Spelman College Top Questions

I would tell myself to choose an institutuon that is more afforadable for my family at the current time if I did not receive enough fianacial aid, and I would apply to more national scholarships.

One thing I would go back and tell myself is to always work hard in school. One thing to remember though is its not always all about the grades. It is really important to be well rounded. You should work hard inside and outside of the classroom like getting involved in extracurricular activities and volunteerting. It is beneficial to open up, be sociable, and try new things. Another thing is apply for as many scholarships as you can as soon as they are available to you. This will be beneficial to your future. One last piece of advice I would give to myself is to learn how to be financially responsible. I believe this is one of the hardest things college students face each day. Learning this early on can really help you through college and can be a positive thing for your future.

I would tell myself to reach out for any financial assistance available. It is so crucial to apply for scholarships and grants to fund your education. I would tell myself how important it is to have your finances in order so they will not burden you throughout your college experience. I would advise myself to perfect the art of time management. You gain a tremendous amount of responsibility as a college student. It takes excellent time management skills to balance your academics, extra-curricular activities/clubs, and social life. Although you do not have to decide right away what career path you want to pursue in life, I would suggest to my high school self that I begin to explore my interests and research possible future careers. Knowing your career goals entering into college makes it easier to decide what campus clubs to become part of and what academic courses would be best to take. Most importantly, I would tell myself to remain true to your morals, values, and beliefs. Do not succumb to peer pressure, stay focused and motivated, step outside of your comfort zone, and never be afraid to ask for help.

The typical phrase “find yourself” is advice often given to students upon entering their four-year journey into college. Although a daunting task, it is truly a crucial aspect of the college experience. It is what allows you to stay true to yourself in every situation. As an incoming freshman, I was overly eager to get out from under my parents' reign and to meet as many new people as possible. Once I became acclimated to my new schedule, I found it difficult to balance such a rigorous courseload with extracurricular activities and a healthy social life. Although I was still able to have some fun, I spent the majority of my time completing my assignments, and sleeping during any free moment I could find. With this being my routine, I hardly used any of it to focus on my own personal growth. If I could talk to my high school self, I would advise myself to spend more time getting to know myself - my likes and dislikes, strengths and weaknesses, personal beliefs, values, goals and passions. I would advise myself to focus not solely on working toward my major, but ultimately working toward my purpose.

If allowed to speak to my high school self concerning colege, I would recommend taking more advantage of opportunities available to me and adopting useful study habits in order to adjust to the new learning environment that college presents. As a high school senior I made the mistake of being a bit too laxed as far as applying for grants and scholarships to pay for college. I was confident that colleges would rush to me and offer al types of money and that I would have to do little to nothing to get it. However, knowing what I know now, I would tell my past self to apply for every scholarship advertised by the guidance department as well as my community because there are more opportunities available than I formerly realized. I would also tell myself to gradually work into a new system of studying. As a high school student, I was easily able to succeed with little or no preparation. However, due to the faster pace of college courses, I learned the hard way that high school slacking yet excelling would not be enough in college.

Hey Sharron, It's me...well technically it's you, not you now but you from the future. I have some advice about school that I think you could really benefit from, I actually try to use this advice daily. Here is a quick head's up! Don't be too discouraged if college doesn't pan out how you planned, life can't always be bad. Don't feel like your background disables your excellence, you are more than a statistic, you are just as deserving as anyone else. Make sure you stay focused, college is not as simple or easy as high school; it requires your full attention. Be persistent in following up with professors and stay on top of your scholarships because you will definitely need them. Don't be afraid to become fimiliar with deans, advisors, and everyone in the financial aid office, they are there to help your college experience; let them do their job. Also a social-life is necessary to sustain your sanity so have freinds, it's ok. Stay encouraged and remeber God and I will be with you every step of the way.

Asia, you are so much more than a GPA and SAT scores, you are a leader. Show every college and university what you have to offer them because you and thousands of other students are going to have high scores. Think about what sets you apart and makes you an asset, how have you given back to your community, and how have you inspired the upcoming generations. That is what institutions are looking for. You know you are going to get in because of your GPA, but you want to do more than just be accepted. You want them to look at your application and have them say, "I want this student to be at my institution for four years and not have to stress about financial aid." You want them to think, "Not only is she incredibily smart, but she has impacted our world in a positive way, and I want her to represent our institution." Go beyond the standards of test scores and enter the realm of international impact. Make any institution proud to be your alma mater.

When you open that acceptance letter from your top choice, nothing can bring you back to planet earth. As a successful student in high school, I just knew I would do great in college. I had a complete picture of what college life would be like. It would be something like the many movies I had seen that took place on college campuses. It would be like the TV show, A Different World, since I was attending an HBCU. I could not wait for the deep conversations in class, the amazing group of friends, the unforgettable social scene, and the comforatble dorm rooms. After I went, none of this held true. If I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, I would tell myself to not have such detailed expectations. I would tell myself to not think so much about the college experience and to enjoy that time in my life. That transition time between high school and college is so precious and should be spent focusing on preparing yourself mentally and emotionally for the journey if a lifetime, not spent dreaming about your future college life.

Being in the college world now the advice I would give myself is to apply for more scholarships because college is expensive and tuition just increases every year. I would also tell myself to get a job during the summer because extra money becomes crucial in college whether its for food, clothes, laundry and even just for fun. I would also tell myself to apply to see if I'm eligible for work-study or any other form of financial aid. I would tell myself to call the college as frequently as possible and make my name known amongst the deans and the financial aid office or any other people that give, scholarships, internships, work study and study abroad opportunities. College is all about education, networking and using your resouces. Finally, I would remind myself to stay focused on God and my education! The world will try to pull you away from your purpose of even attending a university if you let it. It is imparative that you hold on to God because if you focus on Him everything else will fall into place. STAY FOCUSED!!

The college transition can be exciting, nerve-wracking, and scary all at once. College offers academic and social opportunities that many never have the chance to experience in high school. Although it is important to live life to the fullest, when making this transition, there is one important piece of advice to remember: remember your reasons for attending college. Although this advice has been endlessly used by those hoping to guide someone towards success in college, for me, it stood as a token of wisdom that helped me overcome many distractions. Whether debating going to a party, engaging in risky activity, or skipping a class, if you remember the personal goals that you set when you first entered the university of your choice, you’ll more readily make decisions that help you reach that goal. Always ask yourself: “Is this going to get in my way of graduating and reaching my goals?” If so, then it may be something you should think twice about doing. Although there is nothing wrong with partying, dating, and enjoying the many social perks of college, just keep your goals at the top of your priority list, and you’ll be on the right track.