Gustavus Adolphus College Top Questions

Hey, silly, younger me! Don't go in with your heart set on everything you're going to do; this is the time to reinvent yourself! Be open to trying new things, and it's okay to feel like you're making a fool of yourself. Everyone else feels really awkward at first, too, so don't be afraid to be the one to ask them to go somewhere. Have fun!

There are so many little insights that I wish I could go back and give myself looking back now. I think the greatest of these, however, is to just let go and take it all in. We as a culture tend to focus so much on the future we forget to live in the present. We forget to enjoy the little things until they are gone, and that is a shame. I have struggled up to this point, and at times still do, with trying to figure out what I am going to major in and what my future is going to look like. While, yes it is important to look ahead and make a plan for yourself, it is okay to not know every aspect about your future. That is what makes your life worth living! You have the ability to learn and discover as you grow as a student and as a person. If we knew what our life would be, it wouldn't be worth living. Life is about the journey. I remind myself that now, and if I could go back, I would challenge myself to have fun, explore different subjects, and just live.

Study HARD. Do as many different things in high school that you can possibly do. Maintain the highest grade point average you can. DO NOT DRINK OR DO DRUGS OR SMOKE OR HAVE SEX! DO NOT post stupid pictures on facebook that would defame or belittle yourself or OTHERS, your family, your church or your God. GET LOTS OF SLEEP. If you have to work outside of school, try to keep it to a minimum. Money isn't everything. SCHOOL is your NUMBER ONE JOB. DO NOT own a car. It is outrageously expensive, insurance is crazy and it does NOT make you look cool. VISIT every college campus you are interested in. You will know in your gut which one is right for you. Go to school EVERY SINGLE DAY unless you are violently ill. RESPECT your teachers in every possible way. BE KIND TO EVERYONE as you will never know who or whom just MIGHT BE YOUR BOSS one day. DO NOT burn bridges. When you are getting ready and packing for college and when you are all done, put AT LEAST half of it back. Dorm rooms are SMALL! last but not least, RELAX.

Dear High School Senior, You are about to graduate from high school, a very small fish leaving a very small sea. You have been accepted into a fabulous college and you are no longer in a small sea, but a very small fish in a very BIG ocean. My advice to you is that if you didn't score at least a 32 on your ACT, TAKE IT OVER and take it until you get a high score. The more scholarships you get, the less loans you will have to take out. Do EVERYTHING extracurriuclar that you can that might involve your major. Take PSEO and advanced placement classes. Take at least ONE foreigh language. Go out for the plays, the musicals... play in the marching band, sing in ithe choir, keep your cell phone locked up all day while you are in school. Learn what your :womens intuition: and gut feelings are and LEARN TO TRUST THEM. LISTEN to your parents. Listen to your teachers. Keep stupid pictures of yourself off of all social media. Do NOT let 5 minutes of stupidity be forever remembered on facebook. learn to prioritize, DO NOT SMOKE, DRINK, or do drugs. EVER

If I could go back and give myself advice about the major change I was about to experience I would tell myself to always have an open mind. Leaving high school, I left behind a part of the comfort I've felt in school for the past thirteen years. Going into college everyone meets new people from all parts of the state or country. I would tell myself to not be so narrow minded and expand my horizons and get to know new people. Another thing I would tell myself that college is the time to find yourself and to explore new things because you'll never know what may be the best fit. Being open minded will allow any incoming student to learn new things and will make the time spent in college much more enjoyable.

Even though everyone tells you that high school is the best years of your life, that is not true at all. College is so much more enjoyable than you could ever imagine. Don't worry so much about having to start over and make friends; they come with time. In fact, the friends you make in college are going to be very good friends that are going to be there for you when you need them. I know you're worried about not fitting in and about being thought of as the nerdy girl that you were in high school, but believe me when I tell you that college isn't like that. People here accept you for who you are and if you're smart and do well, people are actually proud of you and don't belittle you. Also, the classes aren't as hard as you fear and the homework doesn't take you hours. You have plenty of time - too much time, in fact - to meet people. Just remember, the most important thing about college is finding yourself. Keep an open mind and go with the flow and everything tends to fall into place!

The reminiscence of time brings us back to the days of friendships, schoolwork, and serving our community, all with the ultimate goal of getting into college on our minds. Now that I have been in college, and discovered how different it is from high school, and the caliber of academic expectations, I would go back in time to advise myself to make some changes. I was always a great student all the way through school, striving for success and driven to complete goals, but there are always areas that could use improvement. I would first advise myself to take as many advanced placement (AP) courses as possible. They may seem hard at the time, but will only lead to greater success in college. Beginning to learn the workload, demand, and expectations sets you off on a better foot sooner than later. I would also advise myself to make stronger networking connections with local employers and community members. It always helps to have connections already implemented, because you never know when you may need to contact someone for advice, a letter of recommendation, or even future employment. Lastly, I would get more involved, because it never hurts to do more.

Don't sit by yourself so often it is a good thing to ask if you can sit with someone, especially if they are sitting alone too. You might just meet a few interesting people that way.

Make sure you set aside enough time for homework. It is important to actually re-study material throughout the semester instead of just right before finals. Don't be shy; be brave and go out and get to know people. Your first year will go by a lot faster than you thought it would, and you'll regret the times you missed out on hanging out with friends. Don't be afraid to try new things; even a game of football with friends can be fun and help you bond with people. It's okay if you don't get along with your roommate very well. There are plenty of other people on campus to be friends with and next year you'll get to choose your roommates. Enjoy college because you only get to be there for four years! Make the most of it!

Be prepared for changes-- some will be minor, but others will affect your entire life. College is supposed to be more challenging than high school, but depending on your major, your classes will be more difficult than your hardest AP class. In high school you were able to be in sports, maintain top grades, and be in countless other groups; consequently, because of the difficulty of classes, you'll need to use your time much more carefully. Dropping sports or extra groups does not make you a failure; it just means that you are prioritizing your precious time. Everyone is different, with various class schedules, preparation, and areas of study. The first year on campus is important for making connections and friends but don't overdo it; transfer students make friends just as easily as anyone else. You won't ace every test to come your way; in fact, you will fail occasionally for the first time in your life. What matters is how you change your study habits and prepare for the next exam. Lastly, truly cherish your final year at home and time with family. Once you leave, it will never be quite the same coming back.