Iowa State University Top Questions

Never doubt yourself. Once you set your mind to something, know in your heart that you CAN accomplish it. Although your goals may seem extremely far off and incredibly hard to reach, just know that whatever it is you’re aspiring for, it is possible. Do not let friends or family, who are not working as vigorously at their goal, throw you off or keep you from your goal of bettering yourself through an education. Don’t waste time; every day counts when you are preparing for and working through college. As you can see, high school is coming to an end pretty quick, but the days in a college semester fly by even faster. You must work diligently to complete all that you must to get to where you want to go—every step is as important as the next.

Knowing what I know now about college I wish I could go back and give my “high school self” some good advice! The most important bit of advice I could give would be to “take it easy!” Don’t try to take a full load of classes, work full time, and expect a thriving social life. My first few semesters of college I tried to do everything at once, I spread myself too thin, and my school work suffered. Another word of advice I would give would be, “make time to study.” You don’t realize how important it is to make time in your schedule to find a quiet place and study for a few hours every day. I would always wait until the last minute to do homework or study and once again my grades suffered. The biggest transition from high school to college is that it is now time for you to step up and take control of your education! In high school your teachers used to baby sit you, but there is none of that in college. You have to be pro active, study hard, and go to your teachers’ office hours with questions!

If I could go back in time as a high school senior i think i would tell myself to enjoy it more, and appreciate what i had and how much my teachers and peers helped me and meant to me, because when you get to college it really is a whole new life, and it can be scary. and one of the things I miss most are my friends that went to other schools, it is so different not seeing their faces everyday. i would also tell myself that my senior school work was JUST as important as previous years, even though i was already accepted to the universities i wanted to attend. i would tell myself to focus even harder now so that i would be prepared for eveything college had to throw at me. and the last thing would be to appreciate my parents, because they helped me and did more for me than i ever could have imagened.

math and english, must study hard.......

For all high school seniors, exploring every possible option is necessary. First, it is important to look at schools that have your major. I went to Kansas State University my first year of college knowing that I wanted to be a nurse. Although KSU is a great school, it is not a nursing school and I ended up having to transfer. It is important to talk with your parents about the possible options. Make a list of what you are looking for in a college! Do you want to move far away? Do you want to stay close to home? Is a D1 or a community college better for you? Do they have my intended major? What is the town and social atmosphere like? What will the cost me? These are all important things to look at when deciding on a college. If you are unsure of your major or are not confident in school, I highly suggest starting at a community college. Actually, many of my friends wish this is what they would have done. Most importantly, find somewhere that you feel at home. Best of luck to you all! Study hard!

I would tell myself not to be so anxious about higher level classes for math and science. Even though the classes seem to be intimidating at first glance, there are so many programs available to help a student get through a class. Managing study time is extremely important as well. Taking more notes, and asking more questions in class helps to get through the tough parts, just as much as reading the textbook does. Studying an hour here and there for each class helps understanding the material better than does the late night cramming. And I would tell myself to have more fun. Just getting through the classes isn't enough. I would tell myself to enjoy the college experience more and get to know more people. Tkaing time out to have a conversation with another student and taking time to relax between classes helps the mind to settle down to be able to focus more on concepts and materials.

i would have advised myself to go to my current major right away at first I declared being a mechanic at acommunity college, and halfway through the semester decided to transfer to ISU and be an engineer, BUT I don't regret it.

If I could repeat my senior year, first of all I would start applying for scholarships as soon as possible because there is never enough money for college; for books, classes, gas, rent, food, utilities, and miscellaenious costs that come up on day to day living. I would also take extra college prep classes to help me transist from high school to college life. Once you start college its not just the physical workload you take on but the mental exhaustion that comes along with it. Having a support system is also a key factor in succeeding in the everyday life of being a college student. Don't count on just friends but family and those friends not just in your age group become the key factor in helping you cope with school work, work force, and peer pressure.

My advice would be to enjoy your time in High School. Once in College students should be focused and determined to succeed. Making the transition can be as easy as you make it. Stay organized and follow up on conversations had with adivors or professors. Be a person of character as well never compromise your honor.

Unfortunately I was not an extremely confident or focused individual during my senior year of high school. Prior to entering the university I was extremely insecure, self conscious, and unsure of my career/school goals. The idea of navigating my way around a large campus terrified me. Becoming involved in school activities intimidated me. Accessing the computer labs, library, and other educational resources seemed complex and difficult. The other students seemed comfortable and familiar with their routines. I felt nothing of the sort. Looking back I would tell myself to create a support system in and outside of the college campus. I would begin to see a personal counselor outside of college to gain a stronger perspective on my strengths, my beliefs and values, and to better handle the general conflicts and issues in my life. I would seek similar support within college. Counselors, mentors, and peer supports would have been helpful. Visiting the campus multiple times with a friend to map out my daily routes, locate important buildings and classrooms, and becoming familiar with those of whom I could seek out in times of need. I would create a support group to provide both direction and accountability.