Michigan State University Top Questions

The advice I would give to my high school self would be to apply to more scholarships and potentially attend a community college to get basic classes done first. The cost of university is stressful and reducing that stress is important to enjoy your time and studies. I would also tell myself to try new things and explore more options at Michigan State University. Attend all of the events you can and learn as much as you can about other people, cultures, and careers. Also learning about how to be apart of the research and environmental initiatives on campus too. One last thing, don't get so busy and stressed out with wanting to get great grades and having the total "college experience" that you never take time to stop, look around, and enjoy your university, its campus, and the people you are sharing it with.

The advice I would give myself is to just have fun. I was always so stressed about school, and sports in high school I feel like I never really got to enjoy it. I was working constantly, and I would tell myself to lay off that also. I feel like I grew up way too fast so definitely would say something like that if I were giving my high school self advice.

If I could talk to myself as a high school senior I would encourage myself to be more open-minded. Starting college is an intimidating process, but I think that freshman year would have been more enjoyable had I been open to more new experiences. This involves everything from looking at different majors, classes, and clubs. Look into something you never thought you would try like underwater hockey! You never know what you may like until you do it. Remaining unstressed is also important and can be done by asking for help when necessary and doing activities to help you relax like yoga. I don't think that the importance of staying active can be overly stressed. It is so easy to get into the habit of rolling out of bed, going to class, going out with friends and doing it all over again. With less extracurricular activites then in high school, it is easy to put physicial fitness and eating well on the back burner. Taking good care of yourself and getting enough sleep is important and will save you from getting sick later. While this advice may seem simple, learning it early on leads to a smooth transition.

All of those alumni who came back were right, and wrong in a way. Much of it does get easier. You sleep a "normal" number of hours a night. You get to have a social life that isn't merely meeting with friends to cram for tests. There aren't nearly as many stressful classes. When you speak, people listen, and it's good. But it's worse in that there will always be that one class that is trying to tear you down and overwhelm you; and since you aren't surrounded by a bunch of people who probably qualify for a clinical depression diagnosis, it's harder to play it off as "normal", that "everyone gets that". There will be times when you feel like you're weak, like you're drowning, like you want to cry and scream, and it's going to be harder to push through. You just have to remember that you are strong, and that you can make it. You do what you have to in order to make it through, you force it to work. You're almost there, you just need to get through a little more before you can rest.

High school is different from College, but do not be scared. College is intimidating, but you can and will make it through. All you have to do is work hard and apply yourself. It is okay to take a low credit first semester. You are adjusting to a new life, a new home and new people. This in itself can be a lot to take on, so do not pile on 20 credits on top of that. Use your first to semester to figure out what you like and what you want from life. If you already know your major, join clubs and organizations that involve your major. You do not want to wait until your junior year to find out that you want nothing to do with this major. Do not ever shut yourself off to new friends, but it always helps to have a close-knit group you can fall back on. Most of all do not ever be afraid to call up your parents for advice. They have lived through this and they might know how to help. This does not make you weak; it makes you mature for admitting you need help and asking for it.

I would tell myself not to worry so much. I was terrified of college in general. I didn't know what to expect and high school didn't help me prepare well. I was nervous I wasn't going to find any friends, that the classes would be too hard, and that I wouldn't have any fun here. I wish I could tell myself that things were going to work out, that classes will be hard, but if I put in the work, I will succeed and even make the Dean's List my first semester there. I would tell myself that it's okay to be nervous, but that there's really nothing to worry about.

The advice I would give to myself being a high school senior is this; take your time and have fun. I don't mean do whatever it is you want and not care about school, but coming from a school where all you do is eat, sleep and study, its most important to take time to have fun with the people you've grown up with. Being a high school senior is one of the best times of your life, you're the top dog! You've made it so far and even though "senioritis" is kicking in, it's important to buckle down, stick with it and have fun doing it. Heck, most of these people you aren't going to see again, so reach out and have conservations and promise to keep in touch. Go out on weeknights and spend time with your friends which you never do, or even stay up all night talking to them. Take this time for granted, because college is hard, but nothing you can't do. Live spontaneously, love unconditionally, laugh uncontrollably, and forgive miraculously. Have fun, for your life is only about to begin.

