Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

What should every freshman at Kent State University at Kent know before they start?

Katie

I would assure myself not to be afraid or self-consious. When you begin college as a freshman, it is a truly unique time in your life where you have the opportunity to completely start anew. You have the opportunity to choose your major, your classes, your schedule, your friends, the food you eat, the activities your involved with, and most importantly, the opportunity to redefine yourself. If you begin your freshman year with optimism and fearlessness, you can make your years at college some of the best of your life. I would also remind myself that I have the passion and drive to accomplish anything I set my mind to and to take advantage of every and all opportunities. Without fear holding me back, I am capable of achieving beyond what I could have ever conceived. With that said, I would finally assert that it is of vital importance to stay focused on the goals that I set for myself and to always take time to evaluate my priorities. Like Elenor Roosevelt once said, "With freedom comes responsibility."

ILYA

If I was to go back as a high school senior I would work on being a little more independent and develop better study habits. I never knew the importance of developing strong and strict study habits. Well I found out the hard way and now I am getting the hang of it. Also my mother did almost everything for me and know that I am on my own it is really tough but things are getting better for me and my advice to others who never been away try to get out more often because once you are on your own it is a totally different story.

Ashlee

The very first thing I would tell myself as a high school senior, would be to prepare better for college! The transition from high school to college is huge, and you really need to be prepared for it - so brush up on studying skills, time management tips, and organizational techniques. Also, don't be afraid to make new friends. Just because you're now at a school that is about 180 degrees different from the small town you grew up in, it's okay to become friends with people who might not share those same cultural values as you. And the last piece of advice I would absolutely share with myself is to take advantage of the post-secondary option in high school! You'll really learn the value of a dollar once you get to college and have none.

MaryCatherine

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself not to worry about the transition to college life, that everything would work out in the end, even though there were some times when I was not sure what to do. I would tell myself that I had picked a good roommate; we would become close friends, and watch T.V. shows together, have friends over to play games, and have a good time. I would tell myself that joining the marching band was the best decision I could ever had made, that I would make so many friends, and have so much fun, despite all of the marching and memorizing. I would have told myself to take things in stride, because sometimes you cannot avoid the problems that arise; you have to face them head-on. I would say that I should have saved more money, so I could go out and do more things during my breaks, because books are so expensive. Finally, I would tell myself that I had made the right decision in choosing Kent, because of everything I have learned and love here.

Patrick

I would tell myself to go to school as soon as you could that way I would not be in the state you would be right now. I would also tell myself to go into the construction area because that is something I always loved doing and tell myself that I could be a draft and design person that way i could design the houses or buildings around me. and that way i can say i helped design that building or house and be proud of what I did. I would also tell myself the sooner i started school the sooner I would be done with it and it is not all that hard to do and that I would love doing what i do in classes. Also i would tell myself the younger I am when i go back to school I could start working for a good company and be happy with myself and want to go to work everyday of my life.

travis

I would tell myself to be more serious about my lessons. And I would tell myself not to give up and quit college because I learned the hard way that the job you get without a college degree won’t be good jobs and you won’t like them. So what ever I do I shouldn’t quit.

Emily

Dear Emily, I know what you're thinking. Don't talk to him. There are more important things in life and the only things that can make you happy in life are, strangely enough, the ones that actually make you happy. The social scene is boring. Solitude has always been the best thing for us, but make sure to make friends. Fitting in among anyone is not worth the effort.

Sarah

The most important advice I would give myself if I could go back in time would be to be more open about making friendships. I wish I was more outgoing my freshman year. Also, I wish I was more independent, rather than dependent on my father. I would also say a good piece of advice is to ask for help from your professors if you are struggling. They are there to teach you and the majority of them want to see you succeed. Take advantage of free events on campus, especially when you get free shirts!

Corbin

If I were able to go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, there are many pieces of advice I would give myself. The first piece of advice would be to work as hard as you can while in high school, becuase the things you do in there and the grades you get will follow you for the rest of your life and impact everything you do afterwards. The second point I would advise would be to complete as many post secondary/concurrent enrollment courses as possible so that it would progress me further in college when I got to that point. The tuition in high school for college courses are less expensive and it would have proved very helpful. The final pieice of advice I would give would be to get as involved as possible in extra-curricular activities such as clubs and school activities. It would help me become more rounded as a person and gain better social skills that would also help me in the future.

Emily

There are many things that I would tell my senior self if i could go back in time but the most important thing would be to appreciate my parents more. I did not truly realize how lucky I was to be able to attend college at a good school until I got here. No matter what you do after high school there is going to be transition and change, but being able to further my education opens so many more doors for me. I needed to have the drive to continue my education, but without my family backing me up there is no way that I would be here. That is why if i could go back in time I would tell my high school self to appreciate my parents more because they are giving me so much and deserve everything that I could give to them and more.

