California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo Top Questions

Back then, I thought I knew it all; if only that had been true. I would tell myself to listen to the words of wisdom of others who have lived. They have experience, and they have insight. The reason that they are offering up their knowledge for my benefit is that they want me to be successful, happy, and well off. I could list dozens of opportunities and situations where I thought I knew the right answer. I thought I knew exactly what I want. Looking back, the pearls of wisdom that others shared with me should have been given more consideration. However, I try not to live life with any regrets. I now truely appreciate the advice of others and hope they continue to offer it.

I would have taken the time to meet with more people in the industry that I was pursuing to enter. I thought I knew exactly what I wanted to do, but at the same time had no clue what that would entail. My parents were both college grads in somewhat successful jobs, but they were never interesed in climbing a ladder of success, they were happy just where they were. It is easy for me to also feel this way in my current job, but I know that I am not where I thought I would be now, as when I was in the middle of my college career. It is important to realize things such as benefits, job security, geographic location, etc. I believe that networking with the right people is one of the most important things I learned along the way. In order to meet people within the agricultural industry you must be around those who are the most involved. This included staying involved on campus, but more importantly, to be involved in some way with the people you would like to work with someday. These people will later be your advocate for a job down the road.

I would love to be able to go back, grasp my past self firmly by the shoulders, and give maybe a little bit more than a gentle shake and say: "Calm down, it's OK. You're going to make it." I worked so hard in high school, I never truly allotted any time for fun. Looking back, I realize how important those years were to my development and I wish I would have taken the time to observe and enjoy the world that so quickly passed me by. I would be sure to tell myself to keep working hard, because all my efforts got me here to Cal Poly, but to make sure to take the time and enjoy that period in my life and what was next to come. I would also remind my past self that its going to be hard at first, everything will be so different and its going to be a little scary, but it will change, you will make great friends, find your stride and in the end, you will succeed.

Go for it. Make the tough choice. Err on the side of risk and faith. You may be afraid of the cold, but you will love the four seasons. You may be scared of the city, but the city has a niche for everyone. You may be uncomfortable with dorm life, but your future bridal party may just live a few doors down the hall. You may be worried about the cost, but you will appreciate the intimacy of a small school and there will always be scholarships available. You may be nervous about the competition, but you have been preparing yourself for this challenge for the past four years. You want peers who question your ideas and excite your intellect, are passionate about what they do, and help you make the most of college. You have longed for these challenges and risks since you were little. Don't lose sight of your goals. Don't forget to pursue what you love. Don't trade in opportunity for security. Your life should err on the side of risk and faith.

Matt, I am your future self, listen to my advice about the college transition. The senior year can be very relaxing academically, but make sure you continue to work hard each day in your studies because you must do so in college to stay current on your material and do well in each class. There is no room for getting behind in the college classroom. As far as the transition into independent living goes, two general rules will help you: 1) now that you call the shots, don't go carzy with the freedom, and 2) every other freshman will be in the same boat so make good friends who can relate and help you out. Trust me, you will have an abundance of freedom, but stay in control. The quickest way to lose out on your amazing college experience is to take advantage of the freedom and lose yourself, and your academics that got you there. Also, it will be incredibly easy to make friends, so make sure you find ones that will truly be a great influence and have similar lifestyles. Times can get hard learning to live on your own but great friends can make it easier!

Dear Self: College. Uni. Your new life. Whatever you want to call it - it will be your new home for the next four years (or however long it takes you to graduate). As a senior in high school, you are ready to leave home. You want to be liberated by the freedom of 8-3 school days and the confines of home. And you definitely will be. You see, I know that you aren?t outgoing or an extrovert, but you have to try new things. Try as much as you can, no matter how embarrassing it may be. Don?t stay holed up in your room all the time. What fun is that? Call or text people to get together. They want to be social just as much as you do. Go to the gym. Join clubs. Soak in the sun. Read a book under a tree. I have done all that and I am am pleased to say that I am not disappointed in my choices. Congrats on getting into college. Now, decide what you really want. Shoot for it. Give it all you?ve got. Also, don't procrastinate! It sucks!!! Good luck, Your future self :D

do your best as you can and if it gets to hard, picture it like a chellenge in life that you want to succeed

If I went back in time to when I was a senior, I would have told myself, to be perpared to become an adult. You will have many choices that you will need to make on your own. It will be all up to you, on what you want to do for now. You will have times when you feel lost and just want to go home, but that feeling will eventually go away. You just need to keep your head in the books and avoid the partying. You will have plenty of time to do that after you graduate or during your free time. The last thing I would say is to Just Do Your Best.

