Grand Valley State University Top Questions

Jules, find a major right away! Don't wait too long to sign up for classes, they will be closed and it will be a major hassel. Talk to your sister more, she does actually know what she's doing. Get more invovled in your readings and completing your homework, slacking will get you behind. Focus on yourself and what's important to you, don't let anyone get in the way of that. College is the best time of your life, live it up, make smart choices, and work hard!

To be better prepared by taking harder college prep classes so it would be easier to transistion to GVSU.

I would tell myself to take as many AP courses that would transfer to college credit or taking college classes for credit since the high school pays for it. I would have also applied for more scholarships and focused on improving my study skills.

Be careful and study more. Don't let your school work slip. Study hard, because it is not like high school. It is harder, you are not as good a writer and student as you thought. These are all smart people, you are not alone, you have to work to stay ahead. Don't make dumb decisions just because you enjoy it at the time. Of course I have learned a lot and the only thing I would want to change is that I worked harder first semester last year. But it did teach me that I need to work harder and not just try to slid by in life. I have to work for what I want.

If I could give the high school senior version of myself any advice, it would be to not procrastinate and also to take steps to make friends. Time management at college is important, and procrastination creates so much stress. Most assignments take a lot more work than they did in high school, which translates to more time spent on homework. If I would have know to plan ahead and do the assignments as they were assigned instead of waiting until the last minute, I would have saved myself a lot of stress, and gotten more sleep! It is also key to take initative with meeting people. As I senior it would have been beneficial to be encouraged to talk to people in my classes and meet my professors in their office hours. I truly value the relationships I've made with people here, and it is often in conversations with my classmates and professors outside of class that I learn the most about life. Also, join groups! Being part of a club is not only a great way to meet people, its also an awesome resource to find fun activities that will help take your mind off of class work.

Find a way to get more financial aid, and get more scholarships because some will be taken away by the state!

It's okay to be nervous, when you get to the campus every freshman is. Leaving home is a scary step, but it's a neccessary one in order to really become the person you were supposed to be. Be nervous, but be excited, too. It's going to be tough sometimes, and you're going to cry and miss home and want to give up, but you're also going to meet some people who will change you're life, and you're going to grow into a better person thanks to each challenge . Get to know as many people in you're dorms as you can, but don't take you're intial meeting at more than face value; some of the people you thought were great are most likely going to turn out to be real jerks, and some of the kids you're hesitant to give a chance to might really surprise you. Don't go overboard with parties right away, and go easy on the drinking, too. It's really easy to fall behind. Along those same lines, try not to skip too much, and dont schedule super early classes. Good luck and have fun!

I would tell myself to cherish every minute with my family and friends around me, because in a short time I would not see them everyday. I would tell myself to enjoy the free laundry and free food and home cooked meals that I get at home! I would also tell myself how important it is to study hard, and fill out all those scholarship applications. I would remind me to work even harder in the summertime making money so that I could just concentrate on my classes instead of work. Lastly I would tell myself to enjoy my life now, because it will get harder!

Make better plans as to how to go about class scheduling and make more friends.

If I were able to travel back in time and speak to myself from my current perspective, there are countless things I would tell myself. Aside from the obvious, I would explain that life does not really start going until college. High school seems great, but it is not as real as one would like to think. I would explain that having a little fun in my off time from high school is okay, as it did allow me to lock-down when at college. Also, the transition from high school to college may be difficult, but it is worth it. College provides an environment in which to alter one's self for the better through knowledge and experience in the real world; it shapes who you are by making you more able to determine things for yourself. Overall, I would essentially say, "College is great, don't be so nervous; the best is yet to come."