Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania Top Questions

If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would let myself know that High school and College are two completely different places. 1 being you live on campus, so your no longer under your parents control, and your responsible for your own actions. 2 In high shcool you had to go to school it wasn't a choice it was an necessity, On the other in hand in college its up to you whether you should go to class or not. Teachers are not on your back in college like they are in high school, your not being babied up anymore. Its your responsiblity to make to class if you dnt go then its your lost basically. I would also inform, that don't take advantage of the freedom, You become so overwhelmed that you can do as you please you sort of forget the real reason your there. So just come with a straight head on your shoulders: know what your there for and accomplish that task,

The best advice I could give myself would be to get involed right away. Joining clubs and organizations help you to meet new people and give you the opportunity to take leadership positions. The college experience is what you make it. If you put yourself out there and make a lot of friends, college will be the best time of your life. Not only are you making friends, but you are networking without knowing it. The people you meet in college could help you get a job later down the road. The transition can be stressful so just take one day at a time. The most important part is taking responsibility and managing your time. Attending class and keeping up with your work load will significantly reduce your stress level. Don't get caught up in the new found freedom and forget why you are at school. The most important aspect of college is getting an education and preparing yourself for the real world. Your parents aren't there to hold your hand anymore so it is up to you to make something of yourself. Stay focused, have fun and enjoy the best four years of your life.

Wouldn't that be the silver lining? To go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior - What an experience that would be! So many things to say, so much advice to pass on to myself! I would begin by scolding myself for thinking I could just breeze through college without devoting the time to my studies as I should! I guess that's the problem when you never really learned how to study in the first place! My first semester at Shippensburg was very different than anything I had experienced as a high school student, and even as a college student at my local community college. I would then remind myself the importance of putting my life into perspective and laying out my priorities - that would have been VERY beneficial from the beginning. Finally, I guess one of the most important pieces of advice I could ever give myself would be to take every moment for granted. Those years on a college campus are the greatest years of your life and I would give anything to be able to go back in time and relive every lesson learned the hard way...every memory...every moment!

I would advise myself to dedicate more time to the process of selecting a college. Do the research, figure out what you want, and then visit the schools you like. In addition, don't stress out over the transition, just let it happen. College isn't an impossible next step, your freshman year will be a nice introduction to how things work at this level. Whatever you do, ask for help when needed and dedicate yourself to classes, friends, and extracurriculars. Partying isn't a necessity to fit in either!!!!

To stay more focused on work. Be more stuctured and have fun. Dont get to stressed out over the little things, and just work very hard to accomplish what you want. Eveything that you need is at your disposal. So use the schools resources more, they are great.

Now that I have a greater perspective on the college transition process, I would tell my "high school senior self" one thing and one thing alone: "Don't get so caught up in school that the amazing future you're striving for is paid for in the present." College life is directed towards graduation, and naturally so. That being said, I found myself getting so worked up over the subtlties and how they might negatively affect me in the pursuit for higher education and careers in the future, that I forgot to develop one of the most important parts of education; the integration/development of academic knowledge in defining you as a person. I would tell my "past self" to slow down and really focus on what gaining an education means to him, personally. I would tell him to really strive to comprehend the knowledge gained in school, instead of absorbing and then releasing. The subsequent internships/first jobs/first careers become so much more accessible when your employer sees you as an individual who has taken the time to appreciate, and as a result, perform expertly, the information he is being paid to apply.

Don't go to a school like Shippensburg, it's in the middle of no where, there is nothing to do. If you don't have enough willpower to avoid drinking on weeknights with all the peer pressure, go to a different school. Unfortunately, many schools do not crack down on underage drinking, this is one of those schools. It smells like cow feces most of the year and it's cold and windy the rest.

I would definitely let them know that it's important to study up on what you or your child enjoys because it's important you feel comfortable at college.

Just pick which school feels right. Don't go somewhere just because your friends are or because other people want you to.

Live and Learn. I would suggest going to stay a few nights at different college and attend a few classes to see which type of school fits you,as the student, the best.