Urbana University Top Questions

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

Andre

In high school, I didn't really no much about the importants of school and never really took thought about what it is that I wanted to do in life. Know one really told me about the importants of going to college and being patient and not in a rush to go after the high paying dead end jobs with benfits, in some warehouse house or factory. So if I were to go back in time and give myself some advice, I would first tell myself that I am 24, and all the mistakes that I made. I would tell myself to keep GOD first and school my number one priorite. I would tell myself to not be caught up in make money and being flashy to show like im living a life style that im really not. Instead, keep your credit good, dont live above your means. work a job while in school but save, learn about investments, and get in school for business. Most importantly to change up the friends that I hang around and start hanging out with the nerds. And plan to get married after college.

Eric

To take school more serious.. Because once your out of high school there is no going back. Your expections are higher because you have to prove a point in the real world. Very little people have sympathy for you in the real world, it's not high school no more where your teacher use hold your through every class. So my advice is to learn as much as you can in the classroom and out side the classroom. Always try to do your best and if something seem hard to you go to somebody you can trust and ask them a question. Education is the key to success.

Zack

I would tell myself to stay on the same track and keep studying and keep staying AWAY from partying and doing the right thing. Keep up with your school work because its not worth $22,000 dollars a year to fail and drop out, then have to pay off all of the student loans you had to take out because you were not granted any good scholarships or grants because your father made "sufficient" income. Do not join the golf team because the athletic department is terrible. Just keep studying hard like you do and hope somehow, that it will pay off and you might be lucky enough to receive some scholarship or grant to help you pay for books and gas for commuting. Oh, and if you still decide to join the golf team then hold on to your wallet all the way back from your georgia spring break trip because if you don't, then it will come up "missing" and you do not want to deal with the hassel of all of that.

Jessica

I have learned that people will not baby you for the rest of your life. That is to say that since I have started college I have had to do things for myself that in high school the teacher would have done. Also, I have learned that I do not HAVE to do things alone. For the longest time I studied by myself, mainly because all my friends in high school were a year younger, but recently I have joined a study group and have watched my grade rise. Even though some classes have been difficult I have persevered. I believe college has been valuable to attend mainly because I will be the first person in my family to graduate college. Even though both of my parents have good paying jobs, I have aunts and uncle who did not go to college and I have watched them struggle. My mother is the oldest of five (5) sisters and their father did not push them to attend college. Some of them have been lucky but others have not. I am not afraid of being penniless but if I every have a family, I do not want to put them through that.

Mindy

Through the course of my college experience I have gained vast amounts of knowlege, but not restricted to academia alone. I have developed strong interpersonal relationships which I find to be rewarding. I have developed and understanding and respect for people of other ethnic backgrounds, something I did not acquire where I grew up as I was not subjected to people of differing ethnicities. I have been able to squash many of my misunderstanding and stereotypes about the world in which I live. Lastly, I have learned a great deal of material relevant to my intended field, however I believe that to take a backseat to the aforementioned knowledge. Being here had made me a better, more understanding, open-minded, well-rounded person. When students come here the professors take each one under their wing and mold them into these great individuals and I am glad and proud to have experienced it.

e

Whenever a person exits their comfort zone into unfamiliar territory they have to decide how they will react. Sometimes it is easy to take it all in and find yourself just observing from a distance. One of the most valuable experiences I had was when I decided that instead of being the one who sat back and watched, I would dive in head first. I decided that I wouldn't let my shyness keep me from potentially great firendships. I wouldn't let challenging assignments overwelm me, and i would invite new experiences. (Although trying Monday's broccoli surprise was not one of those new experiences.) The first couple days of classes I decided to be myself, only more extroverted. I found that smiling and introducing myself helped me to make friends and form study groups more easily. Although I would prefer to do activities in small groups I shose to attend larger functions and become involved in discussions. I found that through my choice to become involved I developed my own voice amoungst the larger group of voices and that it could be clear and strong. My college exprerience has given me a chance to become who I am.

Desiree

Attending college has allowed me to broaden my horizons and begin to prepare for my future career. I have made new friends, had a chance to experience new things and better understand myself through the classes I have taken. I have spent the last year in the University's Royal Blues Band and working with the Drama department, these experiences are completely different from the same activities I did in high school. I am becoming a more independent person and feel more confident in myself. The college experience is helping me grow as a person and allowing me to explore many new facets of life. I am very happy to be the person I am right now and look forward to evolving into a strong teacher in the future.

