University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus Top Questions

Success comes from active learning and staying away from trouble. I have maintained a clean record and have no plans to cause mischief. I am not employed so I can dedicate one hundred percent towards my education. I study vigorously and strive for excellence. I plan to study many hours and limit my personal free time to insure good grades. I do not hesitate to ask questions, if a problem does occur I will try to fix it to the best of my abilities or ask an appropriate person. I have maintained that mindset throughout my senior year and have no means on changing it. Nursing as a Profession is expensive I would use this scholarship to help me financially to pay for nursing equipment and tuition. God bless

If I could go back and time, I would tell myself that there is no need to rush through my last year of high school. The transition into college isn't something you have to face alone. I now know that there are many people along for the ride their to support and help you: friends, families, faculty, and staff. Although the transision into college is an important one, so is having the time of your life senior year. Looking back, I now realize that high school was the best four years of my life and that I didn't need to rush into adulthood, I have the rest of my life to grow up. I would tell myself that I should have fun while it lasts because although college is an exciting adventure, it is also challenging at times. We really shouldn't try so hard in high school to rush into adulthood, it comes much too soon.

I would really stress time management. I did well my freshman year compared to how a lot of freshman did in my class, but I would have done so much better if I would've managed my time more wisely. I also would've stressed know who I am as a person, and find friends that compliment who I am versus just friends that just happened to be convenient. I wouldn't say I was in with the wrong crowd my freshman year, but I was with people that didn't help me better myself, they kind of actually slowed me down. Now that I know this I was able to move on and find the right kind of people, but I really wish I would've built stronger relationships with the people I know now versus wasting my time being someone who I wasn't. Other than that, I have truly enjoyed by college experience so far, and I have NO regrets!

When I was in high school, looking ahead to college future, I was worried about everything- if I would get into a good school, if I would find the right school, if I would get accepted at all and wind up working at McDonald's-- you name it, I was worried about it. If I could go back at show my bundle-of-nerves 12th grade self how college life has turned out for me, I could have saved myself many a near panic attack. Of course I didn't find the absolute perfect school (I don't think those exist) but I did find a school that's pretty great. I had every intention of attending a small, private liberal arts college, but I wound up at Pitt-- a huge, public university. My fall psychology lecture was bigger than my entire high school! I wasn't sure how everything would work out, but looking back over the ups and downs of my freshman year I think being at a big school is exactly what I needed. Things I thought I couldn't live without in a school I actually haven't missed. My college advice? Don't sweat it.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not stress out as much about the college process. Though it is an important time in your life deciding what to do after high school is finished, I have found out that if you put effort and drive into what you want, it will work out for the best and for what is meant to be. I would also tell myself to relax and not worry so much about meeting people. Everyone is new freshman year, and everyone is looking to make friends and fit in. College is the begining of the rest of your life after high school and it is a place to really find your interests and what you really want to do. I would go back and encourage myself to try new things during my first year at school, such as joining new clubs, to see what I am really passionate about.

Apply for as many different financial aid options as you can. Take a part-time job to learn responsibility and money managing skills. It will help in the long run and especially throughout your undergraduate years.

As a high school student I was determined to attend college; I thought of no alternative for the years after graduation. I also made my mind up that I would pursue no less than a Master's degree. I contemplated career goals of business administration, graphic design, and psychology. When I was accepted into my first choice school of the University of Pittsburgh I was ecstatic. I immediately began taking advantage of everything the institution had to offer academically; I declared two majors and a minor. However, I was hit by the realization that I was verging on financial difficulty. I am determined to find a way to make my dreams of higher education happen. If I could go back in time I would tell my high school senior self that college is completely worth it. I would tell myself not to let anything hold me back from achieving my goals, especially not finances. In the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.”

Honey, let me be frank with you: you are not ready for college. Sure, I know, all your friends are going, and everyone expects you to go get a degree like Mom and Dad and your sisters. But take a step back and think about this for a bit, 'cause I know the thought has crossed your mind already. Take a year off. Go on a trip. Get a job. Figure out what you want to do with your life. What makes you tick? What can't you stand? What fills you with delight? In which field do you see yourself being truly happy for years to come? Answer these questions and THEN come back and throw yourself into school. Let this be a meaningful decision; go to college because YOU want to, because you know exactly what you want out of life and what you need to do to get there. Let college be a time to develop the tools and skills you need to become a successful member of whatever profession you choose, not some strange limbo between childhood and adulthood. You can do it, kid. You have so much potential. Don't waste it on indecision.

