San Diego State University Top Questions

I would advise myself to really put myself out there and apply for more scholarships. I know it gets realy redundant hearing it over and over but it's true.; the more you apply, the more chances you have of getting some. Also, I would do more volunteer work which really adds to your applications. I would also tell myself not to stress too much about missing family and friends. Yes, I miss them, but I have made new friends and still maintain contact with everyone from back home. The first week or so is difficult getting used to everything, but once you adjust, college life is a lot of fun! Lastly, none of this would matter if you chose a school that you were unhappy with. I would tell myhigh school-self to look into other schools and apply there as well. When you limit the schools you look at and apply to, you may be missing an opportunity at a school you would LOVE! Do not settle for a school that does not make you happy!

The first thing I would tell myself is that the next 4 years of your life are going to be filled with some amazing experiences that will help you grow into the person you want to be. There will be many challenges to overcome, that will force you to grow academically, emotionally, and socially in so many ways. You are going to meet many people from all walks of life. Even if you don't see things the same way, its important to respect them. Of those many people you meet, you will also come across a few great friends. Things might become overwhelming, challenging, or lonely at times so it's important to be strong and remember who you are and where you are from. As time goes on, the transition becomes much easier. I would also recommend joining a club or sports team to get involved with an outlet that is non academic. Lastly, you should find a balance between your academic career and social life. Both are very important. Remember to have fun and experience as much as possible because these next four years are going to fly by.

The number one thing I would tell myself is that you need to experience every thing possible! College is a time of adventure and you need to get out there and enjoy it. Make sure you make a ton of new friends. College is a time to learn about yourself and about life. Make sure you are dedicated to your studies, but also make having fun a big priority as well. You are going to miss your famnily and friends, but the homesickness will go away. When you are making your choice for which school to go to, make sure it is about you, and not your freinds or significant other. The college you attend should be YOUR dream, not that of any other person. Going to college is a life changing experience, so enjoy every second of it because it will be gone before you know it!

As a highschool senior I had no self-esteem and if I could go back in time and give myself a pep-talk, the first thing I would say is "Look higher." "What you'll find in college is a lot of unfulfilled expectations," I'd continue. "And it doesn't matter what school you apply to or where you go, you MAKE your experience. I've seen students lament that college isn't that different from highschool. They thought the students would be more mature. They thought the drama would disappear. They thought the teachers would be more inspirational. "But life doesn't hand you happiness, you have to step up and GRAB opportunities. If the people around you are immature, don't associate with them. Don't feed drama, be the better person. And teachers will reveal their genius to you only if you care to see it. I don't care how much money you have, where you're from or what body you were born in. It's what you make of yourself that determines what kind of person you are. "So reach for the stars because I know you're a dreamer."

If only you could look in the future and see what lies ahead of you. I think what first comes to mind, if I could give myself advice, would be to always give yourself enough time with everything. Whether its with homework or just going to class. In college I have found time is very crucial because it can make a difference between an A or a B in a grade. It can determine making a deadline for an online test or maybe just meeting up with a Professor in his/her office hours. Providing yourself with a reasonable amount of time allows you to not stress over unnecessary worries and gives you more time to focus on other things going on in your life. In high school, I felt teachers were more passive and you could persuade them for a day extension on that paper you forgot to turn in. But in college, Professors take advantage of those deadlines and tell you "I am sorry but the paper was already due." These teachers are treating you like adults and not high school kids. If I could advise myself about college, time would be a major focus for the future.

I would have told myself to never give up and to not let a professor stand in my way from my dream career. A professor embarrass me in one of his class and it was a class that I needed to take in order to take other classes for my major, so I dropped his class and changed my major. If I have just let go and worked hard then maybe I would have finish school by now. My advice to myself when I was a senior in high school would be don?t let little embarrassments change your mind on your dream career.

If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to stay more focused on my grades, and study more, and that colleges look at your grades so make the best of high school, because it affects your life in the long run. I would also tell myself to go out more often with my friends, because you only live once, and lifes to precious to waste by sitting at home watching tv.

The one single piece of advice that I would give to myself as a senior would be DO NOT FREAK OUT!! I would tell myself to not worry about the transition. This would be the only advice because for the first semester at least, I had done more work in both junior and senior year than in college(first semester only for sure). Even though the times I had visited the college it had seemed extremely huge, after a week, that feeling went away. Another thing to not worry about would be wondering if i'm going to make it to my classes on time. The teachers usually let the classes out early. Only one class out of the four I had taken didn't let the class out early but he also didn't let the class out late. I had heard that the teachers would be carefree except when it came to being late. This is not true. They actually don't mind if anyone is late. The just keep going on with class as if you never walked in. Just keep doing what I usually do . Be on time, do the work, and turn it in.

As an incoming student to San Diego State University I though I knew what too expect having attended a community college for a couple years. I was in for a rude awakening when I realized that the university life was drastically different from anything that I had experienced thus far. The best advice I would be able to give myself as a high school senior would be to walk onto that campus with a smile on my face, ready to fearlessly take on any challenge that might be thrown my way. Don't hold onto too expectations. Maintaining a light-hearted and easygoing demeanor while still working hard academically is key. Don't pay attention to what others around you are doing. Do what you are able to do and what you feel is right. Never forget your character and moral fiber. Maintain as much maturity as is possible, make yourself look good. And most important of all, have fun but, be safe and smart about what you are doing. Being in college is about new experinces and living life but, getting caught up in dangerous practices is all too easy for many.

