Iowa State University Top Questions

I would tell myself to find even more scholarships. The cost of going to college is more than just tuition. You don't realize just how much money you need for other expenses during college. Getting a refund from having so many scholarships really helps with those expenses. Expenses other than tuition include food, fun, club dues, car problems, and things you just don't see coming. Not being able to afford some of these expenses can really put you in a bad place. I would also tell myself to manage my money better. Mismanaging money causes you to lose money that could really help you later for those unforseen expenses. Minding the money can either help or hurt you in both the short-term and long-term.

I would tell myself to take a year off of school, make a list of everything I love and enjoy doing, what excites me, and interview and job shadow people from all sorts of industries. Then, I would get a job and work my but off doing anything to save up money so that when I go to college, I can either not work or just get a work-study job and be able to focus on my studies as much as possible and really soke up the opportunities to be a part of campus organizations, clubs, study abroad opportunities, events, and other off-campus organization opportunities.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not be so worried. College is a whole different world. It is so much different than high school. You will meet some absolutely amazing people. Also, attend as many of the free events on campus as you can. They are a great place to meet new people and relieve some stress. An most of the events are free! Who doesn't love things that are free? Most importantly, be yourself. You will find people who accept you for you. If you try to fit in and be another person, you will soon regret it. Have fun, study hard, and enjoy your time. You only have four years left until you are thrown out into the real world. Make your time at college count!

This first year of college has been rough. After starting one college, making friends, and then deciding to transfer to a new one because it offered your major, it has been more than difficult. Moving 3 hours away from home and being on your own for the first time was terrifying. But would I change any of it? No. The experiences and lessons I have learned this year are unforgettable. I have grown so much. I have tranformed from a teenager in highschool, to an adult in college. I have learned responsibility, respect, and patience. I know what it feels like to be shot down and having to start from the bottom. But through all of that, I have become a stronger, more independent woman. I have grown in mind and spirit. If I could give myself one piece of advice, it would be, stay true to yourself, stay true to others, and stay true to your dreams. Don't give up because someone told you to or because it's the easy way out. Work hard and achieve the most important goal in life, accomplishing your dreams.

Study for your difficult tests the entire week before you have the test. Even though in highschool you didn't need to study much at all, college is different. The tests are much more difficult and require more preperation than you realize. Also, watch the carbs. College food is tasty and unhealthy, salad is more than ok to eat a couple times a week!

I chose to attend community college right out of high school for two years, a decision i now regret. If i could talk to my high school self, I recommend taking one or two semesters of community college (maximum)and then moving on to a 4 year school. While community college is cheaper and usually easier, these factors do not offset the disadvantages. The relative ease of community college classes made the transition to the extreme difficulty of ISU classes unpleasant. Also, unbeknownst to me until my transfer, GPA does NOT transfer between the two schools. I got great grades (3.1 GPA) at Des Moines Area Community College, but this was all for naught upon my transfer. I immediately started into 300+ level classes, and my GPA suffered greatly as a result. Without the buffering, easier courses from one's freshman and sophomore years, a GPA can potentially take a massive hit with one or two bad semesters. In short: study hard in high school and go straight to a 4-year institution!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself to relax. The transition into college was not as difficult as I thought it would be, and this was thanks to my college's orientation programs. I would tell myself to not be afraid to go out at make new friends at college because everyone is new and probably as nervous as you are. Finally, along that line, do not be afraid to commit to some clubs, they are fun and you will regret not joining them sooner later in you college carreer.

You're almost done, the light at the end of the tunnel is just starting to come into focus, but do not get distracted by the prospect of the end because it is really just the beginning of the best time of your life. Stay focused and finish strong, no matter how tempting it is to take all the fluff courses try to apply yourself. I know the idea of starting your college career is a daunting one but try to have a little fun every once in a while because you deserve it. Enjoy your time with friends and family and fill your mind to the brim with good memories to get you through those bouts of homesickness, as they will happen. Know that you can do whatever you put your mind to as long as you are willing to put in the work; that white coat is waiting and you are getting closer to it everyday.

I would firstly tell myself that college is very different from high school, and that the homework and tests require much more effort and time. It is easy to get frustrated and overwhelmed by the amount of work that college requires at first, but when you sit down at the library and commit yourself to what needs to be done, time flies by and it really isn't as much work as what it seems. Working at the library prevents many distractions that working on homework at one's own apartment can cause, so getting homework done and tests studied for at the library can be very advantageous. I would also tell myself that college is a very isolating experience, and it helps to have friends at college that are different from the ones you have in high school. Joining clubs as early as possible opens up more possibilites and allows you to meet people who are interested in the same thing as yourself, and that can be very helpful with making friends and keeping sane during all of the stressful times that college has.

If I were to give myself some advice, I would tell myself to take all of the courses provided by my high school to put me ahead in my college career. I would take harder classes and focus more on school then athletics. I would tell myself to put in the hours now so that when I got to college the work load and stress wasn't overwhelming. I would just perpare myself better so that when I got to college, I was ahead of the game.