My first thought would be to tell myself that even though you may be leaving your hometown friends and family behind, it doesn't mean that they stop being a part of your life. This separation simply means that it is time that you begin your own life and grow to be a person that they can be proud of. I would also like every other year in high school remind myself not to procrastinate, because college is extremely fast-paced and there is no room for laziness. Among these pieces of advise I would also have told myself about how to make the transition into the collegial world a smoother one. I would say to myself and others to make friends that have similar goals and that you have a lot in common with. I would also urge myself to be involved in things that are fun but that can also help you in the future to build connections that you may later need in your career. Lastly I would advise to look into everything about your college, and make a serious decision about where you're going and to never give up no matter what the circumstances are.

I would tell myself to keep on doing what I love to do most and not to worry about the future because the future is promising even if life doesn't seem like it's going right . I would tell myself to just be myself and to never give up because in the end it's always worth it. And the last thing I would tell myself is that the world is full of new and exciting things that are waiting to be discover, so always be open-minded.

If I was to go back to high school my senior year and give advice to myself I would definitely teach myself the word ?dedication". When I was in high I was preoccupied with baseball games and work. When it came to academically receiving grades, I know I could have done better. It is all about dedicating yourself into to something you love doing. I always have had a passion and baseball and engineering. I would most likely and for sure teach myself discipline to succeed in high school and transfer. I would not only tell myself to be disciplined, I would also be determined for what I would want and have no boundaries to receiving better grades in high school. The most important thing would be to take High School serious, like a job and to graduate with honors and other academic awards.

The one thing high school never taught me was how important others are to my own success. I wish I would have know that had I been more involved my freshman year, my transition into college would have been much easier. Those who end up being successful in college either have a talent for learning or have enough connections to make it through their college experience. As a third year, I am just now reaching out to classmates and really making the connections that I was too busy to make my first two years in college. If I had the chance to go back in time, I would tell myself, ?Slow down?enjoy this experience otherwise it will be gone before you know it.? Now that I have taken the time to get involved, my grades have improved dramatically and I am enjoying the college experience. It truly blows me away that it has been so long since I first walked up the steps to my dormitory, anticipating meeting the person I was going to share the next 10 months with. That person and the others I met in college have made me the success I am now.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to, "Dream big and enjoy every second to the fullest. The next four years, or possibly more, are going to be some of the most memorable of your lifetime. But beware; the time flies by like a shooting star amidst the darkened sky. Though there is no telling what your future may hold, one thing is for certain. It is all in your hands. So be active, and get involved in school activities. If pressures burden you, seek help. When opportunities present themselves to you, seize them. Remember to always have pride in what you do, and most importantly, be yourself. "

At the outset of college I was still trapped in my reserved high school self. I eventually became who I wanted to be, but fIrst, I would tell myself, "Be exactly who you want to be, and find friends who are like you, who you like, who like the way you are. Don't be afraid to have tons of friends or a small group of friends. Do what suits you. Ask out girls, don't be afraid of what might not happen. Do things on impulse." These things come from things I took chances on in college which ended up benefitting me tremendously. Some of my best friends, greatest loves, and favorite moments came from taking chances, responsiblyISH of course. Secondly I would tell myself to be open minded. Don't assume anything. You don't have to try anything, but don't make uneducate judgements about any person/drug/sport/race/religion/anything. Last, in the spirit of graduating college, I would say to myself, "You NEED to study. However little work you did in high school is irrelevant. The most important things to do are :go to class, do your homework, and keep on top of studying.

