California State University-Long Beach Top Questions

Take a deep breath. In the whirlwind of the first weeks of college, you will likely be inundated by syllabi from unfamiliar professors, requests from new roommates, invitations to social activities, and maps trying to get to class. You will meet new people, learn new routines, and discover new characteristics about yourself. It is amazing. Take each essay, project, and assignment as they come. Go to your professors' office hours, they want to help you. As often as you can, take classes that fulfill requirements, but also intrigue you. Embrace the fact that you will be lost, literally and figuratively, in classes and on campus. You are now competing against yourself. It is up to you to get the most out of your education; you wil not be coddled and you will be held accountable. Enjoy the ride. College can be arduous at times, but it is worth it. You are living your purpose. You are there for a reason. You are on your own parth to success and college is a stop along that road. So in those moments, in which you find yourself on the verge of tears, ready to throw in the towel... take a deep breath.

have confidence to talk to people. do not be afraid to take a leap and socialize. Don't let what othes say put you down, you know who you are all you can do is be the best you, you can be. you can do it!

I wish i could tell myself to take the time to apply to more universities, even if i don't think i will be admitted. I would tell myself to apply to more scholarships so that you don't have to work two jobs and go to school full-time. I wish i could tell myself to go to a UC instead of a CSU. Most of all, i wish i could tell myself to be open to changing my plans. At 18 years old its perfectly okay to not have a plan, and wherever you end up, do the best to make the most of it.

I would advise myself to make school a priority, not to take breaks and also to consider going elsewhere for the experience. Out of state, abroad, pursue all of my options.

If I could go back in time to give advice to my senior self in high school about college life I would say, get ready because a storm is coming. College is full of work, reading, papers, and whole lot of stress. Yes, you will break down, yes, you will doubt yourself, and yes, you will want to give up, but you have to remember what you are doing this for. You have to remember that this is the path that leads you to your dreams and this is what you chose. You chose the road less traveled and your awesome for doing so. But don’t you worry, although college isn’t easy, it will come full of amazing experiences that you will remember for the rest of your life. This is the time you will meet your lifelong friends and believe me when I say this, they will see you at your worst and stick by your side. But at the end of the day, you be your best self and don’t ever give up because success is just around the corner. Just keep gazing forward and never stop. Be bold. Be brave.

Hello, Richard. It's me, Richard. From the future in college. You're in the BFA program and you've accomplished so much. But you need to pay attention. I know you're looking for fun and great experiences, for new friends. My personal advice, do not room with your sister's asshole ex after the dorms. Meet new people who appreciate you and who value you. And when you do, continue to reach out to them. You will do well in school, in art, and make it far. But you can do more. Make no excuses for yourself, for there will be days you lose motivation and spirit. Reach out to people, do not be afraid, and believe in yourself when the dark days come. As long as you remember the love of your family and true friends along the way, you will accomplish wonders. Also, build up the courage to ask girls out for dates, we need to graduate with at least one date. Joking aside, remember to keep in touch with those who believe in you and be proud of yourself instead of being hard. Challenge yourself as you always have and do it with creativity.

Okay Alex, I am you four years down the road, so listen to what I have to say. First of all, don't give in to your desire to fit in this school because in four years' time, you will have not spoken to about 96{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of the people you consider to be friends here; that's just part of finishing K-12 education. That being said, you need to step it up because you only have 1 year left to impress all those upper class schools that you've been dreaming of attending. You already screwed up your tenth and eleventh grade years, so getting into most of the UCs and private universities is out of the question; you can however, get enough financial aid to not worry about finishing university buried in debt if you manage to rasie your GPA this year. I wish I could have gone three years further back in time in order to tell you this so you wouldn't have to suffer like you did these past two years. At least I can still tell you this, for what it's worth. I'll always regret not seeing ahead instead of the present.

College is really a dream come true. There are innumerable resources available to make sure you receive everything you need. Having trouble with your homework? Visit tutoring centers, attend office hours, e-mail your classmates! Feel a need to relax? Swing by the student center for free school events, lay down in the perfectly-maintained grass, walk over to the library to read some picture books. It is a student's haven because in college, your only responsibility is to learn. Your college provides resources so that it can measure the sum of your knowledge in a number, a GPA. So of course, attend your lectures, do your homework, and study your books. But if you want a more fulfilling experience, take initiative and also explore your school, take advantage of every opportunity, and make friends. The college experience is more than a number. So let yourself make mistakes. Apply for a few internships and get rejected. Talk to that flawless person and make a fool of yourself. College is not only a place for you to attend class, but also training grounds for life. Someday you're going to graduate, and you're going to appreciate these "extracurricular" studies.

The road to discovering your true calling is long, winding, frustrating, and tough. Enjoy it. Why enjoy it? Because it's a long ride, and you'll learn a lot. Knowing what I know now, I know that it's not necessarily the time it takes, but it's the time you take while getting there. And, honestly, you, as a hyperactive, overachieving high school stuff would not like the things that I see right now. You like yours straight, no chaser. But there's power to taking your time, and that's something you should learn. I say, as these next few years go by, and things slowly start to loose focus, don't panic. I mean, don't get me wrong, focus is good. But instead of panicing, trust in yourself, and trust in your abilities, and trust that you will, no matter how hard the days get, make it through. And you will, and you will be a better person for it. But most of all, enjoy the view. These things will only happen once in your life, and it's best enjoyed while it's there. So enjoy it. Seriously.

