Colorado School of Mines Top Questions

Life is a series of steps. When young, these steps are the literal steps taken to walk. Then, you're off to school taking steps through grades until you graduate high school. Some steps are bigger than others; the step from middle to high school is more of a leap. College is another one of these leaps. Yes, you will be scared. Yes, you will be insecure. Yes, you will doubt yourself. But know that college should be taken as just another step. Sometimes you will need to take steps as small as possible; just getting through the week can seem like a struggle. But even small steps will lead to great things. You contain everything inside yourself at this moment to do great, amazing things. You will feel lonely at first, but take it a day at a time and don't forget that you are loved and your support network back home will never leave you. Don't be afraid to ask for help; you don't learn anything by pretending to know everything. Know that you can and will accomplish wonderful things in college and accept that everything starts with baby steps.

Some advice that I would give myself as a high school senior would be to spend more time applying for scholarships. College is expensive so the scholarships would be very useful to help lower the cost even a little. If I applied for a few more scholarships, I might have been able to earn more money to pay for school. Another thing I would tell myself is to not worry so much about the academics. School does get harder but it is not as bad as everyone made it seem. I would also tell myself that I should start working on my study habits and on learning how to study. Studying will become important in college.

I would advise you not to worry. Senior year is indeed a year of major choices that will affect your future; however, if you just spend time measuring the pros and cons of each decision, you will make the right decision. In other words, if you are worried you might make ?the wrong decision" and that it might change your life for the worse, you have already avoided making ?the wrong decision.? Also, this is your last year of high school ever. I know you already realize this, but knowing this and acting upon it are very different?make sure you live as if it is so. Don't take this for granted and enjoy high school while you can. Finally, always remember that everything happens for a reason; the best you can do is to accept what life gives you and live with it as best you can. This is not to say that you can?t change things, just that when bad things happen you need to be willing to accept that they happen and that you will have to deal with them. If you do your best and live your best, things will turn out alright.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about college life, I?d first say not to worry so much. The people here are nice and accepting and if your open from the beginning then you?ll make friends easily. Also your future roommates are very easy to get along with and they?ll care about you enough to annoy you. I?d also tell myself, there isn?t much diversity and there aren?t many girls but that is what makes the school unique. The most important thing I?d tell myself is to study as hard and as much as you can to pass classes, this school is not to be taken lightly. The last thing I?d tell myself was to stop crying and apply for scholarships through out the senior year of high school or you?ll regret it later on. It isn?t fun to cry over something that could have been fixed before hand.

I would listen to my parents since the both went to college and would also study more on my college prep classes. I would also relax more and not worry so much about what other people think because there is so much more to the world.

College isn't easy and don't approach it unprepared. Read in the school itself and find out what classes are avaliable to take. College classes need a lot more attention than high school classes ever did, so study hard. I would have to say, be open and ready to take on anything that comes your way. Making friends is a must so don't be afraid to go around and meet new people; every person met could turn into a life long friend. Definitely go to social events and don't think others are below you or on a different level. Finally journey away from your comfort zone and don't be afraid to put yourself in the spot light. Don't be afraid to grow up either, live life as it comes but prepare yourself for the worst.

Make sure to take all college and AP classes having to do with math, science, and physics. I would tell myself also to change schools in high school and begin to think about the future, not the friends I will lose. This is because I took college courses in literature, history, and english. Also, my school didn't have any real engineering based programs. If I took college courses in these topics, my comprehension of math, physics, and science would have made it easier my first semester.

I would tell myself to do more research on careers. I would tell myself to talk to professionals in the field and find out what I was truly passionate about before commiting to a college. I would encourage myself to apply for more scholarships. I would point out the importance of developing strong work habits and not waiting towards the last minute to start working. It would go like this... High school was a cake walk. In college a person has to motivate themselves, no one is going to breathe down your neck to tell you to get work done. College is expensive and its not going to seem like a good investment while your still going. Even if you are talented at something, you wont truly be good at it untill you enjoy it. 90{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of college isnt learning your matterial, but learning how to teach yourself for a lifetime and how to find motivation when you have none. College is learning not to procrastinate, how to use time wisely and make life a constant renewing of the mind.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would probably be more concerned with how I managed it rather than trying to prepair myself for college. Regardless, the largest issue I encountered that I would try to prevent is how shocked I was at how unprepaired I was for this school. The programs I went through in high school were not college level and the knowlege I was held accountable was not neccisarily required by my high school in order to graduate. I would suggest going above and beyond what is neccisary in high school in order to be that much more ahead in college. The transition itself was remarkably simple. During move in, the school keeps you so busy you don't have time to be homesick, then when things calm down, classes are just getting interesting. Before long, its been a semester and you can't emagine life elsewhere.

I would tell myself to be ready to study my butt off, espicially for math. I would tell myself not to be shy, and if the situation arises, don't be afraid to ask for help; and make friends as soon as possible. Give it 110 percent, else you will fail. Having friends within classes to contact is of the utmost impartance. I would also say that having a good time is part of the equation. Finding a good way to blow off steam is a neccesity. Learn to balance out your life; time management is a must. I would say to never give up hope even when times are dire, and the future looks bleak. I would also tell myself that even if you can't afford to keep paying for your tuition, keep going to school. Where there is a will, there is a way.