Kent State University at Kent Top Questions

Throughout high school I could not wait for the day where I would leave to college. I was just ready to be on my own and be free to do what ever I pleased. I finally only had three days left, three days before my entire life was going to change forever. I remember it like it was yesterday, I remember telling my dad, "Dad I don't know if I can do this." And he told me, "Always follow your dreams, but never forget your way back home." Then it didn't make sense, but now if I could go back I would tell someone the same thing. Dreams are beautiful, and sometimes they will take you places that you didn't have planned, but home is home and that will never change. My best advice would be to appreciate everything your parents do for you. Appreciate the little notes that your mom leaves to remind you of things, the home cook meals, the arguements, the lessons, appreciate everything because when you go to college you lose it all. Appreciate how easy life is when you're in high school, because it's barely the first step.

My whole life, people have been telling me "High school is the best time of your life!" I was very disappointed with that statement all through highschool, because high school was fun, but it definitely was not the time of my life. I made more vauled friends and memories in the first month of college than I ever did in high school. My biggest piece of advice is that STOP worrying about everyone else. It doesn't matter if everyone else has accomplished things, been places, or made grades that you have not. It doesn't matter now and it won't matter later what "everyone else" is doing because YOUR LIFE is about you! If everyone has their license, get yours because YOU are ready to drive, not because everyone else can drive. You will look back on these things and feel silly for trying to keep up with your peers all the time. On a college campus where no one knows you, where you came from, or your past reputation, you will realize that life is not about constantly competing with others, its making yourself the most successful person you can be.

i would really say get involve in high school it will make the world of diffrence in college. Get involved in anything joing the organizations that the school has work on building your resumae before you get to college. Dont go into college without thinking about what you really want to do figure that out or at least narrow it down and go to a school that has both ideas that you have in mind. Even as a freshman it may seem like you have forever to decied and look for scholarships but the more you can get before you go to college the better off you will be.

My advice to myself about transitioning to college life would involve being more independent! I always had help when a new experience presented itself. Whether it was signing up for classes, filling out paperwork for a sport, or determining my tax status, I went to people with questions. Not that you don’t have counselors and professors in college; but it’s not the same, I don’t know these people! I was apprehensive using my school email for class instructions and Blackboard to listen to lectures. Buying books and books with access cards took searching for a bargain to a whole new level of online shopping! I have found persistence pays off. So does trial and error! Don’t be afraid to tackle those new experiences by yourself! My brother had never flown on an airplane until he joined the Army and was “forced” to travel alone. After the first time, though, he said he could conquer any airport. I think of that philosophy when I’m trying something for the first time; next time I do this I will be an expert at it. Well, at least I’ll know a little bit about what I’m doing!

If I could give myself advice about college before entering, I would say do not make quick decisions. I've made so many poor decisions because I never took the time to analyze the outcomes and I based them off of what others told me. Rather than relying on others, research for yourself. Take the time to make decisions that you know will benefit you towards doing what you're passionate about and don't worry about the financial situations or what others might say because you have to live with your choices, not them. It's better to make clear choices now instead of completing a degree in a field you don't enjoy, getting a job that isn't fulfilling in multiple aspects, and deciding to go back to school for something completely different. So, take your time and make educated decisions. If you don't know what you want to do, research and take classes that will help you decide because you won't know if you like or dislike something until you try it.

Throughout high school I was always told to study and focus on my grades, so I was fully prepared for the SATs and I had a strong GPA to apply with. Although these numbers are a vital aspect of applying to any university, I wish I had focused less on my academic work. Studies are incredibly important and should most certainly not be slacked upon, but high school is also an experience. If I could go back and tell my high school self anything, I would tell myself to get involved and take advantage of all the opportunities high school had to offer. The importance of getting involved is so overseen because of the publicity of grades and scores that we forget about the experience. I wish I would have tried out for a play or attended almost every sporting event that I could instead of spending that night studying and worrying about all the work I had to do. High school was my opportunity to step outside of my shell, to be adventurous and try something new, but I failed at experiencing that opportunity. Do not wait until your senior year like I did, instead get involved early.

