Jake-Anthony and Josh, recent SSP alumni, chip in to give current students advice for college. Jake-Anthony shares his thoughts on improvement at UPenn. Josh provides thoughtful comments from his experience at Cornell.
Jake-Anthony Diaz
Factors to consider when deciding on a college
As a first-generation college student from a low-income family, the cost of college was a huge factor in my decision-making process. I needed to find a school that offered enough financial aid to make attending feasible. Additionally, I knew that I wanted to be close enough to home to visit frequently but also far enough away to gain independence. The campus culture was also important to me; I wanted a college that offered a variety of extracurricular activities and a strong sense of community. Ultimately, I chose a school that aligned with my values and offered the resources I needed to succeed.
How to best prepare for freshman year
As a current college student, I understand the excitement and anxiety that comes with preparing for freshman year. My advice is to keep an open mind and try new things. Take classes that sound interesting to you, even if they aren't in your intended major. Join clubs and organizations that pique your interest and don't be afraid to attend events alone. Meeting new people can be intimidating, but everyone is in the same boat. However, it's important to keep in mind that friendships may evolve and change over time, so don't get too attached to new friends right away. Finally, it's important to remember that college is a time of personal growth and exploration. Don't be afraid to take risks and step outside of your comfort zone.
What to look for in a pro/con list
When making a pro/con list, it's important to consider what is most important to you. For me, it was crucial to find a school that offered strong academic programs in my areas of interest. I also wanted a college that offered a supportive and inclusive campus culture. The location of the school was also important; I needed to find a school that was close enough to home to visit but far enough away to gain independence. Cost was another major factor, as I needed to find a school that offered enough financial aid to make attending feasible. Ultimately, my pro/con list reflected my personal preferences and priorities and helped me make a decision that I am happy with.
Joshua Figueroa
Factors to consider when deciding on a college
When determining which colleges to apply to, there are several aspects that someone should consider. Location, size, academic offerings (majors and minors), cost, and culture are the characteristics I initially used to narrow down my college search. I asked myself questions to create a picture of my ideal college, like "would I prefer to be close to home or far," "how large is my ideal class size," and "would I rather be in a city or have a rural campus." These questions helped create an image of where I wanted to pursue my higher education. Next, I began to research what colleges fit these criteria. Online research, touring the colleges, and asking current college students about their experiences helped me understand each university’s environment. Finally, I established a list of my top fifteen colleges. I made sure to break them into three categories – schools I knew I could get into, schools that might be a reach, and schools that I would love to attend but would be a far reach.
How to best prepare for freshman year
To best prepare for your freshman year, speak with your advisor to map out your first couple of semesters and understand the requirements that you must meet. When working towards completing your major, there are multiple requirements that you must complete. Also, I encourage all first-year students to learn more about the available programs and extracurricular organizations. Whether you're interested in business, fashion, or cooking/baking, some organizations may be the right fit for you, and you can find community in these places. Lastly, make sure that you take advantage of all your resources and exhaust as much as possible to ensure that you're in the best position financially, academically, and socially.
What to look for in a pro/con list
For a pros/cons list, always make sure you can think of ways that the pros outweigh the cons and how you can mitigate the cons. When evaluating decisions, you must consider the pros and cons of each decision and if they'll be a detriment or a benefit to you socially, academically, or financially. Lastly, consider how these decisions factor into your big-picture goal (e.g., career, dreams) and the lasting impact you want to have in your university.
