Hood College Top Questions

If I could go back the time when I was a high school senior and talk to myself about college life I would give myself advise on three major areas. First, start school right after graduation because it is hard to find the time, motivation, and energy after several years of not being in school. Second, go to a school that interests you on many different levels, including going away to school even if it is just for a year. Establishing independence and interests outside of your family can be motivating and allow you to develop responsibility for yourself and your actions. Finally, if you're not sure what you want to do and want to stay local at a community college it is important that you come up with the money yourself. This not only motivates you to make a decision but it also helps you create a since of self worth, while at the same time prevents you from constantly changing majors, because you are working hard for the money to go to school. College life and making the transition from high school can be stressful and complicated but it is also rewarding and should be enjoyed.

I would tell myself to start to prepare ahead of time and to try and apply for more scholarships. I would also tell myself to not be so nervous about college and to start looking for interships to help myself along.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would give myself the following advice before my college journey begins. 1)Expect the unexpected-there are many new positive experiences that you will soon encounter. Be patient, open-minded, and enjoy the ride to come. 2)Take chances-in the words of Will Smith in "The Pursuit of Happiness," "If you want something, go get it. Period." 3)Never forget where you come from-home and family are always with you, no matter what choices you make. 4)Stay the course-stay true to what you believe in and what you want out of life. 5)Be yourself-which is the ultimate tool for gathering friends, and making your mark in the world.

If I could go back to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to work harder and not slack so much. Although I knew I wasnt going to a 4 year right after graduation, but rather a 2 year community college, I still wasnt prepared for what was to come after high school. I wish I could have told myself that life at 17, wasnt what I thought it was and to not be so care free. I really wish I could tell myself to pay more attention to the course work and not what was going on around me. I wish I could have had this advice 3 years ago when I was a senior.

I would tell myself to learn whatever skills it takes to make my craft that much more professional and presentable for the opportunities that will be coming my way. No one really prepares the young for the many facets of life that they will go through. No one ever tells the young that there will always be moments and challenges and yes, opportunities that will present themselves to you. I would tell my younger self the following: Learn to use the computer well (whether software or hardware applications); Learn an instrument or work on your vocals (great part-time gig); Travel (as much as you can, you?ll really get to love the person you are and respect others because you have opened up your horizons); and Don?t beat yourself up so much (the world does enough of that, and besides you have to have someone you can count on?why not yourself!) Remember, just as you open your eyes in the anticipation of another day, every day you have the opportunity to do anything you want to. Learn to accept the responsibilities of what your decisions may be, after all YOU are ?Captain of your ship.?

On the eve of turning twenty, it is hard to believe that not 2 full years ago I was on my way to a new life far away from home where no one knew me and I knew no one. It was all an experience that part of me wishes I had known a bit more about. If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior there would be many things I would stress to myself about college. First off I would let myself know that college is not like the movies; it is not something that always ends with good grades and the perfect boyfriend. College is life, hard, confusing, and all around unpredictable. I would stress to myself to not stress, wasting time stressing about things that you cannot control like if your proffessor is going to like you is a waste of time when there are more important things to do. I would also give myself the advice to go outside my comfort zone. When I went to college I was completely alone, knowing no one, make the effort to go out to randomn people, they're feeling the same.

Choose a small school in order to get undivided attention from your professors. Dont drink or do drugs. Choose a school which is famous for the program you are looking into. Get to know your professors well. Have an open mind. You will encounter many people different from yourself, be accepting of their differences but dont compromise yourself. get involved in campus activities, organizations.

After spending a year in a college setting and knowing what I know now, I would advise myself in high school to put more emphasis on actually finding a school to go to that would meet my needs and to be more excited about the college experience. I had little to no plans for going to a non-community college because it meant spending more money and having to live away from home. Now, having experienced living away from home in a controlled environment, I think this was and will continue to be a valuable experience not just academically but socially as well. Without being thrown into the world all at once, I have learned what it's like to have to support myself through living on campus. This is an opportunity I would not have had if I chose to stick with my original plan of going to community college. Along with the higher education I feel like I have received thus far at school, I would encourage myself to consider more heavily the bonuses to looking into and applying to schools aside from my community college so that I could grow emotionally, educationally, and socially from the experience.

I would tell them to look at a school, for the right reasons, despite costs or pressure from peers or various sources.

When I first began searching for colleges, I asked my friend, Kent, the chief editor of the Washington Post, for advice. His answer: ?Brian, where ever you go, you're going to get a degree. So do what I did, and choose the school with the best twisty-cone.? Of course, my decision was based on more than just the twisty-cone, but Hood College does have some great twisty-cones. If I were giving someone advice on choosing a college, I would recommend that they consider the food (the twisty-cones, of course) as well as the academics.