Ohio State University-Main Campus Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, there are many things I would tell myself about college life. The most important thing is to apply for scholorships and federal aid early. Start a budget. I would also say that there is a serious need to learn to manage time wisely. Always be proactive when needing help don't wait until the last minute. Visit advisors regularly and get to know your professors. If attending a big school with big lectures try to sit in the front and participate in the class discussion. It is okay to have fun, but remember that you came to school to learn and to get a degree. Another important thing to note is to get involved and meet new people. Learn to socialize and network. Find at least five people that you can talk to about your problems who will help you. College is not like high school, you must study and do your work. When dealing with roommates it is best to compromise. Get a lot of sleep and eat healthy so that you do not get sick. Have fun!

Go to a big school where everything will be available and you know you'll find a group to fit in with. Also, TA's are awesome. They're young enough to still be in school and remember their undergrad. They're also in the middle of their graduate work so they're passionate about what they study and teacher. The little schools try to sell you on the fact that there are no grad programs and, consequently, no TAs. But graduate students are a great resource and I really appreciate going to a school where I get to work so closely with them.

If I were to go back and talk to myself in high school I would tell myself to listen to my gut and look at my interests, skill levels, and abilities. In high school I took a health care careers class that introduced me to a variety of health care fields. I thought nursing was the field I wanted to get in. Though as I went through my college courses and started failing in all my science pre-requisites I got really worried and wondered what I was supposed to do with my life! I came home and went to community college and found my nitch in early childhood education. I was destined to become a preschool teacher and work with younger children. I worked in a child care my whole high school career and babysit as soon as I was old enough. Looking back it is kind of a duh children are where you are destined to be. So if I could go back and talk to myself I would tell myself to follow my heart, listen to my gut, and get a degree in something that I know I love and could be really good at!

If I were to go back in time and offer advice to myself, I would say to stay focused on academics. Despite personal stresses, it is still important to study as much as possible to receive the best possible grades. Also, despite Paul's deployment (fiance) it is important to stay loyal to him yet still go out and have fun with friends and campus activities. Meeting people is just as important aspect of college as academics. Even when it does not seem necessary to study, it probably is because the test will most likely be more difficult than what is expected. Lastly, form a relationship with teachers and do not just count on your own efforts. Asking for help does not mean that you are a worse student and independance does not always mean not asking for help.

Take chances.

College is hard, but only as hard as you make it. The key word here is you. I wish I had known that when it comes down to it, now is the time to start depending on yourself. Only you have the power to make yourself happy and fulfilled. Allowing yourself to crack and crumble at the will of others will only ruin your experience. Trust your instincts, and trust that they will lead you in the right direction. It may seem uncertain at times, and it may be the scariest thing you've ever done; but in the end it will also be the best. If you want to learn Arabic, why not? If you want to join the Marines, why shouldn't you? Don't let others dictate you life, and take a chance once in a while. And if, for some reason you do fall, dust yourself off and try again. It's not as humiliating as you may think. Everyone is using this time to experiment, and chances are, someone else is right there on the ground next to you. "Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game." - Babe Ruth

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would tell myself to always put education first. I worked a full time job after I graduated high school and I wished that I would have taken my education more seriously at an earlier age. I would also advise myself to not focus on growning up too fast or trying to be responsible so soon because I feel I missed out on the opportunity to enjoy my youth. I would tell myself that it is ok to fail, its just not ok to give up, which I did so easily with my education when I was younger. I now now that education is the key to securing a promising future and I would tell myself that without higher education life can be more challenging than it may at first appear!

When I was 17 years old I remember only being concerned with getting out of the house. I didn?t care where, or really how, I just wanted out. At 17, I was willing to settle for anything and I settled for Ohio State University, a feeling I carried with me through four years of college. I felt like I could have been anywhere else in the world and that OSU was beneath me for four years. For a while after graduation I blamed OSU for not being enough even though I never attempted to go anywhere else. I was so absorbed in that one thought that I lost sight of everything I had gained. I have new friends and a wealth of experiences, good and bad, that I choose to learn from instead of dwell over. My advice to my younger self is to lose the cynical attitude now-it is the most counterproductive trait in the world. Also you need to take big risks, if you fail the first time then get up and try it again, failure is part of life. Oh, and you should keep smiling, people seem to like that.

If I could go back, I would tell myself, most importantly, to not be so shy! Going to college is a totally different experience than high school and requires one to break out of one's shell. I would tell myself to be way more outgoing and to get involved in as many things as possible. Ohio State has so many great opportunites, so take advantage and get over the shyness! I would then tell myself to follow my instinct, and do NOT major in biology. You know it's not going to make you happy, and that it's just what your parents want. So, I would ask myself what I truely wanted to do with my life. College is about trying new things, so take some random classes and find out what you really like. Lastly, I would tell myself to not be scared or freaked out about leaving home. College is the best experience and you need to enjoy every second of it. So stop being so stressed, just relax and sit back for the ride.

I would tell myself not to be as confident in my abilities and to get over the fact that i was a validictorian and that i will need help and to seek it. With my math i realized that i was not as prepared as I told myself i was and this came as a shock when i struggled. So i would emphasuze to my senior self that i must not try to do all of the studying by myself and that using others is a great tool in success. Getting over this alot sooner than i did would have helped in my class and i would have had a better chance of passing.