University of Montevallo Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school seinor self I would encoruage myself to study harder for the ACT and apply for more scholarships. I know I had the potenial to do better on the ACT and could have saved myself and my family a lot of money because paying for college out of pocket is very hard and puts a lot of pressure on my family. I would tell myself to better prepare myself on entering college by finding any sort of financial help avaliable.

Apply for more scholarships, money is hard to come by and you can't expect everything to come free. Get a job, work hard and apply for scholarships. Focus on your education, and never never never ever give up.

"Hey. I know you're incredibly stressed about finding "the right one," but I just want to let you know, college is about so much more than just having all the right accomodations or organizations. No one ever expects it, but once you're there, you realize it wasn't really ever about that at all. College is like life--there is absolutely no way any college will be exactly how you want or expect it to be, but you realize afterward that it was exactly what you needed, and it shaped you to be what you have become. It's a place to try things you never thought you would, some things you find you like, others are the worst decisions of your life! But in the end, you'll see, you just have to take it head-on, and it will be one of the best times of your life. So, forget about how important it is that you get the private bath, that you have the perfect wardrobe, that you even have the most incredible roommate ever, and live! Talk to people, get to know them, and participate. This is where you will find yourself.

I would advise myself to be involved in every activity I have time for when I first moved in so that I could meet a lot of new people. I would also advise myself not to take things so seriously.

I would be sure I joined a sorority. I was very against the idea at first but now that I have gone through the process of joining and initiation I love it and im so thankful I chose to give greek life a chance. While the transistion was hard, especially since I did not have any friends at first, joining a sorority helped a lot.

You cannot study too much or be too prepared for class. The most important thing you can do for yourself and your education is GO TO CLASS! Study a little bit every day. Do not let a boyfriend dictate your social life or your major. Find nyour passion and major in that passion!

Kailey, it’s your senior year of high school and things are getting really busy as you try to prepare yourself for college and apply for as many scholarships as possible. Your classmates are beginning to get “senioritis” but don’t fall into that trap because this year will go by faster than you could imagine. Enjoy your time but also stay focused; get ahead in your school work so you won’t be stressed out. You have made the best decision to go to Montevallo and you will love it. As you start your freshman year there, make sure to be confident in who you are and what you believe. You are going to do better than you think so take more than the minimum amount of classes and get more involved on campus. Make lots of friends in your classes so you will have people that can help you if you need notes, study groups, or other information about anything. Don’t be so shy! I know you are nervous but you are smart and you will be fine. You are going to be a great student! Keep working hard.

I would telly myself to try and work on my ACT score. A higher score would have allowed me to get scholarships and that would prevent me from all of the stress and anxiety that comes with the money problems I'm having now. I would also tell my self to be brave. It's a scary process going from home with mom and dad to a college where you're on your own. It gets better though. You meet some great people when you though you would not make any friends at all. Also, try to be patient. Your frustration gets the best of you but it is worth it once its all over.

The biggest thing I would address would be spending--my first year in college was fun, fast, and crazy...but also EXPENSIVE. I had won some scholarships and received financial aid, so tuition was not the problem--my spending habits were. Since Montevallo is such a small town, my friends and I would often drive fifteen minutes away to a bigger town with more stores. And since this was my first time living alone, I had great expectations for my dorm room decor and my social life. This led to frivilous spending on eating out with friends, shopping the sales, and checking out the lastest movies. Once I started reeling in my habit, I began to feel more like an adult, seeing as I was starting to act like one. Of all the things I thought might cause me problems in college, I never thought it would be my spending habits! Now I am doing very well, but I would have liked to save myself the trouble by telling my high school self!

If I could give my high school self some advice, it would be to not be so afraid. My advice would be to not fear moving to a new school in a new state. Moving to a state where you know zero people is fridgtening no matter what, but I feel I handled it in the worst of ways. I remember my first week at Montevallo, where the school had set up a "Take Flight" week, full of activities, progams, and mixers that would allow everyone to get comfortable with eachother and make lasting friendships. I spent that week curled up in my bed, eating Cheeto-s and watching telelvision, wishing I could have just one friend here to go with me to the events. I developed an introverted personality, which was never like me before. I had never felt so alone. It was hard for me to ever feel comfortable; when in reality I lived in the most accepting environment I could have ever asked for. If I had known how free spirited, welcoming, and accepting this community was, I know it would have been easier for me to be myself - and to leave my bed.

