University of St Thomas-Saint Paul Top Questions

What's the one thing you wish someone had told you about freshman year?

James

I wish that I could have understood the importance of daily work. Daily work is supposed to help me understand the concept through repetition. I should have looked over notes and worksheets more and I know that I could have acheived greater success than I did. Also, I did not annotate in my books, which I now know is vital to understanding an unfamiliar idea.

Leandra

I can't think of anything.

Kayla

I knew it was expensive and had a lot of general requirements, but I wish I would have realized what that meant more in the long term.

Joseph

Nothing Really.

Jordan

All of the extra curricular activites that are available both on-campus and off-campus really suprised me, and the discounts that students can receive at these places.

Hudson

I wish I would have known about how important networking and internships were. I was a transfer student and they never said anything like that to me at my old school. Luckily, I was able to make great connections at school and put myself out in the industry. It is extremely important to make these connections early on!

Kesha

Making friends at the beginning of the school year is exciting, but a lot of work. Sometimes it's overwhelming, but it is important to remember that everyone else is feeling a lot like you are in that they too are looking to meet new people and make new friends. St. Thomas provides a lot of great ways to get to know new people, and it is important to take advantage of them.

Amanda

I wish I would have known about the different professors because I did not learn a lot from a couple of my professors due to their teaching styles.

Chris

Some of the students in attendence give the impression of the school as a "suitcase campus," or a university where students attend class during the week, and go home for the weekend. This is typical with freshman and sophomore underclassmen, not so much with upperclassmen (With so many other colleges close by, it doesn't matter all that much). Also, I knew St. Paul was a great city and the University has a great location in the heart of St. Paul, but I didn't know just how great the city was with so many attractions close by. Go explore!

Victoria

I wish that I would have known that accomodating for paying for the tuition payments was going to be a lot harder with my families financial situation. I feel like it is becoming increasingly harder for them to come up with the payments.

Daniel

I wish that prior to my attendance at this University i would have known it would be difficult to participate in extra curricular activities living off campus.

Brooke

I wish that I would have been more involved rather than worring so much about my studies. While I know the value of my education, I think that I would have had a more fulfilled experience if I was more involved. Perhaps I would have been able to learn more from others. :)

Xai

I had actually really looked into UST before registering and attending. First and foremost, the cost of tuition for UST is NOT cheap, but if you talk to a financial counselor, he/she will be gladly to help you with your financial issues. But I do recommend looking into what major you want to pursue and look into it as much as you can and see what the school has to offer you.

Melissa

I wish I would have known the expenses that would pile up being a student.

Erica

That it is a big filter school. There are a lot of high schools that send multiple (30 plus) students here. They can be clicky. It is harder to be the only one from your school to come here. Also, most kids go home on the weekend. Lot of free shirts thugh!!!

Stephen

I wish I knew that the dorm situation was a lot less worth it than I had expected. Friends are easily made in the dorms, but the quality of space provided was questionable at times.

Katy

I wish I would have known that high school wasn't the best part of life. I was stuck in high school when I first arrived at St. Thomas, but now that I have let that go, I've realized how many bigger and better things there are in life!

Cassi

How the classes in this college are very small and require a lot of group work.

Zachary

That I could take up to 8 non core classes as pass/fail.

Amy

Because I did not attend this school for my freshman year of college, I wish I would have taken the time to really learn about all the ammenities and opportunities this University offers to it's students. There truly is a place for everyone to fit in.

Michael

The requirements of graduation; However, they are not as bad as they seemed at first. They encourage and teach people to become more well-rounded and understanding of the entire world around them, not just certain fields.

Sophia

I wish I would have known what I really wanted to major in. I have chosen a major that has a very small department, therefore limited sections, some offered every other semester which was a puzzle at times to organize my schedule. Had I known my passion for my field, I think it would have been more beneficial to search out schools in and out of state in order to fully take advantage of what my major should be offering, but rather is limited to because of its small budget and few professors.

Rachel

I wish I had known how expensive it really is and how difficult it has been to get financial aid. Having to worry about money has been much more stressful and time consuming than I anticipated before transferring to the University of St Thomas.

Alaura

I wish I would have known the work load was tough and takes up a ton of your time. The students here are highly educated and tend to keep you competive, which I think is a good thing. I like being surrounded by other students that encourage me to do well. I wish someone would have told me college is NOTHING like the movies protray it. It's hard work!

Jessica

I wish that I had known exactly what my major and minor were going to be because it would have helped me to advance in my classes. I would have been able to make a perfect schedule that would ensure my graduation in four years and strengthen my future career options. I would save time and money by advancing quickly and efficiently through the courses that I would need to take to fulfill the requirements for my education. I also would have been able to participate in clubs, organizations, and internships geared towards furthering my academic goals.

