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As a high school senior, I was extremely anxious to leave high school and have a brand new start. Now a sophomore in college, I would tell my senior self to take it easy, and relax. Not everything in high school is that bad and it really helps build a foundation to prepare you for college. It is important to go into college with an open mind and know you are going to meet a plethora of people. Some are going to be your best friends; others are not going to give you the time of day. I would also tell myself to not be afraid to get involved early on. At first I was hesitant because I didn't want to be overwhelmed, but it is really easy to balance academics, social life and involvement with clubs. Finally, I would just tell myself to enjoy every minute of college. You are going to be challenged and grow as a person in a short amount of years. Embrace the transition and learn from every experience!

I would have to tell myself many things about life and school. I would have to tell myself not to waste the senior year and to get involved in some way within the community and other programs within the school to help with scholarships down the line as well to grow some as an individual. I would have to give myself advice about working both mind and body to prepare for the upcoming college challenge as well as preparing for the career that would follow.

I would tell myself to go for what I want. In high school, there were many clubs and positions that I felt that I could easily excel in. However I was too shy to go after it. Now that I am attending college, I know that opportunities don't just come to you, you have to make the step to go after them.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would talk about the difficult transition from high school to college. I was worried about going out of my comfort zone to attend a school where I knew no one. The main thing I would tell myself is that there will be many other freshman in the same position I am in who want to make new friends too. Do not be afraid to be outgoing and initiate interaction with other students, because more than likely they are also scared about not making friends. I would also talk about the importance of taking courses that are not guaranteed A’s. Challenging courses will not only look impressive on your transcript but will prepare you for difficult courses later on. Finally, I would talk about the importance of getting involved in several student organizations early on, so you can figure out what your interests are. Once you get into your junior and senior years, it is difficult to join and become an integral part of an organization. Take advantage of the programs offered by your university and find your niche early on in your college experience.

If I could go back in time, I would give myself two tips; pay more attention in class, and save your money! Knowing how college is now, I wish I had paid better attention in some of my more difficult subjects, I did well but I could have done better. College is not cheap, I wish I had saved money for school instead of buying a coffee every morning. Not only do you pay tuition, but you need to pay for books and various other expenses that people don't think about when they sign up for college courses. Paying for college by yourself can be scary and stressful. As a teen I was unaware of opportunities such as this, and I wish I was more aware of scholarships and grants, but I finally discovered them in my second year of college. My other goal besides getting an education is to minimise my student loans, and I'm grateful for the chances I get to do so.

Being in college has made me realize that doing a few things differently could have made my experiences better. As a high school senior, it is important to apply for schools and scholarships early. Never assume that you won't be accepted into a school or given a scholarship, but also know that you are not guaranteed them either. There are thousands of students going through the same process as you are now, but giving up won't get you anywhere. Also, when applying to schools, make sure that you visit them if possible. Seeing the campus and classes first hand will give you a better idea of what college will be like and you will be better prepared to make the best decision for yourself. Personally, Ohio State was the best choice for me, but just remember that it won't be the best choice for everyone. Choose carefully, but don't get overwhelmed. You can make the best out of every situation and you can make the school you choose fit perfectly. So enjoy college and make friends, but work hard and learn because these years will help you make friends for life and succeed in the future.

I would tell myself to plan ahead and make sure i have everything i need to live on my own. I would also tell myself to not be so stressed and not to worry so much. Also to make new friends, and go outside my comfort zone, and to just be myself!

I would advise myself to better prepare for the financial difficulty in the future. Because I've had no help from parents or anyone else, I would suggest to myself to start saving now and applying to every possible scholarship. I would also suggest to do as good as you can in school so Ohio State will give you the best scholarship they can. Also that taking the ACT another time is worth the forty bucks because it could have made you eligible for more scholarship money than you got. Another thing I would suggest is community service and volunteer hours. It's okay to not have a life as a high school student because your life really starts to unfold after college. Most Scholarships and graduate programs are interested in work ethic and community service commitments, and it's always nice to not have to deal with the stress of paying tuition. Also, you should take as many AP classes as possible because it is much easier to take a college class in high school than actually in college. Also, realize that high school is really easy compared to whats in store for you next year.

Dear high school senior Tori Simokov: I'm you a year from now. You're going to OSU and you absolutely love it, but there's still some things missing. You haven't made those deep connections and you weren't very prepared as a high schooler getting ready to transition to the new world that is college. Make sure you study every day; apply the thirst for knowledge that has always lingered within you. Talk to everyone you know in preparation for making the friends you'll have for the rest of your life. And most importantly, smile.

Looking back, I would tell myself to try harder. In high school, I didn't push myself hard enough and did not get pushed enough to study and actually take in what I was learning. In my experience, high school was not a good pprecurser to college. I don't feel like I learned enough on a high enough level to prepare me for what was to come in college classrooms. College is set up so differently and you can't get extra credit for bringing in a box of tissues. I am actually having to work hard to EARN my grade. Also, I would have told myself to prepare earlier. I should have taken my ACT earlier and possibly more than once to get the best score possible. Also, I would have applied earlier and done scholarships and FAFSA earlier to have the best possible chances of getting financial help. There is a lot of things that I could have told myself but I am also extremely happy with my college experience thus far on the path that I took.