Whittier College Top Questions

There are so many things I wish I could go back in time and tell my 18 year old, recently graduated self. Being almost 10 years older now, I have had so many life experiences that have made me into a stronger, wiser, more grounded individual. If I had to choose anything I could say to that unsure, curious but hesitant 18 year old me it would be this: YOU CAN. I would want myself to know that I can accomplish any goal I put my mind to. To know that there is only one thing holding me back from turning any dream or vision into reality: myself.

Make friends, I mean it. Yes it's absolutely terrifying. Your first day at college will be the scariest and the best day of your life. There will be so many strangers that have the potential to become your friends so don't miss out on the opportunity. Come out of your shell and say hi to everyone you meet. It's not easy, that's for sure. But it's worth it.

After spending a semester abroad in Sweden, the only advice I can think of to give my younger self is that I should have arranged to study abroad in two different countries for two different semesters. Now that I'm a senior, I no longer have the time to study abroad, but I really want to study abroad for a semester in Asia, and I think that going somewhere outside of the United States/Western Europe would have been good for me. Honestly, though, I'm pretty happy with the decisions I've made until this point. Whittier was the only school I could afford (after accounting for scholarships, Whittier was even cheaper than public school), and I got really involved in the Quaker Campus newspaper on campus while also writing two more books (I wrote my first in high school). Still, study abroad was the best experience I've ever had, and I wish I could have planned to study abroad for two semesters when I arrived. Oh, and I would also have my younger self take more Gender Studies courses since I've learned more from those classes than any others.

I would focus on getting high grades as possible so that way i could get scholarships to help me with school. I would study harder than what i did. I would try to do my best i could

If I were to have a conversation with my 17-year old, senior in high school self about the transition to college life, it would be short and concise, brief and to the point. I would say to think long-term. Prepare for tomorrow by acting today because in the years to come: she won’t be there, ball won’t be there, and the opportunities you once have now won’t be there anymore. What will be there are the consequences of failing to act on those opportunities and the decisions you make as a senior. Realize that the goals you have in place aren’t achievable with the effort currently being put forth. Dreams don’t come true from luck and nobody is going to hand it to you but you. To successfully make that transition you need to refocus and reprioritize the things in your life now to set yourself up for success later.

Going back in time and talking to myself as a senior i wouldnt change anything, I believe i made great choices and stayed infromed with everything especially deadlines. I would mostly go back and prepare myself with financial case, and also stability. I would give my self the advice of going far and meeting new people, getting a new experience and traveling the world. I would talk to myself and consider not staying local. Gaining new friends, and adapting to a new environement is always a great choice and i would go back and make the choice of going far.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, first off, I would pat myself on the back for staying in school. Second, I would probably tell myself to stay focused. College life is very different from regular public schools and the workload is a lot more. It can be extremely stressful and competetive when applying for scholarships or just trying to get an A. I would tell myself to learn to balance my schedule because a college student needs a good amount of time to do homework and work on projects, but it is also important to have a life while in college because the stress can consume you if you do not take care of yourself. Ultimately, I would tell myself to keep calm and prioritize.

Do your best in all of your classes. You don't have time for slacking off. Start applying for college early. Do your research. Apply for scholarships as soon as possible to help pay for college. Don't wait until eight years later and start school. It's nothing wrong with going to college late but, you will succeed faster if you go to college right away. Major in something that you enjoy doing. Don't let your peers influence you to go for the highest paying degrees. You will end up in college or maybe in debt paying for what you really want. College is college. Leave the high school mantality in high school. It will be up to you to come to classs, study, and to do your own work. The professors aren't going to give you a grade. You will have to earn the grade. Surround youself around positive individuals. Take advantage of all of the FREE resources. They have tutoring for math, reading, writing, computers, tests, etc. If you get off track with the partying life, hurry up and get back on track. Your can be successful. Your success depends on you April Diane Williams.

