Stanford University Top Questions

I would like to finish my senior year with a better record during my football season. I was the Quarterback for my team and I would have like to complete in the next level of the area-playoffs. I had a Great Senior year! I wish I could of done more activities my freshman year, or had some kind of guidiance then.

My current goals for my career are to go to medical school and work to become an anesthesiologist after I graduate from Stanford. In order to acheive these goals, I have participated in programs and groups on campus that have been giving me insight as to what I will need to do to gain entrance into a good medical school. If I could go back in time and give myself advice I would definitely recommend improved study habits and better attention to AP exams. I realize now that I could have placed out of many freshman classes had I scored higher on these exams and took them much more seriously. Attending college at a major university has forced me to be a much better student, at times relearning key concepts brushed over in high school. I believe my time in high school should have included more time reading current events and learning self-discipline tools. As I mature, learning becomes less of a chore and more of a quest for knowledge and self-understanding.

Enjoy your time at home. Enjoy your friends. Stop thinking about college because it?s coming no matter how much you stress about it. You?ll be fine wherever you end up, and, though the rejection letters hurt quite a bit, you?ll end up happier than you could?ve imagined. Honestly, the school you will attend doesn?t matter nearly as much as the attitude you have going into it. Be happy that you?re able to get such an opportunity, an opportunity to learn and grow in a whole new environment! Be happy that you have family and friends that support that growth and will help you in any way that they can. Take this attitude with you when it?s time to leave for college, but don?t forget to enjoy yourself in the time before you get there. Senior year and summer passes quicker than any other time in your life so far. So, though you?re anxious and excited for what is to come (as you should be!) don?t get caught up in the future until you?re actually there. It?s waiting patiently for you.

Work harder than you ever have. Don't ever skip a class. Have fun... but only because you work hard and play hard.

College is like spending a day at the amusement park with the fastest, tallest rides and the most entertaining games. Between studying, meeting best friends, and doing extracurricular activities, one can have a great experience. With limited time, it seems logical to run as fast as possible in order to ride every roller coaster and play every game. But, it?s very important not to run too fast, trip, or run out of energy too soon. Trying to do too much too fast will prevent you from enjoying each activity to the fullest and might hurt you in the long run. Fortunately, college gives you plenty of time to explore your interests, ride your favorites, and play every game. Some people even find a passion, talent, or skill in a particular field and enjoy devoting the majority of their time to it. Just as you might get a little dizzy on a ride or two at an amusement park, sometimes classes may be quite taxing. Just as the tickets and food for theme parks are often overpriced, so too is rising tuition costs and fees. Just be sure to remind yourself why you came there in the first place.

One of the most important features of a successful college experience is efficient time-management. Your intelligence, skills, and even attitude become ineffective without managing your time properly. Avoid habits and attitudes that may lead to procrastination, neglectfulness, etc. in all aspects of your college experience, whether academic or social. In doing so, there will be time for most of your interests and any new ones you may wish to pursue. Since college offers many new and exciting opportunites, it would be a good idea to experience as many as you can. To do so, however, again requires you to manage your (limited) time well. It is therefore of the utmost importance to do so. By adopting this mentality and developing habits conducive to managing your time well, your experience at college will be richer and more fullfilling than you can possibly imagine.

Find something you are passionate about and affect change towards that cause.

One thing I would tell myself is to obtain employment during the school year. and budget properly Even though I had an abundance of scholarships, working during the school year would have allowed me to save up enough money to cover living expenses to pursue an unpaid internship over the summer. Another thing I would tell myself is to get involved in more student groups to get to know more students with common interests and goals. The last thing I would tell myself is not to be afraid to ask for help with academics. There are plenty of resources I can take advantage of and I have no need to be embarrassed about needing assistance.

If I could give myself any advice, it would be to not be afraid of changing your mind about what you want to do. