Missouri University of Science and Technology Top Questions

This is your senior year and I know you are a bit anxious. Don’t be. The years after high school will be the beginning of your new life. And it will only get better each year. Sure, you are going to go to the local community college, but you will transfer within a reasonable amount of time. But there are some things I need to tell you. Every few semesters, you will have a pretty bad schedule. You and I both know that you are not a morning person, so spend a lot of time choosing your class schedules. Also, it is always a little scary meeting new people in each new class, but just remember to be an open-minded individual. Everyone is walking their own path. Another piece of advice, get a job! I mean, what’s a degree without work experience? The first job you are going to get will be horrible, so as soon you get that one, apply to different jobs. Last advice I will leave with you is this: always think positive thoughts. I know life will seem hard but it will always get better.

If I were to go back in time and talk to myself as a senior in high school, I would tell him try hard my freshman year. It is the easiest year you will have at Missouri S&T and you will pick up good habits for studying and time management. Also, I would tell myself to not take Physics 23 and Calc 22 at the same time; both of these class are considered weed out classes, in which they weed out the people that should not be engineers, and if you take them at the same time you are going to spend all of your studying in your room by yourself. Overall though, I would tell myself you need to work hard but you also need to go out and meet some people. I have made some great friends here at Rolla but we all are going to graduate sooner or later and so you should have fun and hangout with your friends whenever you can.

Dear Self, My advice to you is this: know yourself. Do everything in your power to discover, embrace, celebrate, and remain true to the real you. Right now, more than ever before, people are expecting things from you-great things. But I caution you: do not meet their expectations! Exceed them…not by becoming the best version of who they think you should be, but rather, the best version of who you already are. It’s not smart to choose a major simply because it will make you look smart. There is no wisdom in selecting a sagely career if it means ignoring your true calling. The world doesn’t need another high-achiever. The world needs the matchless, irreplaceable gift that you are: your unique hobbies, quirky personality traits, the things that break your heart, the things that bring you great joy…that’s what makes you, you! Don’t try to prove yourself. Don’t try to find yourself. You don’t need to look for what you already have. Your story has been written. Don’t let anyone re-write it for you. Know yourself…simply know yourself. Sincerely, You

If I had one 'do over in my life' It would be to complete my education because that what really imperative in life for your independence and being a productive citizen. My choice to leave school before completing my education was irresponsible. My life experience that I have encountered leads me to believe that education is the key to being a productive member of society. If giving this opportunity I will share my experiences with some one that‘s about to make that mistake of leaving school. Your education should be primary to each and everyone that enters College.

Go all out! SInce coming to college, it's been tough meeting up wiith everyone from high school. So take those chances,those trips and make memories. Don't be afriad to network or to be assertive...it wil be good practice for when you get to college. Also don't forget to do research...not only for the college you want to attend as far as academically, but what you can do on campus and look to see what difference you can make on campus. Be honest with yourself and don't hesitate to be different. AND always, always remember that whatever you put in, whatever you are willing to share is what you will get out of everything you do. SO don't be shy to ask questions, you are in college to learn. I wish you the best of luck and God Bless!

My senior year of high school was the busiest year of my life. Between IB exams, scholarship applications, and classwork, I didn't think about the transition from high school to college. If I could go back in time, I'd tell myself to be more accepting of change. College has been the best experience of my life, but during the first months of school, I stubbornly kept the same routines I had in high school. I studied by myself a lot, didn't get to know many people in my classes, and didn't get involved in the community. Because I went to a small out-of-state college, I didn't know anyone from my hometown, and it was very easy to lock myself away in my dorm-room. A lesson I learned quickly is that having friends to help you through rough times is much more important than studying. When classwork seemed overwhelming or several exams were scheduled for the same week, I needed the support network of other people to help me through. Once I changed my attitude and started getting involved, my grades improved, and I began to understand what makes college so amazing.

Hi Racheal, What a journey. You’ve finally made it to your senior year of high school and you fought to the top. I’m will not tell you everything you should do because some mistakes mold you into who you become. However as heads up, senior year is going to be hard; it might be your last year but it’s very important. Keep doing well in your classes and pay attention because you will be taking all your AP tests, and you have to study hard for them so that you can get a good score and have some credits transferred in for college, especially chemistry. Also use this year to focus on track. Try to get your times down and don’t you dear mention to the couches that you run the 800 meter run because they will make you run it and you know how much you hate running it. I know you say that you do not was to continue track in college but if you try to picture life without track you cannot. I promise that you will make lifelong friends along the way and travel while doing what you love. Love forthcoming you

I would tell myself that attending a community college is definately the best choice before transferring to MS&T. I would say to give up on silly online games and focus more on Studying the fundamental courses that I took in my first two years. I would tell myself that I am an example learner and that it would be in my best interest to talk to my professors a lot outside of class and get as many examples worked out in front of me as I could. I would tell myself to get more sleep during the week, and do whatever I could to stay awake in my classes, becuase you it's very dis-respectful to sleep in a class when a professor is spending their time trying to teach you. I tell myself to get to know the other students at my community college really well, because I will be living with them for the next two years. I would warn myself against a particular room-mate that has very...different views on cleaning and proper care of the home. I would tell myself to save up as much money as I can, and not eat out.

Missouri S&T was my last choice in university. I am originally from St. Louis and wanted to move as far away as possible. I applied to universities on both coasts, in the south, and in the north; Missouri S&T was the only one within several hundred miles of St. Louis. However, due to financial reasons I ended up attending Missouri S&T. My high school self was disappointed, devastated that my high-reaching plans did not succeed the way I originally intended. The best advice I could have given myself at that point in my life is that each experience is what you make of it. No, things don't always work out the way you plan them. Yes, sometimes life takes an unexpected path despite your great attempts to prevent it. Yet if you commit to that path, make the most of each experience you are given, then things will always work out for the best. I am now very involved on campus, have a part-time job, am participating in undergraduate research this summer, and studying abroad in Hong Kong next fall. Life is what you make of it.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself how to study more efficiently, not to procrastinate, and to stay on top of my classes and scholarship applications. I was forced to learn the hard way how to study, resulting in grades that were much lower than I had expected. I also had a bad tendency of procrastinating during the first semester, and at a university as hard as this one, that won't get me very far. I would make sure that I knew exactly how hard my first semester in college would be, and better prepare myself for the hard times.