenty years of age, it is alright to have unreasonable dreams and thoughts for the future. During my time in college, I have thrown away most of the life plan I had for myself and have started fresh. College gave me opportunities to try new things and make new friends from different backgrounds who have had so much to teach me. College has been the greatest learning experience for me; not purely in an academic sense.

Deonda

So far I have realized that I was smarter than I gave myself credit for I was able to complete more than one semester and make the presidents list with a 4.0 GPA this alone busted my self confidence going back to school was a big step for me. My experience here at school has been enjoyable and very interesting I have learned so much more about myself and my abilities.

Melissa

I have gotten more out of my college experience than just the knowledge I have gained in the classroom. I have learned much more about myself. I have learned that I can live on my own away from my family and get along just fine. This experience has taught me that there will always be people and situations in life that are unpleasant to deal with, but you have to take the good with the bad. Getting involved in campus organizations has done wonders for me inside and outside of the classroom. Becoming involved in a club and taking on a leadership role within that club has helped my public speaking in my classes. It has been valuable for me in getting me to be comfortable with stating my opinions without fear. Outside of a classroom setting, I will now actually start a conversation with someone i don't know. I could drop out of college now and it would still have been a valuable experience for me and my self-esteem.

Sarah

The greatest experiences that I have had are with the groups that I have gotten involved with on campus. They have taught me the importance of volunteering and giving back to the community. I have been a consistent volunteer at the City Mission of Findlay since October of this year and have loved every minute of it. I have met a lot of great people and have seen the heart of Findlay, Ohio through all of the generous donations that come in everyday. I think it is important to be a well rounded person and this experience has really helped me grow.

Danielle

I am only a college freshman this year and my life has already changed drastically. Back home, I did not have to do much for myself. I didn't have to clean, cook, or even make my lunches for school. Now that I am two and a half hours away from home I have learned to take care of myself. I now know how to use laundry machines and cash checks, and really just take care of myself. College is a growing experience and with out it I'm not sure I would have had to learn how to do things for myself. I have made new friends and really become more of an extraverted person. College is probably the best thing that has happened to me in a long time.

Dominique

A sense of accomplishment that I haven't felt from anything else that I have done. Confidence. A very good job with good pay. Job security. Some admiration from others. Use the skills learned to volunteer and help others. Knowing I can take care of myself and be on my own during college.

Kayla

During my first year at Oakland University I learned that meeting new people helps the time go by alot faster. Also, you need to set a schedule and stick to it.

Miranda

I got to learn things that I never knew berfore. I have a better understanding of education and how it can help futher you in your life and careet path. I have also gotten to know how it feels to be on your own. Not having your mom over your shoulder sayin do this or do that. I know how to manage time and priorites

Erica

College allows me to become a veterinarian and to learn more about my area of study. Also to help make a difference in animals lifes and humans. Also to become a better runner.

Elizabeth

I am certainly more knowledgeable now about life in general and also about my own future. In high school I had no idea who I was or where I was going, and even now I still feel the same way at times, but now I feel like I know more and understand more. I feel like my own personal foundations are more solid. I can find a job, pay off my loans, meet new people, make connections, and look out for myself now, but I have also learned how lucky I am that I have a good family support system behind me as well. In high school I thought that I could figure out anything and do what needed to be done myself. Now, I know that I can figure anything out, but I also know that askin for help is also an essential part of being successful. College has taught me that asking people who are more knowledgeable than myself for help, learning from them and aspiring to succeed as they have, is the way to succeed. I know who I am now better than I ever did before. Thanks to this experience, I know that I will succeed.

Kate

With my college experience, I have learned that there is a lot more to the profession of pharmacy then I initiatly presumed. By attending the University of Findlay, my desire to help patients has grown and my knowledge about the profession has broadened. Professors take the time to help their students and make sure they truly understand the material. In addtion, I have been able to participate in several practical pharmacy experiences which have allowed me to make connections with other pharmacists and has molded me into the pharmacist I plan to become. Without the extraordinary teaching staff and the programs experiences, I would not be where I am today. I cherish all of the time and effort the College of Pharmacy puts into the program, which makes it worth attending. I feel I would not have the opportunities I have if I would not have attended the University of Findlay. I do not doubt that myself and my fellow classmates will be successful. We will be highly trained professionals, taught by the best.