Stay on top of deadlines for things, like applying for your major, or paying your registration fees. Utilize your professor's office hours. Most are extremely helpful outside of class and want you to succeed. Balance school and fun because if you have no fun you will burn yourself out, but make sure to keep up on your studies. Don't fall behind in reading for classes because it usually goes so quicky it is very difficult to catch up. Make friends with your classmates, as they can be valuable tools for studying, and sharing notes if you miss a class. Do a couple of extra cirricular activities because you can make some amazing friends there, like marching band. I have made some of my best friends there while attending college, and I know I will be friends with them even after college. Just do the best you can in everything because that's all anyone can ask for.

If I could go back in time and give myself advice as a senior who was frantically trying to find a respectable college to go to and never knew life beyond her academic realm I'd say, "Slow down, and just live life one day at a time." I was so concerned about getting into a UC and figuring out what I wanted to do that I didn't really know who I was. Going to SDSU, a less respectable school than UCSD or UCLA made me realize its not so much the school that is important but what you do in it. I learned to care less about the money and follow a dream that would make me happy, doing something I was truely interested in and felt accomplished in completing. I learned to trust myself and take risks. In doing so I figured out who I really was through not being what everyone else thought I should become. I rediscovered my love for subjects I discarded because they wouldn't make a lucrative living and made friends I'd keep forever. I'd tell myeslf then, the exact thing I'm telling myself now, "Breathe and live life."

Dont listen to the guidence counselor who forced you to take a math class that didn't prepare you at all for college math. Keep the good grades up, but dont think that freshman year of college is going to be anything like high school.

Education is a very important aspect in our lives. A person who has reached far in his education will definitely reach far in his career. This is the reason why you shouldn't let anything stop you from obtaining a good education. I joined the military after having a year of college education. This didn't hinder me from achieving my goal of getting a Bachelor's Degree. While in the military, I was still taking one or two college classes at a time. I got my Associate's Degree by doing that. Although I am still on active duty, I was very priviledged to get accepted in a program that would pay for my tuition fees to get a Bachelor's Degree. Seeing what has happened in my life, if I were to go back in time, I would definitely tell myself to just "keep on doing what you're doing because there are many opportunities out there for you (like the military to pay for tuition fees and different scholarship programs to pay for other expenses like required school materials) and there are many people out there eager to support your aspirations for a higher education".

I would tell myself not to be so scared. I was very nervous about going to college, that it would be incredibly hard and difficult to get used to. But it turns out that it was not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. I would tell myself that I was more ready for it than I thought, that I could handle it. I would also advise myself to prepare for more demanding classes and music performances. I would tell myself that it would be stressful, but to keep doing my best and keep hanging in there.

I would tell myself to be more confident in the beginning of the year. It is so important to get involved right from the start so you don't feel like you missed out on making friends. Otherwise, everyone else will have made friends and you will just be stuck with your roommate, who may or may not be nice. Also, I would tell myself that I would face some very serious situations, such as a suitemate's rape, and I would remind myself not to judge the person, but to help her. It is also very important to keep a calendar of work you have to do. Keeping a calendar and makin sure you stay on track (deciding what you will do each day) really helps bring down the stress level, because you are able to do a bit at a time, rather than the whole project the night before it is due.

If I was given the chance to talk to the high school senior version of myself, I would emphasize that prioritizing and staying organized is very important in college. In college, you are more in control of your education in comparison to high school and it is very pertinent that you prioritize and remain organized so you accomplish everything needed for your major and classes. Living in the dorms can pose as a distraction because you are constantly surrounded by some of your best friends and it is tempting to socialize; however remembering your priorities is important. Simple things such as a planner or meeting with an academic counselor can help you stay organized and on track with your education and thus helping you prioritize. There are requirements that need to be met, such as for registration, and it is crucial that you stay on top of these so that you don?t fall behind and are able to accomplish all your prerequisites. Not only will prioritizing and organizing help you throughout college, but it is an important trait that will be useful in future jobs and in life.

I would tell myself to always remember why I am going to college and to focus on whats most important. The transition is hard, but if you surround yourself with the right people and make the best decisions for yourself, college will be a breeze. College is where you will change the most as a person it's where you really need to start focusing on youre future. Balance your fun and your studying because if you don't, you will find youreself living in a world of no fun at all. And yes, it will be FUN to study really hard in the library for two days straight and see that A on your biology exam.

If I was back in High School and I had a chance to explain to myself what college was all about I would first start with being independent. In college teachers nor anyone else will remind you when something is due or when an exam is. It is ones responsibility to keep track of any due dates, and then I would continue by stating that shyness should not be a factor in college, because when you have a question, and you don?t ask because you are shy or fear of asking a stupid question, then you are only failing yourself. Another thing I would consider telling myself is to manage time well. If you have 10 minutes before a class starts, be there early and ready to work and pay attention, don?t waste time by getting an extra snack or talking to a friend, do what you need to do to succeed in that specific class. Lastly, I would tell myself to enjoy the time at school, enjoy learning everything you can, and with the responsibility, the hard work and the enjoyment, college will be a successful experience.

If i could go back to high school, I will probably pay more attention to my professor advisers. Also, I will have more time with my friends because after graduation I lost track with many of them. I will advise myself to apply to school and do all the things I wanted to do before graduation, to enjoy life and have fun.

I would definitely tell myself to become more organized and work on my time management. Also, I would emphasize the importance of extracurriculars and the availability of scholarships and how both should be taken seriously. Basically, I would relate the importance of being an efficient and well-rounded individual.