University of San Francisco Top Questions

I can still hear my high school counselor?s voice ringing in my ear, ?in college, it?s not what you know, but who you know?. I pitied his logic, assuming a college history ridden with bad grades had led him to it. Four years down the line and thousands of dollars down the drain, I finally see his point. I entered my first two years of college with a steady regimen: study and study. My GPA benefited and my future was being paved until my third year of college when the economy began to crash and future prospects of a career for business majors diminished. Budget cuts were eating away at my cal grant and I hadn?t made any solid unions to help me find solutions. After a quasi early-life crisis, I decided to expose myself to networks at USF. The outcome was my membership in a life changing organization. My college experience has taught me that in an economy where the future is unpredictable, straight A?s may not guarantee the triumph of a vocation. High school students should be reminded that the connections they make will expose them to more opportunities than pure grades will.

If I could go back in time, I wouldn't do anything different, but I would reassure myself that what I am doing is the best route for me to go. I was above average academically, and exceptional in athletics, so if I wanted to, I could have gone to many different colleges. Because I have to pay for my education myself, I was forced to go to community college first. At first I felt like I sold myself short, and was lower than my peers, but now after transferring to a private university, it was the best decision I made. I was able to save money and get pretty much the same education (because its General ED) as if I went to a 4-year university out of high school. A lot of the time students believe that the school they go to, defines who they are socially and reputably, so it skews them from thinking realistically. In an economy like this, we must think realistically and weigh out our options that are really important to us rather than status and what others think about us.

College is a competitive world. Students live in the life of stress and pressure to be the best at their university. Trying to pick the best university for your personality will be the hardest, but it will be the best decision you will make for your future. Do not overload yourself with different activities, but pick your favorite and enjoy your first year so you can get your feet warm and understand your limits. Grades will be the most important and do not let anything get in the way with studies because you will regret your mistakes. Enjoy your every moment in college and you will succeed at your best.

All through high school I was a huge procrastinator and in some ways I still am. However, If I could go back in time I would advise myself in two areas. Try to study earlier and to study harder and avoid procrasination. My goal through high school was to pass the class. I am a pretty good student but had I studied earlier and harder I would have been an even better student. I recently found this to be true when I studied for a Psychology final. I studied very hard and it paid off because I received an A out of the class. I wish I had done this in high school. I might be at my first choice university. I would also advise myself not to put things off to the last minute. Prepare for projects in advance so if complications happen, ie: No ink in the printer, you have time to rectify the problem. College life is challenging so time management is crucial.

My advice would be to work very hard in my academics from start to finish Take your assignements very seriously and ask for help when you need assistance. Its ok to look for help if you dont understand something. One of the purposes to going to college is it to learn new things in life that will help you succeed in the future. Save as much money as you can and dont get yourself into credit card debt. These comanpanies target college students and make you believe that having your own credit card is having freedom. Very big mistake you can make while being in college is having consumer debt. It will be very difficult to pay off and you will be focusing on finding full time work to pay this debt off and less focused on school. Live at home with your parents and dont move out if you are not financially ready. Enjoy living at home while you still have the opportunity, save your money and dont let opportunities pass you by that will get you a step closer to your educational goals. You will have endless opportunities if you follow these steps after you graduate college.

Time management is the key to success in college. You must be self motivated and take time out of your day to study, to do homework, etc. because there is no one breathing down your back forcing you to do anything. Procrastination is something you will battle, but unlike high school, where you can usually turn in work late or explain to your teacher why to need an extension on a paper, professors want their work done on time and done right. There will be many distractions but you must set your priorities straight in order to succeed in college. You have a lot more free time than you did in high school, which you would think leaves you will more time to do your work. This is not the case, it gives you more time to goof around and do everything than what you are suppose to be doing, so manage your time wisely. You should also get involved in college. Become a part of a club or committee and get use to networking with people so you will actually feel like a part of the university, rather than just another number on the roster.

