California State University-Sacramento Top Questions

Do not go to college right after high school. 4 months before your freshman year of college, you had to raise your hand to go to the bathroom and now you're going to make decisions to impact your life? I worked in the Philippines for two years after college and many of our foreign colleagues were German students. They take a gap year between high school and college and are assigned somewhere internationally to develop their sense of direction and maturity. When I initially met many of them, I would not have pegged them for being 19-20 years old based on how they carry themselves. Spend 6 months to a year working, travel a little bit, and spend some time deciding what will make you happy. College may not even be a good fit for you and that's totally okay. This isn't a race, take your time and enroll into school whenever you feel ready.

Find the best envrionment to learn and grow in, specifially, living space wise. Take all the financial opportunity that you can get, and, find some good friends. The fall backs of this school are not that great as to that you cannot ignore them, so focus on the great aspects of what college in general has to offer. You will hear a lot of opinions, and you can determine what you agree with by listening to it all. Don't close your mind to anything.

College provides numerous benefits for you. Take a deep breath before you enter your first college classroom. The instructor will do his/her best to try and weed out the uncommitted bunch of students by scarring them with what is expected in the upcoming semester. Believe in yourself and do not be afraid to remind yourself that everything will all work out to your benefit. I know that stress is hard to control when you first write a college style paper. Even with the sharp criticism, remember that the words your classmates and instructor will put on your paper are there to make you better. Remember to give yourself time throughout the semester to enjoy yourself. Go on dates, get a part time job, keep busy in all the busyness. This will only work to help you focus and keep a strict but sensible schedule. You are going for a good education, not an adequate one. Work efficiently and find a rhythm early on, so that the homework and studying will not collapse upon you. Your parents and family love you and are there for you when you need encouragement and help. Don’t give up, keep moving forward.

With the knowledge I obtained my first year of college, I would advise my highschool self three main takeaways. First, take high school seriously and actually read the books the teacher assigns. Not taking high school seriously led to a lack of preparation for college. My writing lacked clarity and I had poor study habits. I thought I could breeze through college like I did in high school, however, this was not the case. Unfortunately, I was put on academic probation my first semester of college. After being on academic probation I learned my second takeaway, time management. For example, creating a balanced schedule that emphasizes school as my number one priority. In addition, to complete each assignment on time and to the best of my ability. My third takeway is to practice and employ communication skills with diverse populations. Communication is vital in every field and career path, hence I am committed to mastering the art of communication to better prepare myself and guarentee success in my future endeavors and career.

College is the perfect time to learn about new things. So, follow your heart. Take dance classes. Take theatre classes. Learn a new language. Join clubs and go to sporting events. Now is the time to soak up life experiences before you turn down the road of a career, a family, and so on. Do what you love now. Work hard, and be proud of what you do. Yes, there will always be more you could have done, all your papers and your grades are very important, but you are only one person and this is your life. There is a balance to find in life between work and play. Make sure you acknowledge the importance of education, as well as the importance of your well being. And be nice to yourself: you are a smart, diligent, dedicated student who goes above and beyond what is asked of her. Try not to push your own expectations beyond what is feasible. You are good enough. Your friends and family are here to support you in whatever you choose to do, so let them and follow your dreams. This is the beginning of your life taking flight!

I would tell myself that when looking to transfer to a four year college from a junior college it it important to look into things such as class requirments and whether you will be taking more classes to meet your general education requirement. i would also tell myself to look into what major are impacted at this school and determine if it this school is worth being there a little longer than I expected. Most of all i would tell myself to really research each school based on a number of different factors not just the location and whether other people want to go there. Remember that this is very much a personal decision that needs to be made on your own for yourself.

