Ask A Mentor

Juliet says: College can be two or more years. It depends on what you want to do! Students that go to a community college to get an associates degree are able to finish in two years. A Bachelors degree at a college or university can take four to six years depending on the program. You can also continue to go to college and get a Masters (2 years) or Doctorate (3-4 years) in your area.

Eileen said: I started college the fall after I graduated high school, or in September 2016. I know a lot of my friends took a year off before college. You can also start at a community college, which is typically a place to get a two-year degree. If you decide to go to college, just know that there isn't a time you have to start or end. It's up to you and it doesn't change your success! Even people like Michael Jordan went back to college to either start or finish their degrees later in life.

Eileen said: I would say it depends! You are at college to learn and get a degree, so it will be hard work at times. It can also depend on your major and your learning style. However, you take a lot fewer classes so you can have a lot more time to work on things, join clubs, play sports, or hang out!

Carla says: Great question! Every class has its challenges, just like 5^th grade does. But there are also so many wonderful things you get to do that make it worth the effort. Learning how to create computers or new forms of art is challenging, but if that’s what you love to do then you also enjoy the challenge. The best part is that you don’t have to do everything alone because you will have new friends, teachers, and resources on campus to help you meet the challenges. 

Carla said: There’s lots of opportunities to earn scholarships before and during college! Most university students work towards entering a major (what they want to study) during their first two years of school and when they apply, there are often scholarships that colleges give out to encourage students to pick their major/program. You can also get awards or enter competitions to earn scholarships with your winning ideas and projects.

Carla said: It’s ok not to know what you want to do in fifth grade, or even senior year of high school. If you are starting to apply to colleges and universities, look for schools that have programs in multiple things you are interested in. That way if you change your mind, you don’t have to change schools. Also, if you know you want to study more after high school, but you are not sure what the best fit is, you can start at a college and get a degree in two years. If you decide you want to study more, you can apply to a university and graduate with a four-year degree. This gives you plenty of opportunities to try new things and find what you love most. 

Juliet says: Both can be great options. I lived on campus when I first came to college and met a lot of new friends in my building and ate meals at the dining hall. Its close and convenient. But it can also be expensive. My second year I took a job as a Resident Advisor, which helped pay for my housing. Many students choose to live at home or off campus to save these costs too.

Amanda said “The best place to start is to think about out what you want to do! Once you have an idea of what career you want you can search for schools with that program. Once you find the right school, you can look at what is needed to apply to that school. If you are not sure what you would like your career to be, looking into a university that is made up of many colleges will give you a chance to explore lots of subjects while as you get started in college. You can also start at a community college and then move to a bigger school when you know what you want to do.

Carla says: One of the best parts of college and university is that you have A LOT of free time. Unlike K-12 school, you are actually not in class most of the day so that means you get to figure out how to fill your days. You are an adult and get to make decisions about what classes you take, what days and time you take them, how many classes you take, what you want to study, where you live, what you eat, etc! Of course you have to balance taking care of yourself, focusing on school, and doing things that make you happy. One of the hardest and most fun parts about growing up is deciding how you want your life to be. 

Juliet says: We sure do! There are many art studios on campus for painting, ceramics, photography, printmaking and textiles (fabric). There are also many music studios for all types of musicians. Singers and musicians can use pianos and practice rooms on campus to make their own music or practice for classes. There is even a recording studio!

Abby said: Lots of colleges and universities have football programs, but unfortunately Western does not. However you can find your new favorite sport with our unique club sports such as rock climbing, water polo, rowing, rugby, and many more!  Local universities that do offer football would be Central Washington University, Eastern Washington University, UW, and WSU. Some private universities also offer football such as PLU, Whitworth, and University of Puget Sound. If you are good at your sport, you can apply for the program and become a student athlete. Many student athletes get scholarships to reduce the cost of college.

Western’s programs are mainly focused on contemporary and ballet for areas of study. Dancers take classes on history, dance in different cultures, and anatomy as well as dance classes. The classes can be challenging but help you grow. Outside of the classes, there are also clubs and groups that meet to practice tap, glee, swing dancing, hip-hop, and Zumba, so you can explore a lot of options.  Some other colleges may have different dance focuses as well!

Juliet said: I don’t know of any programs at WWU, but you can always do some research on any topic you are interested in studying. There are specific programs for Equine (horse) studies at several universities and colleges. We will share a few resources with your teacher to share with you directly to learn more!