Iowa State University Top Questions

My transition as a thirty year-old into college was much more complicated than what I would imagine, the transition for a high school senior would be like. As an adult student, the two hardest issues I had to overcome were; learning new technology, and teaching myself better study habits. Having been through this situation, the first point I would make to my eighteen year old high school self would be, take the initative to learn about different colleges, and the different opportunities they can provide you with. I would remind my younger self that I deserved a chance. A significant aspect of my "lecture" would be, how very important and critical the opportunity to go to college is. Attending sooner rather than later is best, but never going to college rather than going sometime later is absurd.

I would have liked to know how to manage my time better. There is so much to get involved in on campus. You really need to set priorities before making plans.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitely have a lot of advice to offer. I would tell myself that it is important to stay focused and remember that you are in school to get a degree to help ensure your future, not to goof off and ignore your studies. I would also inform myself that having a great friend group who you can rely on for personal and emotional matters is important. It is always beneficial to have people around you who care about you and want you to succeed. I'd also advise myself to be careful when going out to places that you've never been to with people you don't know. You don't know what could happen so it's always necessary to have someone you know who could take care of you or make sure you are safe. It is also important to study! Studying is how you succeed in college and it is an important and necessary skill to have. I would also tell myself to have fun and not sweat the small stuff.

Even though it will be hard for you to leave your friends and family, Iowa State is a great place full of friendly and sincere people and you will make friends in no time. It will become your second home.

If talking to any high school senior, I would highly advise them to take all of the college courses available. I would advise them to develop their study habbits, because it matters in college. Figuring out how to study efficiently will make you first year much easier than it is for most Freshmen.

As a high school student, you are fairly set in your ways. You think you know exactly what you believe about politics and the world around you. By the time you are a high school senior, you will have already traveled abroad 3 times. You will consider yourself a well rounded individual and will think that college will only refine the beliefs you already hold. While this may be true for the rare individual, you should be prepared to have your world enlarged, ideas and ways of thinking will open up in front of you. You will have to decide whether or not you will continue to hold your narrow minded beliefs, or if you will choose to consider everything presented to you with an open mind. My greatest advice to you is to allow your world to expand. Let yourself consider things that your family may have rejected. You are free to develop into your own best self. Don't limit yourself and take the opportunity to explore.

Keep doing what you're doing. High school prepared you very well for the college experience. Make smart decisions and if you don't find friends immediately don't be discouraged; finding the right friends takes time. Be just as organized as you are and don't forget to call your family members and friends from home to check in!

First of all, what a day it would be if someone builds a time machine, well I am thriving to make it into reality. So if I could go back in time I would first of all tell my self that listen life is all about what you make of it. In the future you will have to work hard to have success in life since there are no free lunches in life. So choose whatever makes you happy. College life can be very stressfull so choose your major wisely so that you enjoy whatever you study. Take your parents suggestions into considerations but be wise about it. If they are forcefull about choosing a major tell them that when i get old and lying in a hospital and bout to die, I dont want to think that I made a wrong desicion. if only I had convinced my parents that whatever i study could make me happy, and even if you made a wrong decision you would only blame yourself and not your parents.

I would tell myself not to take myself so seriously. In high school, I was extremely driven and knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life and where I wanted to go. This is not a bad thing at all, but it led me to trouble once I began my undergrad. This drive brought me crazy amounts of stress and worry throughout my freshman year at college. Now, as a sophomore, I am opening myself up to new opportunities and new ideas that may lead me down a different career path than I could have ever imagined. This never would have been possible if I didn't learn to say yes to every opportunity, interact with a wider variety of diverse individuals, and simply open myself up to the wide world around me. Attending college has taught me to be much more understanding and flexible. Life is full of twists and turns, so having the ability to roll with the punches and keep my spirits up has become one of my greatest assests at college as I keep striving and pushing to reach my goals and dreams.

Don't take calculus. You don't need it. Also, start of english assignments and speeches at least a week before the due date instead of the night before. Pay attention in chemistry classes and boring classes; you can't just wing it when exam come around. If teachers suck, READ the TEXTBOOK. Get to know Stephen Todey. He might seem like a tool, but I think you might find him to be more fun than you expect.