I would advise anyone to make more use of teachers and professors. Not only are educators exceptionally knowledgeable about the college experience and how to get acclimated and succeed, they also have a passion for education which makes most instructors enthusiastic to provide students with help and advice. Deciding on a course for your college education is a difficult and intimidating decision which will affect you throughout your life. Rather than taking this on alone, it can be enlightening to talk with people who have experienced the same process. Discussing your interests and strengths with teachers can expose you to new careers and fields of study which you may have been unaware were an option. Rather than settling on a seemingly practical major, pursuing something you can be passionate about will make your education, and eventually your life exponentially more fulfilling. People who pursue a career in education have a passion for teaching and helping others. Utilizing such an available, enthusiastic, and beneficial resource can have a profound influence on your education and your future.

Never take yourself too serously. Aiming for the ivy league schools is not a necessity. You can obtain a great education anywhere. It's all about attitude, learning and making a difference in society. It's not where you start...it's where you finish!

It's important to have friends that you can count on for sound advice. They should be accountable and trustworthy. They should also be people you enjoy spending time with. During your life, you will face many challenging situations, and it is important to have a good support system that surrounds you in these situations. A good work ethic is also valuable to have. Being able to get what you need to done, whether for a class, for a club, or for your job is important as you will always have tasks that need to be completed. The work won't get any easier, so it's better to realize that and just push through obstacles you face.One thing to avoid is stress. Ways to manage stress are by knowing what must get done when. Leaving some time for yourself, making sure you eat well, and sleeping enough are also strategies to combat stress. No one wants to be friends with the person who complains, so it’s better to realize we’re all in similar situations and move on.Life is a learning process and it is okay to make mistakes, as you will learn from them.

I feel that by coming to this college, I have been able to experience a very diverse population. Also, it was new for me to live in an urban enviornment. Classes are large, and you really have to do the work. Being here, I can tell I have grown up a lot. I have realized what is important in life, recognized goals and matured all together. I work hard and I understand the value of my work. I have to say that so far, the best thing about my college experience has been the extent to which it has helped me mature. I now have goals that I actively pursue, and look at the world differently. That's a very valuable thing.

The first thing I got out of my college experience was a solid education. Do I feel like I learned a lot of specific facts? Absolutely not. But I learnedto solve problems and to trust my own intellectual abilities. I tackled some really tough classes, and though I've long forgotten a lot of what I was taught in those classes, I have the knowledge that I am up to the challenge if I'm willing to put the work in. The second thing I got out of my college experience was a strong sense of who I am now and who I want to become in my life. It sounds corny, but college taught me a lot about myself and my goals. I met the people who shaped the adult that I am becoming. I did the research that helped me to decide what I definitely did NOT want to do in graduate school - and pushed me in the direction of graduate studies that I did have a desire to pursue. I got much more than a degree: I got a solid pathway to the rest of my life.

So far, I have gotten alot out of college. These past two years I have not only learned alot about myself and also what I want to do with my life. When I graduated high school I decided to go to my local community college so that I could volunteer at the numerous research facilities in the area. I have now volunteered at places such as Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, The Brevard Zoo, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, The Florida Hospital and Keep Brevard Beautiful. Through volunteering I have gained experiences with research, data collection and entry, animal husbandry, marine mammals, food preparation for marine organisms and an overall awareness of the world around me. I believe that it's possible for anyone to go to college and it's an experience that you will remember for the rest of your life. I have really discovered who I am, who my real friends are and how important family is in life. You won't only be studying textbooks in college, you'll be studying yourself.

Due to my university, I have grown up. Being thrown into the college life is a hard thing for young adults to do. Day in and day out I have witnessed students taking advantage of the freedom and not doing their work. Seeing these students ruin their college careers, I have learned time management and ways to study because if I didn't, the university would either kick me out or put me on academic probation. Also I have gained a sense of saving what I have. Most college students barely have two dimes to rub together, so every cent counts. Moving into college is not an easy task but if you can understand the ways to be successful and learn from others mistakes, it takes some of the hardships away.