Everything I learned in the drama department in High School was so important to me, but when I got to college I realized it was all nothing.... I learned so much more in the Performing Arts department in college than I ever knew was possible! Get ready for the experience of your life. You will meet some very interesting people. Take notes, keep in touch with your professors, listen to them, and take their advice. Especially with acting, advice about auditions is some of the most important information you will get anywhere. Ask them about their careers, and learn from their mistakes. Keep some time open for yourself and to nurture your personality. You can get really overwhelmed with auditions and rehearsals. Make sure you have some down time on the weekends, and keep your sense of humor! Don't work so hard that you wear yourself out!

Ana, listen to me, you have a big year ahead of you. You will do well in all of your classes, and spend time with friends but trust me on this one, your priorities are mixed the wrong way. You think school comes first then friends then family- you may not say it but your actions speak the truth. Ana listen to me, don't forget your family, your parents are fighting and your brother isn't so little any more. School should come second, your real friends will understand. Ana, listen to me. I know what you're hearing is tempting to believe- that getting into the big-name, big-money schools is going to get you places, but don't apply for those, don't waste your time and money on application after application... when you know in your core that success is not defined by the number of zeros on a future paycheck. Ana listen to me, what you'll regret most, is spending more time defining yourself for college essays than with the people that already love, and accept who you are. You've put in the work, college is around the corner.

GO TO COLLEGE SOONER !!!

IF i had the ability to go back in time and talk to myself i would make sure that i would uncommit from Loyola Marymount University. I would tell myself that you are going to dislike the school and the coaches and that UCLA should have been your first choice. I would also make myself regret not taking academics seriously, and that all i had to do was apply myself to do well in school and that a million more doors could have been open to me. Instead of the limitations i put on myself because of my GPA in highschool. MY advice that i would be giving to myself wouldnt be advice, it would be about all the wrong decisions i would be making.

Unlike highschool, college comes with a great deal of flexibility. Constant pressure from teachers and parents to go to class and get work done is most likely going to sieze dramatically. It is your personal choice whether to skip a class or complete the assignments. Do not let the tempatation of flexibility be the cause of your failure. Persevere thorugh the tough times and what ever you do never give up! A college education is the key to the door of several opportunities.

I would simply go up to my high school senior self and say, "get over yourself and do better". In high school I was more into my music and not as focused on school. Going into college I realized that I was not prepared for the coursework because I had not taken the time to prepare myself in high school while I was slacking off thinking community college was my only option. I would smack my past self in the face and say "get to work, do better". Facebook and twitter won't get anyone anywhere quick. It takes hardwork and determination to reach heavy goals we set out for ourselves. High School matters, and if I have one regret in life, it's not giving high school the "old college try".

So, you're going to be starting school pretty soon. Don't be nervous, I promise you it's not as bad as you think. People aren't really friendly but try your best to make friends, it'll be nice to have someone to talk to! Especially if you miss a day. Don't be afraid to ask questions, you really can't be. You have to change that, if you don't get it, you need to! It won't get any easier. Please try to join clubs, get out there and experience college. It really isn't that bad, plus you can meet more people and have some friends. Trust me it's going to be nice to have at least some friends on campus. Oh yeah, rent your books online, you'll save way more money. Don't forget to stay on top of your homework and school work. Yes your professor does not collect it but still. You need to do it or else you're going to not know anything. And by the way, that philosophy class that youw anted to take...Don't take it. You'll thank me later. Promise. Have fun!

If I had the chance to talk with my senior high school self I will tell them that although it is important not to miss the deadlines for college applications, it is also important to enjoy your last year of high school with friends we will never see again becuase our lifes will go different directions. I would let myself know that hard work does pay off but there is no need to stress. I would let myself know that we know exactly how we want our life to be, that even if it seems like we do not have a plan we actually have a clear image of how we want our life. I would let them know that we are on the right track and not to worry about how our first year of college will be because we realize that college is what was missing in our life and it will be fantastic. I will also let them know that being nervous and scared means that we are actually doing something worth our while.

Moving away from home and being on your own for the first time can be scary and very stressful. On top of learning to budget and staying healthy, you also have to attend classes and try to do your best to perform well. It was a big shock for me when I first started college but looking back I would give my high school senior self this advice. Don't be scared to seek help in any form. In reality its a smart move to utilize resources built to make your life easier and save you precious time to enjoy the college social experience. I see taking advantage of campus resouces, such as tutoring and counseling, as making others work for you so you don't have to waste your time figuring things out, where you may be heading in the wrong direction anyway. Think of a math problem that you didn't understand in class and still don't after asking the teacher to explain it. Even worse, the textbook and notes just don't make any sense. Get with a tutor and work it out one-on-one step by step.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would advise myself to be open to different majors and career choices. Take the first few semesters of fulfilling general education course requirements as an opportunity to see what is out there and expose myself to subjects that were not available to myself in high school. Do not feel pressured to pick a major right away; know that it is extremely common to change majors at least once. Also, most people do not even finish college in the traditional four years as most students are lead to believe. I would also advise myself to familiarize myself with the various resources out there on campus to assist me in both my academic and personal life, and UTILIZE THEM! Everyone's tuition is used to pay for these programs so you may as well use them, especially when it can help make your life even just a little bit easier.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would tell him to not be afraid to take a leap of faith. The first few weeks, I was very nervous and awkward and didn't make very many friends. After I got over my anxiety, I made a lot of friends, joined a few clubs, and began to really enjoy my college experience. Since I took that leap of faith and got to know people, I joined the club volleyball team and the leadership team at a Christian club that I attend every week. Another thing that I would tell myself is to be nice to people. Although it seems very simple, a lot of people fail to be nice to each other. When you are nice, people get good impressions of you and it opens the door to many different opportunities. I have really enjoyed my first year in college and I wouldn't change it for anything; but, it never hurts to remind yourself to take risks and to be a nice person.