Marquette University Top Questions

I would give myself two pieces of advice. The first thing I would tell myself is don't be afraid to stand out. Be yourself and you WILL find people who appreciate your qualities. The second thing I would tell myself is take every single opportunity you are even slightly interested in. College is shorter than you realize and if you don't seize these opportunities you will regret it.

As a student who decided to go to a community college my freshman year and transfer to Marquette University my sophomore year, I would love to go back in time and tell myself to stop worrying about money and start focusing on what makes me happy. Although the saying "If you do what you love, you never have to work a day in your life" is overused, I believe that it holds a lot of value. In high school I was not ready to decide what career I was going to have for the rest of my life, and that scared me. If I could tell myself to stop worrying about money, I could have realized that college is there to prepare me for my future, and where I will begin to find out the person I am and the person I want to be.

Assuming what I know now about college life and how hard it is to make a successful transition in your first year I would tell my high school self to ask as many questions as possible on how to be a successful college student. I would also tell my self to talk to teachers, family, and friends who have been in college and ask them how did they succeed in getting their degree. I would tell myself to fill out tons of scholarships because there is so much money out there that people dont even attempt to obtain so take advantage of it. Another reason I say this is because college expenses from books to feeding yourself can be tough to deal with, so try to obtain money through working and scholarships. Another reason you'd want to do this is because taking out loans and borrowing money will leave you deep in debt once you graduate and thats the last thing you want to worry about once your done with school. Staying on top of your grades and responsibly handling expenses are critical components to being successful in college life, especially in your first year with little experience.

The transition into college was not particulary bad; I knew for the most part what I was going to experience having spent summers living at Marquette University for a special program. However, I made the mistake of going to a college where I did not feel completely comfortable; I went there to prove that I could handle it. But, by the end of the first semester, I knew that UW-Madison was not for me. I would tell myself to not feel swayed by the fact that that is where my friends would be, and where I would have a multitude of opportunities awaiting my arrival. I would tell myself to follow my heart and go to Marquette University first and make an impression there. I would also let myself in on a new way of studying- one that does not involve cramming the night before a test. College exams are of a much higher caliber, and require studying over a period of time longer than three hours. My final piece of advice to myself would be to be happy and push yourself to succeed.

Dear High School Laura,First of all, PLEASE get a haircut; believe me, you will regret ever stepping in front of a camera during those years for the rest of your life. Scissors, now. Secondly, calm the heck down. NO ONE cares about ACT scores or how many AP classes you took. What you need to focus on is being yourself and making a difference in your community. You think numbers on paper are going to be what makes you? That is wrong. You need to close that textbook, step outside, and get some real life experience with which you can make something of yourself. Get more involved, join the clubs you are too chicken to join, be there for those that you love, take more chances and don’t let anything or anyone get in your way because once you do that, you are unstoppable. Perfection isn’t interesting in the least, so stop trying to be perfect. You aren’t good at a lot of things, that is true, but do them anyway because they will make you stronger. Be imperfect. Stand out. And as your future alma mater says, “Be the Difference”.Sincerely,Older, Wiser Laura

College is largely about networking, and I wish someone had told me in high school. Practically everyone on campus has something to offer you, whether it’s friendship, homework help, or job connections. Professors are an ever present resource, and should be sought out for any and every reason. Building strong relationships with my professors has helped to make large lecture halls smaller and the transition to college easier. The jobs I have acquired are due in part to friends of friends. I have met countless people by going to study groups. These experiences have helped to enrich my college life. There are so many opportunities just waiting to be utilized. In college, what you put in is what you get out. The more you open yourself and embrace change, the more you will be rewarded and the further you will go. If there is an activity you’re interested in, talk to someone. Figure out how to make it happen. There should be no regrets in college for something you’ve failed to do. Being at Marquette makes me feel like there are infinite possibilities for my future, all of them positive. I won’t let them slip by.

The best gift you can give yourself is faith. I don't mean religious faith or spiritual faith, though I think that is important. What I mean is faith in yourself. The transition to college is hard. You are leaving your family, your friends and the places you have known for so long. That being said you are embarking on an adventure that will surely change your life. Give yourself some credit. You can do this. Have faith in yourself and the choices that you have made. Everything you have done so far has gotten you to this point. All of the hard work, the hours studying for ACTs, the countless college essays written, they have all brought you here. Have faith in your actions and know that people will love you for who you are, not who you were in high school or who you pretend to be. Be yourself and trust your choices. College may be hard- its a different life. No parents, no curfew, lots of social opportunites, but trust yourself to make the right choices and to do what is best for yourself.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior about college life and making the transition, I would be talking to myself for hours! Most high school students are excited to take the plunge into college life and believe they know what they are walking into. They think to themselves, college can't really be that much harder than high school, can it? I know I asked myself that question before I stepped foot into my new, diverse life at college. The answer I have now learned for that question is....yes, college is A LOT harder than high school. You have to make decisions for yourself now, which is something I love to be able to do, but it is also has a great deal of responsiblity behind that which I wouldn't have expected. Choosing what to eat, when to study, where to study, HOW to study, who to live with, where to live, what classes to take, how to get to certain places around campus, how to save money efficiently, and many more things. College is the best time of my life so far and I don't regret anything!

If I could talk to myself as a High School Senior, I would tell myself to focus on looking for well rounded schools and to study hard for AP tests. I would encourage myself to look at schools that fit every single one of my personal interest and not settling for less. Going to a very diverse high school, and coming to college in the most segregated city in the United States was not a mistake but a hard fact I have to deal with. If I could go back into the application process I wish I would have paid attention to smaller factors such as the diversity of the school. Also, I would tell myself to really focus hard on studying for AP tests because they become very valuable in college when you don't have to take the same course again and waste a semester.

Most students who go to college choose to be there. I'm sure there are some exceptions, but for the most part, people aren't writing thousands of dollars' worth of checks to a college if they don't want to be there. So, those kids in high school who ditched school or spent the school day smoking behind the dumpster probably won't be attending college. One of the biggest changes between high school and college is attendance. In high school, kids are penalized for missing class. At least at my high school, we were only allowed to miss a certain number of days. Some teachers at universities count attendance, but the truth is most don't. A lot of professors couldn't care less if a student shows up for class, although a lot of professors offer extra credit or will bump grades from Bs to As for students who attended class every day. There are even some classes where the attendance of a certain class doubles, maybe triples, on test dates.