Montclair State University Top Questions

I wish I could go back in time and talk to myself when I was a senior in high school. In high school I didn't think about the future. I would tell myself to take AP classes seriously. I took three AP classes in high school, I did well in the courses but I did not do well on the AP exams. I would tell myself to study for the AP exams because if I had gotten a good grade, I wouldn't have had to take those courses in college. I learned that college tries to trap you in and some how prevent you from graduating by adding more courses to gaduate or by making it difficult to get into courses. By passing the AP exams I would allow myself room to take other courses I need to graduate. I would also tell myself to study more for the SATs. I would tell myself that the SATs will place you in basic courses if your scores are low. I had to take a basic reading course before I started college and if I had done well on my SATs I would not have needed that class.

I would tell myself to take school more seriously and to get involved with more clubs/activities or even volunteering so that I could have realized sooner which profession I desired to pursue. I would also tell myself how far I have come since I graduated high school along with the mistakes I have made and how I have fixed them. I would let myself know that even thought hings didn't turn out as I had always planned, I have accomplished much and am extremely proud of myself.

When teachers tell you your homework is to read make sure you read. College is a lot different from high school, studying is very important but you also need to go out and make new friends. Be smart and don't get in trouble.

I would tell myself not to get upset if you do not go directly to a four year school. Even though a two year school is very different from a four year school, it will help you become more responsible about school work. You will learn independence and it will be much cheaper. Believe me, this will be the best time of your college finances. Spending the extra two years at home is not so horrible, so do not be so down about it. Once you transfer to a four year school, do not feel too overwhelmed. Though you will slightly feel lonely and out of place, give it some time. You will eventually meet people and make friends by just being friendly. Though college is the best time of your life, do not forget that you are there to get an education. Do all your work and do not wait until the last minute because it will begin to take a toll on you. Last but certainly not least, do not stress yourself out. It only leads to negative things and you should appreciate the opportunity you have of completing your degree. Good luck!

I would tell myself that no matter what to go to college as soon as I get out of high school. It is harder to go to college after 21 years and having 2 children to raise on your own. I tell all my daughter's friends now to not do what I did and to get to college as soon as possible, it's even offered in high school now. I would tell myself to not be afraid to use the tutoring services because they are there to help. I would also suggest that if it is possible to not work so I would be able to keep my GPA up, since programs look at the GPA. College has been a rewarding experience. When I first started school I was very nervous since I had been out of school for so long, but I am excited now about my classes and I can't wait to graduate. I want to make my children proud of me and to show them that no matter what life brings to you that you can succeed. Thank you.

I am one of those people that firmly believe that everything happens for a reason. There is such a thing as destiny and fate. I look back at my high school senior self, and I am proud of who I was, but I wish I knew half the things I know now back then. Firstly, I would let myself know, that adding stress to your schedule is OK. I would tell myself to go ahead and add on those AP classes. I would also tell myself to ignore the person who tells you that money should never be a factor. I know now that money is key, and without it even the most innovative dreams can be hindered. That is something that I have learned, and only could have learned from my own experiences. The last bit of information I wish I could have informed myself about, would be to completely ignore your friends college plans. Accommodating your goals for someone else will only hold you back. If you stay true to yourself and believe in what you do, it is a perfect storm for success.

The advice I would tell myself if I was to be a high school senior again would be to not be afraid of new beginnings and always be aware of who you surround yourself with. New beginnings is a great thing not be afraid of leaving friends behind and starting a new page in your life. Everyone is scared of starting college many questions come into mind such as will I make any friends? will I pass my classes? how will my professors be? These questions become part of every college freshmen. However, the truth is there is nothing to be afraid of everyone is new not just you. You will make friends just be aware of who you decide to have as friends in college, they can either bring out the positive in you or take you down the wrong path. In college your in control of your life. This would be the advice I would tell any high school senior if given the opportunity to do so.

