Allegheny College Top Questions

Highschool Daisy you are part of Arista Honor Society 21th in your class, you have the brightest future in your family. College is not all about the social life and games, take classes seriously and work hard and when you believe you can't anymore try harder. The medical field is not the end all and be all of life. If you know you are not doing well in the class just drop it, don't be a shame and do not fear the unknown. After highschool life is different your actions and choices have consequences. Money is going to be an issues and contact financial aid, scholarship programs as soon as possible. Complete all of the scholarship forms you have filled out, you will need it. You will over pack and buy more stuff write your name on everything. Remember not everyone in new York is going to remain your friend, not everyone you meet in college will be your friend, people come and go, that is jsut a part of life. Do not fear Allegheny will be the home away from home you think it will be. Work hard not your family, but for yourself.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice I would tell myself to go for what I want, not what's expected of me. I would tell myself to try harder and to do better. And I would tell myself to get more involved.

"You're going to wish these years haven't gone by so fast... these are some good times... take a good look around... you may not know it now but you're goint to miss this". Trace Adkins sings ever true lyrics, for here I am a senior in college, while I still feel like I just graduated from high school. Do not take any moment for granted, because when you put off studying for a day and sometimes even an hour it will affect your life. Friends and family will go away, and some will stay, but it is up to you how your future turns out. Please call home more often then necessary, for it will help you navigate your new life. Your parents will help you always, even if it is 200 miles away. Don't give in to peer pressure, be a strong woman, and stand up for yourself. Do not talk yourself out of your ideas or goals, like when you want to run for student government or don't understand why you recieved a grade. Put in the extra effort because so many opportunites await for you to grow, discover, love, and have fun.

In my view, the most important advice for myself would have been to take a foreign language for more than 2 years. I took Spanish for 2 years in high school and after seeing how many people were already well prepared to continue on with it in college makes me regret not taking more years of it. The beginner classes at Allegheny focus on speaking the language fluently, which is why I feel that I would be at a disadvantage if I started taking a Spanish class now. High school prepared the students for what to expect in a foreign language class and I wish I could have been a part of that. There are college owned dorms (for example the Spanish house and French house) with allow students to connect with one another on a deeper level aside from having the their own foreign language club on campus. The foreign language programs offered are extremely beneficial if a student is interested in going to a foreign country to study abroad. If only I would have taken a foreign language more seriously in high school, many more opportunities could have come my way in college like the ones listed above.

As I reflect on my freshman year of college, I realize what I have learned about myself and how I interact with others. If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have a few words of wisdom to share. I would emphasize the importance of being friendly and social while maintaining perspective on my studies. I now know that time management is a completely different skill in college than it is in high school. When it comes to schoolwork, it is necessary to establish a routine and to find a place to study that is free of distractions. My biggest regret of first semester is not making efficient use of my time, especially when it came to studying. I have since realized how important it is to manage my schoolwork, and how to set goals in order to measure my progress. I would also remind myself to keep an open mind. I made friends with people last year who are very different from me, and it taught me volumes about accepting others. Prior to these experiences, I may have been judgmental of people who could have ended up being great friends.

Assuming that I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I have a lot of advice that I would give myself. Mainly, I would tell myself, or any other senior for that matter, to go into college with an open mind. Everyone is different in college, people have different backgrounds and cultures and will simply be altogether different from you; take this opportunity and get to know these people and broaden your horizons. I would also keep an open mind about my academic goals. The transition to college is hard and it is important to know that. It is also important to note that the level of difficulty may force you to change your major and this may be a harsh reality to face, but you will be much happier in the end and you will exceed to your highest potential if you simply take the leap and follow your heart. Lastly, keep an open mind about opportunities that may arise for you. Take every single one of them; not only will they build your resume, they will build your character.

The transition from high school to college is not an easy one. If I were to go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have made sure I was aware of how to prioritize my time and be more open about what I wanted to study. In high school, I never had to study a lot, most of the material came easy to me. When I got to college and learned that I had to study every night, it came as sa bit of a shock. Along with the workload, adjusting to being away from home did take it's toll. I think the best advice to give any high school student about college is that it is a change from what you are used to. You have to keep an open mind, work hard but still remember to have fun. After all, that is what life is truly all about, not just college.

Before come to study in college, I need to learn to manage my own time so that I can start more freely and efficiently in college.

I would definitely tell myself to take more AP classes (and receive better grades on the ones I take). I would make sure I apply a bit earlier to be supplied with more financial aid. I would also remind myself to take an SAT course in order to get a higher grade on the actual test. Really things to make the financial responsibilities a bit less stressful, I think I did everything else right.

I would say to follow my heart, and not let others (even my family) influence my decision. I listened to my parents' desires and chose a school I liked, but most definitely do not love. I would also tell myself that anything is possible, and to keep dreaming. Although choosing a college narrows your options, that doesn't mean dreaming has to end. Additionally, I would tell myself to be less shy, and open up more during orientation.