Michigan State University Top Questions

If I was back sitting at my kitchen counter, looking at the envelopes of schools that I could potentially go to, I would first say pick Michigan State University. I would remind myself to get involved and be active meeting new people and joining different organizations. With college life and transitioning I would say to relax, everything will work out. Yes it is going to be hard work and challenging but you will succeed in anything you want to do. Do not be afraid to fail because you are going to a million times, but it is your job to get back up and try again. And when you feel that you have completely lost control of your life, I would remind myself to sit down, breathe, and talk to the friends you have made and your professors, it will surprise you how much they can help. I would tell myself that these next 4 years of my life are going to be extraordinary. You're going to meet people that will change your life and make you a better person. I would finally tell myself to relax and get excited to create your future.

If I could go back to high school and give myself advice I would tell myself to stay focused. Being focused does not allow distractions and negative outburst to get in the way of success. Instead, being focused allows room for growth and an increase in the probability of reaching one's goals. I would also tell myself to never give up. College is hard. There are times where you will feel lonely and other times where you will feel like a complete failure. But dispite the many obstacles and tribbulations that may come your way, don't give up; for the finish line is far greater than which you've started from.

College is going to be a rough journey for the career your going to pursue. Your going to study Aircraft Maintenance Technology so it's a difficult 18 month course. You will go to work at 6:30 and get out at 3 but then go to school from 4 to 10. This will be monday through friday; so stay focused in high school because it's only going to get harder. I suggest you should be applying for scholarships right now because right now; you have to take a $5,500 loan in order to complete the first three semesters of this five semester course. I leave you an inspirational quote:"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. But it ain't about how hard you hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!" Rocky Balboa

During high school, I kept to myself. I rarely raised my hand in class despite doing well in class, nor did I participate in many things even though I had plenty of ideas. I found myself doubting my ability even though I was just as qualified as any student. I shielded myself from so many opportunities. Looking back, I realize how silly my lack of confidence was, but it did not come immediately after enrolling in college. During my freshman year, I lived life relatively the same way I did during high school – secluded myself, double-thinking every move, keeping myself reserved. It wasn’t until the end of the year that I realized just how unhappy and tired I was with restraining every thought just to remain anonymous. My university is huge. School spirit is rampant, classes are fairly large, thousands of people are on campus….it’s very easy to get lost in the cracks. I was forced into some long awaiting revelations: be yourself As cliché as it may sound, it’s true. When graduating college, there are hundreds of students of the same qualifications as you – but no one is you. No one can be you.

I would tell myself to be more organized with my classes and time management.

Knowing what I know now about college life, the advice I would give to myself as a high school senior would be simple. My advice would be to give yourself a break and remember that everything gets better eventually. There are so many new experiences and new responsibilities that come with going to college. I think it is so important to know that you don’t have to be perfect and it is ok to learn as you go. Going to college means learning how to be an adult and figuring out the person that you are. These are not things that are going to be figured out overnight. With each experience, take away what you can and learn what you need to learn, but then let it go. Sometimes it’s going to feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. Give yourself time and give yourself a break! Sometimes you need to just focus on what’s important, put your head down and power through. I promise that there will come a point where you will look around you and be truly happy with where you’re at what you have accomplished.

If I could give advice to my high school senior self, I would encourage myself to improve my time management. Back then, I tried to complete numerous tasks (like applying for scholarships) at the same time. Instead of successfully multi-tasking and having more free time, my efforts resulted in many incomplete projects and feelings of frustration and helplessness that lasted all day. Those negative feelings led to a loss of motivation, which led to more time wasted. Instead on continuing the same unproductive cycle, I would tell myself to assign blocks of time for each individual task, in order of importance. After completing a number of tasks, I would allow myself to take a break, to keep maintain mental clarity. After an allotted period of time, I would tackle the next task on the schedule. I would assure myself that by learning to prioritize and divide my time wisely, I would become more productive and efficient, with fewer task-related frustrations. I would tell myself that learning to manage my time would benefit me not only presently, but with future endeavors, such as college and career tasks, as well.

I would tell myself to go in as an undecided major so that you can explore your options. Also my other big thing would be to get out there in those first few months and get to know people. MSU is a huge campus with a lot of opportunities to make friends so why not take advantage of that. The only other thing I would advise myself on is that this isnt high school and classes are harder so take them seriously and work hard for what you want in your life. Lastly I would say to call home frequently. Your family is what made you who you are going into college and they know how to calm you down or reassure you if you ever get to a point where you are frusterated or even just doubt your decisions.

If I could go back and talk to my former high school self, I would have so much to say that I might scare myself! First, I would let them know that they would be in for a culture shock because everyone would not mix and mingle with each other in college as they would have in high school. I would also let them know that even though they were in the top 10{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c} of their high school class, college would be different and the studying you did in high school would not be enough for what you would need to do in college. I would urge my past self to practice balancing fun and work because without it you will drift to either one side or the other, but either way you would not be reaching your maximum potential. And finally, I would tell my past self to not accept all of the loans they offer because you may not need them but they won't tell you that. If I could go back, I would tell my past self everything that I wish I had known before.

College is difficult. Don't take your grades for granted. Studying and doing homework well isn't something you can simply put off or do half-heartedly. You have been given a wonderful opportunity to study in a residential college that is staffed by professors hailing from Harvard, Princeton, all walks of life. You get the best of both worlds- a small college education at a large university. Do not waste your time here. You can do so much with your life, if only you allow yourself the ability to succeed.