My college experience has pushed me to grow into a better, independent person. Coming from a small town, I had to quickly adjust to the city environment and go outside my comfort zone in order to succeed. After adjusting, I learned to love the area and the oppertunities that it has to offer. If you are not one to centralize your attention to alcohol or drugs like myself, there are plenty of other options such as theater, museums, and arts. I became very involed with these options to expand my knowledge and cultural awareness. Additionally, having downtown Pittsburgh a short bus ride away, jobs are easily accessible. Overall, Pitt has been the best option for me, and has continually allowed me to become a stronger woman.

Going into college, I was under the impression that the true value of attending would come in the form of academics; both expanding upon previous knowledge and exlporing new topics and ideas. And in a sense, this is true. Education is a valuable aspect of attending any college or university. However, hindsight has revealed that college is not about the classes we attend, but rather the people we meet along the way. College has afforded me the opportunity to interact with individuals from all walks of life. Each person came from a completely different background, and in getting to know them, I was able to understand more about the brilliance of diversity--culture, ethnicty, socioeconomic status, religion, gender identity and personal struggles--than a hundred years of sitting in a classroom could have taught me. These people came from completely differing situations and, as a result, had developed his or her own philosophy and world views. My college experience gave me the chance to meet these people whom I would not have otherwise met, and the true value of this journey has been the opportunity learn from these individuals, and to incorporate their views and beliefs with those I hold.

I believe that out of my two years in college there are many things that i have learned. Though, the most important thing that i have learned is to never sell yourself short. When I started college the only thing on my mind was playing softball and I wasn't the smartest kid. That is why as the year went on my grades began to suffer. It was hard but I decided that my grades were more important than playing softball. That is when I quite sotball amd began to focus on my grades. Once i did that, things began to fully turn around. I got my gradesm up and I had been accepted into the honor society, what an amazing turn around. I was given the oprotunity to further my education through softball. If it hadn't have been for that i probally wouldn't have attended college and missed out on actually making something of myself. Though, it was hard at first i doubted myself but didn't sell myself short and definetly made the best of it. I will be the first in my family to graduate college and thats the best feeling in the whole world.

Attending my campus has been an amazing experience for me. This was not my first choice but I am so glad I chose to attend there. I wouldn't change it for the world. Going to this campus has taught me more about living life on your own. I was able to get a job on campus that coincides with my major. So, not only taking classes I get hand on experience daily with the equipment and knowledge it brings. I love the professors because they help you as much as they can and their office doors are always open. The president of our campus really cares about the students. He always has a smile on his face and loves giving hugs. Coming to this university is a joyful and rewarding experience in every class you walk into. Living with fellow students on campus and getting to relax during the down times is nice getting to know others and help them when needed. This experiance is the most valuable yet. I have learned so much to help me in the future and will never forget this campus once I graduate. It is really one of the best colleges around.

Education is important, but it isn't everything. What the University of Pittsburgh has given me is an opportunity to leave my comfort zone and experience new things that I would never had known existed previously. I'm from a town so small we don't even have our own mailing address, so coming to Pitt, with the crowds, huge number of undergraduates, and more than one stop-light, was an obsticle. This dramatic change, however, was extremely beneficial for me. By coming to the University of Pittsburgh, I've learned how to meet new people, and to be independent. In my old town, you knew everyone. Here, I had to leave the protective bubble I've lived in all my life and get to know new people, which is a skill I wouldn't have developed by going to a school closer to home where the people never change. City life at Pitt has also made me more independent. I have to rely on myself to find places and get there on time, find food, and everything else an undergraduate needs. The University of Pittsburgh has given me opportunities that I wouldn't have had anywhere else.

College has been an experience full of vast opportunities to broaden my social skills and furthering my education in topics that I find most interesting. While it may be arduous to leave home and jump into an entirely different setting, the end result is worth all the effort. With only a year and a half of college completed, I have already found that I better understand what type of person I am. College allows a chance to discover who you are and to learn to defend your own values when in the presence of people who may attempt to alter them. If I had not taken the step to attend college, I would not possess the mental strength to withstand all the pressure life can bring. Becoming a well rounded person, as well as an independent individual, are only a few of the surprising results that have emerged from pursuing a degree.

