As a freshman student at WVU I quickly learned how to advocate for myself. Academic advisors were seemingly invisible during my first few weeks making the transition from high school to college scheduling very stressful and even tearful. With that behind me I now have obtained a confidence, a voice to advocate for myself. WVU is a large university and offers so many great opportunities to its students. You just have to go learn quickly how to step up and take advantage of them. I have learned that multiple women can share one bathroom without killing each other. I have learned that college food is not as bad as I had anticipated, the recreation center is a great place to play, chocolate fixes a bad day, and that my new network of friends makes homesickness bearable. Most importantly, halfway through my first semester of my freshman year I have learned I can do it.
Do you enjoy the experience at your school?
I am enjoying being a WV Mountaineer! There are not many other places in the world where you can don the blue and gold, paint your face, and feel the mountaineer excitement clear to your toes. I get to experience this with every football game, every soccer match, every basketball game and even with recreational activities from sports to cookie eating to pie throwing or hula hooping. It’s crazy like that! It’s a pride like I have never experienced, being part of a tradition and a family that’s larger than life.
Do you feel you’re getting value for the money you’re spending on college?
The biggest bang for your buck lies in the college itself. I applied and was accepted into six colleges, three out-of-state and three in-state schools. I carefully weighed the cost of the education along with the quality of education into my deciding factor. For me WVU was the biggest bang for my buck. I should graduate with my chemistry major in four years with less than ten thousand in total debt, allowing me to transition into medical school prepared and not financially broken. With that said I am also a big fan of the student favorite DP Dough Pizza shop in downtown Morgantown. They are cheap with serving sizes that feed a small army.
Do you have any tips for prospective students?
Learn from my mistakes! I did not decide on WVU until late, as a matter of fact I was set on attending West Virginia Wesleyan College until financial aid fell through I had to re-evaluate my situation. In July I transitioned to WVU. My advice is to apply early and commit early. This will allow you the greatest opportunity to capitalize on all WVU has to offer. Believe me, being the last to schedule and waiting for them to make a room for you is no fun. You will end up with 8am classes and classes at 9pm, you will live in Evansdale and have all your classes downtown. It’s been a hectic first semester, one that you can avoid by committing early.
Which types of students will excel at your college?
Wow, with a campus like WVU it is great for any type of student. Seriously, any stereotype, any click from the athlete to the nerd, from the music major to the chemistry loving geek, from country to hard rock, white, black and every color in between you will fit in at WVU. The diversity here is amazing. I frequently spend my lunch just people watching and enjoying all the variety WVU has to offer. I myself have been challenged to look beyond who I am and reinvent who I will become. At am a musician, playing in the orchestra, a nerd in the honors program, an athlete running and attending spinning classes daily, a teacher working with students at a local school, a mentor for teenagers at the rec center, a room mate and friend to several girls from all over the country. WVU is great for all types of students!
As a freshman student at WVU I quickly learned how to advocate for myself. Academic advisors were seemingly invisible during my first few weeks making the transition from high school to college scheduling very stressful and even tearful. With that behind me I now have obtained a confidence, a voice to advocate for myself. WVU is a large university and offers so many great opportunities to its students. You just have to go learn quickly how to step up and take advantage of them. I have learned that multiple women can share one bathroom without killing each other. I have learned that college food is not as bad as I had anticipated, the recreation center is a great place to play, chocolate fixes a bad day, and that my new network of friends makes homesickness bearable. Most importantly, halfway through my first semester of my freshman year I have learned I can do it.
I am enjoying being a WV Mountaineer! There are not many other places in the world where you can don the blue and gold, paint your face, and feel the mountaineer excitement clear to your toes. I get to experience this with every football game, every soccer match, every basketball game and even with recreational activities from sports to cookie eating to pie throwing or hula hooping. It’s crazy like that! It’s a pride like I have never experienced, being part of a tradition and a family that’s larger than life.
The biggest bang for your buck lies in the college itself. I applied and was accepted into six colleges, three out-of-state and three in-state schools. I carefully weighed the cost of the education along with the quality of education into my deciding factor. For me WVU was the biggest bang for my buck. I should graduate with my chemistry major in four years with less than ten thousand in total debt, allowing me to transition into medical school prepared and not financially broken. With that said I am also a big fan of the student favorite DP Dough Pizza shop in downtown Morgantown. They are cheap with serving sizes that feed a small army.
Learn from my mistakes! I did not decide on WVU until late, as a matter of fact I was set on attending West Virginia Wesleyan College until financial aid fell through I had to re-evaluate my situation. In July I transitioned to WVU. My advice is to apply early and commit early. This will allow you the greatest opportunity to capitalize on all WVU has to offer. Believe me, being the last to schedule and waiting for them to make a room for you is no fun. You will end up with 8am classes and classes at 9pm, you will live in Evansdale and have all your classes downtown. It’s been a hectic first semester, one that you can avoid by committing early.
Wow, with a campus like WVU it is great for any type of student. Seriously, any stereotype, any click from the athlete to the nerd, from the music major to the chemistry loving geek, from country to hard rock, white, black and every color in between you will fit in at WVU. The diversity here is amazing. I frequently spend my lunch just people watching and enjoying all the variety WVU has to offer. I myself have been challenged to look beyond who I am and reinvent who I will become. At am a musician, playing in the orchestra, a nerd in the honors program, an athlete running and attending spinning classes daily, a teacher working with students at a local school, a mentor for teenagers at the rec center, a room mate and friend to several girls from all over the country. WVU is great for all types of students!