Jessica

If I could go back in time and talk to myself in high school as a senior I would tell myself to study and focus alot harder on my classes. I would tell myself this because if i would of studied harder in high school my college classes might of not been as hard as they were in the beginning. Also I would tell myself to go visit more colleges and universitys to make sure I pick the right one for me. I would tell myself this because if you don't find a college you feel comfortable at you will not be happy their. I would also tell myself to let the high school drama go because when you go off to college it is all behind you and none of it matters anymore. Most of all I would tell myself to enjoy the good times because you never know when it may be your last and to be thankful for everything!!

Shannon

If I could go back in time and tell myself about College Life, I wouldn't say a thing. I would sit back and watch myself learn from my mistakes and become the person I am today. All of the experiences I've had over my Freshman, Sophomore, and Junior Year, I wouldn't have traded them for anything. I think it was important for me to go to college completely unexpecting of what it was going to be like. It was important for me to make mistakes and not only learn from them, but to also learn who I am because of them. I'm learning the kind of person I am, and most importantly the kind of person I want to continue growing to be.

Jessica

I would tell myself not to room with my best friend because we got along great, but she liked to eat my food and use my things without permission; we hit a rocky patch in our friendship because of that, but we are fine now. Also, I would tell myself to look for scholarships earlier because it turns out that there were scholarship essay competitions on campus for my entering class and I had no idea; that was money that I could have used!

Joshua

When looking for a college, it is important to find the school that will fit the student the most. Of course, that includes things like athletics, educational content, and financial aid. Every student is different and not every school will work for one student. So it is important to apply to as many schools as possible. Once a student is attending his or her desired institute, he or she should get involved with activities that interest him or her. It is also very important to find friends. Friends should be from all types and standings. One should not limit one's self to a certain ethnic, cultural, or social group. It is also very important for students to get to know the faculty and staff on campus. Being well-known is a huge benefit. Students should also remember that family should still be involved in order to gain a more enjoyable college experience. Also, parents should remember that college is a time for students to make choices on their own and a time for students to start building their independent lives. One of the most important things to keep in mind when looking for and attending college is, have fun!

Megan

I would tell parents and/or students about finding the right college to make a list of everything you want out of a college, like location, size, major, campus activities and do not settle for a college unless it has everything that you are looking for in a college. I would tell the student to make the most of their college expierence they should room with someone they do not know, so they can become more open-minded and meet more people. I would also tell them to never make up an excuse not to hang out with new people; college is an expierence and no one can get that by sitting their room.

Terri

I think that finding the right college is essential in obtaining your career goals. I think that campus size and class room size will impact your learning. Researching your field of study and making sure that the time and effort you are investing in will pay off. There is nothing like completing somthing and then finding that it does not benefit your career choice. I think that you need to meet with your counselor on a regular basis to make sure that you are on track and can handle your class load. The college experience is what you make of it. You have to embrace it and want to learn. If you have ambition and drive you can succed at your dreams.

Benjamin

I would like to tell parents to let your children ultimitely decide where they want to go to college. It is the biggest decision of their life and they need to figure out for themselves where they feel their future is more secure. Make sure that they are making the right decision, but let them be the decider and you be the guide. Make sure your child is getting involved in on-campus activities and that they are getting out doing something instead of just going to class. Students, make sure you choose the right school that best fits your personality and where you will be 110{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} focused on your academic studies. This is your whole life and make good friends to make sure you stay on track. Get involved to familiarize yourself with the campus and faculty. It will be the best decision you will make at your college.

Jessie

The advice I would give parents about finding the right college for their student is really simple. I would tell them three things. The first is to let your child decide where he or she wants to attend school. Don't force a school on them. The second is to try go to all the schools your child wants to attend. The third is to support your child no matter what. It is so much easier for a student to feel confident in their decisions if their parents support them. The advice I would give to students is very much like the advice I would give to the parents. I would tell them three things. The first thing I would tell them is to explore all of their options. It is easy to make the correct decision if all of the options are explored. The second thing I would tell them is to always feel like they are good enough. How will the person know if they never try. The last thing I would say is to learn as much as they can and live each day as if they would never get a chance to learn again.

Haley

Visit a lot of schools and get a wide variety of colleges, go where you feel safe and comfortable. Also, you can help you out the most finicially and benefit you the most for your future. Just follow your heart an go where you think you belong.