Iowa State University Top Questions

If I could go back in time the one of the things I would probably go back and advise to myself would be the keys to studying for exams. I've always had decent study skills even though I must say high school seemed way easier but once I started attending Iowa State, preparing for exams was harder than I thought. Had I known the proper keys to studying as well as good note taking I think college would've started off a little bit better for me. I'd also probably stress to myself how important it is to do good my first couple of semesters of college due to the fact my first year lays the ground work for my G.P.A. It's harder to raise your G.P.A. when classes start to get harder as you get farther in and having a high G.P.A. makes it less stressful to work your G.P.A. up

You need to prepare for the biggest change of your life yet. Living without parents requires more responsibility. Finding a career that you like is much more important than one that pays more money. Don't get in over your head; take fewer credits and get better grades by focusing more on less classes. Getting a degree within four years isn't as important as gaining the knowledge. Balance your life out and don't overload on either school work or a job because it will catch up with you. Don't give in to distractions and procrastinate; doing the fun thing isn't always doing what needs to be done. Join clubs because it gets you out of the dorm to a place where you and others can share common interests. It is important to stay out of trouble. In only one year I have seen many students drop or fail out because they partied too much. Use campus resources such as the library, they're there for a reason. Give your family the occasional call because they love and miss you.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior is start saving now! I learned that college is exspensive and if you plan on working hard in classes and not wanting to work as much during school you should dave up money for the future. Especially the summer before your first college year is when you want to really start planning and not put anything off. I would also tell myself that if you are going to a community college first then you should do an AA degree instead of an AAS degree that way most of your credits transfer and you can begin the program you want at the University of your choice. When taking classes at a Community College it would be better to challenge yourself. The last piece of advice I would give myself is to maintain a healthy and balanced social life. Partying isn't everything. Grades are important and its okay to have fun every now and then, but going out so much can really affect your college achievment which just puts more stress on your life. Your social life isn't always everything because you have your whole life to make friends!

Dear self, Stop worrying yourself about what you are going to major in, because the average student changes majors three times in their undergraduate career, so coming in undecided is just fine. Besides, the one that you pick in the long-run will be what you want. In regards to whether or not the college you chose to attend is right for you, you'll have to wait and see how it works out for you. Trust yourself because you know yourself better than anyone else, including your instructors or academic advisors, which is why you need to explain yourself and your ideas to them when you communicate with them. Sitting in one of the first three rows of a classroom is highly advisable because it makes large and small classes feel the same and allows you to befriend the other people sitting in the front; it is a proven fact that people who sit in the front versus those who sit in the back of the room get better grades and understand their material better. You are also more apt to stay awake and to have your professor actually recognize you. My best advice: trust yourself and pay attention.

If I knew how college life would have been like during my high school senior year, I would have made much more different decisions toward the college path. I would tell my high school senior self to pay much more attention to my academics instead of worrying about my social life. Friends and boys would not be the ones assisting me through the transition to college and my career path; that I would have to be the one helping myself. I would also tell my past self it is not worth skipping class because, ‘I don’t feel like going’ will not help you out in the long run. Missing out on important materials and assignments causes one to do awful on exams or quizzes. Not doing the best on exams affects your grades and grade point average, which may limit you on the colleges you can actually attend. The final advice I would tell my high school self would be to speak to my counselor more frequently in order to make the appropriate decision in which college I could actually attend. If I had an opportunity to speak to my past self, college would be very different for me.

Making the decision about where to attend college can be one of the most stressful times in a person's life. Did I choose the right school? What major suits me best? Will I be able to make new friends? There is no way to answer these questions until you have experienced them yourself. However, just trusting yourself will make the task much easier! When I was a senior in high school, I was completely set on my major, thinking I would never change my mind...but I did! After having the experience of an internship in my original field, I decided it was not for me. Don't let this scare you! I am happier in my new major than I ever could have imagined, and without taking that chance, I would never have known what I was missing. The most important advice I would give myself as a senior in high school would be to trust yourself and take chances, even if you're scared, becuase you never know how much you will love your decision in the end! No regrets!

Going back in time to talk to myself would be really helpful. I would tell myself to consider all my options before settling. Looking into scholarships, grants, and loans could potentially help myself go to a four-year university and to know that it is possible without having to go to a community college first. Telling myself to not be so shy would be great because everyone just wants to make friends deep down. I would tell myself to stop eating so much top ramen and realize that pad thai is really not that hard to make. Not stressing out over little things would be another piece of wisdom to tell myself as I have come to learn that making my body stressed out does not change things as time does. I would also tell myself the technique I've learned in pole vaulting that took me four years to learn so I wouldn't have to spend that long on it. Knowing that I need to have fun and keep smiling is key because college life really isn't that long, so I should enjoy it while it lasts!

People always will tell you that high school will be the best time of your life. You make some fantastic friends, have many firsts during these years, attend sporting events, and basically live a care free life. But Caitlin, trust me, college is the best time of your life. Not only do you have all the freedom you want, but you learn to be responsible with that freedom, you make even GREATER friends, and you learn what you want to do with your life. College will help you create the best memories of your life. Drama subsides and you learn not to care so much of what others think of you. Trust your favorite band Jack's Mannequin when they say, "Read your books, but stay out late some nights." It's gonna get better kid.

If I knew what I know now when I was a high school senior I would have told myself to pursue my own dreams. I feel like now that I'm twenty-two, I am finally on track with what I want to do with my life and have a pretty good mindset on what I would like to achieve. I would also have told myself that it is going to take a lot of hard work. Throughout my years in school, I've kept a job and worked around thirty hours a week while keeping up with my school work in able to afford my education. It has given me a sense of accomplishment throughout the years to know that I am achieving a goal that I have had since I was a little girl. Although it would have been nice to know these hardships before starting my education, I believe it's made me a stronger person. I've worked through many different factors while attending school and knowing that I have persevered through them has given me more confidence in myself. It has made me believe that I can do anything I set my mind to.

If I knew what I know now about college, I would tell myself to select an advisor who loves her/his job, who has an invested interest in my future, and will encourage me not discourage me. I would have my four year plan laid out in advance to make sure I am not taking classes out of sequence. I would also encourage myself to develop key relationships with faculty and staff. I would seek out a mentor both academic and professional who would invest time in me to help me develop and grow in both areas. I would ask to be placed in a learning community, so I may develop strong academic relationships with students in my area of study. I would not hold leadership position in many extracurricular activities my first semester instead focus on my academics to ensure I am transitioning well into my first semester. Most important of all I would encourage myself to seek out support and help from the university vice president of student services when treated like a second class citizen. I would also tell myself to make friends with individuals who want "Nothing Less than Success" in all aspects fo their life.