Metropolitan State University of Denver Top Questions

In high school, I was overwhelmed with the thought of going to college. I thought about the dorms, the new people, the long nights of studying, and intense exams. I had an idea of what college was like, but I was unsure how it would go for me. If I could go back to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not freak out as much as I did. I was constantly worried I wouldn’t do well, and I was afraid to be an independent and responsible adult. I was excited, but also nervous about college when I was in high school, but I also had no idea what my educational goals were going to be. I had no intended major or career path, because of this I was an anxious and nervous wreck trying to find myself. If I could go back, I would tell myself to relax, and that it is okay to be unsure of what my future holds. Stress holds people back from following their dreams, and back in high school, I was tied down by stress of starting college. You just have to follow your heart.

Myself as a high school senior is difficult to explain. I moved my junior year from a big high school in Colorado to a really, really small town high school in Texas. I didnt know very many people and honestly didn't know what to say to most people. Everyone grew up together and I felt out of place. The people I went to high school with in Colorado, I grew up with and knew for almost all of my life. So I knew what that's like. As time passed at my new school I met new people but still always felt out of place. I am not a very shy person, quite maybe but now shy and I think that is something I would tell my high school senior self, don't be so quite to the point people percieve you as shy. It puts a damper on your experience anywhere when people feel like you have nothing to say. I would say, "Be yourself, be happy and if you talk too much at times it's okay, because if people don't like it, you don't need them around. They don't like you for you. "

Hey Chris, this is future you. I understand that there's an ideal amount of uncertainty and fear of even the thought of college. Im here to tell you that it’s okay to have these feelings. It’s not okay to allow those feelings to prevent you from growing into an intelligent and enlightened person. Going to college for the first time gave us a feeling of elatedness and wonder of the times to come. Being able to connect with others that share the same goals of getting a higher education is an amazing feeling. Im not going to sugar coat it, its going to be difficult and the material will be challenging. There will be many times where you spend endless nights trying to finish a final project, due to our procrastination. But I can confidently confide that its all worth it in the end. Having the knowledge that you obtain from college, helps you progress in life and become an awesome person both in mind and heart. Looking back I would tell myself to feel the feelings that came before going into college, and turn those feelings into positive and empowering emotions to tackle college head on.

Dear Self, Graduating as a senior in high school feels like the biggest step of your life thus far, but trust me when I say that it is only the beginning. Graduating college and looking for a graduate program is not something that we ever thought possible, but it is happening and you, my determined little friend, made it happen. In college it is most important to study hard, arrive on time, make friends, attend school activities, and make yourself known around campus. The connections you make in college will follow you through life and will land you your first counseling job when you graduate. You will graduate with honors, and you will only do this by paying attention in class, staying on top of the work, enjoying your internship, and asking all the questions you can. Your professors are there to help you, and you paid them so use it. Also, most importantly, APPLY FOR Scholarships! You will graduate with a 4.0 and never applied for a scholarship, and now you owe money; stupid move. Help is out there and it's available so use it! Good luck, Caroline

We should not procasinate the school work.

If I could go back in time to my high school self I would say what the heck are you thinking right now?! I would tell myself that I am going to regret not taking high school as serious as I should have. I needed a big slap to wake me up to the reality that football and basketball are not as important as my academics. I would tell myself that if I kept focusing on sports more than I did school I am not going to get into the college that I want, and after high school no one if going to care how good I am at football if I can't even get into a college to play football. I would say that the high school is easy compared to college and that if I don't get my shit together I am going to have a rough time succeeding in college and in life in general. I would tell myself that I need to rearrange my priorities really quick. Now that I was fortunate enough to get into college I am making sure I'm not going to make the same mistake twice.

The advice I would give to my high school self is to dream big. There is so much finanical help out in the world and I should have taken advantage of that and gone to my dream school right away instead of going somewhere cheaper and being miserable. Chase your dreams and don't let money be a reason not to. Also, don't go somewhere just to be with your friends. Sometimes after high school you realize you were only friends with some people because you went to school and saw them 5 times a week. Go where you want to go, no matter who or what tries to stop you, and I promise you won't regret it.

