Brigham Young University-Provo Top Questions

Take your education seriously. Don't just do the homework and study for tests, but understand the things you're learning about. Take time to do outside readings and research, and don't be afraid to talk to the teachers and TAs. They can help you out a lot. Also, get involved in different clubs around campus and enjoy the time you have at college. You won't always have all these resources available to you, so take advantage of them while you can. Reach out to people around you and get to know them. This is a wonderful time to make friends for life, so sit by someone new and talk. Don't neglect the social and physical aspects of your life, but get out and exercise and play games with people. Just have a great time, because now is the time to do the things that you want to do.

Dear Former Self, I know that you've been making some big plans and you have lots of potential, but I want to send you a little message. I know that you've always dreamed of going to college, of getting doctorate degrees, of changing the world; but I'll just let you know what you're getting yourself into. Prepare to be stressed out of your mind as you struggle to balance work, school, social life, volunteer work, etc. Prepare to lose sleep on assignments, projects, and tests because there aren't enough hours in a waking day to finish everything. Prepare to focus on your priorities, even when things go dead wrong. With the stress, depression, and anxiety that come from college, you'll need to be determined and tough. You will experience desparate situations. Everything you you ever knew, or naievely believed, is about to be thrown into the trying furnace; you'll find out what you're really made of. Brace yourself. And finally, you'll get bad grades if you have to work and do all your schoolwork at the same time, so apply for lots of scholarships right now. Love, Your Future Self

Go to bed. Yes, you may be able to function on three hours of sleep a night, but you'll be happier and do better if you actually sleep eight hours a night. Also, don't be shy. Branch out- everyone else wants to make new friends as well. Don't be afraid.

Stay focused from day one. Have a great time and lots of fun, but work hard from the beginning. It is harder to make up a bad GPA from the first semester than it is to just do well the whole time.

If given the chance to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have advised myself to look for more scholarships. I was not fully prepared for the expenses of college. If able to do it again, I would have spent more of my time looking for more financial aid. Also, I would have encouraged myself to develop better study habits, as I had to give myself a crash course in studying during my first term as a college freshman. Overall, I believe that I would tell myself to not slack off as much as many of my friends were doing during their last few months in high school. Those last months still require effort in order to be ready for the college life. I would also, of course, told myself who the good professors were, and perhaps avoided having a professor or two that I didn't really like. Small and simple pieces of advice such as this are equally as important as the larger, more important issues. Knowing simple facts such as this would have allowed me to have an easier transition into college. I would then have had more time to put effort into school.

Fear is in the root of the world's problems. Fear debilitates, sucks confidence, and weakens. I would advise myself not to hesitate to do what is right, despite what others watching might feel or think. Fear is opposed to faith. Faith is a positive motivator, where as fear is a more negative motivator. People will do a lot of things out of fear but when the fear factor is eliminated, what are they left with to motivate them? Faith is also a motivator, believing in something you have not yet seen. It is an abiding hope and trust which causes you to act on a level higher than you thought you could. When I acted by faith and not fear I was more sucessful or atleast I was happier. I say this because the majority of my failure at BYU was a result of hesitation rooted in fear. For instance, I did poorly on exams because I did not trust my initial answers. I had a season ending injury in rugby due to hesitation/fear. Fear and hesistation cost me strength in my relationships with people who were very important to me. I have learned, overcome fear with faith.

I would tell myself that it is imperative to apply for as many scholarships as possible. If I made one mistake my senior year it is that i neglected my scholarship abilities and didn't try near hard enough to get funding. It is also important to realize how expensive college books are as well as other seemingly harmless supplies. It is also extremely important to focus and do your absolute best the first semester. I ended up failing a class my first semester as well as receiving two C's. You don't want to end up repeating a class and wasting the money to get average grades.