If i were to go back in time and advice myself on matters pertaining to college, i would most definitely tell myself to start planning and gathering information about colleges earlier then i did. Also, i would start off by saying that college can be fun, enjoyable and hard at the same time. I could never begin to grasp how it was that that i became to enjoy learning and understanding how things work. To think that i would put in hours and hours of work on something only to be critiqued on it for a total of 5 minutes. During those five minutes all that came to my head was " wow i made that. I know how to do that now. i wonder what else i can do if i apply myself?". I didn't care what anyone else thought of it, all that mattered to me is that i accomplished what i set out to do. I was proud of myself. I would make sure to tell myself, knowledge is power and learn while i had the chance. To keep an open mind on the knowledge the world and everyone in it had to offer.

If I could go back in time when I was a senior in high school I would tell myself to really think about what I want to do with life and research and visit all the colleges or universities that will provide the right resources for me to succeed in getting the career of my dreams on the road, instead of half fasting my decision on a school based on distance rather then career. If I would of done that for myself in my senior year of high school, I would of avoided transferring schools my spring semester of my freshmen year and avoided the hardships of making new friends and adjusting to a new school. I also wouldn't be at a school that doesn't has the sources ,classes, or support I want to major in and struggle on deciding on another career path because of it.

If I could go back to the time when I was a High School senior, I would surely tell myself how hard I should be working. The amount of time and opportunity that is wasted by so many high school students is a shame. It so hard for a teenager to be anything more than short sighted, and realize that they need to apply themselves, and seek out every opportunity they can while they are still un accountable for themselves. Most teenagers don’t have to work or pay rent, so they need to be studying hard in school, and putting all of their effort toward getting into a good college. I now have to learn the hard way that having a full time job and trying to pay for, as well as attend all the schooling I need to become what I want to be, is a very difficult thing to do. If I’d only known that high school is the time to prepare for the rest of your life, I would have taken that opportunity and made the most out of it.

I would have gone to Montclair right off the bat! I transferred from Rider University to County College of Morris, where I graduated Suma Cum Laude with an Associates Degree in Educational Psychology. I then transferred to Montclair, which is the perfect fit for me! The classes are challenging, and the people I have met are great! If I had attended Montclair originally, it would have cost me a fraction of the cost that it is now. I was offered many scholarships as a freshman, and even with my educational successes, was offered nothing as a transfer. The school does not offer scholarships to transfer students, so I would have told my highschool self to attend Montclair as a freshman!

Parking is very limited. If you commute, get to campus before 10am to save yourself the stress of possibly being late to class due to a lack of parking, even if your classes are later on in the day. You can always use the extra time to work out, meet with friends, or get schoolwork done.

My advice for any future high school graduate is to always stay motivated. First, always do your research; this is very important before you choose a school. Make sure to go on plenty of tours and see what financial opportunities are in store for you before applying. It's always good to ask for advice on schools from teachers who are particularly in your field so you get a personal quote to vouch for schools you are thinking about. Once you find out which school fits you best, take the chance of networking with the people at the school before hand. Remember you are choosing a school that you feel is best for you, so make it worth anything you put into it. Also, communicating with people at your future school prepares you ahead of time. Don't be discouraged if you have to start at a community college first; remember you can always transfer once you feel ready to go! There are even more scholarships and opportunities for transfer students as well!!! Another thought would be to remember why your in college and avoid falling into any bad habits that occur. Alway have fun and embrace your future goals!!!

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior the advice I would give myself is that college is not easy and as you get older things definitely do not become easier. When we are young all we think about is growing up but in reality growing up comes with a lot of responsibilities. Yes, making it to college is a big step but staying in college is the big challenge. In high school there is always the teacher that is always behind you making sure you get everything done on time. I am only in my first semester in college and I learned that in college you are on your own. There is not a teacher behind me making sure I am doing fine. It is different, now it is up to me to look for help. As a senior I thought I was going to have plenty of free time to just hang out but college is very time consuming. Although you do not spend most of your time in class like in high school, homework takes most of your day. I wish every senior would realize how serious college is.