If I could go back and talk to myself when I was in high school I would tell myself to use everything the college offers to my advantage. My first couple of semesters at college I thought I could schedule my own classes and actually do well in my classes. Unfortunely I did not because I missed some important prerequisites for my major which has made me overload on classes. If I just scheduled an advising appointment that first year like I have been I would be on schedule to graduate in 4 years. Also I would tell high school self to focus on meeting people in my major and working with them because those people will be my friends and colleagues for possibly the rest of my life.

No one ever gets to go back in time to talk to themselves, but I'm sure everyone wishes they could. Making the transition into college is what gives people experiences to learn from. Transitioning from high school to college is the first big step one makes into becoming an adult. Knowing what I know now about college life, I would give myself so much advise. The funny part is, is that the advise I would like to give to myself a year ago, is the same advise other people were giving me. College has made me grow up so fast, and I now realize what is important in life. I wish I could go back a year ago and tell myself how important family is and that they are the ones standing behind you, to take school more seriously, do not give into peer presure, do what feels right and do not be ashamed of who you are. I wish my old self had known that college is not all about parties, you have to work hard to see good results. Luckily, I was able to quickly realize all of this and make a happy transition into college life.

Knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, the advice I would give myself as a high school senior is to avoid procrastination at all costs. No matter how tempting it is to procrastinate, I would advise putting off for tomorrow what should really be done today. As a high school senior, I prided myself on my willingness to burn the midnight oil and stay up into the wee hours to complete my work. There were times that the sheer volume of my often college-level work in high school would warrant studying well past the midnight hour, but all too often, my procrastination was really the culprit for my lack of sleep due to my laboring over school work. It is vitally important to closely examine all classes, upcoming assignments, exams, etc. and truly map out due dates on the calendar. But even more importantly, once those due dates are placed on the calendar, it is absolutely essential to strategize the plan of attack in comfortably pacing completion of the work. Procrastinating on assignments in college will result in sleep deprivation. It is best to resist the temptation of putting work off for tomorrow.

I would tell myself to not focus on the little things so much. In high school, I focused on things that I honestly cannot even remember. I would tell myself that they will not matter in college and to enjoy the time with little respsonsibility!

If I could go back in time and give myself advice about making the transition I would tell myself to relax. When I was first making the transition from high school to college I panicked. I would tell myself not to worry that college is not a big scary place that all the teacher's at the high school made it out to be. I would tell myself I would be fine and that I would do just fine in college and that the course load is not pounded on you all at once. College proffesor's are not mean to incoming freshman, the coursework they give you will start off light, and then increase gradually as you pogress through your degree. When I was in high school I was afraid that I would never find new friends and that I would loose all of my old friends. I would tell my future self that in college you can be yourself and that it is not the same as high school. I would also tell myself that you would not loose all your friends and that you still talk to them to this day.

If I could go back in time I would tell my high school self to worry more about school. Worry less about drama with friends and family, worry less about things you cannot control and worry more about what your teachers are saying, gain wisdom from their experiences and teachings. Talk to those older than you and learn their mistakes so you won't make them. Focus on improving yourself and becoming self aware, self actualized. Work on you, be the best that you can be. Don't just be good at school, try anything and everything you can and be good at it. Being good at something isn't just being the best, its doing something to the best of your abilities and being proud of what you have accomplished. So my advice would be, do what makes you happy and what will help you in the future, goodness knows you are going to need all the help you can get.

College is a life changing experience that everyone deserves to have. It's very fulfilling and you learn things that you never thought you would learn before. You make amazing memories that will last you a lifetime and you make amazing friends that hopefully last you a lifetime. It can be tough at times being away from your family and the surroundings that you're familiar with, but in the end you'll be thanking your stars that you were able to come to a place to become more educated and more prepared. You might find it stressful at times, but in the end it's the greatest reward that makes every little test and project worth it. College gives you a leg up in the world and it is one of the greatest accomplishments in life. Take the opportunity no matter how hard it gets because eventually you'll see that college is beneficial to just about everything else in the future. College ultimately prepares you for the real world, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy yourself and it doesn't mean you can't be who you are. I promise it's worth it.

