Saginaw Valley State University Top Questions

Never give up. Always wake up and go to class with a positive attitude, and remember where you came from. So many kids go to school and get lost and drop out. But just stay positive. The best thing about falling, is always being able to get back up and dust yourself off. Do anything and everything to succeed in life and achieve your dreams. Always do what is best for you, and never, never, never give up.

I would advise a high school senior to remain focused. College is a big step towards maturity. Success in college will demand organization and prioritizing. You have to want to be successful as college is a give a take. What you give towards making it a success will surely be given back to you in high grades and GPA. Not eveyone learns on the same level so visting your professor's office hours is absolutely an option that should be taken advantage of often. Put forth an effor to make friends outside of those that are similar to you. College offers a sea of people with diverse experiences, backgrouds and opinions. Use your college life as a time to find out not only about you but about how others view the world. Also get involved. Join a group that offers positive results on campus. Volunteer in your community or join an organiztion that promotes campus and community involvement. Or join a social group that promotes academic success with study groups and tutoring sessions. All of these things will make your college experience a success as well as memorable.

I would tell myself that I shouldn't worry so much about college life. I found out that going to college is a lot more fun than I ever thougth it would be. I have made friends that I will have for the rest of my life. College has changed me. I have matured.

If given the chance to go back in time and give myself advice, I would have taken AP classes, saved money, and not have cared so heavily regarding my social life. I should have taken Advanced Placement courses in high school, as they were free of cost and would have shortened my time in college. Instead, I chose to do an intership but ending up switching my anticipated major anyway. I should have saved my graduation money as oppossed to spending it other materialistic items, I now find myself struggling in the financial department. Tuition is not the only cost that you come across. A social life comes with fees, and when you no longer live with your parents, money becomes very tight. As I transitioned into college, I have realized that the people that I attended high school with are no longer a part of my life now. I spent too much worrying about how many friends I had or what my repetition was, this effected my academics. I do wish I could change somethings regarding my high school career, but I focus on the present and do not let the past interfere with my success at the university.

Look for a college that is just right for you. Do not go for the first one you are accepted to and make sure you check out the campus beforehand. Class size is important, make sure the class size is just right for you. The teacher availability and knowledge is also important too. Go to a school thats right for you not just because your friends go there. Make sure you save up money for all the essentials and for other things you would like to be able to do. Make sure you stay focused and ready to learn in a field that is just right for you.

If I could back in time and tell myself anything about college, I would warn myself to study extremely hard once I got here and don't worry so much about the clubs and social life. It's all about the work. A social life won't get me to where I want to be in a couple years but the grades and the degree will.

If I were able to travel back in time and visit myself as a high school senior I would tell myself that the things I gave up in order to make academics my number one priority were worth it and that taking college courses as a high school senior was one of the best decisions I ever made and I would explain to myself how much those courses helped to prepare me for college in ways that high school never did. High school doesn't prepare you for the amount of outside the classroom work you will have to do or the amount of studying it takes. You truly have to earn your grade in college and sadly that is not always the case in most highs chool classrooms.

Just get through this last year. College is everything you dreamed of and every time someone made fun of you or someone demanded they were right even though they had no idea what they were talking about its all worth getting through to come to college. They accept you for you. Also you will realize that you can be yourself, no longer do you need to worry about hiding behind facades. BE YOU!

First, and foremost, DO NOT GIVE UP! Life is tough, but it is supposed to be; there are reasons why people have to face challenges and ways to overcome them. These challenges do not happen because "life isn't fair" these challenges come up because "life isn't fair". They are all reasons why we are shaped to become who we are and what we will be. Next would be mistakes, yes, there are stupid mistakes. Stupid mistakes are those mistakes that are repeated and repeated numerous times. Each and every mistake has the potential of being good as long as you learn something from them and how to take what you learned from such said mistake and apply to a new situation. Third is the ability to balance. Be sure all of your time isn't slated to heavy towards one activity. Time management is the key, the key to studying, the key to relationships, and the key to extracurricular activities only to name a few items to have a successful experience. Finally, listen to Mom...she does know what's best for you!

If I could go back in time and talk to my self as a senior I would definitely have alot to tell myself. I feel that I was not well prepared for college so I would have made myself focus alot more. I actually would not want to go back to my senior year because that was actually my best year in high school. I feel that I had grown mentally in senior year and was almost prepared for college but 9th through 11th grade I really was not prepared. Looking back on things now if I could go back I believe I would simply tell myself to never stop believing in your self and never stop trying your hardest.