Deat 18 year old Shavontae, Enjoy every second that is given to you and never forget to have fun. Play hard, but work harder. Take every opporunity that is right infront of your face or two inches to the left of you. Apply to 100,000 scholarships to increase your chances of at least winning one and minimizing the possibilty of worrying about money. Know that things are going to change but accept them; remember " So it goes". Read Frankenstien, Slaugtherhouse- Five, and the Alchemist again before going to college. Take your health seriously, we are only given one body. Eat healthier, run and walk more, and never stop playing basketball no matter how bad your knees are. Smile more, straigthen your back, and keep your head up. Last but not least, this is YOUR LIFE so live. Love, Yourself

I would tell myself that it is ok to be sad, but that putting myself out there and doing social activities will help a lot. You will make it through and it will get better. Get help when you need it, from friends, faculty, or staff. Be social it will make the next four years amazing!

Just relax! Do what you did: try to be friendly and outgoing. Just don't sleep through the work-study fair.

Well I'm from the midwest and the high school to college transition is way different here in California. If I could give my self any advice it would to be start early; I found out the application deadline to get into say the CalState colleges is five months or so before the high school year even ends. In the end I ended up applying for mostly private colleges and universities. It ended well I do like my school but its very expensive. That's another thing would have told myself to somehow regulate my money; applying for scholarships, grants or what ever I could apply for because my parents are disabled from permanent/ steady jobs due to all the lay offs.

Go wherever you want!

What would I not want to tell my high school self about the academic rigors, emotional ups and downs, and new, maybe even frightening first experiences that were awaiting me in my not so distant future? Looking back, I feel as if I have grown into a completely different person than I was when I walked off the podium, clutching my diploma at graduation. Most importantly, I would tell myself that a path with no obstacles probably doesn’t lead anywhere. The transition into the many new and different aspects college life will not be easy, but this life changing experience will be the first of the many steps it will take to achieve your long term goals. I would tell myself that you are at a point in your life when you've got the world at your fingertips. Seize the day and embrace every opportunity that presents itself to you. You only go to college once. Don’t accept your diploma and walk away feeling any regrets. Join the track team. Spend a semester abroad. Join the Spanish club. Pursue a double major. Someone is paying for you to be here. Be grateful that this opportunity is yours.

My college experience thus far has been positive and very motivating. Considering the fact that I'm over the age of thirty, it feels good to know that I can fit-in with the younger generation and get good grades too. I came to the realization that I am not even close to being too old to learn new things. When do we really stop learning any way? I know that as long as I continue to challenge myself and learn new things that I will have a better chance of surviving in this forever changing economy. By continuing to increase my knowledge in the medical profession, I can possibly open a door for future discoveries in medicine. Education is allowing many more possibilities in my life. It has opened up my mind to hypothesize changes for the future of man-kind.

Throughout college so far I got out appreciation to a different type of method of learing that was against my usaully way of doing things. I learned that if I don't take my time doing a project, homework or even studying for a test it will show in my grade. The best thing though because I was living on campus doing fall term was I made different network connections. This was valuable to me because once I got older if I need any legal advice or any sort of advice I can turn to the people I met. The best experience hands down was participating on the cross country team. The reason why was, I didn't know anybody who attended this school so I was a little nervous wondering if I was going to fit in. But to my amazement the whole team treated me like family, and showed me around the campus. They told me things about the school such as what teachers expect out of you, and if I needed any help in any subject im taking I can just go to them and they would help me out.

Honestly, I transferred after last year due to financial reasons but I am currently in the process of going back. Being away from the school made me realize all of the amazing things that I was missing out on and the people. I can't describe how blessed I am to have met these people and still have them in my life even though I am not currently at the school. I was able to play soccer there and at my new school I was not. I was able to realize my love for the game and the need for it in my life. I have missed the diverse and eccentric types of people that I would see everyday on the campus. I was able to attain a sense of community and family at this school with people who I know will always be apart of my life. I can not wait to be back with people who love me for me and at a school where people are able to really learn and use their knowledge in every aspect of thier lives. This school made me want to learn and to really think about what I want to do.