Kara

If I could go back and encounter myself as a high school senior, I would be going back to look at a girl who was confused, determined and scared about her future, afraid that it might not offer as much promise as she hoped it would. The best piece of advice I could give her would be not to worry. A huge thing that I've learned from college is that if you are openminded and optimistic, things have a way of working themselves out. I would tell her to study hard, because near perfect grades in high school don't necessarily equate with a 4.0 in college. I would tell her to be excited, because college will teach her things about herself and about other people that will show her the amazing potential of human beings to become something incredible. I would tell her to take the next year seriously, because the longer you are in college the more you realize that an education really is the key to being able to do anything you want in life. I would tell her to smile and relax, because she's about to experience the best years of her life.

Kaylee

There are plenty of things I would tell myself as a high school senior if I was able to go back in time. The first and most important of these things would be to take the math class that I refused to take since I said I would "never major in anything that was going to require math". I made a huge mistake by not considering all options for a college major; I never thought I would change my mind so drastically! If I could let my high school self know this, I would have a much easier time in my Pre-Medicine classes.

David

I would tell my high school self to spend as much time with my friends as possible. The transition to college has made me realize that the people that have shaped and affected my life in the greatest ways were the ones that were in my life for the shortest amount of time. I would tell him that all of his friends are going to go on to do great things, and that he's not getting left behind because he's going to do things that are just as spectacular, and there's always a chance that he'll run into them somewhere later in life.

Amanda

Dear High School Amanda, I know that graduation is coming on fast and you are counting down the days to get out of high school. Looking back, I have one piece of advice for you, STOP! Enjoy the sameness while you can, even though it can be boring at times. Enjoy the high school routine, sitting with the same close group of friends at lunch every day, never spending more than a class period apart from your best friends, and when you're out of school, only having them a ten minute drive away. Stress less and take a moment to appreciate what will soon be gone. Take too many pictures, laugh too much, do stupid things with the people you love the most, because in a few months they will be miles away and those moments will only happen every so often. Make memories, they will get you through any sad or lonely moment. Cherish the sameness that you have both loved and hated, it will be gone soon enough, and you can't get it back. Love, College Amanda

Kelli

I would advise myself to take up all the opportunities given to me. I've been busy and active in the student media here at Kent and have taken advantage of the great oppurtunities to shine and exercise my writing. I would also tell myself that I should stay on campus more often the first year, and not be too shy to go out and branch out to new groups of friends--I held myself back my freshman year!

Nicholas

Apply for more scholorships and save more money. It will help relieve some stress about paying tuition and make your time more enjoyable.

Megan

Go into college with an open mind towards new cultures, experiences and personalities. Have confidence in yourself and stand for what you believe in. Become involved in many campus activities and don't be scared to try new things. Study hard to achieve your goals and never give up on yourself.

Melissa

College is much different than high school. You can no longer put off doing your homework or studying. You think you can get away with not studying before a test, but college makes that impossible. I study for hours before each test now to make sure I get a good grade. Its also important to go that extra mile. You are now in classes that relate to your future, it is important to know as much as possible about the job you are going into, so make sure you are participating! While high school was very close-knit, you will now have to work a little harder to make friends on campus. So try to volunteer for campus activities during your free time. Another thing that is important is to know what you want out of this upcoming experience. You have spent a lot of time trying to decide what career you want to go into and while exploring the options is fun, it is also expensive. Try to work on figuring out what you want to do with your life. But most importantly of all, college can be a great experience. So relax and allow yourself to have fun!

Ashley

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to keep working hard. Keep your grades up, and attend school every day, unless you absolutely cannot. Visit colleges and apply to the ones that you like best. Stay focused and do not be afraid to ask questions!

Minu

If I could go back in my high school years, then I would advice myself to focus on the studies more than anything else. High school grades are really important to get into better universities. Better high school grades can get you better offers from the univerisities including scholarships. I would also advice mylsef to choose the college not by its outlook or by how big it is. Choose the college by its quality of education and by the things it has to offer to you to make you even brighter and smarter person. While choosing the college, don't be lazy and just make a randon choice. Go through the college websites and actually know what kind of college it is. If possible, go visit the college in person and talk to the college representatives or advisors so that you can have the better knowledge about the college. Also know where your college stands in your desired major and get as much information as you can get about your college, because once you get it the college, all those infomation comes to be really useful to shape up your career. Laslty, appy to the college as early as possible.