Rachel, congratulations on working so hard in high school. You have a natural talent for learning and are a hard worker. Don't be nervous about college as you have what it takes to be successful in academics. My advice to you is to take a lot of time exploring all different career paths, as you can be successful in more than one area. Also, spend a semester in the dorms. I know that you want to save money, and want to get an apartment with a roommate instead; the one thing you will regret in college is being so focused on school and work that you forgot to form relationships. Spending some time in the dorms will help you overcome your social anxieties and you could gain friendships for life. Investing all your time in one person ends up hurting you. Again, congratulations on your schievements, be proud of them! Now make sure you take the time to enjoy life during this next journey.

Anxious, nervous, and fearful. Those are words I would use to describe myself when I was a high school senior thinking about starting college. Knowing what I know now about college and the transition to college I would definately have some words of wisdom if I could go back in time. First, I'd say, "Nicole, stop worrying SO much!" Life is no fun if you can not take a step back from school and work and really enjoy the world around you. As a high school senior I also worked full time. I would definatly not suggest that, even to myself! I would also tell myself, "college isn't as scary as it sounds and I can do anything I set my mind to....believe me, I know what i'm talking about!" I would also tell myself that microbiology sounds like a nightmare....but you'll do fine!

In high school you will come across many people, some will be friends who will give you nothing but good advice and others who will try and make you a failure in life. Do not let those who do not want you to succeed pull you down, you let those type of people go, trust me you don't need them. As a high school senior, that is your year to sore and experience. You will try many things that will not work or fit you and some things you will enjoy, take pride in those things you find interest in, they will help yopu in the long run. As your senior year pass, which it will fly by; remember those classes that you may hae failed or the ones you were not good in. Take those classes over. You might not like them but you will see that your freshman year will be much easier. Last but not least, look into your major and take as many of those classes as that you will be taking for your major. the classes will be a piece of cake for you, as well as your freshmen year.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself not to procrastinate. That is one of my worst habits and I have a hard time breaking it. I would tell myself not to stress too much over the homework. My first semester I stressed out more than i should have over homework. I would also tell myself to try to get involved more to meet new people.

Advice to 18-year-old Sarah: Be sure to take advantage of programs or information that help you explore different career paths and opportunities. Take people seriously when they ask you what you want to be when you grow up. It is great to have a love for something and want to make it your career, but you also have to be realistic about whether you can make a good living doing it. Don't take the easy way out. Work up to your potential and don't be afraid to struggle. Don't avoid the hard classes just because you are afraid to fail. If it isn't hard, you probably aren't learning anything. Take help when it is offered and ask for help when you need it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. "Other people have the same question, but are just afraid to ask" is a true statement. Get involved in sports or other activities. This helps build discipline, character, and the ability to work as a team. Although it is hard to believe, the world doesn't revolve around you. 18-year-old Sarah, life is too short so don't waste it.

Stop messing around in math class.

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a High School senior there would be two pieces of advice I would give myself. The first piece of advice I would give myself would be to put everything in the past and start new because college is a new beginning. It is a new beginning with new people , home, and school. Getting used to the change at first is hard but later you realize it was the best choice you made for you and your future. The second piece of advice I would give myself is do not take the college life for granted just becasue you are away from home doesn't change who you are and what you are capable of accomplishing.

If I knew as a high school senior what I know now about college life I would have done several things differently. I would tell myself to be sure to put my academics first and study more. Instead of doing enough, I would have went above and beyond what was expected. I would have strived for a scholarship to prevent myself from acquiring student loan debt. I would have done more career planning and participated in several more academic activities. Also, i would have put more thought into what college i would attend and planned several campus visits. College becomes your life and the importance of academics and the time input needed to succeed only grows larger. I would tell myself to look at high school as an opportunity to jump-start my career, after all, knowledge is something that stays with you for a lifetime.

I would tell my self to stay focus, dont play around too much and continue on reaching my dreams without all the doubts

I would tell myself to try to participate in class more. In high school I would never speak up in class. I was mostly in AP classes, so there were only a few students in the class, so it wasn't hard to volunteer answers. Now in college there are more students and some professors require that I participate in class. I find it to be quite difficult because I never did it in high school, and I am very shy.