Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

Transitioning to college is often times hard for students, but it is important to be true to your self. As a senior in high school, I would go back, dream big, and help others in need. Kent State University provides resources to start your own on campus business or non-profit organization. After spending the past three summers in the Dominican Republic, I would established a business to sell the art that is unique to that area. There is a big trend in purchasing fair trade products, so I would have sold fair trade coffee, chocolate, and snacks which all profits would have benefited the people of the Dominican Republic. I really enjoy volunteering, so I would have created my own volunteer group that could serve as an example to the students at Kent State University. College students cannot only serve in their local communities, but I have also volunteered in New Orleans and the Dominican Republic. I have learned a great deal about myself through serving others, and I would want to encourage other students along the way by creating resources for them to do so.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the number one thing I would talk to myself about is making sure I have a solid way to pay for college. I would give myself tips, such as applying for for as many scholarships as possible, finding a job that would be accessible while engaged with my college studies; and if or when I need to take out a loan for school, to make sure I had a good credit score so that I could achieve a higher chance of of being awarded the loan money. I would also tell myself to have a couple of plans in mind of how to pay off any loans I would have taken out during my college career. The second most important piece of advice I would give myself would be to start off with a strong G.P.A.. The better that I do academically, the more finacial help and oppotunities the school would give me.

Knowing what I know now, I would have told myself as a high school senior to apply for more schoalrships ahead of time. I would also make sure that I would work more during the summer before college started so that I would have more money to pay for books. During high school I would have volunteered more in and out of school so that I may have more experience to apply to my resume. I would also advise myself to participate in other extra curricular activities such as sports and clubs.

Just have fun when you get there. Don't be afraid to approach new people and make friends, everyone there is looking to meet new people. Now is your chance to make some life long friends. Check out some of the school sponsored events and go out and have a good time. You're bound to make some good friends if you're willing to put yourself out there.

If I could go back in time to when I was a high school senior, I would tell myself many things. I would have told myself to pick a school because you want to go there not because its close to home, or friends. College is a once in a lifetime experience, so study hard, stay focused and take advantage of the great opportunity. I am very happy I chose Kent State, but I do sometimes wish I had gone to a school in the south where its warm more than two months of the school year. I would have told myself to take advantage of all of the wonderful educational programs Kent offers such as Supplemental Instruction, and free tutoring. I would have also told myself not to look at the dollar signs behind a college. College in general is expensive, I would have rather have gone to a college that was more expensive but farther from home, and a bit more of an adventure. This is what I would have told myself as a High school senior. It's what I will tell my younger sisters, and my children as well.

If I were to give advice to myself as a high school senior, I would have a lot to say after my experiences in college. I would have told myself to look at more schools and take trips to check out more campuses to get a good feel of the environment of each school. While I was checking out campuses I would also advise myself to talk to current students and ask them about their experiences. I feel like I should have applied for more scholarships as well. I applied for a lot, but college has turned out to be much more expensive than I originally thought. I would also tell myself to take more college classes that my high school offered at a discounted price. These pieces of advice would have allowed me to choose a better school to avoid an expensive transfer, and would have enabled me to more easily pay for my education.

Do as much research on-line as possible. Talk to graduates of the schools you are considering to find out what they thought of thier experience. Find a school that has a wide variety of majors. There is a good chance that your mind will change along the way. Look at the required classes for the majors you are considering to make sure you fully understand what the major really involves. It is easy to get the wrong impression about what a major would entale from the media make sure you have a clear understanding of what you will be studying within that major. Talk to people in the field you are considering to find out what thier impression of the school is. Find out if the major or majors you are considering can only be aquired as a full time student or if the need should arise can you attend part time and still complete your major. Don't give up! It will be worth it!

After transferring from a different university, I would tell my high school self to follow my heart. Although I went with what SEEMED right at my first school and major, I now discovered that I should've stuck with my instinct to try something new, different, and more enticing to me. While I learned this valuable information as an exchange student (which was the year after I graduated high school), If i hadn't been so lucky, I would've told myself to focus on my education and career. Looking at other younger students in my major, I can see them getting caught up in the 'college life'. Being a few years older, I feel like I have my priorities straight and have been fortunate enough to learn more about life and the importance of a good education. I am very grateful that I learned these lessons abroad and if I hadn't, would tell myself that the party life isn't worth the hassle. I've seen too many people fail out of my program and to me, being educated and successful are the only things someone can truly rely on nowadays to have a prosperous life.

During my time at college, I have learned that study habits will get you very impressive grades. I also learned that many scholarships will start at a 3.0 and require many extracurricular activities and community service. In high school, I did many activities but my grades started to become more impressive during my junior year. By that time, it was too late to reach the GPA that I was aiming to graduate with and I was not qualified to apply for certain scholarships. Eventually, I had to take out loans which will have to be paid in the future. If I had the chance to go back to talk to myself in high school, I would tell myself to put more of an emphasis on studying and doing more volunteer work not only to appy for scholarships, But to become a better person and help others in the community.

