Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

I would have paid attention more in High School and trully appreciated and valued what the teachers had to say. I would have spent more time looking at colleges and preparing myself for college better, through classes and school work.

As a high school senior I had no intentions of going to college. I was part of the drama program, and convinced that right out of high school I would move to New York City and start living the glamorous life of an actress. Unfortunately, the year that I spent out of school was not nearly as glamourous as I had hoped. I spent it working at a tiny grocery store, wondering what I should do with myself. I realized that maybe college would be better for me after all. After spending a semester here at college, I would have no hesitation in telling my high school self to apply to college and go. The transition was not as difficult as I imagined, and it turned out to be the best decision of my life. During my first semester I achieved a 4.0 grade point average, and discovered my true passion as a writer. I would tell my high school self that college is the best thing that happened to us, and that the feeling you get when meeting new friends or getting the A that you worked so hard for isn't worth passing up for anything.

I would tell myself that college is very important and it is an experience that is going to challenge you in different ways. Also I would tell myself to prepare by being the best student you can be so the transition could be a lot smoother and you wont be struggleling in your classes in your college life. College is a place where you cant cut corners because once you do it is going to affect you badly. So my advice to you is to do the best you can in high school and to never give up, so it can be easier for you to succed in your college life and overall becoming a success later on in life.

Life is short, don't waste it buried in books. Education and good grades are important but so is being involved and having friends. College is nothing to stress over; it is a time when you can redefine who you are and become part of something larger than high school. If you focus only on your studies you will never see that larger picture and get to meet amazing people. I have found that if you allow yourself to meet new people they will open your eyes to experiences you never dreamed of. College is about going out of your comfort zone and experiencing new things. If you allow yourself to come out of your comfort zone, you will go places you have only dreamed of being and meet people who you never dreamed you would meet. College is more than just the next step in your education; it is the beginning of the rest of your life. No longer are you a child controlled by parents and teachers. Now you are an adult responsible for your own actions and for what your future holds.

I would tell myself to develop better study habits. In high school, I was always smart enough to never study or do homework, but still get A's and B's. In college, however, that's no longer a possibility. It took me a little while, but I now understand the hard work and dedication that goes into succeeding at the collegiate level. I would also tell myself to take the opportunity to meet people and make friends, rather than playing everything close to the vest and not really interacting with people. I would hit myself and try to get it through my thick skull that college is no walk in the park and that no matter how smart I am that if I don't work hard, I won't get anywhere. Hard work will always beat talent if talent doesn't work hard.

I would tell myself that what the professor puts up on their powerpoint is not always the same thing they are going to test you on; focus on taking notes about what the professor is talking about first, and what ever is on the powerpoint second. The powerpoint will be there in five minutes, what-ever the professor was talking about then won't be.

Reflecting on my senior year in high school, I think the biggest piece of advice I could give myself would be, no matter how frequently others tell you what to expect of your college experience, there is no way to really prepare for every change experienced during the transition period. The most important thing to remember is to be patient, to be friendly, and to take a deep breath every now and then. It seems daunting, being surrounded with so many new people and opportunities, but every moment is what you make of it, and hiding away or panicing will only lead to future problems. The best thing to do is to dive in, even though the water is cold and deep, eventually everyone adjusts if it's right for them, and learning to swim is more than beyond your capablities.

I would simply tell myself to seek what I truly wanted to gain; to take advice from others and rely on professors and administrators to get you into a career. I?d tell myself to participate in more programs and to get out more (indoor activities will always be there), but at the same time continue to build upon the friendships I had made. I?d tell myself to stay on campus and not take a job too seriously. I began to let my college interaction and devotion slip as I paid too much attention to my income and expenses. I gave myself new headaches by finding an apartment and thus having to put ridiculous amount of hours in at work to pay for it. Both my experiences and friendships suffered because of it. I appreciate the major I gained, but should have listened to friends and followed my passions down different paths. In the end I could have reached the same goal, but the journey would have been even more engaging. Regret makes you miss school, friends and possibilities. Lastly, I?d tell myself that to have as much fun as possible and to hit it hard and fast!

In my oppinion, the best advice that anyone could give and the advice I would have given myself is that the "college experience" is not about how drunk you get, or about how many parties you go to. The true college experience is enjoying yourself and having fun while you work hard and towards your dream. It is not about competing with your friends in a popularity and party contest, it is about being yourself and realizing that you can say no to people and still have fun. Don't worry about your classmates not liking you for not doing what they are doing, eventually they will respect you for your decisions!

Freshman year you will want to go and experience college life and put classes on the back burner. These classes will be the easiest classes and will affect you if you do not do well in them. In summer, take summer classes at a community college. They are cheaper to take. When the classes transfer back to your normal college, only the credit transfers. It is really something you should look into. Search around long and hard for colleges that fit you. Take tours in Junior year and narrow it down. Apply to only ones you could picture yourself at.