Oakland University Top Questions

If I could go back and give myself advice, I would tell myslef a few things. For one, I would tell myslef to get used to managing time and putting school first. One big thing I would say would be that I need to go into my classes with an open mind, because there are reviews about teachers that are not so good, but just because a review says that, does not mean it is true. I would encouragse myself to give it my all, and to stick through it when times get tough.

The most important thing I could tell myself as a high school senior would be: "Don't try to plan your entire life." When I was a senior, I thought I knew exactly what I was going to be doing. I thought I knew what college I'd be going to and what my career would be. As I got older and progressed through college, constantly changing my major, however, I began to understand that for me, knowing exactly what I wanted to do was impossible. I would try to make my high school senior self comprehend that you don't need to know exactly what you're going to do for the rest of your life. Instead, I would tell her that she should simply pick a major that she loves and see where she can go from there. It took me a long time to figure this out, and I feel as though I wasted a large portion of my time flip-flopping about what my future career should be. As long as you're moving towards something consistently, she shouldn't worry so much about the final destination.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to research every scholarship known to man to eliminate student debt upon graduation. Not worrying about paying back student loans would have made my college journey less stressful. I would also tell myself to complete my college prerequisite classes first, which usually takes about two years. That way, I would have had more time to research the fields I was interested in rather than starting out in one major, then half way done, switching to a new major. I would tell myself to stay clear of all the credit card companies enticing me to open up a credit card account. Knowing now that a large amount of revolving credit can lower my credit rating, I would have limited myself to one credit card thus making it easier to purchase a car and a house. Lastly, I would tell myself to stay at my first job as a registered nurse for at least 2 years to obtain the necessary experience needed to advance in the field of healthcare. I found that bouncing from job to job did more harm than good.

The most important concept for you to learn at this point in your life is the concept of balance. The decisions that you make at this juncture may very well determine the success of your future. Understanding the concept of balance will aid you in making good decisions. Now, you are being faced with things that you want to do and things you need to do. You must find balance between both categories and work just as hard on one as you do on the other. If there comes a time when you must choose between these two categories, choose to do the things that you need to do. This may prove to be difficult, but think of it as an investment into your future. Choosing to do the things you need to do will help you to avoid life's pitfalls. Life is a collection of many moments. Some moments are more critical than others, but each are important. You are living in a critical moment right now. Maximize each moment, in order to get the most out of it. If you do, then you will never have to live your life with regrets.

First off, ratemyprofessor.com is the most important tool you can use when selecting classes. Take the answers with a grain of salt, but who is teaching you is just as important as what you're learning. Remember that you're paying for your education now, so don't let a bad professor ruin your GPA or your college experience. Secondly, loans should always be used sparingly. Be proactive. Search for grants and scholarships, even if you think getting recommendation letters and such are a pain. They're actually not that hard to ask for, and there are so many wonderful professors out there willing to help you if you just know to look them up. Lastly but most importantly, study abroad. I can't stress this one enough. For all the money and work it took to get there, it's hands down the best experience I've ever had in my life. It's the best thing you could do for yourself. You'll grow immensely as a person and see the world in a whole new light. I'd go again if I could, so just do it. Don't hold back. You're only young once.

Given what I know now, if I were to go back in time and talk to my senior self, I'd tell her that everything is going to work out. As a senior, I was very scared about my future. I wanted to go big, but I had no direction or knowledge of what I wanted to do with my life. I was panicked every day as I inched closer to graduation. When my college letters came, I didn't get into a single college. I felt defeated. Two years later, I feel more confident in myself. I feel that I've found my place in life and I'm on the right path to success. I would tell my senior self that life isn't going to go the way you expect. You're going to go places you didn't expect to go, meet people you didn't expect to meet, and you're going to be so happy. Sometimes we expect more out of our lives and we get disappointed, so above all, I want myself to know not to sweat the little things and to embrace her awesomeness and enjoy the path her life is taking.

I would tell myself to take my senior year of high school more serious. College is a very important part of life, and by doing well, more jobs and opportunities become available to you. I would also say to use my teachers and school resources much more than I did when it comes to trips or visiting different universities. All in all, the best advice would be to keep my grades high and always strive for the best!

If I could go back in time and speak to my high school senior self, I would urge myself to put more effort into getting involved. I started college with the assumption that I would meet new people and make friends simply by living on campus. I quickly discovered that this is not the case; although I made a few friends on my dorm floor, I didn't make an effort to get out and meet other people or talk to the other students in my classes. I would encourage my senior self to go out and talk to people as soon as I got to campus, to join a few clubs or organizations, and to simply have fun. I know that my college experience would be vastly different if I had taken these steps right away rather than learning the hard way throughout my first semester.

Knowing what I know about the college life and making the transition to college, the advice I would give a high school senior version of myself would be to dive into college. Do not commute; do not be timid about getting involved on campus. Diving into the college experience and experiencing change so quickly might be a little overwhelming at first, but it is nothing to worry about. Everything will be okay and not only do you grow up by being on your own in some ways, but you also have the opportunity to grow as a person and become who you want to be. When you are on the campus and you get involved with campus activities and when you join groups or organizations through the school, it helps you build your communication and networking skills. You may be timid now, but once you dive in you will love it and you will be having the time of your life. I dived in the second year of my college career and I wish I did it sooner because it has been the best time of my life.

If I were able to go back in time and offer my younger self advice about college life it would be to keep an open mind to all positive people and things. During college the spectrum of possibilities opens wider as you become more involved with things even outside of classes. Do not limit yourself or your abilities. Don't go into things half cocked either. Get an understanding so that you reach the maximum fulfillment of what you do. Think about quality and not quantity. There is only one of you so it is better to produce the best of little than to be overwhelmed trying to do too much and the work never really gets done. Take time for reflection and redirection and always get around the support of others that cheer you strengths and back you up during your weaknesses. Before you know it you will be able to look back and smile about what you have accomplished and look forward smiling at the next phase of your life.