Oregon State University Top Questions

There are a couple of things that I learned throughout college that I feel if I had known would have made my entire college experience that much better. Mainly I feel that if I would have first attended my current four year university instead of transferring after two years at a community college I would have had a much more enjoyable experience. The two main difficulties that I came into contact with were the difficulty level of classes and integrating into the social network. I expected college to be just as easy as high school was. I didn?t expect to have to study, and it took a little time to adjust and learn how to study. Also, if I had known how to be more actively involved in the social scene it would have been easier to make friends; for example, living on campus the first couple years forces students to be social. I feel that if I were to have begun my college career at the four year university then I would have had a much easier time with both of these mishaps.

I would tell myself the following... "First off, I know you have no idea what to expect from college. The best way to approach the college decision is to not rush things like I did. When you pick a college, make sure that it is somewhere that fits you and makes you happy. If when you get to college you feel out of place, take that feeling seriosly because it means something is wrong with where you are. Also, you don't have to pick a major right now, or even in your freshman year. Take your time, because you have all the time in the world. Think seriously about what you want to do for a career and find out exactly what classes are reqired by your major and what they entail. Don't pick a major because you feel like it's something you should do or because it sounds neat. Pick it because it is something you really want to do. Most importantly, find some people you actually enjoy being around and are not simply tolerable. Be sure to keep a check on reality and don't go through college with "the blinders on." Good luck!

It's a whole new ballgame when you get to college. "101" courses are not necessarily easy A's, they truly test you on what you did learn in high school, while still shaping you to deal with your intended field of study. Also, making friends is much different too. However, you don't have to drink alcohol to make friends, there are many clubs available to get involved in on campus. And of course, there are the athletic events to get together and show your school spirit. In the end, if you remain focused on your work and open to doing activities on campus to converse with other students, your college experience will be meaningful and you will learn more about how you can set yourself up for the workforce after you graduate.

If I could talk to my high school senior self, would tell myself to stay on track and don't get behind because I have seen a lot of people here that fall behind and can't catch up. Get started on scholarships early every year, and don't think that you can just fall back onto the skills that you had from high school. The pace is so much faster here that you have to study everyday and don't procrastinate. Don't fall into peer pressure and don't go to any parties; the people that go to parties are usually the ones that fall behind in their classes. At the same time, enjoy your time at college because this is supposed to be one of the best times of your life. Good luck!

I would tell myself to be ever vigilant and to keep my eyes open to the world around me. Know that college is about learning what you are made of. You will learn how to deal with amounts of stress that you have never experienced in your life. You will learn how to motivate yourself. Remember to make choices that you will be proud of, because this is an investment in yourself. Most of all, I would say ?Remember to invest in Google.?

I would tell myself to keep trying and study hard because that will help you in the long run. Also, to take a closer look at the Universities, and go and actually visit them instead of reading about them on the internet. Also, to become more involed in the community, so that way when she gets to the university she can create ties within the university community.

If I were to go back in time, and was able to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would have told myself to change few things. I would have told myself to study more than I had done. I would have told myself to start on papers for classes sooner, since the games I would play are not worth the all-nighters I would do to make up for the lost time. I would have told myself to be more social and outgoing, because studying is a lot easier and funner when you're going at it with a group. Basically, I would tell myself to do the little things and subtle changes I've always said that I needed to make. The things that would be good this term, but hey, there's always next term to start.

Brace yourself. College is full of new experiences, new people, and new situations. Your identity will be questioned as well as your beliefs but be strong and surround yourself with those who know your true self. Don?t be afraid of letting go of the past, it is ok to distance yourself from home in order to branch out and see who you truly can become. Take the time to meet new people and not get caught up in the excuse of having too much to do; it will be worth taking a break in order to get you through and keep your sanity. Also make time for yourself it is in those quiet moments where you will find your true self.

I would help myself find happiness in the world of work. To do this I would first describe the work done in different job settings. The essential elements in every job setting revolve around basic parts of each job, such as sitting at a desk, answering the phone, working on a computer, being outdoors, and talking to people. After these elements were described I would then ask myself which I think I would enjoy enough to do 8 hours a day. Then I would take these choices and match them to college majors. Now with a list of college majors that may work I would have a starting point in life. These choices could be narrowed down again by considering income provided by jobs in the field. For example I would discuss with myself how much a family of 5 children may cost. A last critical step to finalize major choices would be to do job shadows. With these things done anyone considering college may save thousands of dollars and years of their life by not wasting it on things they probably won?t enjoy in the first place.

Assuming It was possable to go back in time and talk to myself as high school senior, and knowing what I know now about college life and making the transition, I would have some pretty good advise to give myself. I know myself and I know that as a high school senior I had a lot of questions about going to college and obtaining a higher education. I would assure myself that joining the United States armed forces is an exellent way to gain an advantage. I would tell myself not to wait so long after my discharge to start getting a higher education. Knowing that it is difficult to obtain the resources needed to attend a college or university, I wuold give my self all of the information on doing so. I would inform myself that all it takes is a lot of motivation and and a bit of intestinal fortitude.