I believe I have lived a successful high school career. I was known to be the overly-involved, nice student. I took pride in looking out for my peers and making sure my friend group was positive. However, when I attended college I soon realized I have to be my own advocater. No one was going to go out of their way to make my college experience that much greater, it was up to me. Once I realized this fact, I knew it was a challenge I was ready to take. I joined the MSU girls lacrosse team, became a part of the honors college, and developed lasting relationships that will last a lifetime. I am on-track to having a typical "once-in-a-lifetime college experience" and I am forever grateful that I am to continue my studies at Michigan State.

My senior year of high school I made the choice to go to Central Michigan University to avoid being compared to my older sister who had recently graduated from Michigan State. It turned out that Central was not the right fit for me and I transferred to Michigan State after my freshmen year. In high school I did not realize that I would have the ability to be my own person and I would not have to follow exactly in my sister’s footsteps. I though the only way to distinguish myself was to go to a different university. I wish I had known more about the variety of extracurricular activities, student work opportunities, and living options. It turns out that I have made my own experience at Michigan State that fits me perfectly. I have had a variety of student jobs and joined many different student organizations. Where I haven’t been able to find opportunities that fit my academic goals, I have created my own. For example, I founded a student organization to fit my interests in Digital Humanities and sought out ways to gain library experience to prepare me for graduate school in library sciences.

I would tell myself that one should not lose his sense to tell a story. I know a few friends who have been removed from the university or lost college credits due to using illegal substances or being careless. College is important and allows you to become an educated, useful individual. I know that no one would decline his chance at achieving success. So, why would you want to risk that? Nowadays, education is becoming the main criterion for job applications. It is nearly mandatory for one to have a Bachelor's Degree when applying for any job. Therefore, you are basically required to obtain a college degree. I know it is not easy to get a degree, but determination can bring you pleasant surprises. Experience, along with education, provides the best potential for success. You should look for opportunities that allow you to understand more about your desired career. You might choose to reconsider your career. Although career-related experience is important, you should remember to have some time for fun and relaxation. College is stressful so you need to find respite in activities you enjoy. Just make sure that your activities do not ruin your chance of success.

The advice I would give myself as a high school senior would be learn how to manage your time well. This is very general so I would suggest what I do now to make this possible. Make a checklist for every day so you can see what needs to be done and what you have already completed. Also don't procrastinate. When making your checklists allow yourself time to study a few days before the exam. Academics come first so managing your time well will allow you to get good grades while also spending time with friends and getting a great college experience that everyone deserves. Something else i would tell myself is not to stress. College can be scary but if you learn to step back and relax every once in a while it can be a great time that goes by too quickly. Sleep is also important, many people pull all nighters but if you manage your time you can get the sleep you need and be successful. This is the advice I wish I had when I was a senior and will definitely pass on to those in high school now.

If I could go back in time and talk to my senior self, I would say to stop freaking out. High school for me was plagued with the feeling that nothing was ever enough. Add pressure to a vast list of extracurriculars plus APs, and you get a metamorphic stressed-out byproduct of me. Mixed with the looming expiration date on high school, I have no idea how I survived. College was an unknown that I would lay awake at night fearing—would I fit in? Would I have the “right” college experience? I was worrying about college in the same way I worried about getting the most out of high school. Once at MSU, I quickly realized college is wonderful, and I’m able to express my passion for school in a way I didn’t allow myself to before. There is no “right” way to experience college, because there’s a place for everyone (even a literature nerd like me, more likely to spend a Friday on the couch with a book instead of partying). I’d advise myself to relax and believe in myself, because that’s all you need to create your right place in college.

If I could go back in time to my senior year, there is honestly only one thing that I would tell myself, and that's to be less afraid. I was afraid to apply for college, I was afraid to take the SAT, and I was definitely afraid of getting my loan. I wish that I could have been less afraid and would have just gone with the flow of things, because I could have turned that stressful time of my life into something wonderful and memorable. But, I can truly say that because of the stress, I have learned a lot about myself and about what I want, and that's something that I wouldn't take back. My freshman year so far is half way gone but, my life is just beginning.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would enforce the concept of time management. I would explain how it is easy to get wrapped up in studies, campus activities, track and field practice, and volunteer opportunities. Attending classes in the morning, practice and weight lifting in the evening and study hall at night will be the primary obligations not only as a full time student but as a full time student athlete. Everything else will have to wait and fall in between time somehow. Juggling all of that will be a struggle that I did not learn until well into my senior year. So preventing that early on would be a blessing in disguise. Senior year was the time when I learned how to finally balance it all. Time in college will come and go in a blink of an eye, so enjoy it from the first day and try not to become discouraged and bitter when you end up in a orthopedic boot your first day of track practice. As stressful as that time was, you will bounce back before you know it.

Don't be afraid to leave the nest. Leaving home is scarey at first but you will definately adapt. You WILL meet new people and they WILL love you. Fly above the fear and reach your full potential. You are special Randi.

Listen Venessa, although you are excited about graduating high school and making the big leap of becoming a college student, here is some advice you would want to follow! First of all, do not be lazy, you are a smart girl take challenging classes like AP courses and work your way through senior year –enter with a bang, leave with a bang. Quit doubting yourself; apply to more than two universities. College is not as easy as it may seem –study, study, study. Take time to work out time management skills because procrastination is your worst nightmare. Be a leader and be involved in events on campus because it only happens once. But most of all be safe in your sexual life, for bringing an infant to this world changes everything. Raising a baby, and attending college at the same time is very difficult. Screw your head on right and do not lose sight of your goal in life –don’t sell yourself short. Reach beyond your horizon, believe in yourself. Make a difference.

Don't freak out just because mom/dad are no longer there to look after you. You will meet so many new, fresh people from all parts of the globe, literally. There is just so much to see and explore that you will forget about your homesick-ness sooner than what you would expect. As eye-opening as that may sound, it is the truth.