Grand Valley State University Top Questions

Knowing what I know now as a college freshman I would have did things very different in high school than I did before. Some advices I would have given myself is to move things I was learning in high school from short term to long term memory. To read and take notes more, so that I would have been prepared for college and wouldn't have struggled much my first semester. This way I would have been prepared for college sooner.

If I could go back and talk to myself I would write more college essays for scholarships and would have studied harder for the ACT. I was always a good student and maintained a 3.5 or better G.P.A but that's not going to get you into college. The ACT is extremely important when it comes to getting scholarships and getting into a good college or unviersity. I would keep telling myslef to write write write and study study study! College is very expensive and its important to do all you can to get scholarships and prepare yourself for whats to come.

Sannita, I know it's your last year in high school and you've already thought about what college you're going to and what you're going to do after high school, but don't let those thoughts of being one step closer of being free and just starting to live cloud your judgment. Senior year of high school does matter even if you don't think so. It's almost like your last impression you can make on the colleges you're looking forward to attend in the fall. Keep your grades up and don't start to slack off because you know as much as I do that once you're in that "lazy/slacking off" mode it'll be hard to shake off; especially with summer coming up right before school starts up. Take this time like every other educational time in your life serious and make a ginuine effort! Your future matters and you keeping a good momentum now will carry on into college and you'll surprise yourself with succeeding more than YOU ever thought possible! The fun is just beginning, but your future is hanging by a thread if you aren't serious!

I would retake the ACT an tryto score higher, I had received a score of 29 and should have tried to get a higher grade.

I would have taken more AP classes so that my freshman course load would be easier. I also would have found a roommate to live with instead of "going in blind" in the dorms.

The first advice I would give myself is to remember that I'm not a morning person and 8am classes are not a good time for me to be learning. Another tip would be not to freak out about scheduling. Councelors are always there to help you map out your entire time at college, which is good for me because I have to have everything planned out perfectly. If I cannot get into a class, all I need to do is talk to a councelor because everything is always possible. I would also reassure myself that being apart of the Laker Marching Band was a good decision and that it helped me make many life-long friends. I would make sure to tell myself that studying is the number one priority, but skipping the books for a couple hours to join some friends for dinner or a round of Mario Kart on the N64 is also perfectly acceptable. Getting good grades will always be important, but remember to relax and enjoy the ride. Finally, I would make sure that I knew that I was not going to get amazing grades and the world won't end because of it.

Honestly, I wouldn't tell myself anything different. By the time I was graduating high school, I had already told myself exactly what I would tell anyone starting college. Don't freak out, it isn't worth staying up until 4 in the morning studying for a test that is at 9am. If you don't learn anything, it isn't worth it even if you got an A in the class.

Not to be afraid to talk to others and make new friends. Most people are very open to meeting new people and I shouldn't be scared to talk to them.

Take your time when deciding what you want to do for the rest of your life. Do not take your classes lightly now because they are going to be way harder next year. Learn to take advantage of any oppertunity you can for additional help if necessary. Have fun in college, there is never going to be another time in your life like college. Take that spring break trip and go study abroad no matter what anyone else says. Just smile and be happy. Try not too stress so much, the people in college will be more easy going than these people in high school. Just be yourself as a senior so you are ready to be your own person in college.

I would tell myself to relax. The transition from high school to college is not as bad as you think. Just relax, and be yourself. Get out there on campus and meet people. Don't keep yourself locked up in your dorm room. Do things that are out of your comfort zone. Focus a little more on school, but have fun. Don't worry so much what other people are going to think about you, their opinions of you don't matter. As long as you're happy with yourself, that's all that matters. Finally, when you get the chance to switch roommates, don't do it. But if you do, do not invite your best friend to come visit. Save yourself the heartache.