College of DuPage Top Questions

Back in high school as a senior, I didn't really have much motivation. With all the things that came with being a senior I remember feeling overloaded and I didn't want to work hard for anything except cheerleading. On top of school and cheerleading, I had a part-time job working at an icecream parlor, a job that I had since the eighth grade. I felt the pressure from everywhere to get into college and still do well in school. In the end I chose to take a year off of school after graduation to save up money, at least that was my excuse. My advise to my senior self would probably be to not take advantage of high school and work harder. If I had put more effort into scholarships and my grades I would've been able to afford college. I completely regret not going to college for the last year so thats why i'm so determined to get there this year.

Take as many AP test as you qualify for so that when you do start college you have a head start of everyone in your graduating class. I personally graduated early and I feel that was one of the best decisions I made in high school.

Going into college may mean less time spent in school, however it means a lot more outside work. In college, professorrs expect you to do many assignments without guidance. They also expect you to do most of the learning on your own. In college you will ultimately be in charge of your own learning. If you miss a school day or forget to do an assignment, then it is your job to make up the missed work and you may not get credit for missed work depending on the teacher. You will be fine as long as you follow the syllabi that the teachers give you and as long as you keep up on all assigned work.

I would tell myself that college is a completely different academic environment. You have to take responsibility for yourself and actually go out and seek help if you need it. No one is going to hold your hand through college. Also you have to make sure you completely understand the financial aspect and that you can afford the college of your choice. College is very competitive and you have to be willing to put in extra time and effort into studying for the grade you want. It's all about give and take. How much you put in will equal how much you get out of it. Lastly I would say that there has to be a balance between your social life and your academics. The main purpose is to get a degree so that test tomorrow takes priority over that party or whatever tonight.

If I could go back in time and talk to my high school self, I would probably tell myself that it is ok to not have a fully formed plan. Life, no matter how much you try to change it, will move in its own way of its own accord because of so many factors that are out of your control, and that is ok. Accept that change and uncertainty are all part of, not just college, but life; isn't that what college is about, after all? One day you may think you are going to a university, and then the next you are backpacking across Europe alone and loving yourself all the more because of it. Stay positive, and even the wildest rides can be the most enjoyable!

Be outgoing! I grew up going to the same high school as almost all the kids I went to elementary school with. We all knew each other since age 5. Going to College is a whole new world; there are thousands of students who don't know each other. I was quiet all through high school; going to college was like a fresh start, a chance to not be an introvert. Sit beside someone you don’t know and stick out your hand and introduce yourself. Chances are, that person does not have someone to sit beside in that class and could use a study buddy in 4 months for exams, the same as you! It’s daunting to be the one outgoing, and to make those first introductions. But it is so worth it in the long run! Friends are your help in classes, they can assist you with studying and you can share notes and information. It will truly make you a more successful student!

First go to comunity college, then go to a 4 year college. Dont let anyone tell you that you should get an associate because it's a waste of time and money. Just go for a bachelors then a masters, if you want to be the best that you can be. Also don't be too concerned about making friends, just stay focused on getting the career you want, it will all pay off in the end.

The very first thing I would tell myself is that comparing high school and college is night and day. Another advice I would give is to tell myself to cherish each day of my senior year. It is a bittersweet experience and the activities that come along with being a senior in high school are unforgettable. Being more open minded will definitely make the transition much smoother. If I came into college with a judgemental attitude, I would certainly feel like an outsider. Academically speaking, I would emphasize on reading the required material in a timely matter. Another thing I would mention is the pace of the classes. If one doesn't keep up with the reading and lectures, that will spell trouble. Furthermore, I would say that making decisions is crutial for success in college. When deciding whether or not to skip class or even a test, one should consider the outcome of what will happen. This could mean getting a zero and not being able to re-take the test. To sum things up, I would tell myself to go out and be involved. Making new friends and trying new things will make challenge yourself and become different.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to stay in the books and worry about my GPA and find my focus make a plan and stick to it, because if I had of made a plan I dont think I would still be trying to get into school but insted I would be in a university somewhere enjoying the college experiance insted of trying to get into a 2 year community college and then thinking about going to a university later on in life. I would tell my self to try as hard as i kan so we dont go down the same road of being homeless a few times and now relying on my mother to help me.

High school is one of the most important times of your life, it truely prepares you for college. Don't take it as a joke and dont take it lightly. NEVER stop strving for the A's. Friends can wait, school should come first. Never get discouraged, the hard work will pay off in the long run. Some of the best scholarships that will really help you get through college require the high GPA's. You will want to kick yourself in the butt if you miss out on such opportunities. The only one or only thing that holds you back from this all is you and yourself only. You may wish to blame it on events and people, but you're just deflecting the truth. Take this seriously, and you will be happier than ever imagined.

i would tell myself to really make sure that i stay on top of my work and get help from teachers if you need to. And also to register for classes as early as possible. it wil save you money and a lot of stress.