You can do anything you want to do, but you have to apply yourself. Remember even when it feels like life is impossible it is possible, you may need to ask for help, being an adult means asking for help when you need it. All you need to do is keep your grades up the last semester of high school and wait for the acceptance letters to come. When you get them make the decision that makes you most happy, if you don?t choose what makes you most happy you will not have a good experience. When you start school remember to keep your focus, attend class every time and do all of the homework. Teachers are available to help you but they will not come to you, go to their office hours and passing the class will be much easier. Don?t forget to have fun! Isolation is not a good way to meet people. You have to go out of your comfort zone and meet new people, but once you do you will be very thankful for your new friends. Take every chance to learn, college is a time of discovery.

If I was able to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would give myself a few words of advice. I would first tell myself to not drop out of my AP english class. Even with one semester under my belt I was ahead of most students in my college classes. Even though it had gotten harder for me and I decided to drop back it would have been a lot better to have two semester instead of one. I then would have told myself to follow my heart, carreer wise. To go to school for the major I wanted to do and not the major everyone else wanted me to do. I would tell myself to follow my passion so that I was doing classes I really wanted to do and not ones that I was extremely unhappy in.Nothing else I would want to change becsue the people and teachers I met were amazing and did help me get to where I am right now and where wish I had been two years ago. It is always better late then never I guess! Thank you!

If I had the opportunity to go back and time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to be disciplined and take school more seriously. Once you get into college there are not as many second chances, and you have to deal with the mistakes you made. College is not as forgiving as high school and I would explain to myself that I needed to learn how to take my grades seriously because they are more important in college. There are so many little things in high school that don't even matter in college. For example; the friends you make, the mundane teachers, and the amount of work. In college you start with new friends, the teachers become more exciting, and the workload only gets bigger. I would let myself know that there are many harder challenges in the future and that I should start learning how to deal with the ones that come my way. College is an entirely different world from high school, and I would make sure I knew how to deal with the problems that lie ahead.

As a student now in college I would tell myself as well to other in that same possition, who really care about studing and are trying their utmost effort to be the best student possibel, that it is always important to build a good relationship with your consular and teachers because they will guide you in making better decisions that can lead you to the success of your career. Also it is important to take advantage of the programs offer by the university especially those programs that are aim to your particular career because, that will not only enhance your career knowledge but it gives you a good experience, and sometimes another perspective of how things are on your course of study. it is a good idea to attend the free workshops offer by the college because that as well helps you improve skills. It is always good to be as much involved with your school because one can just go forward with everything that was learned by the institution one chose to be its mentor. How one handles the challenge is on ones hand, the schools are doing their best to provide with the necessary tools to succced.

Really think about the location in which college you want to attend. Think if you want to be in a college town, a city, close to a beach, or cold weather. Also, think about the size of college you want to attend. I thought I want to attend a large school but after attending a small school I realized I could never handle a large school. Also, really evaluate how much money you are willing to spend on tuition. Make sure you can pay for the school before you fall in love with it, or just know you will have to take out loans or apply for scholarships.

If i could go back in time and give myself some advice it would have to be to take time for myself and not to over think everything. I should work fewer hours and study a little more often, living on campus instead of an hour off campus would have helped a great deal. To not overload myself with trying to get ahead and just enjoy being a senior.

The one thing that I would want to tell myself is just breathe, going to college is not the end of the world. All of those years stressing about grades and classes is not worth is. College life is a change, but it is not the shock that anyone might expect. Make sure that you put time and careful consideration into what colleges you are looking at. There are thousands out there for you to choose from so you have to be aware of what you are looking for specifically, not what anyone else is looking for you to do. College is your decision, and you get to decide in the end where you want to be. So just relax and take a breath, in the end you will be where you were ment to be, and glad you chose the campus you did.

