Boston University Top Questions

I would advise myself to stand behind your morals, beliefs and values. When you're thrust into a new situation, it's normal and expected that you're going to feel slightly uncomfortable. Every college freshman feels this way; if they say they don't, they're lying. That being said, you can easily find yourself in a a compromising position: doing things you've never dreamed of doing, saying things you wouldn't normally think. The most important thing is to be yourself; you'll find people who will appreciate that. It took returning to my hometown for summer after my freshman year to understand this completely, and because I'm more comfortable with myself now, my sophomore year has been exponentially better.

The workload is at another level. I should prepare myself, especially in senior year, taking as many as APs and feel at least some academic hardships seriously. Moreover, besides academics, the environment is important. Do lots of research so I can attend school that fits just for me.

Realize that it only gets harder and be careful not to bite off more than you can chew. But don't let that stop you from trying new things.

I would have visited a wider variety of colleges. I would have liked to explore the possibility of attending a smaller school or a school closer to where my high school friends were going because then I could have them as a support while adjusting to college. I think I also would have liked to investigate school closer to my hometown such as schools in New York City. I would advise not to apply early decisions and leave all my options available until I was completely ready to make a decision about the college of my choice.

I transferred to Boston University this year as a sophomore. I was accepted into Boston University for my freshman year, but I was scared I would not be able to handle attending school on the other side of the country, so I attended Arizona State University my freshman year. If I could talk to my high school self, I would encourage young me to go to Boston University for my freshman year. I would let myself know that going to college across the country is scary and different, but that I knew little me could do it. I would help myself to envision all the adventures that Boston University could offer and to realize that the possibilities for growth at Boston University outweighed the safety of staying close to home. I would stress the necesity to embrace the unknown and remind myself that "everyone deserves a chance to fly" (Defying Gravtiy, Wicked).

There are a few fundamentals essential to succeeding in college. These are persistence and determination as well as a passion for your field of study. Work hard at your studies and take it very seriously. My father always says had he worked as hard in college for the four years as he does now, he would not have to work today. Although college should be taken seriously, do not let the stress get to you. After all, that is a part of the learning experience. Work hard and take time to enjoy yourself and your friends.

When I was a high school senior I was lost trying to decide between two schools. One was in my Wisconsin hometown and the other was a plane ride away in Boston. I was completely terrified of making the wrong choice. I was stressed out. Today, I?m a junior at Boston University and I?d like to think that I?m a lot wiser than my high school senior self. If I could give some of my new glorious wisdom to myself as a high school senior, I would say, ?Be confident! Everything will work out if you?re confident in your choice.? When I made my choice and I moved into my dorm I was sure that I had made a mistake. I know now that my mistake was thinking that I couldn?t make it work. Since then I have grown to love my place at BU because I found out how to trust myself. When thinking about what college is right for you do your research and find somewhere you know you can feel confident. Once you figure out how to trust your instincts you?ll know that you?re growing up. Mom will be proud.

Don't be afraid to try new things and meet many new people. It's so liberating to step outside your comfort zone and see your efforts pay off in a big way. You just might meet some lifelong friends and you will definitely learn new things about the world around you.

My advice to parents about helping their children find the right colleges for them is to take the time to research schools with their children, take the children to visit the schools they show interest in, and to read a lot about financial aid options. It is not necessary to opt out of sending your child to a school because it is a private and expensive institution. There are plenty of options out there; I come from a family with very limited means and attend one of the most expensive universities in the country. There are always scholarships and government aid available to those who need it. To students, I would say to apply to the schools which are located in the type of environment that you feel most comfortable in. When it comes to choosing the one college you will attend, do not worry too much and listen to what your gut is telling you to do. Most of the time, there will be one school you will fall in love with & that is the one for you. Lastly, nobody should pick a college based on one particular major they are interested in because most students change their majors.

I would advice them to love their safety schools and make the best of their situation and take pride in themselves and what they're worth.