I have been able to learn more about myself as a student and as a person over the past three semesters. I have also been able to surround myself with people that I feel will continue to be there for me for the rest of my life. I feel that my college experience has helped me to see what I want to do with my life, and the work I need to put in to achieve my goals. I also now am able to see what my strengths and weaknesses are in an easier. It has been valuable for me to attend college because without it I feel that I would still be lost. The University of Pittsburgh has given me the opportunity to try at my strengths and learn from my mistakes. I feel that I can now go into the world with a greater understanding of myself and others.

My college experience has been a great learning experience. I have made new friends, met a lot of new people, and learned that I can live 11 hours from home by myself. I have had to learn to deal with people I do not like and try to make the best out of these experiences which I think every student should have to do-learn.

College, for me, was a wonderful transition from high school to university. I have been able to receive my associates degree without a single college loan or credit card; mostly surviving on a meager job and government Pell Grants. My tuition costs are about half the price of my friends in universities and I am always thankful I started out at a cheaper level. This has allowed me to accumulate credits without accumulating massive debt. Another really helpful aspect of community college is the smaller course sizes. Many of my friends in universities complain about the size of their classes and I believe that the- smaller then university; bigger then high school- sized classes were a helpful transition. College has prepared me for the future of my University career and I cannot wait to begin. With the experiences I have had from Community College I have an informed idea of what is expected of me in higher education. I think community college will help me succeed in more rigorous academic situations.

My college experience has really taught me how to have responsibility and maturity. The University of PIttsburgh enabled me to take a variety of broad classes to help pin point what I want to do with the rest of my life. It has really opened my eyes to issues around the world and made me think outside the box. This in turn made me realize th need for me to transfer to a school that fits my interests and desires more closely. I want to major in Public RElations and need to attend a school with a great school for communications and the University of PIttsburgh made me realize what I need to find in whatever University I choose to transfer too.

As college experiences typically are, mine has absolutely been life-changing. It has not been the typical "fresh start", cathartic, eye-opening experience; rather, its impact has come through the subtle daily differences that college life entails. I've had to adapt to an independent, urban lifestyle coming from a small Pennsylvania suburb. Now, I only know the classmates I have reached out to, not my entire graduating class. My professors do not know me unless I make the active effort to get to know them, unlike high school teachers that took the time to at least learn my name. I must fend for myself, which is a struggle in and of itself. This experience has taught me the incredibly vital life lesson that any experience is only what you make of it. College has been such a wonderful time for me only because I chose to make it one and my actions followed through on that choice. The education has been rewarding and the social life has been enjoyable because this is what I wanted my experience to be like. The value of this lesson will certainly carry me through the rest of my years in university and beyond.

Since I've started college, I've finally discovered where I want to go in my life. I feel more confident and more determined than ever before, and I know coming to University of Pittsburgh is responsible for that. I've learned so much both in my classes and outside of them, and I've made friends that I know I'll stay close to for life. I started college a bit later than most, and I feel that as a slightly older student, I have the experience and the desire to make the most out of my college experience. I'm certainly trying to!

One of the statements I am most disappointed to hear people say is that going to college is a waste of time because they need to study things that are not exactly relevant to what they want to do when they graduate. Beyond the concept of what a classical education actually is, college teaches a person how to follow a process. Earning 120 credits in four years (more or less) is a tremendously long process with many steps along the way. In order to be successful, students must be diligent, keep timelines, stay focused, and achieve a goal. They must do this with a myriad of distractions in an atmosphere they are likely not used to from when they lived at home. This translates into experience that is helpful for the rest of the student's life regardless of whether he or she ever actually uses what they learned in Psychology 101. If I never use what I learned in my Russian Mythology class I will still have had a valuable college experience because I can see a goal and know what I have to do to achieve it.

