Northeastern University Top Questions

If I could go back and tell myself one thing as a high schools senior, it would be this: do it all! For many first time college students, this is the first time that they are alone to take care of themselves and maybe far from family and their home town. Too often, due to social preassure, college is a shock to freshman entering in their first year and they tend to play it safe by picking a small group of friends and not branching out to activities that they might be interested in. But the reality is that everyone around you feels the same way, no matter how confident or "cool" they seem, they are likely just as nervous as you are. Use this to your advantage and don't be afraid to branch out. Join clubs, do sports, eat with strangers in the cafeteria and talk to your classmates. The more you put yourself out there, the more opportunities you will have to discover your true passion and make life long friends that matter. So to my high-school senior self: do it all! You've got nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Stacey, look at yourself. Now look around. Do you notice anything different between you and the other high schoolers surrounding you? No. Because everyone here, including you, works so hard to conform and fit the sterotype of this school. But why do you try so hard to do so? I am here to advise you to break that chain. Stop following the crowd and learn to be yourself. You may not be able to see it now, but life outside of high school is not like this. You don't need to dress the same way, watch the same TV shows, and spend your weekends the same way as everyone around you. Don't feel embarrassed to be different, to be you. Be proud of yourself, your love of learning, board games, Jeopardy, dance, reading, and time with family. Don't be afraid to admit you disagree with gossip, or to stand up against the social norm of drinking. Rather than trying to fit in, now is your time to stand out. Be a leader, not a follower. Start building your own unique future, paving your own unique path, and becoming the adult YOU want to be.

Find and join at least one club first semester so that you with know more people in the community even if they don't become your best friends. Make a larger effort to talk to people in your dorm. Deciding to be undeclared isn't a bad decision, but make an effort to get to know what each major consists of. Don't rule anything out before you fully understand it. I had mentally ruled out business as a major for myself since I don't have an interest in entrepreneurship. I thought having a more specialized skillset would help me more in the career world and struggled to find an interest this specialized. I always imagined myself working in the business world and only recently realized majoring in business was a great option, not one to rule out. I would have advised myself to work harder to become part of the community earlier and to listen to my gut more when choosing a major rather than pressuring myself to find an interest that does not exist.

Sweetie, don't worry. You're not sure of it yet, but you really do have what it takes to be an independent college student. You're going to have so many new experiences and meet so many people it will make you head skin, but you'll love every minute of it. Do everything you can, and don't put it off until "later". Seize the day. Make the last moments of high school good one, and have a memorable summer with your friends. You're in for quite a ride, and you're going to do fine. Your adventure is waiting.

Throughout high school the most common piece of advice is, “get a good GPA”. As a high school student this can bring a lot of stress because they are told that a good GPA is the only way to get into college. If I could go back give my high school self one piece of advice it would be to not worry so much about my grades but rather what I was learning. Getting into college is not as big of an issue as everyone makes it out to be and getting the grades that you deserve will get you into the right college for you. I was fortunate enough to develop a very good work ethic in high school and rarely procrastinated so this advice would have worked for me as I would still have completed my work and done the best that I could, just with a little less stress. Yes college is more stressful and has more work but with a good work ethic and the right motivation the stress of school does not need to be as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be.

I would start by saying grading is a lot different in college. Proffessors are less upfront about their grading processes, and it can be harder to figure out what you current grade is, so it is better to not worry about it and just do as well as you can. I would also say that the extra free time is a blessing and a curse. I feel that I get more work done, but sometimes I feel like I have too much freetime. Finally, I would just say to worry less and understand that this is a time for change and for new things, so you don't need to be caught up in exactly where your going, as long as you have a general idea of where you want to be

Firstly, I would remind myself of the importance of being surrounded by positivity and complete support. Relationships in high school tend to be superficial and close-minded. There are concepts and cultures to be discovered beyond the four white walls you are boxed in. Secondly, intelligence is not only definied by an IQ number or the amount of words you can memorize, but rather through your ability to apply what you have learned from experience. Thirdly, I would remind myself to reconsider the perception of fear. Recently, I learned that fear and vulnerability does not make you a weak individual, but rather an individual who understands emotions. Fourthly, if any opportunity presents itself, always say "yes." Opportunities can lead to new relationships, knowledge, leadership positions and independence. Fifthly, learn to believe in yourself and accept your capabilities. Carry youself with confidence and believe in endless possibilities. You may not be able to achieve everything you want, but other prospects will present itself. The future is yours, therefore make your own decisions and learn from them.