The college experience has taught me so much. I have learned that, despite what I believed in high school, I can succeed in the academic world if I really apply myself. My grades are stellar compared to those in high school, and I have enjoyed my college career immensely. Attending college has opened my eyes and my mind to what I can achieve with a college education and degree. I have learned advanced problem solving techniques, improved my time management, and seen my quality of life imrpove as a whole because I am more confident in myself and my ability to succeed in life.

Whittier College has given me the gift of initiative. An education is not given here... knowledge is given however, the value of education is decidedly left to the students and how they themselves interpret and choose to use and expand upon that knowledge.

Because I chose to come to a small school, I have to attend class and I actually have to speak in the class room; however, these are the great qualities of my college experience, not the bad qualities. By engaging myself in discussion I have actually retained information from my classes; therefore, I have truly gained knowledge throughout my college experience. College has been challenging because I have so much work to do, but with such a small campus, I know many of the students and professors so there is always somewhere I can go to get help. Finding help and doing the required work is the thought provoking aspect of college because I have to think about the readings, and schedule my time efficiently enough to get everything done. This is another reason why college is so valuable, I have learned great time management skills. It is most valuable because I will leave Whittier College with a Liberal Arts education so I will be well rounded in many different subjects and areas. Also I will graduate with a double major of Child Development and Social Work which will lead me to many job opportunities.

College was my first experience of being away from home for an extended period of time. College not only teaches you academics, but it helps you face many life lessons that will be valuable when entering the work force. So far I have done a lot of maturing in that I have had to face numerous problems on my own that I normally would have turned to my parents for. The main thing I have gotten thus far out of my college experience is a stronger frame of mind and discovering who I really am. Although college is obviously valuable for its academic aspects, but it is also a valuable tool in preparing students for the real world. In my case, it has helped me develop into an adult who does not give up when situations are stressful and tough. My college experience has been valuable to me in giving me a future both personally and academically.

When it came to choosing a university I did not know where to start. My final two options were complete opposites; one was a huge public state university, the other a small private liberal arts college. I am glad to have chosen Whittier because the people I have met have made such an impact on my life. From staff to professors to peers, each person I have met while at Whittier has given me a new view on at least one aspect of life. My education extends beyond the classroom with discussions and research. However, the price I pay for school is putting a big whole in my wallet and I have a lot of debt to look forward to once I graduate. With ambitions to continue my education onto graduate school and law school upon obtaining my bachelor's degree, I will not be seeing the end of debt any time soon. I can only hope the great experiences and education I gain at Whittier and whichever school I choose for graduate studies will help me advance in life to be happy with my career choice, because only then will I be truly successful.

Senior Year! That year was unforgettable; full of excitement and anxiety. I spent that year with friends as we tried to stick together through our last high school year before our last goodbyes. The only thing I can say I regret from that year is the fact that I did not pay enough attention onto the college thinking. If I could go back and tell myself as a senior about the college experience and transition, I would do so without a doubt. I would explain that the transition is not easy and that college life is not just party every night at the dorms, rather it takes hard work, dedication, and perseverance. I would advice myself to focus on school and pay attention to those who surround me. I would warn myself of the college experiences; the drinking, the smoking, but most importantly, the people. I would emphasize repeatedly on the hard work needed in order to be successful in college. How it is nothing like life in high school where the teachers become your friends, rather independence. I would wish myself luck and tell myself to always be true to myself and let no one wrongly influence my lifestyle.

I would first tell my self to relax. The thought of growing up, setting out on your own and taking responsibility for yourself is an intimidating concept. Change is never easy, but it is change that molds and sharpens humans into better, more prepared individuals. I would tell myself that college is one of those necessary changes and everything will be fine once I get started. I would then go into explaining how I am going to need to study much harder than I did in high school, as well as prioritize better and work on managing my time wisely. I would also advise to maintain focus on academics first, athletics after and clubs and social activites as my last priority. The first semester is not insanely difficult, but wil require more effort than most people think. Lastly, I would advise myself to ahve fun and enjoy every moment and memory of college. These next four years will be the trainging and preparation of myself into a successful, independent adult ready for any situation the world may throw at him.