I would tell myself not to be so nervous about college. It's not as big and scary as I thought it was going to be. I would also tell myself to make sure I had my books on time, before I even got to school. I would tell myself I need to get used to reading for education, instead of just for fun. Mostly, I would reassure myself that everything would turn out okay. As a senior, I was so unsure of what I wanted to do and what college I wanted to attend. I was really nervous that I would make the wrong decision and regret it once I got to college. It turns out that I love Oregon State, and I'm glad I made this decision. The number one thing I would tell my high school self would be to calm down and have confidence in the decisions you make.

Aiming for a full international baccalaureate my senior year taking 11 classes, a word of advice I would tell myself is to not overload my senior year stressed with IB nonsense. I really feel like the stress was not worth it and would have been more beneficial to me if I took more AP classes that filled some requirements that were not related to my major. I would have also told myself to fill out more scholarships to cover my full tuition. I know I could have made room back then to at least submit a few in, but I had procrastinated and did not submit any.

I would tell myself to not worry so much about it. I spent a lot of my highschool years worrying about how hard college would be, and how I could possibly manage. If I could go back, I'd tell myself to have more conifdence in myself, and in my abilities, and I would probably tell myself to apply to a lot more schools, instead of being so afraid of rejection that I limited myself to two schools.

The change between high school life and college life can be a major change for many. Being away from parents is one thing many high school seniors look forward to, a life without rules. The first piece of advice I would give to anyone going into college is, just because you are free from your parents reign doesn't mean you shouldn't make your own rules. College will be impossible if you don't have some rules laid down. Another piece of advice I would give is, avoid "having a good time." I hear far to often that because I'm in college that it's time to be stupid and reckless. But when grades come around, you wont be to happy. Laying down rules remains the only option. Also I was a major procrastinator in high school, this terrible habit followed me over to college and it was not easy. Do your work as soon as you get it, don't ever wait until the last minute. This is one of the rules i made for myself, and it has helped. To succeed in college you must set rules and boundaries to regulate your life.

Don't Procrastinate. There is no, "I'll do it tomorrow" in college. Do it now. if you do fall behind, don't get discouraged. You can always work a little bit harder to try and catch back up. If you have trouble doing the work, ask for help! It doesn't make you stupid, or annoy the teachers when you simple ask for help. It does annoy the teachers if you wait until the last week before Finals to try and get some help. Don't be afraid to be yourself. College is a whole new world where you can be everything you want to be! Smile. Be happy. Enjoy it while it lasts.

The first thing I would say to myself would be, "Finish college, enjoy your freedom, and get involved while you are there. THEN, after you are more established and mature, you can think about starting a family! Don't be in such a hurry to grow up!" I would tell myself to make the most of my college experience. Living in a dorm, joining a sport or club, volunteering - these are all part of the college experience that you can't do as a wife and mom, at least not as easily. I don't have any regrets and wouldn't trade my life for anything, but if I had it to do over again, I'd have waited a few more years to get married and have my kids, and that's the main point I would try to get across to myself if I had the chance; who knows, maybe I would have even listened!

Taking full advantage of the opportunity, I would tell my younger self about the importance of beginning scholarship applications as soon as possible. I would explain how I liked going to community college before the university to have smaller class sizes and lower tuition costs. I would convey a sense of necessity for a decision on a college major to take the best advantage of time during college. I would tell myself to enjoy every minute of life because each year in school is more challenging than the last. I would say remember your love of art, do not let it go. Remember your love of swimming, do not stop. Remember the importance of friends, do not isolate yourself. Remember your God, always put him first. Remember that life was created to be enjoyed, have fun, go out with your friends, and spend time with your family. School is one of the biggest decisions of your life. Make a decision and stick with it, you will succeed in anything you put your mind to. You are a fighter, go for the gold.

I would tell myself to get a job during high school. It doesn't have to be a lot of hours, but anything would help with tuition. I would also tell myself that I shouldn't necessarily go to a college because my friends are going there; I should go somewhere because I want to. Don't be afraid, relax, it isn't tha bad. Be willing to open up and explore, there are endless opportunities. Study hard, but make time for fun activities. Just be you.

Keep building your momentum from senior year into college. Avoid falling into senioritis. Given your senior standing get involved in as many clubs and activities as possible. It?s your last year in school and you need to make the most of your last year of free public education! Try to find a job or internship related to you major over the summer between high school and college; that way you can continue growth of your knowledge and mind, even after graduation. Remember, high school was only the first step to the rest of your academic and professional career. Try to find a weekend or two over your ?last? summer at home to take a trip with your friends. It?s a great way to unwind and reward yourself for 4 years of hard work, and make yourself feel more refreshed and ready to take on a new academic journey come Fall. It?s a last chance to have memories with your friends before you all leave for your own separate lives, and at the same time, familiarize yourself with living with others outside of your parents? home. The hardest part of college is becoming independent. Prepare yourself for it.

I would tell myself to apply for as many scholarships as I possibly could. Warn myself that I will probably be in debt if I dont work really hard to find scholarships. I would tell myself to take more of the 2+2 credit classes so that I wasn't paying for classes I could have taken in high school. I would tell myself that dorm life stinks and its not easy to live in the dorms with people you dont know. Everyone has a different way they were raised from the types of music they like to how clean they keep thier room to the type of foods they like.