My college experience has taught me more than just the formal teachings from books and professors. It taught me how to be a life-long learner. Each day my personal, professional and social lives are enriched with learning experiences. In my personal life, the one question that my 2 year old son Lachlan asks endlessly is "Why?". This simple word is an important learning tool for him. It provides him with the ability to learn more about people, places and things. Some unimportant to us but all important to him in order to gain understanding and make sense of the world all around him. When teaching him, I suddenly realize that his simple curiosity causes me to gain a better understanding. In applying this to my professional life, I learn daily from the children and families that I work with. I learn that different families have a variety of dynamics that make their household function for them. I feel that my education has been valuable to me in developing the person that I have become.

"College encompasses many trials which encourage maturation and independence." Thus is the mantra that many parents drone to college bound children, pushing the reluctants out the door and into adulthood. Yes, this idea may be veritable in its own right, yet beyond that statement is where I find my meaning in a collegiate education. Beyond the lessons that college life teaches is the complete and utter satisfaction of seizing the American dream of an advanced education and building a future for myself, based on my own funds and ideas. While I have quickly learned the importance of eating healthy, balancing finances, creating time to study for eighteen credits of classes while balancing twenty hour work weeks, and squeezing in time for friends, I have gained so much more. After two years of college life, I have found my identity in my studies and through my independence. While I have learned survival skills, I have acheived skills to thrive and grow as well.

Freedom: it happened when my mom waved goodbye. Consequently, I have so much more to do on my own. I am now dependent on myself, and as a result I am learning more and more about my capabilities as a young adult. Freedom has raised my level of confidence significantly. Freedom means being on my own, making my own decisions and learning from them. As I continue to try new things that I never would have prior to attending the University of Pittsburgh, I become more empowered because I know that I can take risks and make accomplishments on my own. I cannot deny that my freedom to make my own choices has put me in some rough situations, but I have learned that all the bad experiences come and go, and as I look back on them, I realize that perhaps it was not as bad as I thought. The most important aspect of freedom in my opinion is that it has led me to experiences that opened my eyes to the complexities of the life. I have learned in a very short space of time that I must put away my childish ways and blossom into an adult.

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Getting and education is very important. It allows you to discover who you are and form new goals, opinions and ideas. You meet people and learn to love their ways. You are paying the university to challenge yourself. It tests your strenghts and weaknesses.

The best college experience that I have gotten was going on the college tours and seeing how colleges are very much different. I think every student should experience a small campus and a large campus. I was able to make a choice from four colleges that I was accepted at. That experience was valuable, because it allowed me to see up close and personnal the likes and dislikes with the campuses and also see the living quarters that I would be possibly living in.

The many things i have gotten from this experience has been, self reliance, self confidence, the ability to look for information, and find it. I have grown as a student, a person, a friend and i am so thankful to be apart of such a reputable school. Each year is a new challenge and a new adventure. I don't just think this university is a great one i know it becuase i live it.

I have definitely learned many things during my first year of college. I think the most important thing I have learned was that you need to try new things. I have always been a shy person my entire life (I was voted "seen before heard" in high school), but when I went to college I was given the opportunity to change that. Trying new things gave me that opportunity. I was able to join clubs and participate in activities that I would have never gotten had I not gone to college. I met new people, saw many interesting presentations that helped me decide what I want to do with my life, and most of all, learned so many things about myself. I have also learned that everything can be fun if it is done in the right way. In high school completing my sixty hours of community service was a chore, but now I am in college and I volunteer for FUN. College has made me look at everything in a different way and I cannot wait to continue my education.

I have really realized the value of a college education: College exposes you to new people and new ideas--neither of which you will necessarily like or agree with. In a somewhat sheltered way, college is a lot of people's first exposure to the "real world", even if the majority of the "real world" doesn't have college degrees. The main thing I have taken advantage of during my college education so far is the study abroad program. I spent an entire semester (almost 4 months) in Havana, Cuba, which is something extremely hard for a US citizen to do without the help of a student visa. If I weren't a college student, I would never have had the opportunity to go legally to Cuba, but under my school's license, I could go and actually live and study there. Colllege has also provided me with a set of values all my own: my Philosophy program challenges students to think outside-the-box and consider opinions and beliefs that they otherwise would have never considered. The opportunities that college has provided me with will continue until well after graduation, there is no doubt in my mind.

