Iowa State University Top Questions

I would have to say that going to college is an important decision that effects the rest of your life. No matter what career you decide to pursue, college can teach you so many things that you will use throughout your life. The maturity and self motivation that you experience in college can help to prepare you for the workforce. It can also help you to experience different types of careers without actually finding out the hardway that maybe this career isn't quite right for you. It is a priviledge and hard work and should be taken very seriously. Having a college degree can help you to find a higher paying job than having to work your way up from the bottom, year after year, to get to a certain level of income potential. Employers look at a college degree as hard work and dedication, having an opinion that the applicant for the position is dependable and dedicated. High School students don't realize the cross roads that they have come to, and need parents, teachers and mentors to help guide them back to college.

As prepared as you think you are to start over as a freshman, it is scary and you can feel very lonely in the beginning. Talk to your CA/RA if you are living in the dorms, and get involved in the campus and surrounding community as soon as possible. It is a fantastic way to meet people that share common interests. Also, make an effort to know your advisor, because he/she will be the best ally you will ever find.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to let things slide a little bit more and enjoy my time living at home and learning. College is a complete new world and it is the time to branch out and start out life different. In high school, I would want to transition from constant stress to a more relaxed state of mind.

Dear past self, Take this with a grain of salt; you are going to discover the future of your current self in the upcoming years. By endulging and preparing yourself in studies that interest you, you will find that experience is key. Playing around with your likes and dislikes will help you create an ideal image of what you would like to be. This being said, don't be afraid to try something new or take a risk. Everything from this point on will be a learning experience, and should be taken as such. It may seem overwhelming at first, but determination is key. In the end, when all is said and done, looking back on your life and accomplishments will be far greater than telling yourself that you wish you would have done this and that. Don't be afraid of the future, embrace it. Sincerely, Your future and much more knowledgable self

Take it easy with your friends and what you do with them. Do not use drugs or have sex. Study, study, study. Be patient with teachers. Take your studies seriously, because your future depends on them.

The first thing I would go back and tell myself is that you need to follow your heart and decide right off what you want your life to be about: do you want to have money, or do you want to do something you love? because the two things can be different. I decided initally that I wanted to move out of my parents and live on my own, so I went to college to be a respiratory therapist. After doing that for two years, I realize it's totally awful. Sure, I moved out, live on my own, and will always have that career option, but that's not what I want to do. I want to do something I love and will feel good about doing everyday--something that enriches who I am as a person, so I am going to be going back to get my Illustration degree in art. Decide now while you have time, how you want to feel about your life and your career and what you really want to do. Don't let financial stresses decide how you spend your time in this life, because like they say, money doesn't buy happiness.

I would recomend that I join a Fraternity. I have witnessed the benefits that follow being a member in a fraternity, and they are truely something I would reccomend to any high school senior. Being a member can offer many scholarships, leadership positions and academic resources that aren't available anywhere else on campus! I would tell myself to sieze the opportunity to become as involved as possible because there are so many opportunities out there just waiting to be experienced. I would advise spending more time meeting new people in class each day. Dont sit in the same spot; instead, branch out and meet someone new each day. Down the road, the kid you sat with in Chemistry might become your partner or even your boss. Networking is just as important as getting good grades, so take every chance you can get to attend career fairs as well as talk to professors. It isnt always what you know, but simply who you know. If you spent several hours each week meeting new people and you get an A- instead of an A+, it was worth it. So if passion drives you, let reason hold the reigns.

I would tell myself not to be overwhelmed by the campus and the classes being hard. The support system is so great that there is no need to worry and other students are the best resource.

I would tell myself to start studying each day as the professor gives you lectures and notes. Do all of the practice problems they give you even if it's not homework. Take all of the practice exams, they recycle some of the questions that were difficult from the previous semester. A little bit each day helps keep your brain focused and the repitition is great. I would also say to stay busy. It seems weird to say but it helps with time management and it gives you a great college experience and makes your resume look amazing. Go to office hours. The professors have them to help you. Professors can also write great letters of recommendation for scholarships and internships. Take advantage of any of the free study services they offer such as Supplemental Instruction or if you are in a program that gives you a free tutor, get one. Even if you don't think you need it, it doesn't hurt you. Lastly, college is partly school and they are just showing that you are easily trainable. You will take away a lot more from the experiences you have rather than the classes you take.

If I had the opportunity to go back and time and have a conversation with who I was as a senior in high school, I would tell myself that I need to trust that wherever I go, it will be the right place and that I am meant to be there. My biggest concern as a senior was that I was making the wrong decision and that I would regret it - but as a college sophomore I know that I am in the exact right place. As soon as I moved onto this campus, I knew right then and there that this would be an adventure of a lifetime, and even if I didn't know exactly where I was going, I knew I was making the first steps towards my future.