College of Charleston Top Questions

College represents a transitional period in pretty much every student's life. Whether their major is Undecided or Theoretical Physics, each student is fighting a battle, and each student has to reforge both the way they think and the habits they keep. No one is over your shoulder to tell you to attend class or to complete your homework. You are the only one held accountable for your errors. My advice is to make damn sure that your interpersonal relationships don't interfere with your ability to achieve your goals. Friends, lovers, and the like aren't there to hold you back, but the momentary reprieve they offer can quickly send you down the path of being unmotivated and slacking off. You must find a balance between your academics and the time you devote to your friends. If you fail to do so, then you'll wind up dropping out and effectively wasting a few years of your life.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself the following things: find a study plan that works for you, try harder on the classwork that you have, find plenty more scholarships than you applied for, and take more AP classes than you did. Studying is an every day thing in college, as soon as you are out of class you will be doing homework and studying. If you would have tried harder (even though you tried really hard) you could have gotten slightly better grades and had more chances at more scholarships. You will be about $10,000 down in loans if you don't look for more scholarships, that might not sound bad now, but it is more avoidable than you think, so find more scholarships, and apply until your fingers hurt from typing those 250 word essays. Take more AP classes, it helps your GPA when you pass and you have the potential to pass the exams that give you college credit, and I promise you will want that in the end. Most of all listen to me, you will thank me later.

I would definitely tell my high school self to be more open new things. I would say to give the sorority life a try, try to be more involved in clubs from the beginning, and talk to more people. In high school I was pretty unsocial and I stayed that way. I really wish I had opened up sooner so that I would have friends. I would also tell myself that college is a little harder than I expected. High school should be the time to learn how to study and not stick with the old ways of winging it. School is hard enough class wise, but it's also going to be hard to pay off. Look for scholarships sooner! I also wouldn't want myself to get tied down to a guy as quickly as I did because I feel that I would have been more open to new people that way. The last thing I would say is not to room with my high school best friend in the dorms. It is not the smartest idea because the relationship goes away and the opportunity to live with a new and unfamiliar person is taken away.

Looking in the mirror today, I like what I see. My reflection shows a strong, ambitious, and beautiful person. However, it was not always this way. If I were back five years ago, the reflection staring back at me would be desperately searching for help. I would see it in her eyes, a story within each tear. If I could speak to her I would tell her that, even though she doesn’t believe it, she is beautiful and life will get better. I would hug her and let her know that her pain will turn into strength. I would open her eyes and her heart to the passion she will develop. I would remind her how big her heart is, and I would let her in on a secret: her heart is going to take her on a wild journey. I would tell her that, even though I don’t know how the journey ends, I merely know the beginning and it is already worth it. For even though there will still be heartache, she will be much stronger. The insecurity that she holds so firmly will eventually be let go, and that she will learn to love herself.

"Take your school work seriously." When I was in high school, I was bright, but I did put any effort behind what I already knew, so though I could ace and exam, my grades were still a train wreck because I would procrastinate with projects and papers and even skip homework all together. When it was time to apply for colleges I found colleges that fit my supposedly level of intellegence and was shocked when I didn't get in. I realized my problem when one of my teachers said to me, "You want more than you're willing to work for." I will never forget that. And the moment I entered college I was and still am an entirely new person. I made the deans list this past semester and tutor other students in my major. I truely have a passion for the science I study and enjoy learning it. I would tell my former self, to jump threw the hoops. Do the worksheets that seem pointless because you will learn from them in the long run and get the grades you need to go where you want to go. To the best Medical School!

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, then I would tell myself to apply earlier and apply to scholarship earlier becasue I missed out on some good ones. I would also tell myself to learn how to code during high school, so I can make money while working at the college for a back up plan if I need it. I would tell myself to get things done earlier and not annoy my mom about the stuff and be pacient.

A pep-talk to my high school self... Don't be so prideful! As a high-schooler, you thought you had my life all planned out and that you knew everything there was to know. Boy were you wrong! Humility is a quality that will get you far in life. Being able to admit when you're wrong and take the advice of those who are older and wiser than you is an invaluable quality to have. Listen to the advice of the people who love you and who want you to succeed. However, don't be afraid to follow your own heart and become your own person. Just make sure you use your head as well. Finding the balance between heart and head is crucial to your success. We were given both for a reason and you must learn to use both wisely and maturely. Both will offer you help and guidance throughout your life. You need to learn to balance the advice you get from others, what you feel in your heart, and what you know in your head. And make sure everything you do is coupled with a good dose of humility!

If I could go back and talk to my high school senior self I would tell myself to make sure that I was making choices based on what was best for me. Being in graduate school now, I would tell myself that it is important to have fun in college but it is also important to work hard. People always say, work hard play hard, but I would tell myself play hard, work harder. I had a great time in college and I would assure my senior self that she will have a great time but I would instill in her the importance of thinking ahead and honestly doing the best you can. If you have an "easy class" make sure you get that A, and if you have a hard class, work even harder to get that A. It really does pay off in the long run. I would also tell my senior self to not worry so much her first year of college about what her major was going to be. It will click and all fall into place. She will end up where she needs to be.

Take advantage of every oppertunity for scholarships and AP credits. Get involved in as many clubs as you can and have fun. Hang out with your friends and make new ones so that even if you go to a college that none of them go to, you will have lots of practice making new friends. Try not to worry too much about the future and continue to do what makes you happy throughout college and take in as many new experiences as you can. Have fun and study and be yoruself because that is what really matters, you can be the smartest, most successful person, but if you aren't being yourself it isn't worth it. Be happy because you made it to your senior year and be excited because you're going to college and take it all one day at a time.

