 | | Aiesha McCalister |
Nou Chang (Southwest ’02) (one of Admission Possible’s first college graduates!)
Make good use of digging out information from the people and resources that are available to help you find the answers to all your questions.
Hnue Yang (Central ’03) Northland College
Don't be afraid to say hello or to be friendly to people you don’t know. This will be a great way to build connections right away in college.
Erik Chipman (Highland Park ’04) College of St. Scholastica
First and foremost, your new dorm room will be your home, so pack accordingly. Make it feel like home. Pictures, Posters, lights, whatever! Also, you're only a first-year once, so enjoy yourself, and have a FUN year. Your well being affects everything else. This is college, so take advantage of it. ;)
Aiesha McCalister (Johnson ’04) University of Minnesota,  | | Douachee Lee |
Twin Cities
If you are living on campus, do not go home the first weekend. The first weekend of college is your chance to see what college life is like, meet tons of new people, and make new friends. If you are not living on campus I would say stay on campus as long as possible the first week; don't go home as soon as you are done with class.
Douachee Lee (Patrick Henry ’04) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Join a student organization. It's one of the best ways to make friends and find familiar faces on campus. Just having people you know on campus eases the frustration and struggles of college.
Neyo Sossou (Southwest ’05) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Stay in school. In college, work hard and do not procrastinate. Always be close to your advisor or professor, they can help you out a lot.
John Herrera (Southwest High ’05) Southwest Minnesota State University
 | | John Herrera |
I didn’t take my first two years of school that seriously and that first year can make or break you…I had to get my GPA up after it had been down [after the first year]. Do not procrastinate; stay on top of all your readings. Go out and meet more new people. I went to college with someone from high school and I recommend not doing this.
Khou Yang (Harding ’05) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Don’t study for all of your courses the same way--there are different test types that require different skills (multiple choice, true and false, short answers, and essay). It’s also important to reward yourself after you have done well, such as receiving a good grade.
Anong Vang (Patrick Henry ’05) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
ALWAYS talk to your TA or make an appointment to see your professor if you don't understand anything. Also, keep your advisors updated about your progress because they are very helpful.
Jennifer Sanchez (Johnson ’05) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Take advantage of student groups and events. Do not be afraid to try new things. Do not forget to go to class and do your homework!
Amber Rickard ( Roosevelt  | | Juventino Meza |
’05) University of Saint Thomas
Avoid spreading yourself too thin. There will not be enough time to get involved in everything that seems interesting and fun. Decide what is most important to you, and go from there.
Nathalie Vangsoua (Central ’05) University of Saint Thomas
Take this opportunity seriously. College is not all fun, and believe it or not, it is a lot harder than high school. My advice to you would be to work hard from start to finish. Your GPA is not what is going to get you into a great college, but instead a great career that will be the start of your life. School is no longer free and even with a scholarship, you will still have to work hard to maintain your scholarship. Be strong, not naïve.
Doua Lor (Harding ’06) Century Community and Technical  | | Nzeba Mutanda |
College
Congratulations for surviving high school!! Make a list of your dreams and goals along with your ambitions and compelling reasons to succeed. Write down who you were, who you are and who you want to become. Put this list in a place where you will always be reminded of these things. This will help you never forget who you want become because college is a big place with many distractions, and those who succeed are those who stay on the course.
Juventino Meza (Arlington ’07) Augsburg
Stay true to yourself. It took great efforts, not just from you, but from many others, to get where you are now. Honor yourself and those who have assisted you so far by following through with your promise of trying your hardest and honor all those who will come into your life by demonstrating that, "Yes, you can!"
Su  | | Audrey Thompson-Amarteifio |
Vang (Johnson ’07) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
One very important skill to have is time management. Set out goals and organize your time wisely to keep from falling behind. Procrastination is a habit you really do not want to pick up, trust me. Remember that there is always help, whenever your are in trouble, whether it be schoolwork or personal. Do not be afraid to approach professors when you need extra help. Another important thing, remember to give yourself a break every now and then. Best of luck.
Audrey Thompson-Amarteifio (Arlington ’08) Cornell University
College is probably the best life experience that you will have. It brings knowledge, stress, joy, traveling and life long friends. It is hard to take in at first and you will make mistakes along the way. College is unpredictable so learn from your mistakes and take it a year at a time.
Nzeba Carol Mutanda (Armstrong High ’08) Augustana College
Try to read ahead for class so you are able to ask questions during class. This is really important and it helped me. I wanted to be away from home at first but classes started to get harder and I wanted to go home more frequently. It’s ok to be sad about being away from home but it will be ok and you will get used to it.
Peter Her (Arlington ’08) Fresno City College,  | | Mai Nhia Vang |
CA
Study hard when you are in college. Complete all your homework and do not procrastinate or slack off. It will take a toll on your grades. College is not free, take advantage of what you're paying for. Ask for help if you need it and use the student support centers on your campus. Remember to balance your work and play time. Using study groups is a great way to meet new friends. In every class, you'll need someone or some people to rely on for help whether or not you need it. Do not abuse your freedom. Use time management skills your AP coaches taught you.
Mai Nhia Vang (Central ’08) Saint Catherine’s University
Use your time wisely, do your work before you go hang out, to those who are staying on campus, make the best out of it, go to and attend as many activities your school offers with your friends. Make friends not enemies. Don't be afraid to ask questions because if you do not you may not pass your tests. Read the chapter assigned to you before your class discussion/lecture. Work hard and do not forget to have fun!
Cesar  | | See Lor |
Avalos (Patrick Henry ’08) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Be prepared for a lot of fun and hard work even sleepless nights. Pay attention to every detail and take notes when ever you think it is and it is not necessary. Plan your week, time management is key. If you have a job, make sure that they understand your situation that SCHOOL COMES FIRST over anything. Join as many different things as your schedule permits. Live like a student now so you do not have to later in life.
See Lor (Highland Park ’08) University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
Learn how to really study more than just reading textbooks. Successful studying requires questioning oneself, taking notes, memorizing and knowing you have got it down when you feel you can teach the material to another person. Finals are very important and sometimes can be a great part of your grade, so make sure you do well on them. By knowing the material, your final will be much easier because you can base answers on previous knowledge.
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