From Those Who’ve Been There!
Former CSU freshmen share their best advice about preparing for college.
Published October 26, 2018 in Summit Magazine
1. Dual Enroll
“Take online classes, specifically general education courses.
CSU has a great deal where you can get reimbursed for the money you spend on courses.”
–Adam Morrill (Accelerated Pastoral Ministries major from Bergen, New York, who participates in Student Missions Fellowship and prayer groups)
“I would highly recommend doing dual enrollment classes through CSU.
Not only does it help you get some general education courses out of the way, but it also shows you what college level classes are like academically.”
–Nicola O’Boyle
2. Know Your Gifts & Abilities
“Many students come to college and don’t know what to major in, so start discovering your talents and abilities in high school. [Your admissions counselor will be happy to help with this!] Also, try to understand your spiritual gift, so you can grow in that area to be effective and do what God has created you to do. That can help you decide what to study in college!”
–Keila Bascur (Counseling major from Santiago, Chile, who transferred from Word of Life and is a resident assistant)
3. Gain Study Skills
“Some colleges, including CSU, give scholarships to people who have a certain GPA. Good academic grades may be a goal you can work towards while in high school.
–Autumn Mason (Worship Studies major from Sullivan County, New York, who is a member of choir and residence hall leadership)
“Develop a love for learning, and learn how to study well! You can do this by developing simple but important study habits early, like not procrastinating and getting enough sleep.”
–Nicola O’Boyle
“Start gaining study habits now and learn how to manage your time.”
–Ryan Minner (Secondary Education—Social Studies major from New Castle, Delaware, who is on the student custodial team)
4. Step Out
“I think that the best way to prepare for college is to be willing to get out of your comfort zone in order to meet new people and make new friends.”
–Meghan Pollock (Specialized Ministries transfer from Chattanooga, Tennessee, who is a member of the Lady Defender soccer team and works in the Recreation Center)
“Get into the Word of God. Start getting out of your comfort zone, and be willing to serve God in new and challenging ways.” –Alex Madsen (Pastoral Ministries major from Battle Creek, Michigan, who is part of Student Missions Fellowship and theatre productions and is a member of the Defender men’s soccer team)
“Get involved in ministry, small groups, or school clubs. Especially when you are a new student, it is good to do those activities with people to get to know them better.” –Adam Morrill
5. Pray
“Prayer is very important. Praying for God’s will and continuing to seek Him in every decision is the best thing you can do, especially when making big decisions about college. Don’t be anxious about the future, but trust that He has everything under control.” –Laura Abbott (Counseling major from Otsego, Michigan, who is involved in residence hall leadership, Student Leadership Council, choir and Student Missions Fellowship)