If I could speak to myself as a highschool senior I would tell myself to relax. Everyone, including myself, got so excited about starting college that it became a stress. I would aslo remind myself to apply for every scholarship in the world because here I am, half way through first semester and already looking for more money for next semester. Other than that, I feel like my highschool did a good job of preparing me for the college experience and what would be expected of me here. Finally I would tell myself to start shopping for college supplys early since there are a few things I forgot and a few things I could use stock piles of (Like Ramen Noodles). That's all that I could really tell me without spoiling the fun of college!

I would tell myself to strive more to sign up for scholarships to pay more attention to colleges and what their majors are. I would talk myself into going away to a college out of state that way I could have the ultimate college experience.

There is alot of advice i would love to give myself knowing that i have now gained alot of knowledge about college . I would encourage myself to be a very stabled student, take every class seriously and make time of my high school years while i have it ,because if your academic history is not good enough you would not be able to have the college choices you are looking for. Keep less friends and always stay focus because my future is the most important thing i could ever think about .College is about focusing and achieving your future goals and high school is suppose to teach us to be responsible and take every work we get seriously , but if i could go back in time and talk to myself about college i would always tell my self NEVER give up and always STAY focus.

I would tell myself not to worry about the little things and breathe. College is hard, but it is not impossible. Work as hard as you can, it will be tough but you will appreciate the outcome. Hang in there!

If I could go back as a high school senior, I would tell myself the importance of time management and studying. I would tell myself to make the most of the free time I had and to use it wisely. I would tell myself to excel and strive for the best grades I could get, because the benefits are phenomenal. I wouldn't waste anytime "partying" or throwing away my education on something that is going to end up being my career. I would utilize the tools they have on campus, such as tutors, labs, asking questions, using the library, and computers if I didn't have one. I would make the most that I could, so I could graduate and have the career I enjoy and not have any regrets about wasting time in college. I would also make sure the career I was persuing was something that I loved and was passionate about, so that it continues to pull at me and keep my interest. Not knowing or not having a drive for something makes college a little more difficult than someone who knows what they want and are wanting to purse it. That would be the ad

Dear High School Senior Me, College is almost here, and it will be everything that you have been waiting for. Do not start slacking now, just becuase you have been accepted to the school of your choice does not mean you do not need to keep a good GPA. Hard times will come and go, remember that you can get through this. Smile at the embarrsing moments, nobody will rememeber. Hey, you wont even see most of these people again! Nothing that seems major now will even matter. Just keep those grades up and remember not to take life too serously! Love, The Future You

As of right now thinking back in time at the begining of my senior year, I should have been looking into more scholarships. I had some some, but when I think about it now it just was not enough. People tried to tell me, but I guess I was too lazy. If I had done more then I would not have had to pay a penny out of pocket. If only I could rewind the time just a little bit everything would be wonderful.

Apply to more than two colleges, and do not apply for binding early admission. I don't care if you think it's your dream school. Newsflash, Walter Cronkite: it's not. That is all. (I'd like to be cryptic so my past self. I wouldn't want myself to know every little thing that happened, especially if it won't ever happen... provided that I follow my own advice.)

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to follow my dreams. I always was trying to make eveyone else happy except the only person that I never made happy was myself. I would tell myself to put my own self first for once. I would also tell myself to never lose my self esteem and to always keep my humor. I would say to go out and conquer the world that is out there for me. I did everything the hard way being a mother and married all at the age of 16. I would not change my child for anything but the marriage is definetly not in the cards for a high school sophmore. There are so many things that I would change about my life in high school, like pay more attention in class and make alot of real friends. I wish everyday that I could go back and do it all over again but the experiences that I've had I would not change for the world, because it has made me the woman that I am today and I so very happy with that now.

I would tell myself to stay calm,organized, and true to myself. Also i would have tried harder on standardized testing, but i wish i had applied to a college and many more scholarships than I did. Don't procrastinate because that only makes your pre-college life harder than it needs to be, not only on you but your parents as well. Planning and anticipating what will come in your college years is very important and you have to take control at some point to show people that you are responsible.

Before you start your college journey I would advise you to make sure you know how to take good notes. Why? Because many professors don't give notes or study guides and lots of them don't teach out of the textbooks, if you miss one day of note you could easily make a low grade on test. Don't worry if you're not a good note take you can still succeed, just go out and buy a digital recorder that way if you do miss something the professor said then you can go back and listen to it later! My second piece of advice would be to always to the best you can on assignments, never assume that if you miss this project or that project you can still make a passing grade. Always give your studies time, that doesn't mean it not okay to go out and have fun it just means that you can't always say yes to going to parties. Lastly don't worry so much cause it's not worth it, everything will be okay and if you pay attention in school and college will not be as hard as you anticipate.