Lisa, Please pick something and stick with it. Trust your instincts, but school comes first no matter what. There are second chances, always, but don't rely on them. Do it right the first time. You know who you are, submerse yourself in school, and let it envelop you. You can do it. Mix your two loves, art, and the computer, into one thing. You can do it. -Future Lisa

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would probably tell myself to not worry so much! Making the transition to college life was not as nearly hard as I thought it was going to be. Making new friends and having new experiences are all a part of life, and I would also tell myself to explore and just have fun with all the classes I could possibly take. College life is fun yet hard work. I'd also tell myself to get ready to study study study like crazy! College is actually hard work, and it's a place where you realize who you are, what matters to you, and how to achieve goals. I guess if I could go back in time and tell myself this, it might have made me worry just a bit less. But I don't regret anything, and I'm proud to be going to college and making my dreams come true. I'm in charge of my future, and it feels wonderful.

If I were to go back in time to my senior year of high school, I would slap myself across the face to wake myself up for a much needed reality check. During my 4 years of high school I was a complete slacker. From the many disappointments and failures in my life, I chose to do nothing with my life so I wouldn?t be disappointed rather than set up goals to try and succeed and possibly fail. It wasn?t until I started college where I actually began to care about my future and began the road to a successful career. So if I were to go back in time I would tell myself it is better to try something and risk failure, rather than not try at all and forever wonder the potential I could have possessed.

Dear Me, Please do not even think about packing half the shoes you have in the purple bin in your closet. And when mom says pack extra underwear, DO IT. At the very least, please do not leave our closet a hot mess. When you get to ISU, please try to make friends and make sure you go to the freshman orientation on time. (YOU GET A FREE SHIRT!) And yes, senior year will end like High School Musical did. Knowing you, it's hard enough to give advice without you criticizing every single word. So I'm just going to trust that you will listen, do not go to ISU, it's not for you. Don't listen to what mom wants you to do, listen to what your heart says. Right now, you're sitting at home trying to figure out where your life is headed and I want you to know that it's going to be okay. Mitchell still loves you and you still have your friends and family. Yes, you will still be indecisive, yes, you have more questions, but you will have answers, some, not all. Sincerely, Me. PS: Don't forget your deodorant.

Take your time on researching colleges you want to attend and what thay have to offer. Begin filling out FAFSA early so you can plan out your financial situatation and what it will cost you to attend college. Make sure you also research your major if your already decided on one and if you havent and are still undecided. Start at a community college where you can take your general education classes till you decide on a mjor. Also make sure to apply to as many scholarships and grants possible, there is free tuition money everywhere. One more thing remember to apply to more than school, always have a backup plan just to be on the save side.

There are many things I would say to the high school senior version of myself. Among them would be to listen to your parents more and sit back and enjoy things a little bit better. Even more than that I would tell myself not to worry too much about college life. College is important, but there are so many great people from the advisors, to the professors, to those who work in registration who are willing to help you get the most out of your college experience. Don't worry too much about knowing your major the moment you walk into those doors because in my case, a year into studying, you may realize that major won't be what will make you happy. Take a variety of classes so you can get a better understanding of what you may want and always feel free to ask questions of everyone. You don't need to have the answers to all of your life's questions the minute you walk into college, but you will learn many of them during your time at school. Take college seriously, but make sure you enjoy it as well.

I would say give junior college a shot, consider it as a viable alternative to a four-year school and a great transition into college life from high school. The junior college will challenge you to work just as hard, but you will also have the support of family and friends if you stay at home. Attendance is just as important as it is in a four-year university; if you are between grades, your attendance is critical. What you do in high school determines your placement in college- so do your best to advance to the highest level possible.

Too often we let our duties slip past our present focus. Girlfriends, sports, and hobbies will always reward us with satisfaction, whether it is deep love, or succesful outcome of a challenge. Yet time moves on duling our sharp sense of achievement, along with our memories, into slight grooves on our timelines. Some grooves however, are so strong, carved in the bone of our heads, writen on our foreheads, its the feeling of knowledge, the lack of confusion. It is the ultimite sharpening stone when a subject well known is brought before one self, leaving one feel like a sharp, solid knife. In school it is more important that anything to start with an over-achieving attitude, and maybe let it drop just a tiny bit, to put you right on the edge of excellence.

A year ago you dropped out of high school, walked away from formal education and your own academic potential, and for thirty more years you will not return. And then one far-away day, when you are forty-eight years old, you will experience surprising second-growth. You?ll seek and earn your GED and then walk the halls of your community college, willingly digging into anatomy, English, and anthropology text books, eagerly delving for new knowledge. You will feel secure, supported by advocates, overarching and protective, who believe in you. Safe in their midst you will evolve, at home in your new found forest of learning. You will be a straight-A student confidently facing your studies, reaching upward from within, basking in new experiences and surprising self-development. But for now I'm a forgotten acorn in your pocket, a small, waiting seed of your own courage and potential; I am your future self, dormant but alive and waiting. One far-off day you will reach and find me, realizing I have been here with you all along, just waiting to grow. On that day I will take root and become you, believing in you, in full bloom.