You were lucky that you did so well on the SAT; if you hadn't, you wouldn't be in a top 50 university on one of its top merit scholarships. Your GPA was mediocre, and you need to make sure not to repeat the blunders that made you a B+ average instead of an A- or A. Don't get overconfident and take on more than you can handle. Don't alienate teachers by not following the proper channels of communication. For God's sake, accountability. Don't miss things and study. You are lucky, because so far being smart instead of working hard has turned out just fine. But that will run out of rail very fast, and no one will want to help you when the time comes. Socially, you'll do just fine. There are a lot of dates you'll go on, and maybe in that sense you're working hard and it's paying off. College is like emerging from a Plato's cave of our own insecurities. But the biggest monster still needs to be fought, and you can win if you give it the eight hours a day that give you worth.

I would tell my past self to stop being unfair and uncaring about my future. I would advised myself to keep going to school and to give it my all instead of wasting away my potential. I would tell myself to stop worrying about other people's opinions and to just worry about myself and my family.

I can't believe it's 1992. I decided to break all the time traveling rules and sit my 2014 self down and chat with my 1992 self. I notice my hair is darker in my 1992 self. He's a bit thinner and way too serious about himself and his goals. He has dreams of being in the military. He doesn't know those dreams will be dashed in June. He has his heart set on studying journalism in Boston. I have no idea how he came about to finding that degree. He should study math, science, or business. He should be taking apart his dad's brand new Frankilin Computer and rewiring it. He should forgive his high school classmates and with just a few days before graduation get to know them. He needs to stay closer to home. Save money. Get a degree at a local college. Work at a local business that will help pay for his college tuition. The world will always be there for him. The most important message I have for him is:"DON'T MEET NURIA!" Avoid anyone with that name and the rest will be fine.

I would tell myself to enjoy every minute and not stress when things do not go my way at first. I would remind myself that all my hard work will pay off and I will have the career I love. I would tell myself to also enjoy all the school has to offer and put myself out there more often. It is important to make a big school small by finding things I enjoy and making a difference. For anyone picking a school there are many things that should be considered and finding an environment thats best for you is critical. As an incoming student I would advise visiting the school prior to accepting to see first hand where I will be learning. For graduate school I wanted to be in a city and althought my program requires a lot of hard work I would tell myself to ensure I enjoy all the events going on outside of the school and in the city of Boston itself.

As high as college debt is, even if you are paying loans back yourself, it will benefit you to be involved in research and volunteer in your areas of interest than to work at a cafe or other job for 20-40 hours per week. It is good to keep a minimal job, but commit fully to at least one organization a semester and make it to all the meetings. Limit your work to allow you to be involved or else quit if it is not flexible. Travel, but ask early about chances to earn course credit while doing it. Many science courses won't transfer. Triple check anything any advisor says. Often, rules change across departments so one advisor may not be able to guarantee you anything. Take courses that challenge you, interest you, and be an active member of that course so, not only will you learn, but also gain understanding and professor acknowledgement-very beneficial later for recommendations. No matter what you decide to pursue, understand that you are not commiting yourself for life. You are not marrying your career. There are more options than you know about in your field. Relax. Take naps. Balance yourself.