In April of my senior year in high school my mother suffered a stroke that left her disabled and unemployed. I immediately stepped up as the adult figure; not only my younger brother, but for my mother as well. At the time of my mother's stroke I worked for Champs Sports as a part-time sales associate. I lived my life pay check to pay check paying for my car payments and phone bill. I never really invested in saving my money because I always had my mom to pay for things and I knew that since she was receiving disability checks I was still going to be taken care of when I went to college--I was wrong. If there is anything I learned from my first semester in college it's that I have to learn to support myself; mom can no longer do that for me. So if I could give myself any advice as a senior in high school it would be to put away money in my savings for a rainy day. If I had done that I probably wouldn't have to have the two jobs I have now just to get by.

As a college freshman I know that there are many lessons for me to learn in the next four years. I was a high school senior no less than a year ago, but the thoughts that I had back then about college are still fresh in my mind. I remember being nervous and not knowing what to expect. What I have learned from my first semester here at USF is that change happens for the better. I would tell myself that you've gone through transitions before, and this particular one is no different. Swallow in everything that happens to you and just go at your own pace but keep in mind that fear has no measure to your self-worth.

The advice that I would give is that I should view college as a new chapter in a good book. In order to find out how the story ends. I must be able to turn chapters no matter how sweet or bitter they are, much like in my life. High school, although it came with unforgettable moments and lessons, it is nothing more than a part of a story that is needed to lead up the climax and finale of my life. I should not desperately cling to my high school ways and habits and expect them to lead me to my ending, but I should rather look back on them and use them to let me know how the next chapter is going to get better. In other words, what I am trying say is that I should use my years in high school as a tool to show me how I should improve my academic life. I should take every experience, negative or positive, and learn from them to make my future brighter and to adjust to my college career.

As college begins, you think you have to immediately find clubs and other school activities to join in order to provide proof that you are a well-rounded person. You might believe that participating in these school activities and undergoing sorority and/or fraternity trials will help you blend in with people who "know" what they're doing. That's not how beginning college life is about. I'm not saying to refrain from participating in school activities. Participate in them and see which one you're most comfortable with. The one that makes you feel like they're your second family is the one you want to stick with. As you begin to discover who you can trust and rely on as family, it'll become easier to transition into your of college life. However, don't expect to immediately find your comfortable zone. It takes time and much effort but if you're willing to do it, you will be able to find it. Also, it is important to remember to be who you are and not what others want you to be. Follow your ambitions with determination, resolve, passion, and clear eyes.

An advice I would give high school seniors is give everything you?re complete one hundred percent. College only gets harder. High school was the stepping stone to get into college. When you take the easy way out in high school, such as copy a friend?s homework, cheat on a test, or sleep through a class, you?re only hurting yourself. Also, learn how to manage your time right now. Even though in college you could get pick your own schedule, you have to learn how to manage your time. Between classes, you should study and do homework. In college, when you don?t give your one hundred percent, professors can easily tell. The last advice is to take any opportunity that comes your way. Don?t let the ?what ifs? hold you down. If you have an opportunity that is once in a life time, seize it. College is a learning experience with its ups and downs. It will be the best four years of your life and will mold you to be a better person.

Talking to the Senior me, I would have reminded her that all people change when they go to college. It is important to cherish the time one has a senior because college brings many more different opportunities. When friends go separate ways, they will meet different obstacles and events that shape their being. Recognizing this change and that it is completely normal is one of the hardest things I have faced in my transition to college. I made many new friends in college and remain close to my high school friends, but we have all changed in different ways. If I could go back to senior year, I would have cherished my time with my friends more and accepted each other for who we really are. It is important to remember that even if somebody does change their attitudes and/or beliefs in college, at one time, their friendship meant the world to you.

Univeristy offers the gift of knowledge, take the time to explore your interests and stick with it no matter how distracting life outside of school gets.