I would tell myself to put my self out there more. Try new things, new clubs, new people and different classes that I might not consider interesting. I grew a lot in college but I have learn that most of my growth has come from new experiences so I would strongly tell myself to take advantage of every opportunity that MSU had to offer.

Take senior year of high school slow. It goes by so fast because you're busy worrying about colleges and their deadlines and those acceptance letters, scholarships and funding your schooling, and even what you're going to school for that you forget to enjoy your senior year. My senior year I was stressed and my grades suffered, I pulled back from extracurriculars, and was less social. Granted that everything worked out perfectly, my advice is to live life as it is happening. Don't let the present pass you by while you make plans for the future. Absolutely apply to all your dream colleges and all the scholarships you can, but don't let that bleed into your high school life. There's a time and place for college and it's after high school.

Be open to new ideas and meeting new people. Also don't necessarily trust the people you knew in high school because college definitely changes people, and not always for the best. I would prepare myself to be lonely and for the transition to be very difficult, but that finding the right friends and groups makes the experience better.

Although it seems like you know everything, you really need to study. College is hard so stick to a schedule. Manage your time well so that you can work a lot also, you're going to need the money. There are a lot of great opportunities around campus. Join a club, and meet new people.

When you find those notes from the tea-leaf reader again, your head’s going to spin. A big move, she said. Yeah, college... Nope! Thailand. A year of perspectives thrown wide and your heart growing so much it aches. This big move is toward purpose in your life. When you get back to America, a school of 40,000 won’t seem so intimidating. It won’t be the piddly graduating class of 80 kids, but hey, they’ll all speak English! It’ll be tough, knowing whether people see you, but keep singing sweetheart. You’ll know they hear you. You’ll smile every time you sing at fencing practice. Stick with that. You’ll miss it after that ship has sailed. On Guard! Practice until you can get a toe touch on Gaeb. Feint him out. Lunge! Mom is right, you know. You don’t need the loans like you think you do. New friends don’t cost money, just time. Your old friends will be there after college, too. Maybe you should even live in that shoe-box with a stranger situation for another year. You might make the best college friend I’ll never have.

"Don't compare yourself to anyone else, your journey is just that: YOURS!" In high school, especially aroung the time we took the ACT I was stressed and overwhelmed with thoughts about getting into and paying for college. Much of this stress stemmed from being surrounded by students who I believed were smarter, and more privileged than I was. While other students received high ACT scores and GPA's I was "just average." Granted, my grades and ACT sccores weren't bad but I didn't believe they were good enough to get me into college. My peers also had parents who were prepared to fund their educations; I didn't and had to devote a lot of my time to applying for scholarships-- none of which I received. Now, as a college student, I have realized that everyone is on a different path; no two people got to college the same way and that's what makes it such a great experience. As I look back on my journey I can't help but be grateful for what I've learned as a result of those experiences and use the information as I continue my college career.

I would give anything to have the opportunity to give myself a 5 minute pep talk with my senior self. Throughout my highschool tenure, I was always the "little guy". I was on the wrestling team where 103 is the smallest weight class. My freshman year I was 4 feet 9 inches tall and only 85 pounds. I would always get teased for my stature and was countlessly rejected by the popular crowd for something I had zero control over: my size. Going back, I would tell myself, " Guess what buddy? You ARE going to grow over another foot, you're just a late bloomer. And guess what? While all of your peers are relying on there physical maturity to get attention and approval, you're building character. You have no choice but to rely on charisma and personality in order to present yourself, and when you get older, that's something you're going to be happy you have in your artiliary. High school fame doesn't last any longer than highschool. You're going to have a great time at MSU and share many once in a lifetime experiences with many lifelong friends. Love you, keep doing you."