If i could go back in time and give myself advice i would tell myself to work hard and enjoy it because the work does not get any easier. I would also advise myself to listen more to what my teachers had to say and be more academically driven. Although i did well and graduated with a 3.5 GPA, i could have gained more knowlege with the resources i was given.

College life has opened my eyes and if i could go back I would definitely take my classes more seriously and try harder to get better grades. I see now that if I only did better in High school I would get a lot more financial aid to help me to pay for my college tuition. I would also take harder classes to prepare for classes. I took four AP classes through my high school career, but if i could go back I would take more. I would also learn how to study. I'm a college student who is still trying to find out how to study, which is something I should have figured out in high school. Aother thing I would do is more research to find out what college is right for me. I love my school, but I wish I would have found a less expensive school that offered more in my field of study.

I would say to myself, work hard, don't slack off or procrastinate because it comes with a price. You will fall behind if you don't do your work on time. Also study hard for the tests and finals, take good notes, go to tutoring if you have to because it will pay off in the long run.

Save and use your money wisely. Just because you get a personalized magazine that says only the company's sheets will fit your school's bed, does not mean it is true. Go to another store and get your college supplies for cheaper. Do not shop for so many clothes to fill up your college closet, and then will not fit at home when you return for the summer. Apply for as many scholarships as you can. Although you may get a lot of your expenses covered, some of it maybe in loans. Avoid having to accept those loans by planning ahead and figuring out your financial aid applications. Complete the FAFSA soon after January 1st and do not miss the March 2nd deadline! It is good to get involved, but do not book your schedule with so many activities that it will interfere with your schoolwork. Do the things that you love and will benefit your college experience, as well as your career search. Socialize and network, but allot plenty of time for studying and schoolwork.

Most high school students put in a lot of time and effort in choosing a college. Of course, this is a very important decision because it will greatly influence your future. When asked about making a college decision, most people will advise students that they should take into account the size of the school, as well as the majors offered, location, and tuition costs. To be completely honest with you, these take very little bearing on what your experience will be like at college. College is what you make it- as long as the school offers the major you are interested in and provides you the recources needed to succeed, you WILL enjoy your college experience. No matter where you go, you will make friends. Be involved, BE YOURSELF. Play a sport and join every club that interests you. Don't be afraid to put yourself out there and talk to people you normally wouldn't in high school. As long as you WANT to enjoy your college experience- trust me, you will.

As far as finding the right college, do research on the computer to ensure the school offers what you're looking for in terms of courses, majors, sports, clubs, etc. It even helps to know how available public transportation is, what grocery stores may be walking distance, etc. To make the most of your college experience get involved with a club, sport, or just attend events the school offers; for example, at Whittier College, we have a weekend-long event called Sports Fest, which is a weekend filled with numerous sports that you sign up for and you play with your teammate who happen to be people who live in the same dorm (or who also live off-campus). It's a great way to meet people in every class and people who just may be your neighbors because you play on the same team for the whole weekend and you end up spending a lot of time together and become friends.

I feel that although students may want to attend a college that is their first choice and they think is right for them, they should look at many aspects. Financial, location, size, diversity and visit every school before attending. Visiting the school is very important especially if you are able to sit in on a class or shadow a student for a full day. Choose a college that you can see yourself at for four years, becuase when transferring to a different school, credits earned may be lost and it can really get you down. And parents just be support of your children in whatever choice they make, because they are the ones that will be going to the school and having the expereince.

Be open to trying new things and making new friends.

Don't go by college ratings or anything like that. Visit schools and go to the one that feels right for you. Different people learn in different ways, and while some may do well at bigger name colleges, some will excel at smaller ones. It is all about finding the best fit for you.

Financial aide is important

Consider everything, such as actual costs (not promised costs), and what type of experience you want, such as a huge sports program, sororities and fraternities, meal plans(taste the food!!), housing, surrounding areas(what types of stores and places are around). All of these are really important in your college experience.