Knowing what i know now about college, I would give myself a lot of advice. The most important thing would probably be to really try hard senior year and not slack off. After getting into college, I realized that maybe if I would have tried harder my senior year it would have been a little bit easier. As far as getting scholarships and being prepared for this dramatic change in life. Also I would tell myself to try harder on the ACT and really look into the schools I was interested it in. At the time you don't really think about how much college will effect your life. It's the start of your future. The last thing I would tell myself is even though i'm pushing myself hard to get through all this, that I need to give myself more credit and reward myself for all the hard work I have done, because college is a hard but great thing and I think that I don't always give myself enough credit for all the work I put into it.

DO NOT ROOM WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND or even close aquaintance. You may get along at school and hanging out all the time, but living together in a small dorm is a much different situation. If they have a boyfriend/girlfriend , it is very likely that they will both spend the night in the dorm some nights (even though it is against the rules). This will cause very much tension. I recommend living with someone you have never met before, because in most cases I have seen, you will end up becoming best friends and perfect living partners.

I wiould tell myself to not bring so many books to read. WHile there is the opportunity for free time, book reading isn't one of them, escpecially if you happen to be taking a lot of English courses. The assigned readings have a tendency to take up a lot of time, but are also interesting, so it isn't too much aof a problem. I'd save myself a lot of the trouble of having to lug all of those books back and forth between school and home.

I would tell myself that I made the right decision in the college that I chose, because of the experince that I have had with the professors and taking all of the classes that fit me best and are going to improve my skills for my career in the future. That not only have I chosen the college that best fits me but have made friends who are amazing people who will help me in the pursuit of my major and career. I would say that I would love Montevallo because of the smallness of the university and how everyone knows each other and that just makes everything flow seamingly. Also that Montevallo not only teaches you the major that you want to accomplish, but you take classes that might not be your major but will benefit you in your career in the future or the graduate school you may attend. That Montevallo offers so many majors and I am a Chemistry major and it is hard to believe that a liberal arts college would have sciences as one of the top majors but it does. Montevallo offers so many majors to pick from and anyone and everyone could attend.

I would tell myself what normally people would tell themselves, to learn as much here as you can before you get into college. It would not only make college life a lot easier but it will take a big load off your schedual. Also, your GPA is the most important thing that you could rely on. If you want to be able to not only get into college but to also be able to pay for the expensives then an high GPA is the best way to go. Start looking into where you might like to go and apply for as many scholarships that your schedual will let you be able to do.

Be free to switch up your schedule from what you're advisors lay out for you. Instead of taking all your easiest core classes first, substitute one or two easy classes for a harder subject so that all the tough courses don't run into each other right before your graduation date approaches. It'll be extremely less stressful. Also , when an honors society sents an invitation, don't overlook it. It'll look great on your applications and you might have more fun than you think attenting a leadership retreat or a volunteer service.

This advice I would give myself now about selecting a college would be to make sure it is the fit for you. To make sure I visited every school I wanted to because then you will always be thinking "what ifs". I would also tell myself to do more research about the school I plan to attend. I enjoy my college so far and I believe it will get better. Also, I would tell myself that the first semester may not be easy, but to make sure I get involved with activities on campus.

Knowing what I now know about college, there are a few things I would tell myself. One of the things I would tell myself is not to be apathetic about the school I want to go to. Because I didn't care ,I got stuck at a two year community college for four years. I would have told myself to send out more applications for school and I would have done that sooner. I would have told myself to talk to the teachers I liked in high school, to try and figure out what I should pursue as a major. Also, I would have told myself to do better in school because most colleges like to see at least a 3.0 grade point average. If I had the chance, I would tell myself to apply for scholarships to ensure I would be able to afford the education I desire!

Don't let distance from home be the only thing that drives you to a college. You'll be amazed by how often you'll want to go home your first semester as a freshman, and you'll regret wanting to be so far away. Across state might be the perfect change in scenery you need. Also, don't expect to appear and everyone to flock to you. You have to go out and meet people, and making friends is going to be a whole new challenge because no one knows you. Don't expect love to find you on the first day either. People come and go, and you need to just brace for the ride and wait out the ups and downs.

