Iowa State University Top Questions

I would tell myself to have fun. When I first got to college, I was so set on doing well that I hated my first semester of college. I went home almost every weekend, and didn't make any friends. Now that I have let myself have fun, while still staying focused on my studies, I enjoy college so much more. My grades are actually improving now that I enjoy being here. College is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and you need to embrace every single moment of it. Having fun doesn't mean going out and partying. It can be something as simple as going bowling, or to the local dollar theater with some new people. If you don't experience all there is to experience with college, you won't get the best education out of your years spent there either. You don't want to spend $30,000 and not even remember half of the time you spend at the University you attended, or remember any of the information you crammed at your late night study sessions. There is so much more to this awesome experience than studying. Enjoy yourself.

I would tell myself to take as many college classes that my high school would offer as possible. Comming into ISU with a leg up on general electives gives you more flexibility in planning your classes in the future.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself that there isn't a choice in the matter. I would make it mandatory to go to college. When you are a high school senior, you tend to listen to your peers and/or yourself to determine what is good for you. Sometimes you really do not have anyone to help you out. Having college be mandatory would only benefit you in the long run. You would have a degree, which would get you a better paying job, and you wouldn't have to worry about a career again. Even if you got married and had kids and wanted to be a stay at home mom, you would always have something to fall back on. You would have a college degree under your belt. College is the best choice for anyone exiting high school.

I would have finished out my AP classes and received college credit. I also would have gotten more involved in community organizations and volunteering.

Balance is undeniably most important, both as a high school senior and as a college student. Regardless of everything else, I wish I would have know to strike a clear balance between academics, activities, and spending time with friends. It's important to not try to "get by" simply because the degree to which you have to try in college is directly related to how much you learned in high school. Just as important is not overexerting yourself. Make sure you find somewhere between worrying about everything and worrying about nothing. Essentially everything else I wish I would have known as a senior is truly minor in comparison: you probably don't need as big of a meal plan as you think, living with a random roommate is a toss-up, planners are for everyone, not just overachievers, living on your own doesn't mean you have to break the rules you used to have, I could go on and on. School is important. Fun is important. I wish I would have known that neither is more important than the other.

Keep in contact with those you want to keep in your future life. Many of your friends from high school will fall out of touch with you and that's life. There are so many more people out there in the world that you are bound to make new friends. Make sure you keep on top of your school work. Your academic career is more important than going out with friends. There will be plenty of time to have fun. Do not overwhelm yourself with classes and extracurricular activities to the point that you are not happy. Try to schedule one time during the week where you just relax and get away from anything that has to do with school, like having a movie night or go laser tagging. Remember that no matter what the decisions you make are your family and true friends are there for you no matter what...

I would tell myself that I really, really, need to step it up in school. Think about my family and strive to be better in school. Make sure not only better in school but a better person period. Try to do the best I can in everything. I would also give scholarship advice. I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as possible because college costs a lot. I didn't realize it back in high school but I sure realize it now. I would remind myself that sometimes you don't always get a second chance. I would also remind myself to keep people around me who wanted to succeed as well so I wouldn't be placed in the wrong crowd. I would tell myself that the hard work starts now. No more procrastination, and more sense of urgency. Last but not least, I would tell myself always remember to enjoy life to the fullest.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to get more involved with activities in the community and in the school, because that's the best way to meet people I would never have met before and do something I've never done before. I would also tell myself that moving to a different city is an amazing transformation that will help make me into the person that my friends, my family, and myself would be proud of. Another piece of advice I would give to myself would be to not sweat the little things, such as the cost of attending college or if I would survive in a large university. The last, and most important, piece of advice I would give to my past self is: "Have no regrets. Live for each moment as if it were your last moment on Earth. And plan for the future in broad terms, because you may, and will, change during the next four years and life as you know it now won't be the life you'll be living then."

College is based a lot on test grades; one bad score effects your grade in the class because there aren't as many other assignments. And in order to do well on those tests you need to you your readings. So as much as they may be boring or time consuming, DO THE READING! Also try not to stress as much. Yes there will be times when you'll have multiple tests at one time, but freaking out about them doesn't help you study any better. And it won't matter how much you study if you're too tired to understand the question at the time of the test. So while it may seem like you need to pull all nighters to study get some sleep too! Everything else just seems to fall into place.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a senior, I would tell myself that high school is not like college at all. I would say that the classes are harder and there is far more homework than there was in high school. I would also suggest applying for more scholarships; college is expensive! I would tell myself to work more during the school year and the summer because money goes fast in college. You do not realize how fast it goes until there is not much left in your account. Another thing I would tell myself is to get into some sort of exercise routine, and to stick with it. It is so hard not to sit around and eat junk food. But, most of all, I would tell myself to not stress out over little things. There is a lot to worry about in college, but if you stress out over every little thing, you will not get anywhere.