Oregon State University Top Questions

I would tell Nate to get moving on the countless scholarship opportunities and to boost his resume by joining more clubs and adding more community service. In high school Nate didn’t worry too much about the future he knew that he could get into the college he wanted due to his 3.7 GPA but didn’t spend too much time figuring out how to pay for it. Yes he put work into athletics, academics, community service, and work but he missed several big opportunities. One of the best scholarship options out there is that provided by your university for incoming freshmen. Nate missed these deadlines and consequently several thousands of dollars. But even when things don’t go perfect I would tell Nate that the biggest key is to stick with it. Yes you may have missed opportunities but the wonderful thing about college is that it’s all made up of opportunities. Every turn there will be another. So the key to success in college is to keep your head up and your eyes open and with a little luck and determination all the pieces will fall into place.

Going back to 2009, and looking at how worried I was about the cost of going to school, and the opportunities that I thought I would have to pass up, "for now" because of my financial burdens I would have wished that I would have just followed my dreams and aspirations no matter what. Joining the military was always my goal, but I was encouraged to go to college first before making that big of a decision. I thought it necessary to stress my need for finances, and chose to go to a community college that did not have a care in the world whether or not I attended classes with them. Unfortunately after wasting almost two years of time that could have been focussed on my aspirations of becoming a helicopter pilot, I found out that these financial burdens could have been easily taken care of by simply going to the school that I wanted to and enlisting in the military off the bat, like I ended up doing in the long run. Do what you think is right for you, and go with it. Do not hesitate based on finances or the influence of others.

Dear Senior High School Kelsey, I know you are so excited to be graduating high school and don’t want to look back – don’t! There’s no need, everything is ahead of you. This transition you are embarking on is just as exciting as you are anticipating it to be. The most important things I have to tell you are: people are going to continue to doubt you and that is their problem, it is not yours. Do not let their doubt affect your view of yourself. Secondly, you need to know that this is your time to learn yourself! So take as many classes as you can about your multiple interests, don’t be afraid to make friends and get involved in new activities, this is your time! You can change your plan as many times as your need to, as long as you keep moving forward and keep your drive to change and better the world. You will be great. Kelsey.

Dear High-school-senior Gillian, Hi, it's me. Junior-in-college Gillian. I know you're anxious about college and what it will be like. One reason you chose OSU over the University of Oregon was because your siblings went to the UO and you didn't want to just copy them; it'd be a real let-down if it turns out that OSU is exactly like the UO. Don't worry--it isn't. College is a really fun time. You don't need to "re-invent" yourself like a lot of people do, though of course you will change after living in the dorms, being an RA, and experiencing life without Mom and Dad. Yes, a lot of people from our high school will go to OSU, but you will hardly ever see them (and when you do, it's super easy to avert your eyes and pretend like you don't know them). So relax and be yourself: that's the hardest part of the transition. Don't be afraid to show what makes you excited in life. People appreciate passion. With love and the utmost sincerity, Junior-in-college Gillian

I would tell my senior self to make more of an effort to study and make a good habit of it. Just because you can coast through high school it doesn't mean you can do the same thing in college. Also, I would've told myself to not pick a major for the first few years of school, just take general courses that you'll need for higher classes until you're settled into the person you become after you leave high school and you really know what you want from life. Learning that money doesn't grow on trees and that you should focus more on your classes then trying to work a full time job would be a lot easier if you paid attention to the amount of school debt you're accruing. Just because you don't see that number doesn't mean it doesn't exist. And if you take some courses and you still don't know what you want to do, it's ok to take a step back and take a break so that you can straighten yourself out. Because it's your life and it's your choices.

Dont be stuck with who you were in highschool. Branch out and explore your interests there are so many new activities and clubs that most highschools dont have. College is a chance to not only to study what you wish, but also to improve,reinvent, or expand yourself.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as I can, because college is even more expensive than it already appears to be. I would also start getting rid of unnecessary possesions during senior year to make the move easier at the end of the summer before your freshman year at college. Also very important is to go shopping for college supplies in the winter of your senior year- beat the rush of the summer college dorm room and supplies sales, when prices go way up.

Dear Courtney Rae, Please do not be concerned about who is writing this letter because yes, it is your future self. No, I will not tell you who you will be with in the future or which friends will stay and go. I will not tell you when grandma dies or what you got on your IB assessments, but I need to change our future. I regret not applying for scholarships early. I didn't realize we could apply for scholarships before high school, and now that you are in high school, please make it more likely for us to attend our dream school without the worry of student loans and finding a job before school starts in three months. Oh, please also do not play with your hands while Stephanie is interviewing you for Cafe Aroma; she gave us a weird look. If you find this too late, atleast try to give this letter to our little sister Brittany to prevent her from regrets about affording college life. Hopefully, I can afford laundry detergent and a study abroad trip to Australia (not just for the accents, the animals). Stay focused in school and scholarship. Love you, Courtney Rae Gruesbeck.

If I could go back and talk to myself as a senior, the first thing I would tell myself is to not set my mind on one college and to worry about tuition cost more. I would inform myself to apply to many colleges, even the smaller ones too. I also would have said that I need to do more research on the colleges I am interested in, and to consider the many options I have for which college I choose. This way I would have multiple options to decide which college is most affordable and offers more money to help with tuition.

My advice could be summed up in a single phrase, "get comfortable with being uncomfortable". My first year of college I had just gotten back from a long trip walking 600 miles across Spain and had learned a lot about independence. I joined during winter term and was met with little infrastructure to help me get acclimated to college life. The social branching of fall term had come to an end and most people were now comfortable staying within their unique cliques. Coming in winter term taught me how to overcome my social anxiety and become much more open to pursuing new relationships with people. Relationships are ultimately the most valuable thing to be gained from college. Developing relationships with friends, mentors and future professional peers will aid you in your success far more than a high GPA (of course the high GPA doesn't hurt!). Also don't be afraid of biting off more than you can chew. Being busy with work, school and volunteering has actually helped me become a much more succesful student than just focusing on school alone. Don't let fear stop you from meeting new people, and remember, everything becomes easier with practice.