Write down your dream; the reason you are going to school, what you hope to achieve there, and what you want to be able to do after you graduate. Nothing is too far-fetched, trivial or embarrassing for this particular letter to yourself. Put the letter in a special box under your bed (or on top of the microwave, or rolled up in the pocket of the coat you never wear ? dorms are awfully squishy). This way, on those particular Mondays when you think you failed the Chemistry test, your roommate kept you up too late talking on the phone, or your just miss the way your mom?s famous chocolate chip cookies taste, you can dig up your dream and remember why all this hard work is worthwhile. And if going to school for a few semesters has changed the way you look at the world, even better ? just add to your letter and remember that with enough hard work and the right lucky penny, everything is achievable.

If I could go back to give myself advice as a highschool senior, I would start off by telling myself not to be so hard on myself. I realize now that their are so many opportunities and different paths of success for people of all skill sets. Everyone has this idea of what a successful person looks like and in highschool this mostly consists of perfect grades and extracurricular activities. I would tell myself that you will go to college, meet new people, become inspired and find your niche. I would tell myself that you will find your passion and be great at it as long as you work hard and you truely love what you are doing and you have an open mind. As long as you love what you are doing and have an open mind to continue learning there will be passion and you will be successful.

If I knew what I do now when I was a senior in high school, choosing a college would have been a lot easier. In terms of my choice of school, I could not have picked better. The transition from high school to college is difficult for everyone, and that is the one area I would have warned myself about. Living alone with no supervision is liberating and exciting at first, but it is important to think about the responsibility that comes with it. I would definitely tell myself to focus on balancing my social life with school, because that was difficult for me last year. Most importantly, I would warn myself about the changes in my relationship with my parents. As a kid, I looked to my parents for answers and rules; now they are here for guidance and advice instead. Although returning to some of their rules on vacation can be tough, I have learned to love our new relationship.

It?s not about the reputation, the prestige, or even the location. Having a great college experience where you?re pushed to learn is most possible at schools with a close nit community. Small liberal arts colleges provide you with opportunities to build close relationships with students and professors. These opportunities are inevitable not sought. In these communities people are there for the same reasons and many you build relationships with care about you, they help push you to do better, but not in a competitive sense. Within the tight nit community you build lifelong bonds. You are forced by professors to discuss, reason, and problem solve. The people that you build relationships with won?t let you fall through the cracks if you show you?re there to learn. I cherish the relationships I made at my small school and will accredit any success I create for myself to the professors who taught me how to reason and think logically, the professors who encouraged me to question the rules and what is generally accepted. They are who taught me how to think not just learn and know. That is what I?ll apply to every aspect of my life.

The most important thing about choosing a school is the location. The school must be located in a place that is conducive to both the students academia and his/her social life. Unwinding from a difficult week is just as important as the hardcore studying. Both are necessary in achieving great grades.

VISIT the school and maybe attend a class; spend at least two days there getting to know the school, people, and surrounding area

Love the city that you are going to, and take every opportunity to go abroad. I highly recommend homestays.

Finding the right college may be difficult, but I guarantee that it's possible. Get as much help from your college counselor as possible because they know what they're doing and just want to help you. My college counselor really helped me choose my college. Make a list of everything you expect from your future college, starting from what state/city you want to go to school in, possible majors, tuition budget, and the list goes on. This will help you narrow down schools. Make sure you do enough research about universities because you want to know as much as possible about them before making your final decision. Get an early start with college applications and don't procrastinate. Start writing your essays, asking teachers for recommendations and getting your transcripts and all that needs to be done. Pretend as if they're due a month before the actual date. That way, you'll get them done ahead of time. As for the college experience, just enjoy being at a new school. Don't take on too much because school is your main focus, but remember to have fun once in awhile!