I would convince myself to have done PSEO. PSEO would of saved me money on books, while also saving me alot of time getting my core classes out of the way. Secondly I took off work in the fall for soccer season. I would tell myself to have worked throught the school year. This would of provided me with alot more funds that could of been used toward my education.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, knowing what I know now about the college life, as well as, making that big transition into college; I would tell myself to always double check deadlines. You may think you remember everything that is going on in your classes, but your syllabus is more so your best friend. It will have everything you need to know about your assignments an exam dates. I would also tell myself to get involved in more clubs because you can always make connections that may help you in the future. Lastly, the most important advice to tell myself is, time management. It is so important to organize your time for your studies as well as social life. If you have any questions, your professors are more than welcome to help you, don't be shy. College is a new chapter in your life, you are spending thousnds of dollars for your eduation and with all that money being spent its important you utilize your time on campus. Go to class, study, and take advantage of all the opportunites that the campus has to offer!

Transitions are always going to be rough– regardless of how old you are or how smart you are or how exciting the new situation is. Change is hard. Some days, you will want to cry and drive home to hug your mom. Some days you will want to stay at college for forever and never go back home. There are highs and lows and good days and bad days. In the end, though, you will realize that these are some of the best days of your life. These are the days you get to discover who you really are and what you really want out of this life. You meet inspiring people and you join organizations that help to change the world. These are the days. Enjoy them and make the most out of every moment. Each day is one you will never get back. So now is the time to truly live.

The best advice that I would give to myself as a high school senior would be not to be afraid to take chances while in college. College is so much more than just attending classes. My first leap of faith was deciding to live on campus. I only grew up twenty minutes away from Kent State University, but I knew that living in the freshman dorms would be an experience I would not want to miss out on. My second leap of faith was joining a sorority on campus. Being involved on campus has opened up endless opportunities and experiences that I would have never had if it were not for joining Greek Life. Finally, it only took me four years, but I applied to study abroad in Florence, Italy in the summer of 2014. This may be the greatest chance I have taken, but I am so excited. I am thankful for everything that I have done at Kent State University. Looking back I wonder how many more chances I should have taken, and experiences I missed out on. The best advice I would give myself, as a high school senior is to take as many chances as possible.

First things first, I would tell myself to enjoy the moment now, yet work hard; work on your mind, body and soul. Life has a funny way of throwing a nasty slider that you will never be able to hit, but if you hunker down, do all the preparation required and work hard, you should be able to hit the curve ball, fastball and hold tight on the change up. Secondly, enjoy your dreams; appreciate the fact you can walk on a soccer or softball field now, perform like a top athlete and walk off with a win and the greatest joy in the world. Don't ever take it for granted, because it may not be there in the future. Finally, appreciate yourself and respect yourself. You must understand you are going to fail, it is part of human nature. What is important is understanding your failures, learning from them and building success through those failures. Life is a road, filled with holes and blocked with boulders. You must work your mind and body to pull yourself out of the holes and push the rocks from your path, or understand you may have to walk around the boulder.

Higher education success requires a committment to stay focused on the goal and have a defined plan for efficient and effective execution. While it may be easy to become overly distracted with extracurricular and socail activities, do not lose sight of the primary goal of aquiring useful and relevant skills/knowledge and graduating on time with a respectable GPA. Besure to access capus support services and resources such as career planning. Get to know faculty and staff. Theye possess the experience and knowledge to help you reach you golas. When your schedule permits, take classes outside of your comfort zone to expand your repertoire and diversify your acumen. Undergraduate study can be the gateway to achieve future career objectives. How you spend your time and the ojectives you achieve are a relaible relflection of what you have to contribute to your future employer's success. If you borrow money to fund your studies, it must be repaid. Consider working on/off campus. Internships and community service are excellent mechanisms gain and expand skills while strengthening you network. Take advantage of available opportunties to reap maximum return on your college investements.

If I were to go back to myself as a high school senior there are only a few things I would advise myself to do. One would be to be open for change, although it was not a big change as in city/town wise, but it was as in the atmosphere. I would also advise myself to plan out all my days accordingly, by homework, classes, and my job. It seems as if there are more things to do in a day than the hours given. Mainly, I would tell myself to keep and open mind, also to keep my head up no matter what!