Milo....psssst, hey....Milo! Listen dude, you are a freshman in high school, nervous and scared, learning how to find your way and fit in, I know. Classes are not your top priority at the moment, but if you really focus and pay attention, you can take actual college classes in high school and earn college credit. The sooner you start, the more credit you can earn, especially your junior and senior years! This means less time in college classes-earning your degree faster- and more time out in real life, living your dream of owning a fashion and design business and hand-painting those custom sneakers you love! So make your high school classes top priority and keep your eyes on the prize. All your hard work now will pay off big later and will be totally worth it, especially when you look back and are able to feel good about how hard you worked. And remember, when you are a rich and famous clothing and shoe designer, living the life, be sure to go back to your high school and speak to the kids about your experiences. Inspire them to follow their dreams and believe in themselves!

Follow your own path, but don’t be too sure of yourself. You’re an adult and you get to make your own choices now; do what you think is best for yourself, but remember all those older folks giving you advice have a major advantage over you in terms of experience. Exercise every day, even (or especially) if you don’t feel like it: not only will it set you up for a healthy lifetime habit, but it will help keep your mind sharp for your current studies. And stay hydrated. If you decide to “take some time off” from school, you will regret it. Then again, you might regret it if you don’t. Be prepared to make and lose a lot of friends, and try to remember sometimes both can have a net positive impact on your life. Get used to the fact that not very many things are going to go according to plan and learn to accept it—nay, revel in it. You may never work in an area directly related to your major, but that’s ok.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the advice I would give to myself would be to not worry so much and just relax. I spent too much time my first couple years in college worrying about every little thing whether it was about making friends, homework, what I wanted to major in, money, getting a job, etc. The stress eventually took over my life and gave me terrible anxiety problems. One of the first issues that started my anxiety was what I wanted to major in. Once we graduate high school we are thrown into the real world and expected to know what we want to do for the rest of our lives, it’s a difficult process; I went back and forth between what I wanted to do constantly, it was exhausting. One semester I took a women’s history class to fulfill a general education credit and since then I was hooked. I eventually did learn that everything ends up working out in the end, but back then I didn’t view it that way.

I remember that as a high school senior I felt a little lost and unsure but at the same time I felt like I should have had more information than I actually did. I think part of this was due to the fact that a large amount of my peers seemed to have their futures, at least for the next four years, well thought out. College was never discussed in my family but because of the environment and the people I surrounded myself with it was the next progressive step to take after high school. Depending on the student’s support system, this period of time can be a difficult transition in life. I know that even with a strong supportive system, my family means the world to me, this can be difficult. So my advice to the high school me and any high school student would be; don’t be afraid to ask questions and pick peoples brains for advice and lessons. It is important to use all of your resources to be as informed as possible. There is no reason to put the pressure of being a know-it-all on yourself, especially when it is not expected.

Take the most rigorous classes possible in high school and take the ACT more seriously because it affects a lot of what you end up doing in college. Also, even though you think high school sports are your world, most people do not go on to play sports in college so choose a college that has what you want to study. Take classes in high school that will be meaningful for what you want to study in college if you know what you want to do as a career. Build great relationships with high school teachers and coaches not only because it's the right thing to do, but because you will need them for a few years in college as references.

Confusion surrounds the true importance of life in high school. I wish it was possible to explain the change in perspective I've found in college. Drugs and parties mean nothing in real life, neither do the friends you feel you've found in that world. The sad truth is that they're connections. They mean nothing, and parties mean nothing in college. You can't find true friends and like minded peers in a superficial manner. It's worth the time to deal with the slow process of making friends; no friends is better than a group of superficial ties. Feeling lonely in a room full of people is never a confortable feeling, so what you need to do is realize your interests, and as a result, your peers. It may sound generic, but you can't find people to connect with if you're not connected with yourself. So take the time, and eventually you will see how things gradually fall into place. I know it's hard to accept, and I'm not saying don't put in any effort, but stop doing what you're doing. Education is the true mind expansion, not psychedelic drugs.

If i could go back in time to tell myself as a senior in high school anything, i would make sure to remind myself that I need to stay focused and keep my social life down to a limit during the school week as well as the weekends in order to have plenty of time for school work, like homework and studying. I would also tell myself to join some study groups for each class that I will be taking. The more you study, the better off you'll be. In order to maintain a GPA of 2.0 or higher, you must try your very best at each class and make sure you do the homework and projects correctly in order to get a good grade. Tests are a very huge chunk of your grade so be sure to study, study, study! Make sure you go to tutoring if there is anything you need help with. Most of all, try your hardest and keep your head held high and stay focused!