Senior Year! Congrats! Start preparing for college now by:1) Save as much money as you can! Hopefully you have already been doing this!2) Get as high a GPA, ACT/SAT, as you can.3) Participate in several activities. Schools (and scholarships) like well-rounded people.4) Meet with a good guidance counselor. Ask for a list of scholarship opportunities. Prepare financial and personal background information ahead of time, as well as potential schools and programs you are interested in.5) Apply for FAFSA and scholarships earlier than later. Search the internet for scholarships and grants. Contact community organizations and civic groups. Treat your activities and interests as scholarship leads. Inquire with the officers or advisors of such organization about available scholarship funds.6) Visit potential schools well in-advance. Talk with the counselors over each program you are interested in about school requirements, program requirements, scholarship opportunities, etc. Look into housing options, insurance options, student life, etc. The more you find out and the earlier you find it out, the better!7) Apply for several schools and several programs. The more options you give yourself the better.8) Get involved and enjoy college life!

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self to prepare myself for the future, the change, and the transition, I would have alot to say. I would probably start by telling myself that it IS important to stay on top of school work, and that just because I don't like a subject, that is no reason to give up; it only gets harder in high school. I would tell my high school self to get involved in as many extra carricular activities, because college is hard to pay for and if you're good enough at a sport, you can get scholarships. To prepare for the move to college, I would let myself know to not make plans last minute- that it isn't hard on just me, but everyone I live with. I would tell myself that its alright if I'm going to school far away where I don't know anyone, it's okay to meet new people and make new friends. These are just a few things I would tell my self if I could go back to high school, and there is plenty more.

Kevin, so you are about to enter college. This will be a great time in your life so enjoy every opportunity that comes to you. I have three pieces of advise to give you. One, choose you major carefully and love that choice. I take every opportunity to get all that you can out of it. Do all the extracurricular activities that your major provides. Participate as a research assistant, teaching assistant, and a tutor. These positions will help you learn more. Two, get to know each of your professors a little better. Go out of your way to introduce yourself in class or by visiting their offices. You will enjoy the classes more when your professor knows you and you can connect with them. And three, spend some time doing other things than academics. Make lots of friends. Take advantage of all the things that the area has to offer. You will only be there four years and then it is over. You cannot return and relive this part of life. Lastly, do your very best and enjoy the journey.

Begin getting involved in activities that college offers earlier. Investing more than academics in your college experience will make your it more fulfilling. Becoming part of a club or college council not only provides opportunities to make more lasting friends and memories, but it will introduce you to faculty and students who can help with with future goals in academics or even internships. Connections around campus are a genuine way to feel connected and welcomed at your school.

Have lots of fun your last year of high school. If you feel like you need to take some college level classes, check with the college(s) you've been accepted to to see if what you're taking will help you. If not, take them for fun or not at all. You will get all you need in college, and you've worked hard enough that it's okay to take a little break. Don't take more than one hard general credit your first semester. Work up to taking more hard classes at a time. Even though you may know what you want to go into, take a lot of introductory classes in other areas that are interesting to see if there is something else that you'd enjoy. Talk to a lot of people. Make new friends everywhere you can. It's always nice to see familiar faces walking around campus. Take advantage of all the university has to offer you. Try new things. You won't regret a minute of it.

High school was a fun experience, but I worried too much about popularity and social standing. High schoolers would be better off if they could realize that life is not all about them. There is so much more joy in serving others than there is in wearing the latest fashion or having the newest phone. Material possessions don't matter. People matter. True friendships and family relationships are far more valuable than anything you could ever buy or own. Also, school is important. Finding joy in knowledge is one of the best things one can learn early on in life. Advanced Placement classes are good for colleges and scholarships, but they are not everything. If a student can learn to love what they are learning while being challenged by the new knowledge, they will gain far more than what an Advanced Placement class can teach them. Having credit while going into college is nice, but there is no need to rush the college experience. Live life to the fullest. Be the best you can be. Working your hardest is good enough. Serve often and love everyone. That is the key to happiness and success.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that college, although it is fun, is about getting an education. It is so important to take your college education seriously. It isn't like high school, you can't just glide through it. College takes a lot of discipline, dedication, and most importantly a lot of hard work.