To my high school senior self, it's okay to be afraid of the new experiences you're about to enconter, but don't let it stop you from putting yourself out there and trying new things. You're more ready for this process than you give yourself credit for and you'll be fine. The transition is a little rough in the beginning, but it isn't impossible and it gets easier. Take into consideration the advice you recieve from those who are sending you their best wishes, and always carry their wise words with you. You are about to embark on something that is a rare opportunity for others around you, so don't take these years, or your education, for granted. When things get tough, and they will get tough, always remind yourself of why you're getting your degree, and think of the people who have helped you get to this point of your life and let that be your motivation. You've conquered four years of highschool and now you're on to bigger and better things, keep chasing your dreams no matter how crazy it seems, it'll be worth it in the end.

I would tell myself to listen to what I want to do in life. My college days will take me longer because I did not listen to myself. When I transfered to Sac State I switched my major from biology to education. This switch put me alittle behind but it is what I truely want to do in my life. If only I would have continued with my education plan I would be almost done instead of having two more years minimum to go. I also would tell myself to not give up. Yes college can be hard but in the end, when I get to finally hold that diploma, it will be worth it all. I also wish that I was able to get even one scholarship for school so I did not have to work so many hours to pay for it. But no matter what, in the end it is all worth it because I will get to educate the future of this country. So I would tell myself to live for the future and no matter what keep going because it's worth it in the end.

I am so proud of you for taking care of your education and wanting to better yourself for a better future you have done a great job. Get involved with school and I can't express how important it is to keep applying for scholarships and get your A game on. Worry about your junior year grades those are what make all the difference. Never forget that High school is just the end of the beginning of an even bigger goal. Don't stress about people just keep your mind on the goal and all will go well.

As a highschool senior I would have told myself to slow down and enjoy life a little bit more. The first year of transitioning into college is hard but is a lot easier if you are not stressed out about it. It is important to establish good friends that you can keep through the whole time of getting your degree. If you are stressed out about being number 1 in everything then you will miss out on some great experiences and friends. Always pay attention in class and keep track of your assigments and stay on top of your work load but do not be so stressed that you don't enjoy your initial college experience.

College is a lot different than high school even though it may not seem so at first. You can't just wait to cram for a test the night before; if you do you won't learn end up learning anything and you won’t end up doing well in the course. In high school you could just skate by that way, now you will need to actually pick up and study the book A LOT! College is the real deal you need to do your best because if you fail a course that is your money that you wasted. Even though you have to focus a lot on your studies don’t let that take over your entire college experience. Give yourself time to relax and meet plenty of new people. Here you will form friendships that will last a lifetime. Do not shrug off cooking it will save you a lot of money and keep you healthier. Too many college students begin to rely on eating out and it is detrimental to their health and their wallets. Lastly cherish these years they will be the best of your life if you do not make the common mistakes.

I would advise myself to take the AP classes my senior year of high school that my professors offered me rather than taking the easy way out because it was my senior year. The credits I would have earned toward college would have made my life much easier, and the knowledge I would have gained from the more difficult classes would have helped me in my other classes. Also, I would have told myself to figure out a major earlier in my college career rather than taking random classes that ended up not mattering towards my degree. I was told not to worry about a major, and that it would come to me. As it happens, I changed my major multiple times before ending up with a double major in Philosophy and Biology. I am now in law school and I don't use either major. I should have just picked something and finished school quicker so I could save money and move on with my life.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself in high school, I think I would have to have a serious talk with myself about my education. I already knew what I wanted to be, but I didn’t do enough research about it before I started applying to colleges, and I feel this was a huge setback. I would tell myself to look for the school with the highest graduation rates in my major, and with a higher number of students going on to Med School. I would also warn the past version of myself that this is not going to be easy, and that for my first semester I should take some easier classes since I’m not ready for this change in teaching methods. I didn’t find out until it was too late, that the requirements, expectations, and testing are extremely different from what I was used to in High School. But what is most important, I would remind myself that this is just one step to obtaining my goal, and I should treat it as such, and rather than wasting time, I should learn about what it takes to get into Med School.