I would give the following advice to myself: 1. GO ON A STUDY ABROAD 2. Don't get in a committed relationship so quickly. 3. You only live once, live it up responsibly. 4. Take a roundtrip with your friends. 5. Get more involved with clubs you care about! 6. Don't worry about the little things, or drama, it will all work out in the end. 7. Make a difference in your community! 8. Pick a major that will get you a job, and take electives that you find interesting. Majors like Art History, will not get you a great paying job! 9. When choosing classes, chose it baed on the professor not the time it is held. Great professors don't always choose the best times. 10. Make sure you do an internship with a great company-They may give you a job after college. 11. Don't eat late at night- you will gain weight! 11. Take advantage of the fitness facillities on camus. 12. Pay interest rate on loans, and get a job before you take out a loan! 13. Hunt for scholarships- don't be lazy!! Free money is always best!

If I could go back to when I was a high school senior, I would tell myself not to stress. I would tell myself this because I stress over the littlest things. It does not even have to be about me and I will stress about it. I would also tell myself not to procrastinate because in college, it is much worse when you have more guidelines to follow on a paper and have to have five sources cited. Also, I would say, to be involved in activities on campus and have that interaction with the other students because as of right now, I am only involved in one activity besides attending my classes and sometimes it gets very boring therefore I would tell myself to become involved in some activities. Overall, I would say the most important thing would be not to lose who I am in attending a large school because I did fall of my sophomore year. I lost who I was because I was stressed out all the time and did not have a clue as to what was going on around me. Keep true to yourself, do not procrastinate, get active, and do not stress!

First and foremost I would tell my younger self not to ever doubt myself and know that only I can dictate what I can and can not accomplish. College is all about finding yourself and exploring so don't be scared to go out on a whim, the worst that can happen is you might fail but you can always try again. I would also tell myself to be comfortable with who you are, don't try to be someone else. Although its hard to see in the moment, thing usually work out for the best.

I would say to focus harder in high school with you studies, take harder classes so you do not have to take them in college. Make sure to fill out as many scholarships as possible. Be active in your community, help out with charities and be active in your school. Join a lot of clubs and try to be open with many peoples views. Life should not be lived alone have friends and family there to support you through the good times and the bad times. If you want something bad enough you will work hard at it to get it. ALways save money because you never know when you might need it or when you will have an emergency.

Don't ever give up! This is the last step to make it to the start of your future. Tests may seem and feel long, months you could honestly say are years. Though, in the blink of an eye, you will look back, and you do not want to see a list of regrets. If your highschool life was great, make college even better, work even harder. Remember to breathe. Or, if you look back, and see "if only's" this is your clean slate, a fresh start! Take it for everything it's worth. Your past need not define you, let it shape you into the person you want to be. It seems like just a day ago you work in pre-K, hold on to the good, improve on the bad, and remember to treat each day like your future depends on it. Create strong habits that will be hard to break, and know that you can handle anything life throws at you, be strong. You know you can do it.

Jarrett, you need to take some time and think. You have 1 year left until you are the decision maker. You need to get a part-time job and save up to get a new car and laptop. You need to make sure your taxes are in so you can fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form. You can't keep putting off your education that is the reason you have a 2.7 grade point average in high school. You have to buckle down so you can make something of yourself. No one wants to hire an uneducated person that has just coasted through life on the expectation of doing the bare minimum. It’s time to simply grow up.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there would be several words of advice I would give to my younger self. I would tell myself that it's okay to ask questions, no one is going to criticize or ostracize you for asking questions. More importantly, I would tell myself to have the courage to follow my dreams. If you are passionate about something, though the road to success may be a difficult one, your passion will advance you in the direction of your dreams with much haste. Ultimately, your dreams will come to fruition and your passion will become your life.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would definitely give her some advice as to how to make the best out of the transition into college. First of all, I would tell her to get general education courses out of the way first! I would tell her, "Don't be so set on what you 'think' might be your major--you will find that things will change, and you'll wish you had not wasted class hours." I would also tell her to not feel pressured into finding a boyfriend her first year in college--that even though that you feel like that is what is expected of you, it is NOT important to your well-being and happiness as you are transitioning into adult life. I would tell her to be open to change. Going into college, I didn't realize the amazing truth that people were telling when they said that you change so much in the four years you are at college. I would tell myself not to be caught up in thinking I wouldn't change, and to just embrace it, knowing that it would be for good.

Even though academically I was fully prepared for the rigors of college academics, there are many other aspects that can go overlooked. I would advise myself that in order to stay within the confines of a specified allowance I should carefully and thoughtfully keep a journal of any and all purchases. It is easy to forget about all of the small and what appears to be insignificant purchases made throughout a given month. It is only after the month is over when you receive your statement that you realize you have spent much more than you could have ever dreamed. If you keep a journal, you can see what needs to be removed from your monthly experience and focus on the necessities so you can control your errant spending. I would sit myself down and explain the importance of planning out meals over a seven day period. Visiting the grocery store only once a week with a specific menu in mind will enable you to purchase what is actually needed. You may not realize this now but going to the grocery store several times a week while hungry will only encourage overamitious purchasing. Lastly, I would say stay calm!

I would have told myself to take psychology and to enjoy high school more thoroughly and to take chances more often; I would say this because I make friends by talking to them rather than by hoping someone will talk to me.

Life is about making mistakes and learning from them. No one expects you to be perfect in fact, your hardest teacher will be you. You will meet a lot of new people and you should not try to impress them by putting on airs, be yourself and you will meet others who will appreciate who you are. When taking on a class, follow the teacher's advice, there is a reason why he is the teacher. And in the end, have fun with everything you do, it makes a difference in the quality of your work. The work that you enjoy doing is going to be better than the one you forced yourself you do or the one you hate doing.