I never got to make it as a college senior. After sophomore year, I dropped out of high school and received my GED. If I could go back in time, I would tell 16-year-old Anna that she is good enough and smart enough to make it to graduation. I would tell her that in college, she could achieve the goals she never thought possible. I would tell her that she can get really good grades and be in the top of her class, she just needs confidence in herself. I would make sure she knew she could be just as good, if not better, than her competition. I would assure her that honors programs and president’s lists are possible for her if she puts forth the effort. I would tell 16-year-old Anna, that in college, she will realize how beautiful, intelligent, and smart she really is; that she can and will do everything she sets her mind to, because she’s good enough. I would tell her not to be afraid, that school is the most important tool of her life, and that everything is going to be okay.

If I could go back and give my self advice as a high school senior I would tell myself to not procrastinate. I would let my self know that it is not the best when you stay up till two o'clock in the morning finishing a paper that is due at eight. Getting homework and projects done in a timely manner will keep myself from being overstressed. If I could go back and tell myself somthing as a senior I would tell myself to not procrastinate.

When everyone tells you that high school is the best time of your life trust them. The second it ends you’ll want it back. Have fun, and don’t be so serious. The real world begins when you graduate and life revolves so much more about school and work. Realize that no one opinions matters beside your own of course. Your happiness needs to come before anyone else’s, so live a little. Don’t spend all of your time absorbed in your books. Allow time to be a teenager and just enjoy life. Soon there will be no more Friday night football games or homecoming dances. Your grades are important since they’ll get you into the college of your choice. But the memories made in high school can never be recreated once its done so take the time to make those memories you’ll never forget with the people who were with you for the whole journey.

College is what you make it. It really doesn't matter where you go. If you have a positive outlook on life, a bright future to reach for, and a dedication to 2 very important goals, you will succeed; and you will love it. What are the 2 "very important goals" you ask? They are: #1-learn, and #2-have fun. Strive to gain all the understanding you can. Learn to love learning. Get excited. Be passionate. Soak it in. You can never acquire enough knowledge...and I don't just mean academically. Learn about yourself. Find out who you are, what you believe in, what, where, and who you love. Always seek to find more than is given. Never be satisfied with "good enough"... and have fun doing it all! Spend time studying, and enjoy it! Be done studying at some point; breaks are vital. Meet new people. Try new things. Help others. Be social , but be comfortable spending time with yourself...that is an essential life skill. Take advantage of quiet moments. Smile! As one of my professors says, "There is no boring subject, just boring writing". So don't hold back, make your life a masterpiece.

Be confident in yourself and have fun. I would tell myself that I should be more outgoing, more friendly, and give myself more credit for all of my talents and accomplishments. I have always been a perfectionist, and now that I'm older, I can see how that led to stress and a lack of self-esteem. Instead of getting down on myself for not being perfect in every aspect of life, I would tell that 14 to 18 year old girl to lighten up, work hard, and have fun. High school is about growing up, getting ready for college, and being a teenager. I would tell myself to take the pressure off! Looking back, I was filled with stress, pressure, and fear that I wouldn't get good enough grades, do well enough in sports, be a good enough friend, or do enough in my community and church. I would tell myself that I'm great! There is no need to worry about things I can't control.

Tip #1: Do you have absolutely no idea what your major will be? Or are you completely positive that you know exactly which career you plan on having for the rest of your life? Either way: make sure that you job shadow! Job shadow, job shadow, job shadow - and don't just job shadow in the career you're planning on. Try job shadowing in a few different careers that you might never have thought of. Trust me, it will either cement your knowledge that you actually want that career (giving you strength to get through those rough classes ahead), or it will give you the time to look elsewhere. Tip #2: Get out there and do more! As a freshman, you have the opportunity to be anything you want to be. College is a time to re-create yourself for the better. Think about it: you get a completely fresh start. Be the person that you want to be. Get involved and do something new and different. Keep yourself busy; but not overly stressed. The best way to do well in school is if you balance it with a fun and wholesome social life. Remember to volunteer!