I would tell myself to get more teacher recommendations, and to save money so that I could apply for more colleges. Because money was tight, I could only apply to about 3-4 colleges, when I really wanted to apply for 8-10. Also, I would tell myself to make sure that I do good on the ELM and EPT. That way I could've passed both and never had to take remedial math or English.

The good news; you were right about going directly into a community college because of no financial support from your parents. The bad news; you've been going to the same community college for the last 10 years. You need to complete the courses at a faster rate instead of being stuck as a "lifer"/2-3 courses every quarter. Use the online courses; they will save you gas, time, and frustration with slow students/droll professors. Oh, and don't buy that brand new motorbike, even if it does get you to school on time; it gets stolen one year later and you become financially ruined and it takes you the next 7 years to dig your way out of the chain reaction of financial debt that it causes.

College will be some of the best years of your life. I know you want to graduate as early as possible because you think that will help you be more successful in the long run. Knowing what I know now, I would advise you not to rush. Instead, college is the perfect time to explore your options. Take your electives as a chance to discover what you want in a career. Meet as many people as you can. Some of these people will become life-long friends and others will provide a professional network for you in the future. Take advantage of internships and opportunities that are offered to you as a college student. Explore and find possibilities for yourself as well. People are willing to help. Also, find a good job before the economy crashes. It will be hard to find them after. Overall, just remember to stay focused, work hard and enjoy the good times.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school .I would have told myself to consider the distance from my house to the college. I would have also told myself to do my own research and not listen or follow my friend to the college they wanted to go to. I would have prepared for twice the work would have plan on the place I was going to be standing. I would have fill my fafsa early so I could get work study. I would have join organization in high school so I would have been experience to join the college organization. I would have train myself in time management. I would have train myself in money management. I would have used all my resource to better myself for the college life. I would have told myself to sign up for as many scholarships so did not have to pay for the dorm room. I would have save my money up to have reliable transportation to college and back home. I would have tried harder to find a job when I was in high school. Also put myself on a schedule.

Hello high school me, make sure to take more AP classes and do better than ''okay'' on the AP exams so you could save money on classes you will eventually have to take, appreciate that it's all at no cost to you. Become more active and join some or at least one school club, colleges love when you're involved in school activities because it shows how well-rounded as an individual you are. Try to do some good and get some community service hours in there as well, it will also make you stand out on an application. Also, if you feel like your SAT,ACT, PERT, etc. scores were not all that good, then take it again! I know it's not fun taking them, but it's all worth it when you get into your dream school. And try to develop great organization skills now, because they will definitely benefit you as soon as you get to college and become bombarded with due dates and deadlines. And lastly, try to have fun, yet remain responsible of your school work. The true fun begins after you're awarded with your high school diploma!

The first piece of advice I would give to my high school self would be to look for a school that fits your hobbies, and that is similar to the type of area that you currently live in. I went from a small town in northern California to a college in a major city right on the ocean in southern California. The drastic community and life style change was too much for me to handle and I ended up transfering schools. I would also say that it is important to look at the majors and activities that each school you are considering offers, not just how prestigious of a college it is. If you can connect to your school you will enjoy your college experience as a whole a lot more than if you are just there to 'get in and get out'. Make friends, create memories, have some fun, and earn your degree in the process.

I would tell my high school self to consider three things before graduation: focus on an academic path, attend a community college for GE, and save every penny possible. Focusing on an academic path reduces the extra units you end up with after changing majors once, twice or three times, which I did. You cannot major in everything, so figure out what you excel in and what you are interested in. Be sure those interests will result in a productive and stable career once you graduate college. I love playing music, but the likelihood of being a rock star are slim to none. Second, attending a community college is great for saving money on units that will transfer to my school of choice later on. GE is GE whether taken at a community college or four year institution. Lastly, save as much money as possible while in college. Don't buy that new video game, gadget for the dorm room, or expensive steak dinner. Create a budget, and stick to it. Personal debt on top of school debt is a bad combination at graduation. Hopefully my high school self would be smart enough to consider these areas of thought.