5 things i wish i knew when i got to college:

1) you have to do it for you, not for anyone else- believe me, if you think you can do it for your parents, "because you should", etc. it just won't work or it will make you miserable in the process, . . . trust me

2) it's good to venture out by yourself- leaving your comfort zone of friends, familiar area, etc. will be a daunting task in the beginning, but you will come out stronger, more fulfilled, and with more exposure (all are key) than you ever would have if you stayed "safe"

3) the first semester may be the most difficult period in your life thus far- seriously, there's a lot going on in your life at this point and a lot to digest all at once; life changes, location changes, educational changes, the list goes on. you may find yourself contacting everyone you know in efforts to feel a part of something or to "fill a void", just rest assured that it's normal and that you will make it through. :)

4) get involved- everything's pretty overwhelming at first, but join atleast one organization and you will be able to meet new people, build a support group, etc.

5) never turn down an invitation- leave yourself a way out, by all means. have fun, but keep in mind what you are really there for. many people can get caught up and go overboard, but done just right you will become a well rounded person with a lot of great experiences and stories to share


til next time- karen :)
- posted by Karen @ 3:07 PM

 
5 things you need to do when picking a college:

1) decide if you want to go local or national (or even international!, think about it! :))- this is one of the first and most important factors in narrowing down your search

2) decide what you want to use your college years for- specifically, that can mean picking your major (don't feel bad if you have no idea, MOST DON'T and if they think they do, A LOT OF PEOPLE END UP SWITCHING!), if you want your school to have a religious affiliation or not, if you are going to be with your friends or to start a new life, etc. . . . I could go on :)

3) make a few visits- I can't even tell you how much that actually matters. A school can look great on paper but when you get there, you may find yourself with a nasty feeling (happened to me several times, I even got to one school for a scheduled interview and turned right back around when I got there- my mother was not happy about the 2 hour wasted drive, but hey :))

4) trust your gut- if you have a feeling when you're on a tour for example, acknowledge, and trust that feeling. Many people I know that are happy where they are knew it right when they stepped on their prospective campus.

5) make a list of things that are important to you- the quality of your major's program (or prospective major), the location, how many people go there, what kind of network can going to that school provide, long term financial aid packages (many make it great the first year and yank it for the next three), etc.

These are just a few tips that I wanted to share with you all. I could obviously go one forever and if anyone wants more tips or to ask ANY questions, let me know, I am happy to oblige. :) Have a great day and stay tuned for more jewels of knowledge. :) hehe, Karen :)
- posted by Karen @ 12:18 PM

 
Hello everyone. :) Welcome to the best blog page that you will ever visit. :) jk I am very excited about this opportunity to share what college life is REALLY like with you all and I hope you all have fun reading my postings. If you ever have ANY questions AT ALL feel free to post something or email me. I want to make this as interactive as possible. :) Well I have to cut this one short to go study for a test actually. :) (oh, that's just the beginning :)) Talk about fun. ;) See you all soon. :)
Karen :)
- posted by Karen @ 6:03 PM