LISTEN, LOVE and LEARN! You are going to be meeting a lot of people in these first weeks of college. The fall-back questions are: Name? Major? Hometown? But the small talk is going to get old real quick. My advice is that you genuinely get to know the people around you. Open up to the people you meet and they will feel comfortable enough to do the same. Once you get them talking, LISTEN to what your new friends share. A big part of college is LEARNing from people that may have views and passions that differ from your own. Not only should you surround yourself with people whom you respect and are inspired by, but you should also involve yourself in activities and clubs that you LOVE. A great deal of my education has been accomplished outside of the classroom so I want to encourage you to get started on extracurricular programs from the start. Finally, you are in college to go to class and LEARN. Take advantage of all the opportunities available to you. Get to know your professors. Do all of the reading. Take LEARNing the material into your own hands. LISTEN, LOVE and LEARN!

Stay focused on what's ahead. Don't waste time lingering on past mistakes or regrets. If you mess up don't beat yourself up for it. Every mistake is a lesson. Prioritize now. Seriously, USE YOUR TIME WISELY! Every week, every day, every hour counts and will be dearly missed if wasted. Procrastination=Failure. Whether or not the all-nighter you pulled was successful, you are beat the next day and lose out on any classes you attend if you attend them. So even if you get an A on that paper, you've just failed. You failed to take advantage of the knowledge imparted to you in every single class of the next day. Dance sing and laughter everyday. Share these joys, especially laughter, with others-make opportunities for laughter if need be. Remember, everyone is just like you - imperfect and can't read minds. Always remember what you have been given and what you have earned. Show appreciation to those whom it's owed. Hint: People appreciate the small gestures just as much. P.S. Be Happy. It takes very little effort and the alternative is too tiring and hard to do.

First off, I would tell myself to apply to more out of state and private universities. This is a wise decision because it opens up more opportunities. I would also tell myself to get ready for the quarter system because it goes by a lot faster than high school which means you have less of a chance to recover if you fall in academic performance. Prepare yourself for night classes, as they can be stressfull, and also be an outgoing person when you meet new people. Take the initiative to ask more questions and listen to get to know more people. I would also let myself know that knowing the class schedule system is wise, because most universities make you sign up for your own classes so be prepared with multiple schedules, and know which classes you need to take. One final thing is don't be scared to be a freshman again! The people in college operate on a whole new level of maturedness and most take the time to welcome you kindly.

The list of things that I should have done is endless. The top three pieces of advice that I would have given myself include the following. One, I should have taken more AP classes in high school so I could get credit for more classes and have open space to take electives at my college such as bee keeping or welding. Since I didn't take as many AP classes as I should have in high school, I don't have much space in my schedule for elective classes. Second, when I first came to my college I should have got involved in more clubs such as the lumberjack club or the scuba club. Lastly, I wish I was more prepared to have classes without busy work to buffer my grade, it takes some time getting used to classes with only two midterms, one paper, and a final to make up your final grade. Most importantly I would give myself the advice to be open to everything and try as many new things as I can since these are the best years of my life and I need to make the best of it and create forever memories.

I would tell myself to fill out as many grants and scholarships as i can because rite now i owe so much money to the school im at now. Also i would tell myself to pay attention to the teachers because its the same work here but in greater details.

First, apply to as many scholarship opportunities, there are more scholarships available to incoming students, that is students who are still in high school. Secondly, take it easy try not to take too much on your plate, you have plenty of time to try new things and do whatever you like, slow down and enjoy yourself a bit more. Third, keep on track and plan your college years, as it helps keep you focus on why you went to college in the first place. Fourth, make connections with your professors because they will be a great source of help on campus, especially those within your major. Fifth, do NOT procrastinate on your studies it is the worst possible thing you could do because the work will pile on especially on the quarter system as it progresses quite fast. Sixth, relating to keeping yourself focused, plan ahead and make yourself some study hours, it helps to keep up with the work. Seventh, don't fall into peer pressure, if fraternities and sororities aren't for you don't join because others do, there are certain things you may not want to do when you are pledging so think it twice.