If I could go back in time to speak to myself as a high school senior, I would advice myself to remain focused. As a senior, I had the mentality that I would go to school for business but when I applied, something happened and I got accepted with the major "undecided". From my freshman year till the ending of my sophomore year of college, I was still trying to find the best bet for me as a career path. It took a while but I eventually found my way. Now that I am in my junior year, I now know what I am meant to do with my life is in the communications major. I still plan on minoring in the business field but I want to expand my horizon. The reason for this little story is that for the past 2 years, I have felt so low about myself. I've been discouraged mentally due to the fact that I'm watching my fellow friends so dedicated to their plans for the future and I was still figuring out the steps for my life. But I held on and now I feel like my future is looking bright.

Girl you're amazing just the way you are but there are things that can make you better. I know it's senior year but this is your chance to make your 50 yard dash. The finish line is only a few months and half-dozen all-nighters away. Get involved in your studies. The most effective way to learn is to engage every sense. This is small potatoes compared to college. Get involved with your family and friends. This gives you a chance to miss them. Budget your time and money. In two words, college is time-consuming and expensive. Set aside time to hang out with friends, to study, to worry, to sleep. Just don't forget to leave breaks for spontaneity. Be open-minded and imagine every person a potential friend. In America, they are innocent until proven guilty. Talk to your professors. Better than potential friends, they can be your potential mentors or even co-workers. Never forget the basics: to eat, to sleep, to slow down if you're going too fast. Sometimes progress is best made with baby steps. If you fall down, try again. Maybe your race has a shortcut. Just keep striving.

I would tell myself to not be afraid of college. I would tell myself to not wait, and to aim for as high as I wanted to go. I would have told myself that every problem that I thought of in high school, every excuse, would work out in the end so not to worry. I would tell my self to sign up as a Biology major at CSI not as Liberal arts. I would also tell myself to focus on my school work rather than time with friends because the school work will take me where I want to go.

To go back in time and change the decisions that I made is something that I have thought about countless times. I would tell myself to contact and ask questions to the college that I applied to without hesitation. I would tell myself that there is always a way to go to college even if I didnt have the financial resources to do so and that hard work and never giving in go along way in getting where you want in life. I would tell myself that college is not that different from highschool but that the only difference is that in college you make the descisions that impact your life. I would also tell myself that no matter what help is always available to you whether it is financial or spiritual. I would tell myself that being true to yourself and believing in what you believe in makes you an honest person and that is what colleg is about: being true to yourself in order to find your way in life.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would still encourage myself to attend Montclair State, but I would inform myself that it is not as easy as I thought it would be. I was very naive as to how expensive college would be, I would have probably pushed myself to do everything I could to do excellent in school and to apply for as many scholarships as possible, to take some of the pressure off of my parents. Even though they don't want me to worry, I know that paying for college is a huge stress on them and they would never tell me not to go, or to choose a different school because they want the best for me. Another thing I would tell myself is to focus on Broadcasting and the opportunity I had while in high school. I never thought that I would end up in the Broadcasting field, and I was involved in a great program in high school that focused on that. I would tell myself to follow my heart, do what makes you happy and don't worry about what anyone else thinks.

When I sarted Fullerton College last fall, I have to admit that I was a little nervous. What kind of people would be there? Would I make any friends? Would I get lost trying to find my classes? There were so many questions bouncing around in my head. However, when the first day of school came, I discovered that it was an exciting and animated place. I learn so many new and interesting things in my classes and my teachers are easy to relate to. There is also so much diversity amongst the students; in my Political Science class this semester I met someone who just barely came from Romania. It's amazing the difference between high school and college. College has been very valuable to me because I have learned how to become a better student and study more efficiently. I have also learned to manage my time between classes, studying, and various activities I'm committed to. It's also taught me to appreciate the time and effort the teachers' put into the lessons. College has much to offer and I'm just barely dicovering eveything that is associated with it, but I'm ready to find out.