Old Dominion University Top Questions

What should every freshman at Old Dominion University know before they start?

Christopher

Knowing what I know now, I would tell myself to focus on my academics rather than sports. This would have allowed me to successfully prepared for a transition into college life, taken time to put in for academic scholarships, and possibly go away to school rather than stay in the area. Although I do not regret anything that I have done in life, I feel that if I focused more on my studies, I would have had better opportunities and an easier time finding post-collegeiate employment!

Tiffany

If I could go back in time to give myself advice about college life, I would tell myself not to be nervous or worried and prepare to study. When I was a highschool senior, I was very worried that I would have trouble with the adjustment and making friends at a new school. I was worried about parting ways with my friends I had known and loved for years. Now that I am in college, I know that the transition was not hard. I have already made lots of new friends and still keep in contact with the old. When in high school, my classes were very easy. I hardly needed to study to make good grades. I am glad that I somehow retained the study skills we learned about in high school, because I really put them into motion these days. College classes are definately more challenging. I find myself studying for hours on end now. It's a prime example of my determination to succeed.

Tanya

I woul have to say the most important piece of advice I could give myself is DO NOT take a break between starting college and ending high school. That was probably the biggest mistake I made. I got used to not having school responsibilities and it was harder for me to readjust once entering college as an older adult.

Monica

Start early! The earlier the better. You should have all your stuff in line, test scores, ACT/SAT done before you enter your senior year. While the ACT/SAT say they are for high school seniors, college applications are due anywhere between October through March of your senior year. Some colleges will even take early applications in the summer. Either way, you need to have your ducks in a row early, don't wait until the last minute to apply for college, review your essays and give yourself time to apply and time to decide. And while you're applying for college take time to apply for scholarships and grants. College is a huge expense that most parents aren't completely prepared for. Even years of saving couldn't prepare them for which school you may end up attending or the hidden fees and costs of supplies no one ever told you about. You have to buy your own testing supplies and materials! Start early, save your pocket change.

Jordan

I would tell myself that everything is going to be alright. Things will work out the way they are supposed to. View graduating from high school as a positive experience and view starting college as a positive one as well. While it may be scary and confusing at times, everything will be alright in the end.

Karen

Study more for your calculus exam and watch out for your sleep walking and turning off your alarm in your sleep. Don't move away from Richmond.

Allyson

Don't let anyone influence your decisions. Go to school where you want to go to school. Study what you want to study. Be friends with who you want to be friends with. Be yourself, 100{4a082faed443b016e84c6ea63012b481c58f64867aa2dc62fff66e22ad7dff6c}. GET INVOLVED!

Emily

Going back in time to my senior year of high school, I would tell myself to devote more time to community service and to building relationships with wise family members, role models in the community, and organizations with values I supported. Although I am ecstatic about my current educational track and future career and required several years to figure out what I truly want to do in life, I would still tell the high school senior of my past not to take off a year after high school just to earn extra money because the wonderful high-paying nanny job I took ended abruptly due to the couple's divorce and left me in the same financial state as I had been following high school. I would tell myself just to focus on the long-term goal of completing college by first getting all of the general education requirements out of the way. This part of college provides more than enough time to figure out which major and career to pursue. In summary, I would tell my past self to stay focused, constantly seek new opportunities, and think long-term instead of short-term.

Elijah

I would have adviced myself to not spend as much time working at a minimum wage job. Instead I would have spent my time working on college scholarships to try and earn more money so that I could have avoided all of the different loans that I have had to go through. I would have helped myself make my schedule so that I would not have to be retakeing classes that I already completed in high school. This simple oversight has caught me in a tecnicality that is draining hard to find money and time.

Michael

Although everyone attends college for the same basic reason, we all get something different out of it. For me its been more a journey of self discovery than that of academic. From attending college I've learned what it truly means to work for what you want. Nothing is ever handed to you, but with hard work and the right mind set anything is achieveable. I've also learned how to manage my time better. With several activities and projects going on at the same time, you're forced to set your priorities straight. With what I've gotten out of my college experience so far I've realized that I'm basically getting a small taste of what the "real world" is going to be like.