I believe that I received more than the typical education. Going to a community college taught me to receive education from all different walks of life. My classmates are the typical college freshmen of teens and early 20s. They're mom's that are going to school and raising 2 or more kids. They're military wives and foreign exchange students from all over the world. At the community college of Aurora I was able to learn as well as discover my future career as well as learn about the world I live in outside the classroom. It's valuable because I'm able to learn my skills and my knowledge to improve and help the world. Which is the reason why I attend college in the first place.

The most valuable – and surprising – lesson that I learned from my college experience has been modesty. Success in high school had always come easily to me; I never felt truly challenged and graduated with near perfect grades. I was given a large amount of awards and recognition from my community for my achievements. This recognition gave me a false sense of accomplishment entering college. I was admitted into the Honors College and the University of Pittsburgh and given the opportunity to live in the honors dorms, a community of other high achieving students. As the year progressed, I was working as hard as many of my peers but wasn’t getting the same results they were. I felt inadequate and at times questioned my abilities as a student. I had never expected to be a student that struggled with the transition to college, but I was. I had a relatively successful freshman year, but living with other honors students showed me how much work would be necessary to stand out. I also learned the value of surrounding myself with others who have high expectations for themselves. Their influence helped me understand what it would take to become a successful student.

Attending college last school year has made me realize how the "real world" works. I've learned that college is an adventure that everyone has to experience for themselves. I had to learn how to provide for myself and not be dependent on my parents. One of the most valuable lessons I learned is that studying is a very important in college and pays off. To be successful you have to pass and learn the material. In my own experience I had to learn the hard way. It took me a few weeks to realize that my studying habits weren't helping me accomplish a high GPA in my classes. I want to accomplish and be the most successful that I will allow myself to be and experiencing college gave me a little sneak peak on what I?ll be expecting in the future.

My undergraduate college experience was absolutely amazing. I learned so much about myself as an individual, and was given a means to challenge myself academically in ways that I had never done prior. University allowed me to meet individuals - students and professors alike - from all over the world and gave me much needed perspective on how different cultures may view the same things. As a student of both Psychology and Sociology, I was able to dive headfirst into these fields by conducting my own research about issues that I found interesting.The University of Pittsburgh also has an excellent Psychology research program that allowed me to get a first-hand look at what is currently being done in this rapidly growing field. Classroom lectures were facilitated by professors who are experts in their field and were incredibly passionate about the material being taught. The city itself also functioned as a "living classroom" filled to the brim with museums, galleries, and community outreach programs that were determined to draw in the public. If it were not for my experience at Pitt, I know I would not be inspired to pursue my Master's Degree this coming fall (2010). Hail to Pitt!

Firstly the people I've met have greatly added to my life experience and made my college experience that much more fun. Being a member of the University of Pittsburgh Varsity Marching Band, I get to know a lot of people and enjoy going to all the sporting events the band attends. The experience of being in the band has helped me to be a more outgoing person and taught me how to deal with issues that may arise between someone else and myself. Also, my college experience has showed me the importance of understanding what I am studying and how hard I have to work in order to get the job done. Overall, I've learned a lot of life lessons from my college experience do far, and it's only been one year so far.

I have learned that life throws you a lot of curves and if you just choose to hide under a rock the rest of your life, you will never get anywhere. The first time around I loved college. That was back in 1994. I finished 2 full years and the summer before I went back for my third, I got in some trouble and couldn't afford to go back. I was devastated and instead of doing something about it, I gave up,but I never forgot how much I loved school. 15 years later, it took a tragedy to get me back to school. And I love it. I like the idea of getting up every morning and knowing I have an education to look forward to. It is very valuble to me. Knowledge is power. It will take me places I have never been before. I am thankful eveyday that I had the strength to go back.

When coming to the University of Pittsburgh I was very nervous; about classes, friends, being away from home, etc. But once I arrived, all those fears went away. I learned how to live on my own, manage my money and time, deal with people with very different personalities than mine. But in the end, the most important thing I learned was who I really was as a person. I now know who I am, how I function in society, and the immense impact I can have on others' lives. I realize that I am a valuable asset to society, and that I can survive on my own out in the real world. No one can stop me from being myself and achieving my goals. I will succeed if I am myself with others and if I try my hardest.

