Oregon State University Top Questions

If I talked to myself as a high school senior, I would definitely have advice. I would explain that while socializing is an important part of life, it is more important to find a place where healthy acceptance is present. That doesn't mean popularity, but it means feeling good in the company of friends. I would also stress that this might mean having less friends; however, the friendships might be more long-lasting and authentic if based on commonalities and learning. As far as dating, I would advise myself and others to focus on developing friendships rather than long-term relationships while studying. It sidetracks from the original purpose of schooling, which is to engage in learning in a safe, rich environment. I also would indicate that while grades can be rewarding, excessive focus on them or the end result of a degree or job can be counterproductive and take away from the process of school. Too often, students will look at a graduate or a program for money and/or see it as easy. Ignoring the process of learning and not being mindful might land a student in a unhappy state in school or down the road.

When you first get to college make sure you get out and get to know people. It will make life so much easier because you will have friends to study and hang out with. When you miss a day of school you will have people to get notes from. Push yourself out of your comfort zone and be social. Also, go out and get involved. You do not want to be stuck in your dorm room all day doing homework, it is not fun and makes you get homesick a lot faster. You also need to realize that speeches are not that scary. You can do it, you do not need to be nervous about it. You will take one class with these people then probably never see them again so if you make a mistake that is okay. Go out and have fun. Join clubs even if you do not konw anyone that goes to them. After awhile you will get to know people and make new frineds. Lastly, go to the pre-vet club meetings. You learn a lot and they are worth it.

If I could go back and talk to myself, I would inform myself to make decisions for myself and not base my college choice on what my parents and family think I should do. I wasted a year and $25,000 picking the wrong major and going to the wrong school. If I could tell myself what I know now, I would have used that $25,000 to come to Oregon State University and to go towards the classes that I need to graduate here. I would also tell myself that the real world is crazy and to appreciate the little things such as good friends, sports, and good food. I would also make myself get a job on the weekends to start saving up because having no help from your parents is so much harder than you can begin to comprehend. Also to save up because when the loans don't cover the tuition costs and you have to skip classes to make enough money to pay for it and the apartment and food, your GPA suffers and it can ruin your dreams. But I would also say to work hard because it's worth it.

be patient

I would tell myself to take college applications seriously! I would love to apply to different colleges as a senior and have my options open. I would have also told myself to apply for FAFSA and take that seriously as well. I didn't know much about financial aid and the free money that I would have earned had I taken both the college and FASFA application seriously. I also, would have told myself to not limit myself from applying to in state colleges. I would apply for out of state colleges as well because maybe I could have earned a full ride to a university not in Texas. One last thing I would have told myself is to talk to my counselors more about colleges and have more questions to ask them.

If I were going to go back and talk to my high school self about college I would tell myself to branch out sooner. It took me a long time to learn that college is a place to expand your horizons and to grow and meet new people. I came into college struggling to meet new people and I didn't know how to ask for help. Slowly I have gotten much better at putting myself out there and I have realized that most everyone is ready and willing to be friends and to help in any way they can. So if I could talk to my high school self I would get it through my thick skull to not be so skeptical of people and to throw myself out there. Worst case scanario you pick yourself up, dust yourself off and you do it again!

Take the time to understand yourself. It is the simplest of concepts that many people take decades to realize and some never do. It is something that you do not find on a school retreat, it is not something you find drinking with friends, watching TV, or even, sad to say, reading books. The characters in other stories moving across screens or twirling across pages can only, at best, provide a glimpse into the world of who you are and who you would like to be. It cannot be found through the fabricated identity that Facebook or Instagram provides. Deep quotes plastered on landscape photographs do not invoke its presence. Experience life through your own magnificent lens and elegant prose. At the age of 17 you will move away to go to school and within a year your grandma, who helped raise you, will be diagnosed with stage III ovarian cancer. The decision that family means more to you than your new life in a different state will be the best decision you will ever make because it will teach you that understanding who you are and what you want will always take you exactly where you need to be.

If I ever got a chance to go back in time to talk to myself about the expeiences I've had as a college student at Oregon State University, I'd tell myself, "it's worth it." I've learned so much from the new friends and teachers I've made, and it's been a lifetime experience that I will never forget. Words cannot descibe the joys, tears, laughters, and heartfelt memories that I have created, and I wouldn't and cannot ruin that for myself by telling that to Jeffrey Burrow from 2010. I would want him to experience it himself by doing exactly what I did.

If I were to go back to myself in high school I would tell myself to really think about the decisions that were in my future. I would proceed to have a heart-to-heart talk about why making the decision not to go to college right away is not in my best interest. Telling her that waiting to go will only reduce my self-esteem and confidence, making the transition of going back more difficult. Additionally, I would tell my past-self that waiting to go to college was only going to make my future endeavors harder. Instead of having a career by time I am 30 I would only be recently graduating and starting my life. I think that if I had someone to talk to me on a real and personal level about going to college than I may have decided to go right out of high school.