Stephine

My college experiance has been valuable because it has allowed me to obtain 2 internships. I will be working with 2 different large petroleum corporations over the next year. these Internships will not only give me realy work experiance a, but they will make me extremely more marketable once I graduate. Without Findlay I would not get these internships.

Emily

Plan a way how to manage time with work, homework, fun, etc. Have some type of schedule to help you get enough of each. Too much studying can affect your social life and not studying enough can affect your grades. Balance is key! Studying and going over material daily will help you remember better for tests and finals. College and the amount of homework and studying you have to do is a little overwhelming at first. It is a big transition in life for some. Motivation to do your best is one of the best things you can have in college. You have to motivate yourself to study, even though you may not want to. Get more involved in campus activites, because before you know it, you will be graduating college, and leaving all the fun and memories behind!

Stephanie

There are many things that i would tell myself in my senior year of high school. I would tell myself that i really need to study more. To pay attenchtion to my teachers. To try harder and to ask for the help that i needed. Also to acctually care about what i was trying to learn. Not just worry about points. I would also say that you could have done a lot more in high school then i did.

Eden

If i could go back in time and give myself advice as a high school senior i would have alot to say. First of all, and most importantly, I would tell myself not to become overly worried about the college admittance process. I think that we stress ourselves out so much about getting into college these days that we forget to enjoy our senior year. High school really only does come around once in a lifetime and you can never go back to it. However, you do need to pay attention to deadlines and fill out scholarships while they are available. I would also advise myself to get the most out of my summer before going to school. Make some memories that you'll cherish for the rest of your life. As far as going to college in the fall is concerned, keep an open mind. Things are not as bad as we make them out to be. The move may be stressful but remember that it is stressful for everyone and that you're not alone. Give college a chance before you start stressing over it, it's where some of the greatest memories of your lifetime will occur.

Jessica

Learn how to suck it up, turn off the television, the music, your cell phone, and disconnect your internet if that's what it takes for you to hunker down and dig into that ten page paper that needs to be done within the next two hours or those three fifty-page chapters you neglected to read until the night before the exam. Begin to learn the fine art of microwave cooking. Prepare yourself, mentally and physically, for dining hall food. To prepare physically, consider sustaining yourself before hand on mushy fish sticks, rubber pizza, Cheerios, popcorn, and beef jerkey. Oh, and lots of caffeine. Your major does not have to be set in stone. Don't look at it that way. Have goals and aspirations, but always have a back-up plan. Keep multiple doors open in case you ever need (or want) to look for another route. It?s going to fly by. You?re going to blink and first semester will be over. You?re going to blink again and second semester finals will be creeping up on you. Pace yourself. Balance hard work with fun. And remember that you will survive. Well?Most people do, anyway. ;)

Shelby

If I were able to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that everything will be alright. The hardships from my home life and unfortunate life events will not interfere with my ability to do well academically. I would also tell myself that I will be safe. that no men would ever hurt me again as they had at home. The transition would be as I anticipated and not pose a problem. I would tell myself what a wonderful person I have become and tell myself that I have a purpose. My high school self would probably not believe what I had come back to say, only for fear that it would not turn out as wonderfully as I had described. I would reassure myself that I am important, that I can do whatever I set my mind to do, and that no one can make me feel inferior when I know that I have value.

