Spring Arbor University Top Questions

I would tell myself that you need to start getting your finances together right now. I would make sure that I told myself to focus on grades more than girls, for they come and go with the wind. I will tell myself that you are a bright, intelligent, and driven young man, who is going to succeed in anything that you put your mind towards. I would tell myself to start applying for scholarships as soon as the school year started, using websites such as fastweb, zinch, and cappex as my resources. I would tell myself to really buckle down right now because in college it is easy to get off focus given that you have so much free time. I would tell myself to read more, to study more, to pray more. I would say, " I know that the media portrays college to be one big party, and it can be, but that I'm not going to college for that. I'm going to make a dent into society. I would tell myself to get connected with as many people as you can so that you can network because its not what you know its who you know."

I would tell myself to stay strong and not lose confidence. Stepping out of high school and into college is a big transition. I would also tell myself to stay focused and not fall into the party lifestyle that surrounds the college experience. If you become discouraged or confused about what you are wanting to do in college, talk to someone instead of keepin it all in. Use your guidance counselors. Stay ahead of the game with scholarships and class registration. Do not slack off and fall behind in your studies, you will regret it. Dont be embarrassed to ask questions, everyone else is thinking the same thing. Find your inner confidence and don't lose it, you will need it to survive the college and all that comes along with it. Do what it takes to be successful no matter what anyone expects of you. Strive to succeed on your own, don't let your friends encourage bad decisions. Step back for a minute and really think about what it is you want out of life and go after it!!!

Preparation Equals Success I know it is hard for you to imagine that there can be anything more important in your life right now then going out on a date friday night, or getting just the right dress for prom, but allow me to shed some light on your future. I know how much fun high school can be...I've been there, I've done that. Yet, as much fun as you are having with your friends now, it will all come to a screeching halt once you goto college. The classes that you breezed through and found to be too boring to put much thought into will all of a sudden become the focus of your college career. I don't want to seem like I am preaching to you like your parents, because I didn't listen to them either. But, from me to, well me... I have to level with you - they are right. The time you take now to focus on your homework, and start to think about what you would like to do as a career for the rest of your life will save you much sorrow in the future. Remember, preparation equals success.

The values you now possess are not as self engrained as you may think they are. Don?t go to college thinking you already know who you are and that you can?t change because of that. Accept that you are not happy with yourself and that the things which matter most won?t matter in the same depth later on. Don?t anticipate the problems you will have in college, for they will not coincide with the struggles you are having now. Your environment changes and therefore the way you learn and the awareness of what you have learned also changes. Today you look at yourself through the eyes of what you have experienced this far, but tomorrow you will see life not only through your eyes, but through the eyes of everyone you encounter. Be observant and slow to speak. But don?t let that be an excuse for not speaking at all. Finally, make learning, not grading, the most important thing. Thats how college differs from any other schooling you have had this far. College isn?t about fooling others into thinking you are learning, its about learning how to learn for the rest of your life.

As a high school senior, I got in habits of procrastinating and allowing "senioritis" to settle in. When it came time for my freshman year of college, it was a hard transition in managing my time well. Due to procrastination, I also became stressed very easily. I focused more on my athletics than on my academics, and I considered my sport to be first priority. I had no idea who I wanted to be and I never thought about the future. If I could go back and talk to myself, I would first tell myself to start good studying habits now, because it makes college that much easier. I would tell myself to carry a daily planner and to write EVERYTHING down. I would remind myself that although you can learn from sports, academics are more important for your future. Lastly, I would tell myself to set goals for the future and to not simply believe something because its what your parents taught you. I would tell myself to write down my thoughts and goals so I could see how I have grown and the changes that have taken place in my life and in my heart.

In retrospect, it would be beneficial to know that time management is important as a college freshman. I would tell myself that it is necessary to decide what is most important and prioritize my day based on these areas. The three that come to mind are academics, friendships, and personal time. Academically, a perfect grade point average is not as easily attained as it once was. An apportioned time to work solely on homework is necessary so as not to procrastinate. Know that it is perfectly acceptable to go to bed early as not every invitation must be accepted. Forming new friendships is exciting, but there is much time for that. However, it is important to allot time specifically for friends and relaxation. It is crucial to take mental and physical health into consideration as well. Time to oneself is of great value in the midst of community. Taking the areas of life I value most-- academics, friendships, and personal time-- life is more effectively balanced in managing time wisely.

I would tell myself make sure you know what you want to major in. Do research about the field that you want to go into. Make sure that you count the costs. College is an investment in your future so make the best of it. Know that you can accomplish great things if you pursue them .Whatever you do make sure that you are passionate about it. Pursue the best career choice for you. As far as social life, have fun but remember you are paying to get educated. You are working towards a goal of graduating with a degree. If you complete school with the best of your ability you can have access to more options, thus you can acquire more wealth. As a side note, I would warn you, be prepared to make negotiations with your roommate. Bring shower shoes and a caddy, they are absolutely a necessity. As far as books go, check out the prices online. Save what little money you can, even if its five dollars a week, every little bit counts. Get adequate sleep and tackle your homework before you socialize. Trust me I know you. Do not procrastinate because you will be stressed!

I would first tell myself to calm down! In high school, college is an extremely intimidating idea. It?s hard to choose where to go and what to go into. It is also intimidating to think that you will have to leave home and make all new friends. However, college is not nearly as scary as it seems. People seem to be on a more even playing field than they were in high school. In college kids are becoming adults and there is a lot less of the stereotypes and cliques, everyone comes in at the same level. Also, the actual academic work load is a lot heavier than high school but not necessarily harder. Just keep working hard and doing what you are doing and you will do fine. Do not be so worried about getting an A that you miss out on opportunities to make memories and lifelong friends.

My high school never put a lot of emphasis on AP classes. The teachers that taught the AP classes obviously didn't want to, and many people didn't even pass the AP exams. Knowing this, I easily chose not to take any. Looking back though, I wish I would have. Many of my friends have come into their first year of college with sophomore credit. Also, I would definitely advise myself to take advantage of dual enrollment. What's better than free college classes? Take the general education classes, especially if you know what you want to go into. Along with that, if you know what you with your life, start early. I'm going into graphic design and photography, and I bought my first iMac and DSLR camera in high school, but honestly I should have done more. Why not come in with experience and even maybe a name for myself? The biggest thing is don't wait until college to pursue your dream. Take advantage of what high schools have to offer for college credit.

If I had the chance to give myself advice before I went to college, I would tell myself that college is different. You have to make sure to manage your time correctly in order to get everything done, but college is not just about studying. You have to keep your eyes and ears open for opportunties, because there are a multitude of them just waiting to be explored but they won't come knocking on your door by themselves. You have to pay attention to your classes, but you also have to pay attention to the people and events around you because there are some really awesome people and some life-changing events that can help take you in the direction you want to go as long as you're paying attention. Don't be afraid to do whatever you want and whatever you can think of, because college is when the rest of your life starts, and you can choose any path you like.