Karlie

I wish I would have known that a lot of the students o home on the weekends during the first year, so the campus usually isn't as lively. However, most of my friends did stay during the weekends. I also would have liked to have been more prepared for how extremely important note-taking and studying are.

Nicholas

I can't think of anything I would have liked to know that I did not know already before coming here to this school. My older brother is two years ahead of me at this college so I knew exactly what I was getting into through visiting him and hearing about life on campus from him. That is why I felt so comfortable in choosing this school. If I could go back the only thing I would do is visit him a little more and get an even better sense of campus life.

Leihla

I can't think of any one thing I would have liked to have known before coming to college because many things I've learned about growing up happened after getting here, and wouldn't have made sense without the experience itself.

Samantha

I wish I had known that everyone around here uses a Mac laptop instead of PCs.

Amanda

I wish I had not worried so much about what college would be like and that I had realized what a supportive college St. Thomas was earlier on. UST looks out for its students and does its part in making sure that college is both worthwhile and enjoyable. They offer a great advising program which starts during summer orientation and continues throughout your entire four years. Students who require even more guidance than the advice and help they get from their proffessors and first year advisor can go to a number of great resources on campus. UST cares about students!

Kelly

How rediculously expensive everything is! Your meal plan doesn't carry over from semester to semester and they have no program for renting books instead of purchasing them. Needless to say, students just learn to be creative. Other than that I love it here! There are a lot of opportunities, just be sure to take advantage of them right away!

Cassandra

I wish I knew just how much it would cost to attend. Also, I wish that I would have thought of the fact that tuition would increase every year to pay for a new mulitmillion dollar student center that won't be finished until after I graduate.

Samantha

I don't think there's really anything I wish I would have known. I've enjoyed having new and unexpected experiences and finding my way through school so far.

Sasha

I wish I had known how much smaller the classes are than the University I attended my freshman year. I like the small classes at St. Thomas a lot better.

Elizabeth

I wish that I had researched more about different school and what they offerered. I realize now, how important it is to get as much information on a school before attending that school. It is possible that there could be other schools that better fit my needs in order to accomplish my career goals.

Chet

I wish I had known that the cafeteria food isn't very good but they are getting a new one so it is no longer relevant. It would be beneficial to know that all the classes are good size and the teachers are very helpful.

Chia

I wish I would have known how hard it was being a college student. Not only the schoolwork involved but also being a commuter. Being a college is tough but I wish I would've known how to handle the homework given every day, all the readings that had to be read, and the many fun activities that occured almost all the time.

Cierra

I wish I had known that it was not that diverse as it claimed it would be, that it would be hard to participate in varsity sports, and I wish I knew how rigorous the course work would be.

Sarah

How to manage my time better and to not get too overwhelmed all of the time.

Sarah

Parking is terrible, but it is awesome living in the twin cities. There is so much to do here.

Nhi

Before coming to the Univeristy of St. Thomas, I wish I would have known or did more research about my school and what courses it has to offer. But when I got more situated here, I found out that its major courses are business, education and theology. Although I am not planning to enter any of thsoe fields, I am very pleased with this univeristy and am glad that I am a part of this institution.

Tom

How to organize group projects

Dustin

The total cost to attend the school. Their programs require a little more credits than most courses which means i'm going to be busy busy for the next 2 years to graduate on time. Its' going to be very expensive for these 2 years.

Daniel

That is hard to graduate in 4 years with the required liberal arts curriculum and an intensive Engineering degree. In fact is near impossible. Also that it is a very expensive school for living and education.

Kristin

Financial Aid

Sara

I wish I would have known how hard it was going to be making friends and being a commuter student.

John

I wish I would have known that school pride in accordance to football was so low. IT's truly unfortunate that there is barely any attendance at the games. I feel as if it is a big part of college and virtually missing at St. Thomas University.

Taylor

I wish I had know that there is more flexibility to your class schedule and I wish I had taken more courses in high school that would allow me to receive college credit.

Kevin

At St. Thomas, we are required to declare our major by the end of our sophomore year. I was expecting some time to explore different fields and then decide on a specific major. But, in my particular field of study (Mechanical Engineering), you would be way behind if you didn't decide on that major until sophomore year. I wish I had known this so that I would have explored my options more before entering into college.

Kristin

Before I came to this school, I wish I would have known how much different it was from high school. I was very much sheltered growing up, so coming to this campus was a really big step and a big change for me.