I would advise myself to never stop working. Don’t slack off; it’ll be of benefit in the future. Had I considered this more in high school, I am sure that I would have grown accustomed to college life far faster than I did. I would have had the motivation and drive to keep my education at the forefront of my mind. I wish my reputation could have been changed from “the girl that has fun” to “the girl who has the best work ethic.” I want to be known as someone who is willing to lay everything aside and get things done.

If I were able to talk to the high school me, I would give her one main piece of advice: focus on the ACT and SAT more. I was so focused on my GPA and achieving the International Baccalaureate diploma that I didn't give enought attention to the ACT and SAT. I only took the ACT twice, and I didn't take the SAT at all. I thought the two tests were similar enough that it wouldn't matter to colleges. I didn't study at all the first time I took the ACT, and I only studied a little the second time. I made the same score both times, a 28. It's a decent score, and it will get you scholarships. Had I studied harder for the exam, or even taken it more times I'm sure the score could have been improved. An improved score would have been extremely beneficial in the scholarship department, as a 4.12 GPA and community service doesn't quite cut it. Anytime a younger friend asks me about college, I advise them to study hard for the ACT and SAT, and take it as many times as they can!

if i could go back in time and give myself advice on transitioning to college, from a girl's perspective i think i would tell myself not to worry about a boyfriend and those kinds of relationships, but rather focus more on what i want out of school as well as the people that i would meet along the way. everything else came easy for me, so i wouldn't worry about the inability to be independent or being responsible. instead i would tell myself to get involved in activities that i enjoy, not for someone else, but for me! i would encourage myself to get plugged in to a local church that i could be a part of, and then have them as a support system so that three years down the road i'm not church-hopping and feeling like i don't have close friendships. i would remind myself that even though i think that 18 is "getting old", it really isn't because it's still a long way to 25, which is my ideal age for "starting" life.

Going back in time as a high school senior I would tell myself to stop playing video games and concentrate on my future. In high school my academic standards were not very high and as through out the senior year my standards kept diminishing. With the knowledge I know now I would have made sure: I understood my study habits, get rid of the video games, get more involved in school, play a sport, try to put myself in positions to get a scholarship, try harder for the SAT's and try other graduating tests, made sure my grades were no less than a B+, look in to colleges, and set a road map map for the next two years of my life after high school. After five years of active duty service in the United States Marine Corps, I went back to school and started really strong. In the first semester I have achived majority of those tips that I would give myself. Lastly, and most of all, I learned my lessons with the achievements and skills that Mariens have game me.

I will encourage myself in the profession I have choosen ,couple with dedication,honesty ,and ensure that the ehtics of the profession is highly obeyed with all faithfulness

I would tell myself to study harder and do not waste my money on silly things, but save it to pay back my student loans. I would also tell myself to look into scholarships harder. I would tell myself not to play soccer with Montevallo because it made my grades drop. I would also tell myself to major in Kinesology so I can avoid taking all those unneed classes.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to just be very prepared for college and all that it has to offer. Grades in college do not come easy as they do in high school, and it is a lot of hard work. At the same time though, college can be extremely fun and such an amazing experience to meet new people and experience new things that were not available before. Take hold of every opportunity that is available for you and do not take a minute of it for granted. Overall, be sure to get the most that you can out of it, but take it very seriously since it is going to shape your future and every aspect of your life.

If I could tell my high school slef any advice it would be to take classes in every subject before I officially choose a major. I would also advice myself to shadow in all of the prospective career choices I have. The one thing that I regret about my college career was changing my major so many times before I settled into my final major. It is impossible to choose a career without experiencing it first hand and shadowing a professional will allow you to see what the career will consist of and talk with people who live the career that you are considering.

The amount of freedom given is more than most people know how to handle. Be very careful with that. Don't make bad decisions "just because you can get away with it". Focus on what is most important, that is your future. Therefore school and finding a job should be top priority. Wait on the Lord for everything else. Prayer changes things. Always follow your gut feeling, it is usually right. Have fun (not too much) but do not be shy all the time. Get involved in college activities and meet new people. You are only in college once, remember that. And whatever you do, do it with heaven in mind.

