Missouri University of Science and Technology Top Questions

Well, first off I would explain to myself the extreme importance of a college education. Then I would say that not studying and playing all the time won't cut it and will not get me anywhere in life. Aslo, don't trust anyone, almost seventy percent of the people you will meet aren't trustworthy at all. Get to know your teachers, if you show them you are interested in their class, they will take interest in you and your needs. Don't be afraid to ask for help, because without it you won't live up to your full potential. Ask questions in class even though you'll feel stupid, because almost everyone else is just as lost as you are and have the same question. Don't cheat, it's not worth it's not worth the ramifications you'll experience if caught. When I say cheating, I mean being a push over and letting your buddy copy your work, but also copying others work. Plan our your days, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Never go home until you have finished everyting for the day, other wise it won't get done.

Despite the fact that I was a senior only last year, high school still seems like an eternity ago. If I traveled back in time to talk to the naive high school senior version of myself, there would be too much to say but two things stand out in my mind. Most importantly, I would tell myself to not be afraid if I actually start thinking like my mother. My mom always told me to ask questions and during this year I have suddenly realized what she meant. The questions I have asked this year have gotten me better grades, less stressful schedules, and some amazing friends and I will be forever in my mothers debt because of it. The second thing would involve my sister. I would make my past self find my twin sister and I would tell both of them that being apart in college would only bring them closer. I would tell myself that I shouldn't be afraid to make new friends, lose old ones, and even fall in love without her because it's part of growing up and my sister would always be a phone call away. These lessons have made college amazing.

I'd warn myself of the crippling debt I'll be subjecting myself to by attending a public school on out-of-state tuition. "I understand that dad promises to handle the costs, but that's asking far too much of a divorced and unemployed man of working class means" (because this wasn't obvious enough to my former self, blinded by the idealistic notion of leaving home for something "different"). I would proceed to enumerate the consequences of my irresponsibility: "You'll rack up a tuition bill greater than your cumulative life earnings after two semesters. You'll come home for summer break, optimistic that you'll return in fall. You'll be wrong." So begins the frantic job search. "You'll come to resent the phrase 'prior experience needed'. Options are running slim. You'll join the Air Force Reserve in a futile attempt to mitigate this horrible situation. It won't be enough." That'll bring us to present day. "In following the path of greatest resistance, and while still very heavily indebted, you're finally back in school (one of manageable cost, at that). Save yourself some grief and live within your means, you dumb kid."

I would tell myself to take more time out to study. I would have to tell myself to prepare for nights that you will be staying up to midnight or pass midnight completing homework or sudying for quizzes and exams. Here in college you have to work for your grade. There is no more smooth and steady and just cruising by through classes. It takes so much out of your own free time to study for tests that are few days away. The material at Missouri University of Science and Technology does not come to you that easy. It takes getting pass your own pride to go get help, that is heavily expressed on campus. There are resource centers, other students, professors, and administrators that are here for you. Even though you may have studied hard for a test it may not result in a good outcome.. There are times that you may be at your lowest because of that test that you did not do well on, but it takes alot to get back up and keep moving forward. Hopefully, on the next test you will show yourself that you have major comebacks for minor set backs.

I would first tell myself to learn better study habits. Just because you don't have to study very much in highschool to get good grades, does not in ANY way mean you won't have to work your butt off in college. I would also encourage myself to use the computer more often because so much of the work in college is on the computer and if you can't do it you are pretty much out of luck. My past self should also have worked harder at learning to make new friends. I would tell my past self that having the same best friend for thirteen years is awesome, but if you go to different colleges it is a little sad. Also, you will need help in college and if you had more people on campus that you could ask for help your life would be alot easier. The big thing is to learn good study habits! Tests are a large percent of your grade and classes are only a semester anyway. Lastly, be sure to remeber that God is always there for you!!

I would say that there is nothing that will fully prepare you for the transition from high school to college, but remember to focus on the important things and ignore the distractions right now. Take as many AP courses as you can in high school, trust me it's cheaper and probably easier this way. Also I would tell myself that living on your own is hard but you need to be ready for it, talk to strangers, be more outgoing in high school, it will help prepare you for independence away from your beloved family. But most importantly apply for as many scholarships as you can because you are most likely going to be broke for the next 4-5 years, but being less broke makes a world of a difference.

As a high schol senior, I was at a crossroads. I wanted to talk to other people, but I was very afraid, almost like I had a social phobia. At the same time, I wanted to meet new people, but was unsure how to go about doing it. My senior year was the mst miserable time I ever had in my life because of this. What I would tell my former self, given my current experience with college and life in general, is that not everyone is out to get me, and not everyone is evil. Back then, I would have been afraid to ask for help from anyone, but that's a very vital thing to do in college. Making friends, making connections, none of those things would have been possible for me back in high school. I would have told myself how important these skills are, and how to hone them.

I would say to myself: "Mathias, I know you are worried about living on your own, how hard college is going to be, making friends, and all of the added responsibility, and you should be worried about it. I advise you not to worry about living on your own or making friends because the worst part about living on your own is cooking, which you do not have to do, and you will be living so closely to the thirty other students on your floor that there is no way that you will not make friends. What you really need to worry about is how hard college is going to be and the added responsibility. College will be the hardest thing that you have encountered so far. You need to mentally prepare yourself and make sure to focus on your school work by throwing all forms of entertainment out the window. Most importantly, you need to become a lot more organized and use your time more efficiently because you are responsible for a lot in college and you need to make time to get more involved to make yourself a more balanced student."

Please make sure to participate as much as possible. Your grades are outstanding so do not worry about them too much. I know that you do not like to be involved in social opportunities, but please believe me that it can do wonders for scholarship applications. I want you to get the most out of your education, so participate much more than you already are.

If I could go back in time and advise my younger self, I would tell myself to do a few different things. The first would be to take more dual-credit classes in high school. I transferred in 15 hours from high school work, but I know I could have taken more that would have helped in college. I would also tell myself that college is a place of freedom, which is great, but that freedom comes with a lot of responsibilities. I learned very quickly my first semester that I was going to have to study a whole lot more than I did in high school. I realized I could not just skim over my notes and then be ready for an exam, so I would tell my younger self to take studying in high school a little more seriously. The final thing I would tell my past self is that it is all going to work out. Dorms aren't as bad as I thought they would be, classes are hard, but not outrageous, and friends are easily made if you just step out of your comfort zone a bit.