Kelsey

Looking back, I would tell myself not too slack off. Private college is a lot harder than the PSEOP program through the local public university you attended. Don't worry too much about family issues, tough it out, school is right around the corner and you don't know how much you will actually miss them once your gone. Spend more time with your brother and friends. Don't drop off the face of the earth because you think that pushing hard in high school will make college easier to slack off in. Continue to follow your faith, keep up the volunteering and keep an open mind about people. Don't judge a book by its cover, people can suprise you. Go along with the crowd while it suits you, but keep a level head and don't do anything stupid. Try lots of new things, foods, sports, classes, and social groups; it might just suprise you what you come to like. Don't stress too much, grey hairs are not becoming. Relax, breath, you are a smart driven student who has lots of potential. Call mom and dad when you don't know what you are doing. Good luck.

Preston

I would tell myself to start looking at colleges because I waited too long to decide and choose.

Lancelot

Join a Fraturity and go straight to College after high school instead of the Army. It would make learning so much easier.

Kevin

From my current experiences I have learned that personal exploration within one's field of study enhances the intrinsic value of his/her education. I became greatly inspired by one particular faculty member at the University of Findlay; her name is Dr. Evelyn Buday and she works in the Psychology Department. Her classes were very demanding but so thought-provoking and engaging that I could not get enough of Psychology. I then switched my major and my current career goal is to become a college professor in order to allow my newly-found passion to generate excitement in others, similarly to how I was affected. So, my best advice to Kevin H. Patton, high school senior, is to gain as much knowledge on your own in a particular field of interest, or multiple! Learn as much as you can outside of the classroom and apply it within the classroom, and in your daily routines. Make the best of what you learn, from a new word to a law in Physics. William Glasser defines Fun as "the genetic reward for learning." You will have great amounts of fun from adhering to this lifestyle. Good luck and enjoy the knowledge building process!

Taylor

I would tell myself that just because I did well in high school that doesn't mean you can take a break now...being at the top here is only temporary. Your about to enter a whole new world out there when you go to college and if you get out of the habit of hard work it can be super difficult to pick up. Don't fall behind on your future because your stuck in the past...and don't let others encourage you to do so. Being in school isn't usually incredibly easy for anyone and if you have your aspirations set no one can deter you.

Kevin

If I could go back the advice I would give myself is to try harder in highschool to prepare myself more for college. I would have also told myself to work harder to get scholarships and grants to help pay for college.

KenTiara

I would say college life is what you make and it is a time to grow up and become a better person. college is a time to leave all the child games along. You should alway pick a college that you feel is right for you not a college that you think that you would have more fun at, just because your friends are going.

Julia

I would tell myself to make sure I stay focused. I would also take different classes in high school. For example I would have taken another year of Spanish and I would have also taken chemistry classes. I would have told myself to stay in cheerleading throughout high school, so I could do cheerleading at the University of Findlay. And last but not least I would tell myself beware of the "freshmen 15". For those who are not aware of the freshman 15, it is when a freshman gain 15 pounds.

Kelsi

If I was given the chance to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would definitely tell myself to keep an open mind. There were a lot of opportunities I missed when I first got on campus because I felt like I wouldn't find it interesting or fun. Now that I've spent more time exploring different groups and clubs, I wish I would have gotten involved sooner. I missed out on a lot of great events and opportunites because I wrongly assumed they wouldn't interest me. I would also tell myself that's okay to have a little fun. When I look back now I realize that my first semester was spent studying excessively when it wasn't necessary. I was so worried about getting everything perfect that I left myself no time to make the lifelong friendships that usually develop during your college carreer.

Sammi

Stay at school on the weekends and be more social. Try hard in your classes to get the best GPA possible. Don't work so hard in classes in which people have told you that it is not necessary.

Lindsay

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would teach myself how to study. It wasn't hard for me to make friends in a new place and it wasn't hard for me to live "on my own" either. I had a hard time my first semester at the University of Findlay because I had never had to study before. I was one of those kids that stuff just came to easily, I rarely had to study and could just take notes in class and get A's in my classes. I believe that the key to being a success in college is knowing how to study and knowing that you want to graduate and become what you've always dreamed of becoming; for me it is a veterinarian. Without being told by my advisor, I may have never realized that the reason I was stuggling was because I wasn't studying enough.