One day, as I sat around my room trying to figure out how I felt about my college exerience, I had a few thoughts on what I had done right and what I had done wrong in finding a college. Overall, before I came to college, I envisioned myself as an athlete and then as a student. My GPA coming out of high school greatly limited my choice in schools because I relied on coaches and not my own abilities to get into college. After that I knew very little about majors and how to succeed in college. My best experiences in college were doing well in classes and making lifelong friends. My worst experience was varsity sports. To minimize the negatives and maximize the positives I would advise the student to get himself into school and to not rely on anybody else. Coaches can manipulate you but if you are where you want to be then it wont take as much of a toll on your mind and body. Above all take risks by attempting to meet new people and by experiencing new things. Find out who you are, not who everybody else wants you to be.

The environment in which you study is just as important as the institution that you will attend. If you are not satisfied with the people around you and your living situation why study there? College is more than just school, it is usually the time of one's life and it is up to you to chose the best setting.

You should really go visit the campus and talk to current students and recent graduates.

When I entered USF as a freshman, I wanted to become a dentist. Like many other freshmen, I attended college to just to get a good job. Nw a junior, I realize the changes in my life because of college. I currently major in Biology, but I took up a minor in Chemistry after taking a fascinating organic chemistry lab class. I then double minored in Business, thinking it would be good for starting my own practice as a dentist-- one of my classes led to the possibility of becoming a real estate agent. Even my extracurriculars opened me up! I founded the USF Hawaiian Ensemble-- my leadership in planning fundraisers and hula performances now leads me to a possible career in events management. I made the best of friends, some from as far away as India and Japan; I even met the love of my life in college.. The bottom line: choose a college that will take you out of your comfort zone and allow you to experience things you've never done before-enjoy college, it's not only an accelerated path to your future, it's also a time to live independently and learn without bounds.

I would say that it is really important to base your college choice on a career that is interesting and exciting, and to really heavily examing whether that school gives internship/ job training experience while in school. I think it is really important to have some idea of what you want to do before committing to a 4 year university and spending tons of money because I have friends who went to college and decided 3 years into their education that they were actually interested in a different field. I wasn't positive when I graduated high school, so I attended city college and did well while exploring career options, and by the time I had decided what career I really wanted, I had enough credits and a great GPA which enabled me to transfer into the nursing program that most appealed to me. Definitely think about city college if you're not sure what you want to do, it's a great option that saves lots of money.

In my opinion, students must study hard now especially English language. Think carefuly before make a decision to choose the college.

I think it's really important to pick a college or University that really represents your core values and implements those into your education. Once you answer those and stay true to why you are pursuing a college education, it really lays the foundation for everything else you deem important. Sure your education is important but realistically they are all very similar.

I can't really give advice for picking a college, I already knew I wanted to go to the University of San Francisco the second I heard of it. However, I do have something to say about the college experience. Some people think that the biggest part of going to college is finally moving out of the home and becoming an adult, and part of becoming an adult is choosing what is best for yourself. I changed my major four times before I settled on Graphic Design, and my final choice did NOT go well with the parents. To the parents, I know that all you want for your child is to be happy and to be able to take care of him/herself in the future and if what makes them happy does not agree with you a little show of concern is fine. To the lucky soon to be college students, do not take your future education for granted, there are tons of people out there who applied and did not get in and to fail or barely pass is a slap in the school's and denied applicants face's.

Always choose what is best for the student. Pick a school where you know is convenient and an easy area to live in. Make sure to focus on your future at all times. Success is achieved through hard work and perserverence. You will succeed if you strive for it. Extra curricular activities help ease the stress from your workload.

Look at plenty of colleges ahead of time and spend some time in the cafeteria--you'll see students' general mood. Don't expect your experience to be like that of your other friends back home or like anything you've seen in movies or TV. Don't be afraid to give your college a chance (everyone will feel awkward and lonely at first.)

Go away to college. I made the mistake of staying in the same city I grew up in and living at home with my parents. If you can afford to go elsewhere and explore another place, do it. It's a serious growing experience and you'll learn so much about yourself and who you are. Plus, you'll have a lot more freedom and will enjoy your four years (or more!) a lot more this way.

Make sure the college has a program to cater to your needs.

