Iowa State University Top Questions

I would have given myself the advice to prepare myself financially before I made a decesion on where I wanted to go. Although, I really wanted to go to Iowa State University I think it would have been more econmical for me to go to a different school because of the scholarship offers which exceeded Iowa States.

If I were to go back in time to myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would say is "relax." There is so much pressure and stress on the months leading up to college that I found it difficult to fully enjoy the time I had left in highschool. It is easy to think of all the "what ifs" leading up to August. What if I don't make friends? What if it is too hard? What if I get homesick? I would reassure senior me that all of these worries were merely that, worries. College's are designed to be tough. There is no way around that, but if you are willing to put in the work necessary, grades wont even be a problem. Friends also come easy in college. Being stuck together with hundreds of other freshman such as yourself forces everyone to get to know eachother, and chances are, they will become some of the best friends you ever have. Lastly is the homesick worry. I would tell my younger self that college becomes so much like your home that in a year, he would be longing every day to go back.

I would tell myself to make sure that you figure out all of your financial aid situations before you go into college so you don't hve to stress out about it throughout the school year.

The advice that I would give myself is to have confidence, 'don't wait for invitations, go out and get them'. Knowing this I feel as though I wouldn't have been so shy and reserved during the first months of college. Not waiting for invitations would have made it easier to make friends, find activities to do/go to, and feel like I just needed to fit in. The other advice I would give is don't feel as though you have to hangout and be friends with your roommate. While getting along with your roommate is always a plus, you don't have to spend all your time together, have the same friends, or like them same things.

If I could give my past self some advice I would say get involved, explore as many scholarship opportunities that you can, and stay organized. Getting involved and jumping right into your campus's environment is very important for many reasons: an opportunity to meet new people, to further your education through real world experience, and to help beef up your resume. Exlporing scholarships is also very important for you as you want a somewhat stable financial situation when going into college, the more assisstance you get with your dues the less you will have to pay off later. Finally staying organized is key, in college no one holds your hand in class, it is up to you to stay on top of your classes and other obligations.

Go to class and pay attention. Some classes give out credit just for attendance and some questions on tests are based on something taught in class. Make sure to pay your tuition fees on time and keep track of your academic progress. Keep applying for scolarships! Make sure to eat healthy, and to take care of your body. Be responsible with school work and time management

As you go into the college lifestyle, make sure to make a schedule. Doing so will absolutely make your life easier as the year progresses. Along with making the schedule, make sure to stick with it at all times. It will help out the most through college. Also, do not hesitate to get a tutor if you need it. They are extremely helpful and when it comes time for exams, they are one of your best resources to use to make sure you understand everything that you need to know.

To be weary of who you share personal information to. Get to know lots of different types of people and don't let anyone determine how you feel about yourself. Branch out and try new things. Boaden your horizons and do things that may seem a little scary or intimidating to you. However, don't lose who you truly are and always remember that school comes first. Don't wait until the last minute to do things and always organize your schedule.

I would make sure I knew what I wanted to do, but of course no one knows exactly before they actually get there, and prioritize my time accordingly. Throughout my many, many days in the engineering program, I put my social networking and 'fun' before lower levels of classwork. As a parent one might look at that and say, "Oh my, poor Johnny is going to flunk out." But I knew otherwise. I quickly learned that the average engineer was awkward, hard to communicate with, either studied or played video games, showered once a week, and slept in class while still managing a 4.0. So basically, I wasn't the average engineer. I had developed the mind of an engineer, but the social skills of a businessman. At this point, I would again look back to my high school self and say, "Volunteer to give your presentation first. Set the bar high and watch everyone else try and present at the same caliber." With the networking and engineering coursework, I later realized that engineering alone wasn't for me. So, I received a minor in Sales Engineering further advancing my network, which soon turned into 500+ connections on LinkedIn.

The transition from high school to college is a lot greater than most students like to think. As a high school senior getting accepted into Iowa State University, I was thinking more about the social life I would have as an Iowa State student, when I should have been thinking more about my academic life. The first piece of advise I would give to myself would have been to spend more time applying for scholarships. The more financial help you can get from scholarships, the less stressed you will be later in your college carreer. The next piece of advice I would give myself would be to get involved on campus more as a freshman. Networking is a huge part of being successful and the more you get involved, the larger network you will have. Lastly, the earlier you start studying and being a good student, the easier your life will be. The whole "spend 2 hours outside of class for every hour in class" rule is the most important rule to remember. I wish I would have followed this rule more as a freshman as I did when I was a sophomore. Your main job is being a student.