Iowa State University Top Questions

Go in with an open mind about classes and people. Be prepared to discover your own ideals and opinions about the world without your parents opinions defining your own. Also, The more involved you are in campus, the more connected you will feel to your fellow students and the university and the more say you will have when you want to improve or change something.

Going to college makes you feel invincible. It is a time that you are in control of your life choices. How you spend your time, what you study, who you hang out with is up to you. It is an opportunity for a fresh start at a place full of new and interesting people. This time of excitement in your life should be celebrated. Now, if I had the chance to go back in time and give myself a life lesson about the do’s and don'ts of freshmen year then I would keep it short and sweet. I would say, "Go to class, Save your money, and live life." Other than those three tips, I would remain silent. Sure, I would love to tell myself certain people/places to avoid but then how would I learn from those experiences? If I had known the challenges college brought beforehand and avoided them, then how would I grow as a person? Sometimes not knowing is half the fun, which is why I believe freshman year is such a life changing experience. You learn from what life throws at you, sometimes good, sometimes bad. Either way, it makes you stronger.

I would tell myself to start applying for scholarships sooner, as early as ninth grade. I wasn't aware of the diverse amount of scholarships available to practically anyone with a certain set of skills or even basic demographics. I also didn't know how expensive college was, so if I knew those things it would've motivated me to apply for more scholarships.

People in college are far more open and accepting to new ideas than I was told. I was under the impression that most students would be into partying and other things that would lead to trouble. Little did I know that most of the students I met where there for the same reasons I was: to learn or eventually transfer to a 4 year college. I also would tell myself to take studying a bit less seriously. I had been told over and over to study at least two hours for every credit. This may be necessary for some classes. However, some of the time for studying easier classes could be kept for harder classes. Lastly, I would say to find resources to help suceed and use them. The reading and writing center are available for help, as is the math center. Getting a tutor if needed is probably not the end of the world either. College classes are fast paced and it does not do well to fall behind. Colleges offer many resources for students to do well and it is up to thes students to find these resources if they need them, swallow their pride and pursue them.

Anything is possible so approach every situation and opportunity with openness and the assumption that things will work out. Then work hard and reach out to people for help to achieve your goals.

If I would talk to myself when I was a senior, I would make sure that I knew to follow my dreams and only do what I want to do. Take your time when you are deciding your major and don't be afraid to try new things, you never know what you can be capable of. This is the time in your life to find out who you are and who you are going to be for the rest of your life. Remember that you have your entire life to live and that you don't need to rush into being a grown-up, yes you are becoming an adult, but don't forget to have fun too.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would talk to myself about the importance of planning out all the details related to higher education. Planning out the future is important to be able to accomplish one's goals, whether they are long-term or short-term goals. I would talk to myself about submitting applications early and applying for financial aids and scholarships to assist in paying for my education. I would also talk to myself about deciding on a major. It is not imperative that I have a major decided going into the freshman year of college. Exploring the options during the first year of college is not unusual, so is changing majors through the course of college. Although high school to college is a difficult transition, it is not impossible. More focus is required going into college, classes become a little more difficult, and homework becomes a little more time consuming. With a little bit of time management and organization, the college experience can be a wonderful and unforgettable experience.

You know what you want to do and where you want to end up, so keep reminding yourself of those ambitions. You have many friends now that you'll lose touch with, but you are about to meet some of the greatest people you'll ever have the opportunity to learn from. It's true what they say about making life-long friends in college. Keep filling out those scholarships, and those reflections and portfolios you hated in high school are very important and will only play a bigger role in your future career. Keep networking, stay true to your beliefs, and ALWAYS have an open mind. The world is a crazy place, and we need people like you out there now more than ever. Keep up the great work, and I don't think you'll need the 'good luck'.... it's all skill!

If I could give my high school self any advice, I would probably tell myself to learn better time management. During high school, I could usually push things off until the last minute, and still get everything done on time. However, the way I pushed things off was by using the internet, instead of doing something else worthwhile like spending time with my friends. I realize now that all of the all-nighters during my first semester of school could definitely have been avoided had I worked on minimizing my procrastination in high school, and that I also could have enjoyed connecting with my friends so much more. It's your life, don't waste it with meaningless social networks or 'grumpy cats.'

I would tell myself to stay away from the night life, and focus more on my homework. My friends are indeed important, but so is doing well in school. I would tell myself that studying, working, and exercising helps me stay true to myself. Being independent means you have to be responsible financially, socially, and personally.