If I could travel in time to talk to myself before graduating from high school, I would stress the importance of exploration in undergraduate years. As it happened, I did not decide to pursue a career in criminal justice after graduating from college, however, it was only through exploring this potential path that I discovered what I like and don't like in a career. I would explain that higher education is very different than the education in primary and high school. Learning more about the topics that interest you is both fun and empowering and while there may be some required classes that you have less interest in, it is generally easier to do well when you are truly invested in the subject matter. I would also tell my younger self that it is okay to make mistakes but it is crucial that you learn from them, that it is better to abandon previously held notions when faced with evidence of opposing truths than to cling to traditions, and that above all, question everything. The most importand and all-encompassing lesson that I would wish to empart would be that knowledge truly is power.

Follow your interests and your heart. You will naturally fall into the relationships and activities you love, I know, because I did. One piece of advice I would give, is practice reminding yourself that you are much smarter than you give yourself credit for, and you sometimes expect too much of people. It's all right if some can't follow you or do not agree with you... they're trying. Help when you can, ask questions when in doubt. And always practice the most important four phrases in the English language: "I'm sorry, I don't know, I was wrong and I love you."

Before making a final decision on a college/university, be sure to visit the campus for a second time. Making sure it feels right to you since you will it be home to you for the next four years.

If I could go back and talk to my high school self, I would say don't worry about the pressures of college. Don't worry about making friends, you'll find the right people when you do what you love. The same goes for the pressures surrounding choosing a major and worrying about post-grad employment. If you're making money but hate what you do, it won't be worth it. The same goes for being successful without anybody you love to share it with. Join clubs, lots of them, and let time tell you which ones are worth sticking with. This will reward you with an interest you're developing, and meeting people who share that interest. Try everything and don't be afraid to fail. The more things you discover that aren't right for you means you're that much closer to finding what is right for you. Don't worry about keeping a 4.0, worry about learning. Learn material for your own knowledge, not to get a good grade. You'll keep the knowledge for the rest of your life, but as soon as you get your first job, people forget your GPA.

Talk to as many people in the careers you are considering prior to declaring your major. It is okay to be undecided in the begining. I initially thought I knew what I wanted out of my college career and did the best I could with my resources to gain experience and eventually land a job in my field of study. I knew quickly that it was not where I wanted to be. Stretch your comfort zone and get out there. College is the time to discover yourself, make great friends, and learn more than you ever thought you were capable of. Don't take the easy way out by majoring in something just to get your degree. The job market is tough and even if you are considering going to graduate school after, you need to maintain a very high GPA. Work and get internships while in school. Keep yourself busy. Stay active and remember to call mom and dad every once in awhile!

I would tell my high school self to not be nervous about the transition. I would advise myself go into college and join more extracurricular activities in my first semester rather than waiting until second semester to start doing things other than working and focusing on school work.

I would tell myself to not worry so much. Honestly, I was one of the biggest scaredy-cats when it came to college. In fact, I would do anything to avoid the subject. Now after a year in college, I have found that it was just an amazing experience. Finding friends is as easy as everyone says it is and you can always try something new. There's no need to fret about the transition, although it is an immense one, because everyone is going through the same big step you are. It's just such a great atmosphere and you get to meet people that you would have never had the chance to meet otherwise. It's important to continue to keep up a good work ethic and try not to let that bad case of "senioritis" linger. In essence, the advice I would give myself is to relax and just continue striving for the best. After all, a whole new exciting chapter of my life is just about to start.

Relax! You are going to make it through the next few years and have a great time as long as you enjoy the road and all the pit stops along the way. Don’t be so focused on the future and what comes next. Follow what you love and not where the money is- I know it’s cheesy but you will save a lot of tuition money that way! And don’t worry, nothing you do will disappoint mom or dad- they are so tremendously proud of you and that will only grow (even if you do change your major a few times). Don’t be afraid to go out and meet people. I know you’re still shy, but once you do you will not regret it. Be that silly you that you are when no one is looking. I’m serious; everyone will love her! Accept yourself completely because it will make everything easier. You are a smart and beautiful women who will do great things if you let yourself. Do not sell yourself short. It’s always been a bumpy road, but that’s what makes it fun. Things will get better!