Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school student, I would tell myself how important it is to try my best. Never settle for what to do to get by. I would tell myself to listen to the advice from your elders. They truely do know what they are talking about and they want to see the best for you. My past self would know how important my descisons are on my future. Every step you take in your high school career effects your college career and from there your life. GPA is very important. It effects your steps in college. The lower your GPA the harder it is for scholarships which could possibly help you in the future. Lastly, I would tell myself how proud you will be of yourself if you try your best.

I would definitely tell myself to take dual credit classes to knock out basic classes.

As a young male I was very involved in my community. I helped change my highschools negative perseption that was present for over 20 years. Many including teachers said no matter what university I attended I would succeed. I see that as all and well but how can I succeed with the nessasary aid? Today I struggle with finacial aid and scholarships as well as merits because my campus is so big. I did not find out about finacial aid and scholarship unitl my graduating highschool year. Today, reading and searching, I found the Gates Millenium Scholarship and the Jackie Robinson Foundation. Upon graduating highschool I was only .2 points short from applying for the Gates Mmillenium. I found the Jackie Robinson foundation my sophmore year; whereas I needed to be a highschool senoir to apply. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself as a ninth grade student about finacial aid, scholarship, the university I attend, and my current situation. I would do better my inagural year in highschool, get the nessesary GPA, be apart of the Jackie Robinson foundation and apply for tons of scholarships to avoid the hassle that I go through today.

If I could go back in time and give advice to myself, I would tell myself to not be so lazy, know what's important, and to read a lot more. I was a very lazy student and a lazy son. I hardly did work, my A.D.D. gave me problems in the classroom so I hardly ever tried to listen. I struggled with knowing what was actually important, I helped out everyone but myself, and I more so did what I wanted and didn't do what I needed to do. Also, I really didn't like reading, I absolutely hated it. I would watch TV, play video games, and sports before I picked up a book. Now that I am not so lazy anymore, now that I know what's actually important, and now Im not only reading, but Im actually writing a book; I can say that I am in a better place. But, I do know that, had I started doing all this before, I would be in an even better place than I am now.

It is really important to push for scholarships and financial aid. And don't be afraid to get started early with asking for help from the department and faculty; they will do anything to help you.

Do not sell yourself short. Apply for your dream school. Go to a place that makes you happy not to a place that your parents like. Its okay to stay inside but socialize every once in a while. Enjoy college and make quality friends.

I would stress the importance of creativity. I found myself getting too caught up in both of my part-time jobs and not alloting enough time to explore creative outlets. I spent entirely too much of high school stress and tired. Instead of constantly working and exhausting myself, I wish I would have persued photography or continued to sing in the choir. As an avid writer and journalism student, I wish I would have better captured my emotions in the often times emotionally and mentally challenging aspects of high school. Now that I'm in college, I find myself with even less time to create. However, I now make it a point to write everyday so none of those feelings and memories are lost in the chaos, deadlines and schedule of attending college.

I would tell myself that I would dislike studying sport psychology and apply to the Smeal Business College from the very start. Now I have to work extra hard and take classes over the summer to catch up to where I need to be in order to complete my entrance to major courses with a 3.2 GPA. I would also tell myself that Penn State is not all that it is cracked up to be; it can be overwhelming at times and it is easy to overspend on food, especially the cereal boxes that cost $6, which is crazy. Finally, I would probably tell myself to have listened to my parents and gone to a satellite campus initally for two years. At the satellite campuses, I could have had a car, and would have been able to find a job off campus that does not pay minimum wage, so I could help my parents with college loans payments, because they definitely deserve it.

I would go back and tell myself that it is a lot of work. College work load is completely different than high school work load. Do the optional homework, it will pay off during the exam. Studying, doing homework and projects becomes your social and academic life. Learn a balance between having fun and studying quickly, know when you can spend that extra hour at the party or when you need to go study. Even if your hard work and all that time you put into something doesn't pay off right away, it will eventually. Don't get caught up on the grade of the exam, look at the whole picture of the class, a lot of classes get curved. Do the extra credit, even if you don't think you need it at that time. Aim for a 93, not for a 100. Get organized and make sure you know when the due dates are for everything, teachers and your parents will not remind you. Have fun! In the end you aren't going to remember the exam grades, but the fun times studying for it. Breathe. You can and will do it.

Jason, I know that it sounds like a great idea to go to college and try to become a sports journalist, but let me ask you, is that REALLY WHAT YOU WANT? Journalism is dying. Blogs have taken over as the "information at your fingertips" age is upon us. Nobody waits for the newspaper to get the news anymore. Not all writers make Sportscenter... Listen to me, your REAL dream is to be a role model, to inspire kids to be great academically, and athletically, to have the oppurtunity to represent your ideas in the classroom and on the gridiron. You want to teach and coach really, REALLY bad. To do this, you have to be disciplined, you have to get good grades, and YOU MUST get accepted into your major. I know that you want to have a good time, and you still can...but you have to take care of business...FIRST. If you think long about what I have just told you, the next ten years of your life will be easier, and you will have saved yourself a lot of mistakes. Don't be afraid, you have more going for you than you realize. Good luck.