Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus Top Questions

If I went back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior I would definitly tell myself....that an instate school would provide the same quality education as an out state school. I would tell myself that Penn State is an great school providing a quality education, but it is not worth the money....when in general a similar education could be attianed compared to a in state the best part of school. I would also tell myself the best part of attendting Penn State is the freedom and responsibilty that it teaches you as you enter closer to adulthood. At Penn State you learn to take responsiilty for your own words and justify your words through your actions.

After attending two years of college at a community college, I wish I could go back in time to tell my senior self to take as many classes in high school to get college credit. Taking any AP class in high school is far less expensive than in college, but students can also get credit for it as well. I wish I had taken more classes such as AP Chemistry and AP Psychology in high school to get it out of the way befoer college. I would also tell myself to be confident going into college. Although there are older people at college, they are all there for the same reason as I am; to get an education. With the advice I would give myself as a high school senior, I would have been more prepared for what I did not expect in college.

I would tell myself to get used to spending more time doing homework and studying. I would tell myself that I cannot afford to be lazy, and I need to work harder so that college will come more easily, instead of being so stressful for me like it is now. I would also tell myself to start saving more money so that I can buy my own books.

I would tell myself to work hard to do well in my classes. I think that taking advanced placement courses would have been a great advantage. If I take a history class, I might be able to have it count as college credits. I think that I should get involved in different activities at school. For example, doing community service projects would be a great experience. Have confidence in yourself that you can do anything you set your mind to. Do not sell yourself short. Apply for scholarships to help pay for tuition. Try to get involved in THON freshman year and the following three years. Encourage new friends to play intramural sports. Stay physically active to help keep a balance in your life. Holding a job is possible if you manage your time well. Plan ahead, but enjoy each moment.

Looking back at my senior year I could tell myself hundreds of things that may have changed my life significantly. Thinking about it makes it seems like I was the dumb teenager in the horror movie who you can yell at, "don't go in that room!" but they do anyway. It's easy to tell yourself things when you know what lies ahead. I would tell myself to work harder at finding scholarships. College is expensive, and I would have made a different college choice had I worked harder to recieve more scholarships. I would encourage my senior-self to work as hard as possible in order to go to a school that was a better fit for me.

The first thing I'd mention to myself is not to worry or stress out, because things will work themselves out in the end. When I was in high school, I was really worried that I wouldn't be able to find out what major I wanted to go into or what career I wished to pursue--yet I managed to overcome that. I would also tell myself to take chances and get involved with the university--I'll admit that I didn't really participate in a lot of activities outside of the classroom. Looking back upon it, I feel kind of bad about it because it would have made my college experience more fun and I would have made more friends that way too. The last thing I would have mentioned is to keep on eye on finances! I'd tell myself to keep open to financial aid options and to be on the look-out for opportunites on scholarships and grants! If I would have done so back then, I wouldn't be so financially burdened now.

Time is one of the most precious commodities I know of; allocate it well and treat it as a privilege

In my opinion I prepared for college pretty well in high school. The only thing I would change is my monetary preparation method. For some reason, I thought I could work enought to pay for college so I did not spend much time on scholarship applications. I would tell my high school self to save more money and apply for every scholarship possible. It is hard to find the time to fill out these applications in college and I have less time to work so much of my spending money comes out of my savings account. If I would have better prepared for the exspenses of college I would be having an even better educational experience because I would be less stressed about my finances.

Experiencing college for the first semester really opened my eyes towards the importance of preparing yourself from high school. I would advise myself to develop better study skills, reviewing my notes after each class, and studying ahead of time for exams. I came into college not knowing how to study efficiently, however, now knowing the process that I have to go through, next semester I hope to do better. I woud also advise myself to more dependent upon myself rather than others. In college, there is no one there behind your back reminding you about appointments, club meetings, or when homework is due. You, as a new college student, need to recognize that everything you do beyond this point is solely dependent on yourself.

All I wanted to be was independent; a classic case of “let-me-get-the-hell-out-of-this-small-town-syndrome.” The magazine in me is screaming to have advised myself to stop and appreciate the life around me, not try and force myself to grow up, and to take the proper precautions in getting ready to leave for college; the wise purchase of bed-risers, learning to do my own laundry, time-management, and of course, how to avoid the freshman 35. Those things don’t matter. I wish I had told myself that those things don’t matter. Being comfortable with oneself is what establishes a person’s place in this world, and college is the time to make that happen. I wish I had told myself to embrace my fears; those burning holes inside of me that carry around the weight of my insecurities. I would tell myself to leave my nerves far, far behind, to recognize that the confidence I have always searched for has been inside of me the entire time, and to let it thrive. I would have told myself to be happy.