College - 4 & 2 Year

How was the transition from attending JTHS to a school with a ratio of almost all of the same sex? Do you think it is beneficial?
"That transition was probably the hardest at first, but now it is great. I think it is very beneficial because you don't feel weird asking a question or saying, "I really don't understand what is going on." My school is all girls, so I personally feel more comfortable. Also, you get a lot more opportunities that you wouldn't get if you were going to a coed school. I am President of clubs and Vice President of my class."-Vivianna Samite (JTHS '12)

How do I pick the right school for me?
"I definitely think that you should visit the school because you can get a real sense of the community and classes. I think your major and future career should play a part too, especially if you know what you want to do." -Karla Madrigal (JTHS '11)

How will I make friends?
"I think it really depends on your situation. I went into college already being friends with my roommate, but floor and building-mates are a great way to bond. I also think that once you begin taking major based classes as an upperclassman, you will start seeing a lot of the same people. I would have to say that fellow education majors are how I found a lot of my friends here because we were going through the same processes: teacher education applications, teacher shadowing and observations, praxis exams, and now student teaching." -Karla Madrigal (JTHS '11)

Is it hard to make friends?
“In order to meet new people and make friends, you need to put yourself out there. Living on campus makes it easier to meet more people because you see the same people in your building, on your floor, or on campus. Everyone is on the same boat not having friends by the start of school, don’t panic and don’t be afraid to meet other people. There are many events on campus that you can attend to meet new people and get priority points that will help you out with housing for the next year. Basically if you want to meet people you can, but do not expect to make friends if you are in your room all the time.” -Brooke Lehman (JTHS ’13)

Is it better to live on campus or to commute?
"Living on campus is much easier. It allows you to get involved on campus, meet a lot of new people, and learn to be more responsible/independent." -Emily Nimmo (JTHS '09)

How do you recommend staying organized?
"I personally love using a planner to keep track of all my assignments. That way I can see everything that is due. I also like making daily and weekly schedules. This allows me to make the most out of my days and makes me less stressed." - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)

Where should I buy my textbooks?
"I recommend not purchasing textbooks through your school. In many cases, the textbooks are over priced. It would be cheaper to purchase them used or rent them from outside places, such as Amazon, Chegg, Half.ebay.com, and Textbooks.com. Make sure to be smart and compare prices. Textbooks cost a lot of money, so it is important to try and get them for the cheapest price possible." - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)

Do you need to buy all the textbooks your professors tell you to buy?
“The first semester I bought all the books that my professors told me to. I bought most of them from amazon or rented them from the bookstore. It is not worth it to buy them from the bookstore. A few of my classes I did not open my textbook once and I regret buying them without seeing if I really needed them. My advice to you is to wait until you get the syllabus and see if you definitely need the book before you order them. You need new books every semester so if you can save money by not getting the book or the newest edition, definitely do that.” -Brooke Lehman (JTHS ’13)

What are the classes like at your school?
"I go to Marist College. It has small class sizes, which is one of the reasons I chose the school. There are about 20-30 students per class. I find that I learn better in small classroom environments. You have more opportunities to ask questions and engage in the classroom decisions. The work load is heavy, but if you took advantage of honors and AP classes, you will be prepared for the adjustment. In high school, many people were talkative in classes. College is nothing like that. In my classes, no one talks, unless it is class related. You're paying large sums of money to attend class, so you must take advantage of that learning time. Classes are not the best way to meet friends."- Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)

Are college classes harder than high school classes?
“High school college prep and honors courses help with the transition from high school to college classes. There is more homework involved, but in college you have more time to complete the work. In college you do not get a lot of busy work like you did in high school. The work helps you understand and learn better than just doing busy work.” - Brooke Lehman (JTHS ’13)

What is one thing that surprised you about college?
"The thing that surprised me the most, is how nice people were. Everyone is so friendly, especially the first week of school. Everyone smiles at each other in passing, everyone stops to hold doors open, and people are willing to help one another." - Sara Kinsey (JTHS '12)

Are you satisfied with the school you chose and can you see yourself succeeding for four years?
"I am very satisfied with the school I chose and I am succeeding inside and outside of the classroom because of the hard work and extra effort I put to help myself personally succeed." - Lexi Marzocca (JTHS '12)

What advice would you give someone if they are nervous and unsure if they should go away to school?
"I was extremely anxious to leave for school, I almost stayed in Jefferson because I was too scared to leave. Somehow, I mustered up the courage to leave and I never looked back. Going away to college has really helped me step out of my comfort zone and fight my anxiety. Even if you are unsure, I would say go for it. Once you break out of your comfort zone, you will be incredibly satisfied with your decision."  - Hayley Western (JTHS '09)

Can you see yourself getting involved in activities and clubs and possibly holding leadership positions at the school you chose?
"I am very involved on my campus. I involved myself in the choir program, the dance program, the Greek community, several clubs, and other campus activities to help me be a well-rounded student inside and outside of the classroom." - Lexi Marzocca (JTHS '12)

Will you put extra effort outside of your classes in order for you to personally succeed and use these extra efforts to help you in the future?
"I place extra effort inside and outside of the classroom in order to help myself personally succeed. I sometimes stay in the library until it closes and go to my professors for extra help on quizzes or papers in order for my work to become the best work it can be. This not only helps with my time management and organization skills, it also helps me have a better relationship with my professors and to demonstrate my devotion to success." - Lexi Marzocca (JTHS '12)

Should I choose the school that offered me the most money or my top choice?
"I believe that you have to think about your future. When you're older you will be grateful that you have one less student loan to pay off when you want to buy a house, or a new car, or go on vacation, but at the same time, re-evaluate what it is about your top choice that you love and if you can look again at the other school and see some of the qualities, you may find that you can be happy anywhere you go because some things are not as important as others." -Katie Machere (JTHS '13)