Upon entering college I was exposed to many things that I had never seen in my High School years. Things such as parties, alcohol, and drugs. While seemingly bad and not valuble aspects of a good college student, I believe that these things have shaped me into a better person. I made some bad choices in school, but every bad choice I have made as shaped me into the better person I am today. The first semester of my college career I went to a lot of parties, drank a lot of alcohol, and even tried marajuana for the first time in my life. While, this all seems detrimental to my education it turns out that it was not. My first semester I recieved a 2.5 GPA. It was when I recieved this that i decided that i had enough fun and needed to focus on school. Second semester I work extremely hard and greatly increased my GPA. I do not regret anything that I did my first semester because it was those bad decisions that allowed me to realize what I must do to become a good student and most of all a productive member of society.

My education has always been very important for many reasons, not only because of the sense of a professional accomplishment and meaning; it is to lead a happy and successful life, build a family and encourage them. I attended an online university that wasn't what I was looking for, but it was for the best. I wanted to catch up considering that I had fallen behind in attempts to acquire my own independence. Imagine a young girl out in the world on her own, without guidance. It was hard but rewarding at the same time because I learned how to deal with maturity. I'll admit I had breakdowns, and probably have many more challenges left to face, but now at least I know that I have the strength to endure whatever life throws my way, God will never give you anything you can't handle. I'm the type of person that likes to be involved with the community, meet new people and live new and exciting experiences while I am still young and able to do so. That is why I would like to attend school on campus, for the all around spoken of college experience.

Going back to college for me has been a very rewarding experience, very challenging at times, balancing two children and family life, but very rewarding. My children are 18 and 10, my son heads off to college this summer. I wasn?t sure I could afford to go to college at the same time as my child, did I want to, could I afford not to? I have truly enjoyed my time spent engaged in my studies, and being able to provide my kids with the unique experience of their parent attending school. It?s hard to give your mom a convenient excuse for why you didn?t finish your homework when I?m sitting beside you doing mine. I hope I have instilled in my children that education is not just for when you are young and that you have always something to learn. I feel much more in touch with my children and with my world. Getting my education has allowed me to recognize in myself all the untapped potential. I will graduate in May of 2011 with an AAS and AAA and have plans to attend a four year institution in my area to attain my BSN.

Attending the University of Pittsburgh has been such a valuable experience because throughout my studies as well as my participation in clubs and activities on campus, I have been able to foster a truly global and international experience. Brazilian festivals, Spanish movie nights, Indian Bhangra dancing and other cultural events are very popular and have helped me to meet international students, who share their experience of what life outside the U.S. is like. A more specific international event, the G-20 conference, was held in Pittsburgh during the fall of 2009, bringing with it peaceful protests, riots, as well as a series of lectures, by all different public officials open for students as well as the rest of the community. These opportunities for involvement in the international realm have been extremely important in helping to cultivate my career and personal goals for the future. I think by attending a diverse school in an urban environment that encourages students to take advantage of such opportunities, helps students not only learn about the world around them, but also learn more about themselves and how they as individuals fit into the big picture.

So far out of my college experience I have learned that I am actually following my dream. I want to help people and guide them into the right healthy way of life. So far, college has proven to me that I can actually succeed. I will one day have my own private practice in psychology. I really would recommend the college that I am attending, such a friendly helping environment. I just would like to go past getting my associates, but the cost of school is very high. Where I live there is no program to get into psychology, which is why I am going about it online.

From my college experience, I have gotten independency, lifelong friends, culture, and the ticket to a journey of my choosing! For most, being in college means that you have to learn to do some things on your own with out your parents. Most financial-related business I left up to my mom, but when I got to college, I had to learn these things on my own. Moreover, whether staying on campus or not, you're bound to draw tremendously close to people on campus. Thats the thing about college (especially large ones); there's a place for everyone to fit. My floor did almost everything together, and about the only thing we had in common was the fact that we lived on the same floor! Furthermore, being in the midst of the city provided many opportunities to see shows, dance productions and more. Pitt recognizes the importance of the arts and the power of its cultivation so as a result, so do its students. And finally my golden ticket! I have not only begun to learn how to make a living, but how to make a life. To me, all this is much more valuable than any monetary value.