As a Wisconsin resident, moving 7 hours to Ohio was an incredible transition for me. I was extremely nervous seeing as how I knew no one at my new school. I had a lot of apprehensions about putting myself in a completely new environment. Knowing what I know now, I would not have not held back as much my freshman year of college. There are so many opportunities to get involved and thought these opportunities, you can often meet so many people. Although I did meet many new people my first year, I wish I would have not been as apprehensive about going out there and getting involved through volunteer work and other charity work. Getting involved is a huge part of what makes college such a rewarding experience; and since I have recognized this after my first year at the University, I am seizing more and more opportunities to get involved and meet new people. Freshman year at a university is always very challenging. However, the biggest lesson for me was that the more you put yourself out there, the easier it becomes to call your new school your home.

If I had the opportunity to talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to fully consider all my options for school. The summer before my senior year I was volunteering in Honduras and planned on applying for schools when I returned home. When I did return home I didn?t follow my plan because that summer had changed my life. After my experience in Honduras I realized that I wanted to study something involving Spanish. I wasn?t truly concerned about applying for college because I was still caught up in my summer experience and I didn?t focus on the importance of finding the right college for me. After a semester at my first school I decided to transfer to the school I am at currently. I wish I would have looked into the school I am at now because they have the exact program that I was looking for and if I would have concentrated on college in the beginning I wouldn?t have wasted a semester at the wrong school.

If I were to talk to my former high school self, as a senior, I would have an abundance of advice. First, I would tell myself that it's alright to set high goals, but to always have a backup plan. Second, I would tell myself to go to the college financial aid office early to talk to the counselors about possible scholarship and grant opportunities; financial aid is pretty much on a first-come, first-serve basis; also, apply for as many scholarships as possible. Third, I would tell myself to fill out the FAFSA in mid-to- late January that way it could be a chance I could receive more financial aid. Next, I would tell myself to get a part time job while I am in college and take out only one credit card, but be sure to look at the interest rates and to get a small limit on it, so I can begin to establish credit just in case I may have to take out a loan for college. Last but not least, I would tell myself that no matter what, stay diligent and focused because if I do, the sky is the limit.

Hey there high school Sam . :) Here you are graduating a year early. Just know that you are going to miss a lot here with your friends having their senior year back home, always remeber to keep in touch. It's going to be challenging balencing time with your new friend and making time for your friends back home but it will make the world of a diffrence when you come back home to visit. Get yourself excited to be better orginized for the school year ahead. As future Sam, I have learned that buying fun orginizational tools (such as a cool planner) help you in staying orginized. Most importantly, stay true to who you are. There are going to be many people that surrond you that make you want to change and do actions to impress. Let those feelings go and make sure you do everything that makes you comfertable. Yours truly, Future Sam

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not worry about what your classmates are doing, focus on yourself!

Study more and remember to always find time to complete homeowrk. Remember to take risks and listen to my parents more. Fpllow the advice of my parents and teachers. With everything there is a balance so take adavantage of this advice.

Do not go to Ashland and waste the money. Start off at community college and work your way through college so that you don't accrue the debt that you have now.

If I was given the chance to go back in time and give myself advice, I would tell myself to relax and have fun when I get to college. When I was in high school I dreaded going to college and having to leave my friends and family behind. I actually considered going to a college that was close to home so that my life could remain unchanged and I could remain in my comfort zone. I dreaded this transition into college up until the day before I was set to move into my freshman dorm. When I arrived on campus for Kent's Week of Welcome I almost dropped out and went to the Trumbul Campus because I was extremely homesick and worried I would never make friends. Therefore, by going back in time and telling myself to relax, I could have made a much easier transition into college life. My advice to relax and have fun in college would have gave me the confidence that I could adapt to any situation with ease. I know this because once I did relax I made some great friends which convinced me that college would, in fact, be fun after all.

The advice I would give myself would be to try to get involved in competing for the university. I just sat back and thought they would come to me, knowing that I played in high school. Now I know that I should have been more aggressive in persuing that dream.

Oh, if only I could go back in time...the biggest and best piece of advice I could grant my past self, I believe, would be to put more effort into my interpersonal interactions. Had I started socializing and making friends right off of the bat, my transition to the university might have been a little more smooth, and not as lonely. I would tell myself not to worry so much about being around so many people I had never met before, but instead focus on how cleansing a fresh start could be! I've made so many good friends since I've started attending the school, and just in my first semester, alone! It would have been so much easier on me, and so much smoother a transition, had I opened up and risked popping out of my shell earlier. Other than that, my only advice would be to enjoy home cooking while I could! Campus food gets a bit dull, after a while!

I would not have gone to community college first, I would have gone straight to a four year university. Kent State likes to think of itself as an 'on-campus' university even though it can't house nearly 70{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of its student body. If I really could do it over, I'd have looked into things like off campus housing, graduation rates, retention rates and the price of food on campus. Kent's food prices are extorinate. I also wish I had looked into studying for my degree in Europe. What has saved me from quitting is great professor's who are passionate and dedicated. That's the kind of experience I hope every higher education student gets. Professor's who will do anything to help you as long as you're willing to work.