Johns Hopkins University Top Questions

Take it easy academically the first semester, especially if it's pass/fail, but then start studying hard in sophomore, junior, and senior years. It's not a good idea skipping section classes just because it's too early in the morning and the class seems easy, as the professor can be tricky on exams. Have fun making as many friends as possible for social connection and social networking purposes, but don't pursue significant others just because of loneliness. Wait until senior year, at least. Find good internships starting in the summer of sophomore year to help your future career opportunities. Take one language in freshman year and stick with it , either Spanish or Chinese possibly. Ask questions during professors' office hours whenever you don't understand something or visit the TA often because they are really helpful. Don't just take easy classes to get an A but take at least one challenging class each semester. Try to participate in outdoors events like mountain climbing or biking to meet new people and have fun. Find a good Bible study group to keep your faith fresh and alive. Learn to work well with others for studying and having fun.

Knowing what I know now, if I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself not to worry and that in college I am happy. I would tell myself I have no regrets about the school I chose to attend and that I have made friends with a diverse, talented, and amazing group of people. My knowledge of the transition to college life would prompt me to stress not being afraid to take the initiative to invite a new friend to grab lunch between classes or strike up a conversation with someone sitting nearby. I would tell myself not to worry about the future too much. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the inundation of new information in the first few weeks and intimidated by some of the other students, but it is important to keep the focus on yourself and your own growth as a person. By the end of your first year of college you will look back on the person you were at the start and see how much you have grown for the better since you first unpacked all of your belongings into your dorm room.

Trust yourself and your abilities. You will come in uncertain of your standing amongst your peers, especially coming out of a small high school in Idaho, you will quickly realize that you do not have the same credentials as those coming out of highly renown high schools in New York City or California. Everyone will have an adjustment period, so as long as you keep up, you will be on the same playing field as everyone else, and you can do well under those conditions. Make sure to make friends during your first semester while grades are covered, this is not only important for making study groups, but vital when considering the limited social-life available on campus. Finally, diversify yourself. The grades will come and you will be able to do fine, rather than over-stressing yourself over your grades, look to involve yourself in either research, doctor-shadowing, and clubs that will give you a reprieve from the intense academic gauntlet which faces you in the near future.

As a high-school senior who was obsessed with Pennsylvania State University, I was convinced that my life was laid out for me. I was accepted in November, my boyfriend was a freshman there, and I was head-over heels in love with him. I had applied to other schools, but I strategically applied to schools comparable to PSU, and schools which were extreme reaches. Everything seemed right, and I thought that nothing would come in the way of my happily-ever-after. Then, I was accepted to Johns Hopkins University in February. Suddenly, reality came crashing down on me. What should I do? Should I compromise my romantic interests in hopes of a promising career further down the line? Would I be happy among the over-achieving students at Hopkins? I wish I could have saved myself countless sleepless nights pondering these thoughts. If I could go back in time knowning what I do now, I would tell that lovestruck girl that she finds happiness in Hopkins. A boy is never worth compromising one's future. She will find the best of friends there, and she fits right in among the students. If I had only known then...

If I could go back in time and give myself advice for the future I would say that no school will be perfect for you. Don't expect to go there and be happier than you were back home with your friends and family, even though you can barely tolerate living at home. Yes, you will make new friends and they will feel the same pain as you but just try to concentrate on school work and eventually you will get a vacation. Also, do your absolute best to make sure you don't get sick. It's not like high school, it won't help you at all. The best to do that is to get eight hours of sleep each night. Furthermore, being an engineer is incredibly trying and difficult. You will need to work at least 40 hours a week and somehow there manages to not be enough time in a day, so you really cannot procrastinate. This means taking multiple days to study for an upcoming exam because going to extra-help (which you will need) and doing extra problems takes a long time. Although college life is different, you will get used to it.

The most important days of college at the first three days. Within these three days, you will meet most of your friends and make connections that may last a life time. In these first few days I would recommend meeting as many new people as possible. It is much easier to start conversations and find new students with an array of different interests in these first few days. Once the first week of classes start, you stick with the few bonds you have made and may ulitmately have limited yourself to number of friendships that could have formed.

Get ready for the transition to college - it's a crazy one. You're about to be thrust into a brand new world, full of people you haven't met and places you've yet to explore. Give yourself time to get into the swing of things, and don't be too disappointed by grades lower than you're used to - there is almost guaranteed to be a curve by the end of the semester. Seek help if you don't know what's going on, and study the material you cover regularly - you WILL NOT be able to learn it all the night before a test (believe me). On a different note, don't go into college looking for a boy. If you focus on yourself, and make sure you are enjoying yourself even through the craziness that is class, the right boy will find you. If you're focused on finding a boy, you're almost certain to feel less comfortable in your own skin, and that confidence you're lacking is what the men are attracted to. Love yourself, and don't forget to study!

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself two things. First I would tell myself to try out for the men's varsity soccer team. I regret not trying to make the team here after playing soccer since I was four years old. I believe that being on the soccer team would have allowed me to meet a completely different part of the student body. Also, it would have forced me to stay in shape which is something that I think is important for students who get bogged down with a heavy workload. The second thing that I would tell myself to do would be to apply to private scholarships. Finding private scholarships can be difficult but the potential payoff is great. I did not apply to any private scholarships before or during freshman year and I have regretted not giving myself the chance to earn any. Besides, nothing can make a students' parents more happy than help paying for their college education.

If I traveled back in time to talk to myself without the fear that I would destroy the space-time continuum and shatter the fabric of reality, oh goodness, would I have advice for myself! First off, give Mom a hug. She?ll miss you and she made everything possible. That?s right, soon you?re going to sound this preachy; I?m your ghost-of-schoolings-yet-to-come. Appreciate Mom and her dinners, because (believe-it-or-not) you'll miss them. Learn to be a little independent! Do some laundry! You?ll be sorry when you?re clueless whether gray goes in the color or non-color wash. Also, learn how to study. Just wait?you?ll wish you had studying down to a science. I don?t mean study all the time (have fun kid!); I just mean practice the habits your teachers taught (in case you were wondering, they do know more than you). Finally, stop worrying so much! Your SAT scores aren?t the end of the world. You?re at your dream school and guess what? It?s better than you imagined. And you?re still around to give yourself some advice, mahalo.

It's not high school. Relax. You will be happier than you have ever been in your life. Just control your spending, you always gave people advice as to how to save money, take your own advice. There is no point trying to be who you think people want you to be because for the first time in your life your friends will be true friends who just want you to be you. There is no more game of who can be the most popular or who is the most talented. For the first time in your life you will really feel beautiful and those around you will think you are beautiful, it sounds cheesey but amazingly it is true. All the stresses of senior year will seem utterly pointless and unimportant, living without your parents can be one of the most liberating experierences of you life if you keep all that they have taught you in the back of your mind and use your head when you need to. Just relax, the hardest time of you life is over and the wonderful real world awaits you--don't look back, movee forward!