Ferris State University Top Questions

If I could go talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to listen to my mom and study hard in college because it will pay off! I would also tell myself to not fear change because quite often change is good, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time. I would tell myself that getting good grades in college is way more satisfying than partying every weekend. Granted, parties are fun in college, but it doesn't even compare to the joy you felt when you got the letter saying you made the Dean's list. I would tell myself that when your parents tell you they are proud of you, they mean it. Dont' take those words for granted. Take them to heart and embrace them because those simple words will make you feel as if you can take on the world.

Don't give up on anything. Try to get experience for wahtever you want to try and do. Never let an opportunity pass you by. Take every chance you have. Save for tomarrow becdause you never know what it will bring. Always have a back up plan in case of the unexpected. Learn to understand people. DOnt let first impressions be everything. Hold youself to a higher standard and dont lose sight of who you want to be. You are the person you wanto to be so choose wisely what you do, where you do it, and who you do it with. Above all else have faith and hold on its a wild ride and you never know what the future hold even when you do.

Dear Callie, Life can get messy. It can be rough. Life can also be amazing and beautiful! Don't wait a year to start college. Go now. Shoot for the moon and the stars. You won't be disappointed. Most of all, follow your heart, not always your head. It may get you into trouble sometimes, but it will be well worth it. You don't have to worry about "fitting in" or achieving a certain level. Just be true to yourself. Love yourself. Love others. Be kind. Help anyone that needs help. Don't be afraid to ask for help yourself. You will have an amazing future with people you love and who love you in return. Don't sweat the small stuff. It will all be okay. -Callie

If I could go back to my senior year in High School I would tell myself that studying was important and that so were tests. Most of my college classes are based on test scores, and in high school I didn't develop the study skills that I need to succedd in college. Now I basically have to start over again and train myself with studying techniques. I would have also told myself that grade in high school really do make or break you. I now know that you need to get good grades to sucedd in live, I took high school for granted and I'm paying for that in college. Although I do get good grades I have to work harder to get them than most of the people that I live with. These are some of the things I would tell myself I coul go back to my senior year in High School.

One piece of advice would be to save up money for college instead of miscellaneous things like clothes, shoes, and going out on the weekends. That way I could be prepared to pay for any expenses not covered by financial aid or the scholarships I had received. A second piece of advice would be to get into the habit of studying more. Managing and setting aside time to really go in depth in studying for my classes in high school would have gotten me into that kind of routine for classes in college. This advice would have increased my intake of knowledge at a comfortable pace and decreased my procrastination. My third piece of advice involves uplifting myself into a more positive attitude and character so that I could be motivated and confident in meeting new people. My last piece of advice would be to get into the habit of communicating with my teachers on my grades and ways I could improve my performance. This would ensure that I am going to get help when needed and is continuing to grow as a young adult. All of this advice would have been very beneficial before attending college.

Dear High-School-Senior Heather, the best piece of advice I can provide for you is to simply do what makes you happy. Applying for college now may seem difficult and confusing, especially since you are unsure about everything at this point. Career paths, relationships, new responsiblities -- it can all seem very overwhelming. It's a lot of hard work, but it's the challenge that helps you grow into a stronger person. Take a deep breath, and choose the path that you have the most faith in. Do what you love, and the stability will follow. Open up to every new opportunity, and embrace it with kindness, respect, and your best effort. You don't realize it yet, but it's these opportunities that will connect you with wonderful people -- new friends, mentors, and teachers. Determine the most important people in your life, and hold them close if only for short time. Visualize a plan, and stick to it. You can take knowledge away from every experience, good or bad. Academics are important, but college is only four years of your life. It's what you'll learn outside the classroom that will set you up for personal success.

Knowing what I know now as a third year college student, I would definitely tell everyone to make sure you choose the best decision for yourself. Do what makes you happy and not what everyone else thinks. It was a big culture shock when I first arrived at Ferris State, I was not expecting a shock like that. I encourage everyone to get involved on campus because it is a great way to network and establish relationships. There are more than enough Registered Student Organizations on campus that you will find interesting to you; you have a variety to choose what you please. Also, don't be afraid to ask for help your professors are your best friends they help you understand when you don't grasp the concept of things. Every chance you get take the oppurtunity for free tutoring some students fear that others will judge them but in reality everyone needs a little help and that is what the tutors are for. Being a person who struggles with test anxiety I use my resources and talk to counselors to get the help that I need so that I may better my education.

I would say “put yourself out there more!” Make sure every day you never lay your head down with regrets. I remember how nervous and shy I was all throughout high school. I had a hard time starting a conversation with a stranger or even saying hi to someone I didn’t know. Since I have come to Ferris State, I have broken out of that shy shell. I wish I could go back and tell myself to make these self-improvements earlier in life. I wish that I could have not been so scared and learned more about the different views of the world instead of going into college so naive. It wasn’t until I moved away from home that I realized how much diversity has changed among the different generations. I see no difference in color or race of an individual but my parents and any generation before do. I wish I could tell my younger self to never listen to any of the negative comments about race, I would remind myself that God made each one of us special, and we are never to be looked at as less.

Don't be afraid, its not that scary. Dont think its going to be like high school at all, its a lot more challenging and takes a lot more work. You dont get good grades by barely studying like in high school. Sometimes youll wanna give up, but know its the best option for your life. It will be exspensive. Handle your books like a baby because theyre worth about as much as a cheap car altogether by time you graduate. Take time from studying and just go have fun with friends. The dorms are like living in a closet, choose what you bring wisely. Get involved.

Assuming that I could go back to my senior year of high school I would probably change a lot of things. I would give myself the advice to fill out more scholarships. I would also have told myself to dual enroll with our local community college because the classes were transferrable and they were fully paid for by my high school. I could have been ahead of the game coming into college. I would still tell myself to go to the same university because I like Ferris State University a lot. I would have told myself not to work away my senior year either because I had two jobs and did not really focus on the senior activies such as; sporting events. The transition to college was not too bad. I did a lot of research and wouldn't change anything about that. I would tell myself to spend a little more time with my family because now that I live at college full time I barely get to see them. That is the advice I would give myself if I could go back in time.