STUDY! In high school, you could get A's with very minimum effort but the same is not true at college. Set aside time each week to review material learned in class. Do not skip class. Even though it is very, very easy to hit the snooze button and sleep through an 8 a.m. class, do not do it. All the material learned in class is relevant and there is a reason for going to college. You are paying for these classes so when you don't attend them, you are just wasting money. Also, don't worry so much about making friends. It will be upsetting at first but eventually you will meet the people who you will share lifelong friendships with. It is frustrating but it will get better. Other than that, I can't give any more advice. Life is still learned through experiences. You have to fail sometimes before you can succeed. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes. So take the good with the bad and always stay positive.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to savor the time I have in high school and I would tell myself one other thing. I would say that there is nothing that is going to prepare you for college. Yes you can buy all your dorm things, textbooks, and backpack but, college is the most unique thing you will experience. Everybody is friendly because they are just as new as you. High school you have grown up with the students in your class, but not college. You will meet your true friends and participate in things you cannot prepare for. For example, my first footbal in the student section is something I will always cherish. Everybody there was cheering for the school I was attend. I felt for the first time this was exactly where I was supposed to be. So no, nothing can prepare you for the extraordinary things you will experience in college. I would tell myself that not knowing is the best part of it all. If you knew what was going to happen it would not be as special. So enjoy high school right now because it will be very different soon.

Well, you almost made it through high school. Congratulations! Those were some of the best and worst times of your life. You are now about to make the big transition to college. Reggie, be prepared because college is going to be a totally new world. In college, you are in a much bigger place with way more people. You’ll adjust just stay positive, keep smiling, and life will be fine. School is much different. There’s no more getting away with memorizing or last minute studying, you must learn everything! This will prompt you to feel stressed at times. Don't let the hard times get to you. Let it out. Your friends will be some of the best outlets you have to get you through the tough times. Reggie, making it to college is a big accomplishment. At times, you’ll forget that. Take time out to appreciate life and all that you’ve achieved. Be proud of yourself. Keep in contact with your family. Thank mom and dad for everything and tell them you love them. For now, enjoy your last days of high school. Don’t let off of the gas and finish strong.

The advice that I would give myself is to one, take the Spanish CLEP exam. If I took it and did well enough, I would have gotten many credits, which means less classes I would have to take and less money I would have to pay for tuition. Plus, it would have made it easier to get a minor in Spanish. Secondly, I would tell myself to get out of my comfort zone. I have missed some opportunities at making new friends because I was so shy my freshman year. It is ok to go talk to random people you see around campus and just say hi, because you never know who may become your friend or who you will meet. Lastly, I would have told myself to search a lot more for scholarships. There are many scholarships for High School seniors that I did not even know about. It is a lot harder to receive scholarships now as a student already in college. All those scholarships would have relieved a lot of my financial burdens that I have now, that is why I am applying for this scholarship.

Bev, Don't be afraid. Remember these are people who have a different background, but it's okay to make friends with people even when they don't know how to deal with how you dress or act. Reach out, but don't let them draw you in too far away from your studies. Pay attention to your classes, and remember that you don't know better than anyone else. Try to remain positive, because life does pass very quickly after a while, and remembering these days fondly will take you farther than remembering them in shadow. Most importantly though: Don't be afraid. It really will all be okay, and fear in the beginning will result in regret by the end. Present Bev

I approached my younger self sitting at my desk studying for the next AP biology test. "Listen," I said to myself "here's some advice you should really take to heart for the fall when you head to college. First, really make an effort to talk to people. I know it's not your forte, but you'll make some amazing friends just by sitting with people at lunch, and don't worry you WILL make friends. Second, be adaptable. You're going to in situations that will touch your nerves. Just take a breath and understand where another person is coming from. Not everyone will like you, but you can't win them all and besides I know you could care less about winning them all. Finally, have some fun! It's college. There will be no one checking up on you, besides mom's weekly calls, but let loose and enjoy yourself. Don't be uptight like you have been these past four years." My younger self looked like a deer in headlights so I added, "You'll make it through and you'll enjoy every minute of it. See you soon!" and walked away.