It is tempting to approach choosing a college with the idea that there is one perfect college out there for everyone. But in my experience, finding the right campus has more to do with an open mind and willingness to try new things., rather than finding the college equivalent of a "soulmate". Those students who pick a college because they think it will open doors for them oftentimes forget how important it is to open doors for themselves. Taking an active role in defining your college experience will better equip you to see what you really need from others and what you can provide for yourself.

Deciding where you want to attend college can be difficult because there are several factors to consider. How far away from home and location is one important factor. A student must decide whether a college located at the center of a busy city or a college surrounded by huge parks and small neighborhoods is the right choice. Cost is another factor to consider and whether the school offers enough scholarships, loans, and grants for its students. The size of a classroom also makes a big difference because smaller sized classrooms tend to be more personal and interactive since professors are able to give their attention to each student in the room. Resources provided by the college, such as study areas, computer labs, tutoring services, up-to-date technology equipment, and library resources should also be considered. In regards to the social aspect of college life, students may want to look at what sports teams, honor socities, fraternities, sororities or other extracurricular activities that are available at the school. Lastly, it is important to visit each of the colleges that the student intends on applying to. Visiting the campus and taking a tour will help greatly in your decision.

To keep their grades up and concentrate on school along with extracurricular activities. Research which schools you want to go to before and know what they require.

The most meaningful part of college is the ability to find and develop the best version of yourself. Seek out a university that will push your personal boundaries and give you the venues through which to gain necessary career experience.

One of the most important parts of the college experience besides your education itself is the friends you meet. They are the ones that help you through your toughest times. They are there to help you study for that big exam. You will spend a lot of time together in and out of school. You will explore the city together. This said, it is important to visit the campus and get a chance to meet current students to see if you are a good fit. Be sure that you like the location of the school. If you love cities and night life, don't choose a school in the middle of nowhere. Four years is a long time, and the location of the school contributes a lot to your college experience.

This is yours, own it. Four years may seem like a long time. Most four year university students enter before they are twenty years old, and four years is a large percentage of their life at the time, but really this time should be cherished and its brevity should be realized. This is your education, you are the 1{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the world . Remember this, every day. Bad days, rainy days, paper days, work days, cherish them all. Do the readings, ask questions. This may be the last time you are paying an expert to talk about books with you. Questions? Go to your professor's office hours. Once the mindset is switched, from "ugh, I have to do schoolwork" to "wow, look at this gift of knowledge" your papers will seem way shorter. College is a privilage. Sound like advice from your parents? Perhaps that is because they weren't lucky enough to go to college, to be born into a world where schools don't discriminate because you are a women or black or gay. "Be the change you want to see you in the world"- Ghandi

Focus on the individual student. Where would he/she most likely thrive? Does the school excel in the program(s) of interest? Do not necessarily follow friends. Of course, keep safety in mind. Think about finances in detail, in advance.

Class sizes do matter. I don't care what anyone says. Also plan for what party life will be like when you are an under classmen and upper classmen because when you turn 21 you want very different things then when you were 18. Finally, if you don't like your school, transfer. You need to be able to remember you college life as a good one. I was miserable at the college I went to as a freshmen so I transfered and now I'm so happy to be alive at University of San Francisco.

ask older students, especially seniors

When trying to find the college that is a perfect fit, it is vital to research many different schools and to keep an open mind. In addition, it is necessary to research what majors and minors are offered by each school. Although it is important to love the location of the school, it is even more important to keep individual needs in mind. These needs vary from person to person and might range from learning disabilities to financial need. Also, the size of a school is something that should be researched. In many cases, but not all, smaller schools cater to individual needs in a greater way than larger schools. In addition, attending a smaller school enables one to create lasting relationships with professors, which can be helpful when it comes to job interviews and letters of recommendation. However, it is also important to research what various universities offer outside of the classroom, such as clubs and sports. It is necessary to attend a university in which one is satisfied with his or her academics, as well as his or her social life.