Cornell University Top Questions

After graduating from high school I came into college with complete confidence that I would continue to perform at the top of my class. What I failed to take into consideration, was that everyone coming to this school performed at the top of their class. When coming to college you are longer competing with a small pool of students from a particular zoning district. You are now competing with some of the brightest students in the world, and depending on your personality, this can become quite stressful. You cannot come to college and compare how successful your experience is, or is going to be by comparing yourself to those around you. Instead I would suggest that you just do your absolute best, and try as hard as possible. To avoid depression and unneeded stress which could take away from your education?

The main message I would give my younger self is to be open-minded and willing to leave my comfort zone. College is better than high school, but it is not without its ups and downs. I would tell myself to seek out people and things that I enjoy and that benefit me as soon as I arrive on campus. I would urge myself to find something to be committed to early on, so that I could build a good reputation for myself and be recognized for my efforts. I would remind myself that my parents are always there to help, and that they give excellent advice. In terms of academics, my most important piece of advice would be to avoid procrastination. It may feel good in the short run, but it only hurts in the long run. This effect is amplified in college, where few adults are there to bail out a lazy student. Finally, I would tell myself to look forward to a great and challenging year ahead.

I would tell myself that the transition isn't all that bad. Come in with an open mind and ready to work hard and everything will be fine. More importantly though I would tell myself not to take things too seriously because while it may be important to do well in school during the college years its also important to have fun and make friends in order to find out who you really are. The people you meet come from all different types of backgrounds so no matter what type of person you are you're bound to find a people you can connect with.

Congrats! You did it; college is right around the corner. However, in order to make a smooth transition to college, you should make a commitment to being hardworking, healthy and open minded. Looking back on my first semester of college, I see that I did not make the healthiest choices in terms of nutrition and sleep habits. In hindsight, I realize that a healthy body is the foundation for a successful college experience. Limit junk food, keep a regular sleep schedule and get as much exercise as possible; although some choices may seem insignificant now, the accumulation of a semester's choices can affect your GPA. Furthermore, I encourage you to push yourself harder than you ever had before. Getting in to college is not enough, you must maintain your GPA if you wish to graduate and pursue a career/further your education. Go the extra mile and study like you have never studied before. Comparatively, college is a time to self discovery and exploring your options. I urge you to be open minded and meet new people as well as try new things. College is over in the blink of an eye; have the time of your life.

High school is full of stereotypes and cliques. At any school, you will find groups of students labeled the jocks, nerds, popular girls, theater kids, goths, and overachievers. We can hear whispers bouncing off the hallway walls; the popular girls gossiping about the goths or the overachievers starting rumors about the nerds. But college is different. There are no categories to fit in or cliques taking separate tables at the dining halls. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to shed the notion of stereotypes and open my mind to the different types of people I will encounter in college. I would encourage myself to join different clubs and see people for who they really are instead of the stereotype or label they might have fallen under in high school. In the same regard, I would tell myself to offer my true self to others and keep an open mind about the person I am meant to become through the exploration period that college represents.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior three years ago, I would refrain from all feelings of jealousy and nostalgia to give the best advice of making the dreaded 'college transition'. First, I would advise to maintain a strong relationship with your favorite high school teachers before and after you graduate. You will never know when they will be an important resource or reference for an internship, job, or scholarship application. Second, check the median grades and speak to previous students before enrolling in courses so you can gauge how much time you'll spend studying for those classes and can avoid taking too many heavy courses in one semester. Third, read the bios of your professors and find something interesting about their research or work. Take note of their office hours and make an effort to visit them early in the semester and get to know who they are. They are people too. Last but not least, know this: alcohol and parties do not run out. Eager as you are to attend your first frat party or play your first beer pong game, there will always be opportunities to do so, so don't rush.

Hello, former self, As you head off to college, don't become proud and think that just because you excelled in high school, that you're going to do well easily in college. College is definitely more independent and you are responsible for what you do. No parents means that you have to learn how to take care of yourself more, but always apply what your parents would say in a situation where you aren't sure what to do. Always stick to what you believe in, look to God for guidance and He will walk with you along the way. Make as many friends as possible in the beginning, because as the semesters pass by, people will be less open to make new friends. Be open to new people, foods, activities and events, because college is a place to explore and find more of you identity. Don't be pressured into doing something you're uncomfortable with, because you are the one who will live with the consequences the next day. Don't worry too much about grades and such, the more important thing is to build relationships and connections. Try your best, God will do the rest.

The biggest shock I got was on my first exam where I found out that the lectures only covered part of what you had to know. Take the reading assignments seriously! You are expected to learn as much or more from the reading as you do from the lecture. That was so different from high school where the reading was just advanced preparation for the classroom. Also, if they offer review sessions, go to all of them. College is fun and of course there is partying, but make sure the partying doesn't take over and affect your success in college. Be prepared to skip a party to study for an exam. Then you can live it up afterwards! It's well worth it in the long run.

If I could go back in time, and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would definitely tell myself to prepare for the close-minded, conservative students who believe in racial separation, and are xenophobic. Upon my arrival on campus, I had already come into contact with elitists and snobs who were not hesitant to tell me their feelings about my presensce on campus. Being a minority student in a predominantly white university can be very daunting, and it doesn't help when others put you down for being who you are., especially for something that you can't change, like your skin color. What made it worse for me was that these views were printed in one of the independent conservative newspapers on campus. In going back in time, I would tell myself to not be scared, or thoroughly defensive. I would tell myself that I could use those opportunities to shed light upon the ignorance of others, and to show them that I deserve Cornell just as much as the next person who worked hard to get here. I would tell myself just that, that I deserve Cornell.

First, to my younger self I would warn, the Freshmen Fifteen is not a myth so watch out for all those cookies in the dining hall! Yes, they are delicious, but it is an important lesson in self-control and nutrition to eat the free apples instead. That way, you can indulge when the time is right, like after successfully writing that twenty page art history paper. Secondly, don?t waste time on anything negative, be it mineral, vegetable, or animal. You choose the things that surround you, so be honest enough with yourself to pick the good, substantial people, places, and things over the fleeting, inconsequential ones. Don't shy away from a challenge or complain in the face of adversity. Live the life your Nike's live and ?Just Do It!? You won?t regret it, and it will end up being something you'll remember and laugh about for a long, long time. Lastly, give more than you get whenever possible. After all, as Mary Oliver said, you only have ?one wild and precious life?. Live it large. (But not literally! Remember to resist the cookies!)