I would tell myself to not get distracted. Yes you are on your own for the first time, but your studies are the most important thing. Later on you will get into graduate school and you need to do your very best in the beginning of college so you are not incredible stressed when you are nearing the end of your undergraduate degree. Do not room with your best friend. You and her will go down two completely different paths and it will create a terrible living situation durring your freshman year. Though you haven't gotten along with your sisters in the past, you are an adult now, about to live on your own. Your sisters want to be close to you, let them. Do not push them away. Be willing to accept change, take chances and do not make the same mistake twice. Do not be afraid to say yes to good opportunities and no to others who may be pressuring you. Always be yourself and always be confident. You will reach your goals, just stay focused and true to yourself.

Shelby, calm down. I know you're excited to start this journey. Lot's to do, things to learn, and new people to meet! However, you must remember that even though Denver is a great city with much to see and do, academia is essential to your future! Over the course of the next four years, you're going to encounter those that will become distracted by the world around them. Always remember your ambition and determination, this will help more than you know. It's important to never close off any experience that may enrich or enhance your life. If you feel an interest, go for it! Life is short and in order to truly follow your heart you must really live it. Be sure to remain centered and remember the important things in life: love, family, friends, and of course keeping your eyes on the prize... a happy and successful future! Life is all about balance. Yes this will come with hard work and you will have to make sacrifices. At times you'll think that you're missing out on life but trust me, if you remember your values and concentrate on your strengths, success will follow.

Looking back to my senior year, I do realize that there were flaws I made. I believed in “senioritis,” and I didn’t take the year too seriously. I did achieve good grades, but I didn’t try my best. I procrastinated and just looked forward to graduating. Even though I didn’t skip school, tried joining clubs, and tried making a good impression for colleges (harder than any previous year), I still think I could have done better. If I were to go back, I would tell myself to not slack off, and to take the year seriously. I would also try to work harder on my SAT scores. I would also tell myself to apply to my dream college. My biggest mistake senior year was not applying for many scholarships, and that is why I couldn’t afford to go to the college of my dreams. Now, I can only hope I can transfer now with the help of scholarships. The last thing I would tell myself is to belive in myself, and to belive that anything could happen.

I would tell myself to save money, and to be more careful of the choices i made when i was in high school. I would make sure to be more appreciative of the teacher's i had who extended an extra helping hand, and who cared just a little more than they actually needed to. I would engrave in my head that situations in life will get harder as the years go by, no matter how it seemed like things were passing along perfectly. No doubt, i would let it be known it really is best to continue your education as soon as you've graduated high school, and to not take any time off school in between semesters. Time off only leads to more time off with excuse after excuse, and before you know it two years has already passed by and all you're doing is working to live and living to work. Overall, the most important thing i would have told myself 3 years ago would be to stay in school and work hard at it.

Alexis, I have three major pieces of advice for your great adventure next year. 1) When you find yourself watching movies, babbling away to your friends, crocheting hats, and ultimately avoiding those horrible papers which nobody should ever have to write, turn yourself around and march straight to your desk. There, write a list of everything you need to get done and then tackle one task at a time until absolutely everything is finished. Getting behind in college will mean the end of sleeping as you know it. 2) Loosen up! None of your friends from high school are going to follow your genius advice and attend MSU Denver for a music degree. That means you are going to have to start from the beginning in the friend front. But trust me, these people are some of the most wonderful people you will ever meet. And 3) Start practicing clarinet more immediately because even though you hate band now, you are going to fall in love with that crazy instrument in the first week of your private lessons (I was surprised too). Be open and ready to discover what you love doing!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself about college. The first thing would be to get to know the RA on the floor very well. She is a great resource for you. Second, start applying for scholarships at the beginning of senior year and apply for as many as you can, contact Pitt and see if they have any you can apply for. Third, work hard, get help when you need it and make good study habits that you can keep. There is a learning center on campus for a reason; use that resource to your fullest benefit. If you have any problems with managing your time, take your class schedule to the university psychologist Molly and she’ll help you make a schedule for homework and studying. Ask lots of questions either during class or after class and e-mail professors when you feel overwhelmed and ask them for extra help; don’t be afraid of them. Lastly, don’t worry about being homesick and missing people there, you’ll make tons of great friends in college that will be there for you when you need them most.