Florida State University Top Questions

I would tell myself not to drop out. If i stuck with high school I could have gotten the education I needed and went right to high school. I wouldnt have made the descision to go for automotive service technology and would have went straight to college at FSU. But in the end all of your life experiences lead you to the person you are today. You can not and should not trade the life experience for anything even if you know what is coming. I went from dropping out of high school my senior year, to going to a tech school, then to go to a community college and getting my AA degree and transfering to the school almost my whole family went to. Having put myself down the entire time because of ADHD and my other learning disabilities.

I would tell myself to be prepared for this new life. Be prepared to adapt to a new environment. Be prepared to work harder and do better. Be prepared to make yourself stand out of the crowd. Be prepared to make mistakes and learn from them. Moving away from home is not the easiest transition, especially when home is now eight hours away. I would say that being nervous is okay. It's the worries that will drive you to do better. I would say don't be shy to explore new things. Join as many extracurricular activities and clubs as possible. I would say don't worry if your not sure what your major is. College helps you figure out who you are and who you want to be in the future. I would say be active in school and out of school. Take leadership roles and volunteer in nearby parks. Always try to keep yourself busy with new things. You never know what you'll like until you try it. There are so many different opportunities to take advantage of in college. Be the best academically and explore all these different doors that are open to you now!

As a high school senior I was terrified of the application process when it came to college. I was nervous that I wouldn't get in to the colleges I wanted even though my grades were excellent. This fear prevented me from applying early and to more colleges. The application process can be very stressful, but it doesn't have to be. Now that I am in college and gone through the entire process, I would advise my younger high school self to be more confident when applying to colleges. Teachers and guidance councilors always say "applications are a time to brag about one's self" and in truth they are. I wish that I had been willing to set aside my disgust about praising my own accomplishments and allowed myself to write proudly of my high school accomplishments so that colleges would understand what sort of student I am.

Don't goof around, figure out what you want to do for the future, and go for it don't second guess yourself. Also keep yourself busy and don't sit in your dorm doing nothing freshman year! Also freshman year is going to be hard but you can make it through just don't ever live in Dorman Hall again.

If I could go back and talk to the high school senior version of myself I would tell myself to apply for more scholarships. I was naivee and thought that the Bright Futures Scholarship program we have in Florida would pay for everything. Little did I know is it only pays for tuition, and is doesnt even cover the full tuition. I didn't even think about the cost of books, the dorm, the meal plan, all the technology fees, and other expenses that come with college life. I applied for about five or so scholarships, and after winning none of them, I got discouraged and gave up. How much could $500 or $1000 dollars help anyways, right? I was very very wrong. Now that I see the actual expenses of college, as much as it hurts my pride to say, I am deperate for any dollar I can get. I would definitely advise my high school senior self to apply for any scholarship I came across, no matter how little, odd, or extensive it may be.

Firstly, I would congratulate myself on starting off at a two year community college; it was a financially sound decision, and I got a wonderful education without spending a lot of money on tuition. Secondly, I would push myself to take difficult classes in high school, such as chemistry and physics, to get a good background before college. Having a solid foundation of courses such as these makes a world of difference when you're one of many in a lecture class. Also, take advantage of courses that are offered through a nearby community college that you can take as a four credit class while in high school; the price for the transferrable four credits is low, and doing the work ahead of time can make for one easier semester in college.

Figure out a rock solid study method. That is vital in college. Do some very deep self exploration and find a major that will give you the life you want after school. Do not get distracted by short term goals and temptations, they wil hardly impact you as much as your studies and you will most likely not even remember them. Stay focused and let no one waste your time. Always make sure you're on the right path for yourself. Never let anyone else decide what your goals are.

Don’t just sit in your dorm and do nothing all day. You will see people on campus who have the exact same interests as you. Talk to them. You love anime, so join the anime club. The people there won’t make fun of you for liking shows that are too “mainstream”. I know not having many friends in grade school was tough. At college, you will barely need to make an effort. It can all start with making one friend. Some strange guy who likes you for your strange quirkiness that everybody seemed to dislike about you ever since kindergarten. After him, you get introduced to new friends, and even more friends after that. Pretty soon, you’ll get that text message you always wanted that asks you what you are doing that weekend. It all starts with that one terrifying step of asking a single person his name. You were lonely in grade school. In college you’ll make friends with other people who went through the same thing. And don’t let your family stop you from making friends just because they disapprove of cosplaying and Dungeons and Dragons.

I would probably tell my sell to not have too much fun and make sure I pull the grades I need. Being new to college and away from home for the first time can be a little overwhelming. I had so much freedom to do whatever I want; I could go as I please and eat what I want. It was an amazing feeling but you definitely need to learn balance between fun and schoolwork. I’ve had an amazing time at college and it has only just begun.

There are a few things a freshman should know before they start school. First, don't take an 8a.m. class, you will never want to go and you will be very upset when your alarm goes off. Second, the busses take a ten minute break when they reach the stadium, so if you are running late you should just walk. Also, when in doubt, take the Renegade, that is the on campus loop bus. Always rate my professor your teachers and when they say "read these pages" read those pages, you will most likely have a quiz. Jimmy Johns delivers straight to your dorm until 3a.m. Just because they don't take attendance doesn't give you a free "skip" any time you want, go to class, trust me, you'll learn more than you think and it will make the test a lot easier. Meet with your advisor, they will help you. And, have fun, its college and you only get to be here once, have fun.