Look carefully at each college or university that you are considering during the application process. Visit the campus, tour the residence halls, meet some of the students and professors, see if you can sit in on a class while you are there to get a feel for what life and the academics are really like at the school to see if it is a good fit for you. I did all of these things before picking a college, and I found the one that was the perfect fit for me. Chances are, if you don't feel as if you fit in there on your visit, you won't be any more at home if you choose to go there. Choose the school where you feel most comfortable and at home, in terms of social life, living situations, and academics and you will succeed.

When attending college you must make sure it is the right school for you. Try to go to all the free tours that they offer in order to find out if you feel comfortable within the area it is located in. Make sure that you see yourself being treated equally by all students and faculty members.

Know what you want to look back on. It's hard to look that far ahead, but trying to see what it might feel like to be an alumni of a school could be really helpful inknowing what you want to get out of it. If you can, don't settle for a school that doesn't fit you just because it seems like the cheapest choice. College is one those experiences that you want to look back on and say I was truely happy. Once you've choosen a school that fits your personality and your goals, don't be afraid to change it. If once you get there, you decide it's not for you, find something else that suits you. This time in your life is full of changes. Don't be afraid to make the big ones. When you find the school you love with the people you want to keep around and the professors that care, get involved, get involved, GET INVOLVED! Make that school, your school. If you do, you'll look back and say "Wow, if I could do that all over again, I wouldn't change a thing."

There is only so much that can be done to find the "right college." One can go on many tours and devote several hours to scouring the website, but in order to determine which college will be the best fit, one has to experience the campus as it is as best as possible. If any colleges that a student is interested in offers overnight visits, I would encourage students to partake-this usually involves staying with a student, receiving a tour, perhaps attending a class. The most valuable aspects of that visit, or any visit for that manner, will be those spent around students of the college. The location and the programs the school offers may seem to be a "fit" but the atmosphere is what ultimately determines how a student feels regarding their school. In fact, it can be argued that a student won't know until they attend the college whether or not it is right for them. But in narrowing down one's choices, it is imperative that a student interact with the students of the college, to gather whether or not he or she will fit in with the school's population.

The most important thing in choosing the right college for you is to find a place that will allow you to follow your passions and then do so whole-heartedly. I firmly believe that passion is what makes the difference between an average and an outstanding college experience. Even if you don't end up at your first choice school, it's so important to be excited about college and to be willing to push yourself beyond your comfort zone. If you can find even one thing that moves you, that speaks to you, and then pursue it, you will have a wonderful, memorable college experience, filled with joy and meaning.

The best advice I could give parents and/or students about finding the right college would first be to visit the college several times and if possible to stay with a host in their dorm room. To make the most of the college experience I would suggest attending as many campus events possible.

Don't let tuition scare you out of going to the school you like, and obscure schools are sometimes the best.

Find a college that you like for the way you feel. Don't worry about the people there, you'll make life-long friends no matter what. And don't think that just because you have cosen one you HAVE to graduate from it, just go where you are comfortable, and the rest will fall into place.

To find the right school for you, you need to visit the school. Visiting and seeing what is there and if you not only like the school , but the city/area it is in. I suggest using the servers that allow you to talk to current students so that you can get other people's point of view. If you think you want to go apply, the applications give you some of an idea of what the school is looking for and what the work is going to be like when you go, if you go.

I would reccomend parents and students to explore colleges that they thought they would never be interested in. I always had this vision of going to a huge school but I ended up at a school that was smaller than my high school. I would really encourage students not to pick thier school based off of how common the parties are. It seems that is common for seniors in high school. Even though the school that I picked was small, I made so many friends. School felt like home away from home and playing a varsity sport was just the cherry on top. I would reccomend students to take thier parents advice as to where they should go. My college experience is nothing how I imagined but I am happy that I went where I went, and my parents felt this school was best for me even though it was not my first choice. Whittier has helped me so much already that I landed an intership my summer out of my freshman year. Students should go with their gut feeling, listen to themselves and not care what other people think about the school of thier choice.