I would tell myself not to give up because your pregnant. That it was worth all the wakeing up early and taking time everyday to finish up to graduate with your class on time. That no matter what gets in your way to keep your head up high and not to drop out because getting pregnant is not an excuse to give up it a motivation to push harder.

Hey there, younger self. The best advice I can give you right now is take a deep breath and do not rush anything. Take the time and effort to learn about yourself, what you want to do in life, and who you want to spend it with. Do not brush off anyone or anything placed on your path, instead you should study them like a piece of art and ask yourself, "Will this make me better or happier?" The answer to this question will not only help you find a career you are passionate about but will help you find your spritual side, the one that makes you happier at the end of the day. More importantly remember this: life is a journey that has dark alley ways to pass, but at the end of the alleyways there is always a beautiful city.

I would tell myself, "join those clubs I was too fearful to join my freshman year because those clubs, and the people that did join them, are the people and experiences that will help you find yourself."

I was extremely naive as a high school senior. If I could talk to myself, I would advise myself to learn more about myself and my passions before entering college. I would encourage myself to take a year off to figure out what I wanted in life and who I wanted to be in the future. I would also advise myself to spend more time on academics; I should have spent more time learning how to take tests. I want to also advise myself to enter college with an open-mind and a desire to meet new friends. I entered college very shy, and I missed out on many friendships because I spent more time in my room than out meeting people. I want to also encourage myself to take advantage of every scholarship opportunity for high schoolers. Above all, I want my high school self to know that no matter what choices I make, that my family loves and supports me.

Talking to my high school self, I would try to explain that as important as school is, it’s more about your experiences than your homework. In college, I've come to understand that great grades don't translate to success. I was the kind of student who worked really hard at maintaining a good GPA, however I don't believe I learned as much about life in the process. Had I adapted my understanding of learning to include the real world around me, I wouldn't have spent so much time worrying about a little number that is supposed to measure my intelligence. I have met many people in my life, both in college and out, that are extremely smart and successful, yet didn't get good grades in high school. Sometimes it's better to pull your face out of the book, and take the time to look around and apply your knowledge to the world around you. Not every answer to life's questions can be found in a book or your homework. They are often found in daily life; you just need to pay attention and start making small connections. They'll make a big impact.

Go to community college for cheaper costs.

I would tell myself not to take my senior year of high school for granted. I spent my senior year not doing anything and just having fun. I wish I would have taken some of that time to explore scholarships and grants available for college. I would tell myself that just because you are going to community college first doesn't mean scholarships don't apply to you; you could be passing up a lot of free money. I would have also highly recommended to participate in more community service and extracurricular activities as they help greatly when applying for scholarships. I would have also told myself that senior year is a great time to challenge yourself a little bit and take some college level courses. It may seem like you can't enjoy senior year with harder classes but it pays off when you can receive college credit in high school. Not only do you receive the college credit but you also save money by taking the class for free in high school and save time that you would have spent taking that class in college taking other courses that may interest you.

College is not something that should be taken lightly. You need to buckle down and realize that this will be the foundation of the rest of your life. When you walk into college on your first day, give it your all. Study, don't cram the night before a test, and never miss a class. You are paying for your college education, if you fail because you were being lazy then you've wasted your time and your money. Take it seriously. After high school you're going to realize how much work you have to put into your studies to receive the grades you desire. There's always a tutoring center in all colleges, take advantage of that. The people you go to high school with will fade away, it's inevitable. There are too many people you would have to keep in touch with. Hold the ones you care about close to you and never let them go. One day you will thank me for telling you all of this. When you graduate from college with honors you will thank me.

My biggest advice is the importance of relationships in college. Having good relationships with the people who are educating you isn’t just about being polite; it can really work to your advantage both now and in the long run. Asking for help or, when the time comes, a letter of recommendation is much easier if you know that you’re liked and appreciated instead of just tolerated in the classroom. You don’t have to be buddy-buddy with all of your professors; just being respectful and cooperative will take you a long way. The secret to good grades, is that they’re often more a reflection of the amount of work you’ve put into them than your intelligence and willingness to go the extra mile; that’s why taking advantage of your high school’s honors program, Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate classes shows colleges that you haven’t spent four years slacking.

Dear High School Senior Self, There is a rough road ahead, but you already know that. You will be tested beyond belief. Don't worry about your personal life, it will follow naturally. Please, please, please stay focused on the end classes of your AA. Don't get arrogant or burnt out. Do well in the last classes because when you choose to fail one, it ruins your gpa. Watch to see when you can graduate so you get to walk across the state with your husband at Taft College. Stop trying to be what others want you to be and feel free to speak your mind about how you really feel. Start your Bachelors in January 2013 instead of April 2013.

The first thing I would tell myself is that while computers are very popular, the need and types are constantly changing. I would also advise myself NOT to get married right after high school so that college is my priority and that it will save myself a ton of grief and abuse. I would give myself advice about what classes would be very important and which ones can wait (since some of them no longer exist). I would help myself plan for the future I knew would now be better since I could keep myself from wasting time and energy on things that will come not to matter at all. I would advise myself to take classes, such as math, back to back so there were no breaks in between to forget.