Things I Wish I Knew..

Sitting in class today I realized how much of a learning experience these past two years have been.  Teachers in high school always tell you that they are preparing you for college, but there are a lot of things they don't tell you as well.  This compelled me to make a list.  I also asked some of my friends what they wish teachers would have told them before going to college.  This is what I learned:

1) You don't need to have your major picked out your freshman year, or even your sophomore year if that.  At a liberal arts college you take your general education courses to help you find what interests you and what you like- take advantage of those classes!  People often times switch their major one, two, or even three times!  Heck, I'm one of them.

2) GPA and ACT/SAT scores can actually get you more scholarships towards a college.  That 30 ACT looks a lot better than a 29 (even though both scores are great) and you can probably get more money for it too.  Who doesn't want more money?

3) Take college courses if able.  When you come in with more credits that allows you to skip some of your general education courses and take more classes that you want!  You'll also get to choose your classes before others and actually get into the Psychology class instead of fighting for the last seat.  At Coe it also puts you higher on the housing list, so you're more likely to get to live where you want on campus.

4) Ownership is on you.  Your parents can't call you in sick anymore- it's up to you to be proactive when contacting professors. Forming relationships with your professors is essential and attending office hours and asking questions in class can make that little bit of difference.

5) How to study.  This was probably one of the hardest things to learn first semester of freshman year.  Everyone has different study habits and ways that work for them- it's up to you to find a way that works best for your class needs.  For me I found reading the material over and over again and rewriting my notes helps me study.  For others it's getting in groups at the library and talking about it, or making note cards and reviewing those every night before bed.  Try all of these techniques out to see which method allows you to be the most successful!

6) How to cope with stress.  Your freshman year you experience some of the most stressful situations you have ever had before.  Again, this proves to be a learning experience for us all.  A lot of people work out, take naps, go to bed early, or schedule out their days and prioritize what needs to be done.  My planner has become my best friend and it allows me to be a little more stress free when everything is laid out for me.

7) Time management will be key.  Yes, you'll have three or four classes a day compared to the seven in high school.  No you won't be going to school from 8-3 every day (unless you plan it that way).  Looking at that makes it seem like you have a lot of free time, but I realized quickly how precious that extra time can be.  It's spent learning those study habits, getting a quick nap in, or doing homework for a class.

8) Last but not least, enjoy it and have fun.  College isn't only about class time and studying, and it's not always stressful.  You have to make time for yourself and do the things you love.  Get out there, join a club, make friends, watch too many hours of Netflix, make mistakes, and learn more than what you can just in the class room.

Since none of this was told to me before going to college- I'm telling you now!  I'm a sophomore and I'm still learning about myself and what college is all about- I don't think you can ever master the ins and outs of college- and no college student has their life completely together.

Kohawk Love,
Alexis

I'm In!

It's official- I have been accepted into Coe College's Nursing program this coming Fall semester.  I can't even put into words how excited and blessed I am to have this opportunity.  I think that a lot of people outside of Coe underestimate it's nursing program, especially since the University of Iowa and Mount Mercy (two schools known for Nursing) are right in arms reach from here.  To be honest- Coe's nursing program wasn't even on my radar until I came here.  As a freshman I declared my major as Biology, because I intended to go Pre-med.  The nice thing about going to a liberal arts school is that I quickly figured out that is not what I wanted to do at all.  Through my general education courses and going to the Pre-health club meeting- I realized that Medical School probably wasn't for me.  In fact, the thought of med school scared me intensely.  So that's when I switched to Nursing and realized how rewarding being in the Nursing program would be- this is where I belonged all along and I just needed to figure it out.  I'm still learning and discovering myself, and I love it. I will be spending a lot of time with the same people and my peers will essentially become my support group.  I know how demanding this major will be, but it's nice knowing that when I'm out of college I know what I'm going to be doing. Plus,  I love the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area and through the clinical experiences and being with a preceptor one-on-one, I will form great networking and relationships.

It's crazy to think that I have one semester left before my gen eds are done and I jump right into nursing.  Time goes by so fast!  I have almost made it half way through my college experience.  Is it selfish for me to not want it to end?  I guess I love Coe College a little too much...if that's possible.

Kohawk Love,
Alexis