The advice I would give my self is to keep up the great work you are doing because college life is way better than high school life. Even though you were bullied, high school does not last forever and you will find a group of friends that love you for who you are. Remember to always smile and keep your head up and you will eventually graduae from high school and make that important transition to college. Do not give up any of your goals for any reason in the world because at the end of the day you are going to college to better yourself and not to better somebody else. Make sure your friends are a positive influence on you so you do not have to deal with negativity from some of the other people that attend college. Keep your head in the game and you will do great in colege. Be careful about your social life because too much partying and hanging out can make you lose focuz because I have seen other students that have messed up because all they wanted to do was party and now they dont attent college any more. Good luck Artemus

I would have told myself to attend a 4 year college earlier. I feel like I missed out on so much by transfering once I was a Sophomore. I would also tell myself to study more and try harder to make better grades in High School, because College is going to be a breeze for me.

Well the first piece of advice I would give to myself is to focus on their core graduation requirements. Mathematics, foreign languages, English Composition courses, all need to be the focus for the first year. I too often filled my semester with interesting courses of the moment and too often forget that l changed my major at least twice. Also of interest to my past self would be the encouragement to pursue foreign languages. Having studied Russian I would tell myself to start sooner and work harder, though not merely in Russian. There is no substitute for earnest labor.

Going back in time to advise myself on college life, i would tell myself to not be afraid to attend a school where your classmates are. Even if you do not like them, having at least one or two of them at the same college as you would make your experience much better. Also, i would advise myself on going to visit campuses to see if you will trully like it or not. I regret not expanding my horizon and looking at bigger college campuses. I would tell myself to not be afraid of big campuses.

I would tell my self that I need to work hard and stop making so many mistakes. I would tell myself that things will not be easy but you have to work hard and stay determined about what you want in live. Take time to think about your life and what you want your future to look like and what you think you need to do to reach your goals. No one will spend their life to make you happy all people want to be happy themselves and you need to work hard to make yourself happy about where you end up and give back to the people and be someone that in order to be happy is to make someone else happy.

Remember to prioritize, Kelsey. Yes, that boyfriend may seem like the best thing that ever happened to you, but let me just tell you, there are greater things in store for you. You have studying down pact and know how to make that 4.0 every semester. However, friends and family are also important. Family are the ones that will be with you from thick or thin. Tell them you need them, tell them you want them in your life. You may think you are grown and don't need them anymore but trust me, when you get sick or stressed, your mom is the first person you will always call. Keep those friends of yours; keep in touch with them! They are true friends to you. You will meet many fake people that don't really care about your well-being. Learn now how to distinguish the difference. Be bold, be courageous, and most importantly, be YOU!

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would definitely have a few things to say. First of all, I’d say “Don’t worry! You’re going to do well in college and you’re going to love it!” Then I’d say, “But don’t take for granted the structure of high school. College is a different world. No one will be there to make sure you go, or do your work. Your success will be up to you. So don’t complain anymore about the monotony of your routine.” Ultimately I would say, “Enjoy your life as a child now. You will be expected to be an adult in college. So, just don’t grow up to fast. It will come soon enough.” I love college, and I know that it is right for me. It’s centered me. But I wouldn’t trade my high school years for anything. Life is precious and each stage of it should be treated as such. That’s something I wish I had realized when I was in high school.

I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships because college is very expensive. I should have started applying in the 10 th grade.

Living in a small town in Alabama and graduating in a class of 83 students does not quite properly prepare a high school senior for college life away from home. As a current college sophomore, there are many tips that I wish I could have told my younger, more naïve self in order to have a smooth transition from the life of extreme comfort to the world of college, strangers, and freedom. Given the chance, I would tell myself not to be so shy. “Do not be afraid to meet new people! Sit with strangers at lunch. Smile at everyone. Go out!” Going into college, I did not want to be known as the ‘boring girl who never does anything’, but I also didn’t want to be known as the ‘wild party girl’. I would now tell myself to have a good balance of studying and responsible nights of fun. I would also mention to avoid taking early morning classes, because not only will your brain be half asleep, but so will your body, your classmates, and sometimes even your professor. These few but vital tips would prove to greatly aide in my smooth transition into college.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice I would most definitely tell myself to fill out more scholarship applications because it is very hard to pay for books, supplies, etc. in college. I would also tell myself to learn how to develop study skills because i will need to know how to study in college. One other pice of advice i would give myself would be to work on my time mangement skills because they will come in handy the days before finals. All in all i would tell myself to be more prepared not only financially for college, but also mentally because there is a lot of responsibility that comes with being in college.

The transition to college was easier than I thought, mainly I think because I chose such a small university. I would however, go back and thell my high school self, "Never give up, always believe in yourself and it will get better with time. Just because I did not have enough money growing up, college is always an option, there are many other ways to pay through financial aid. "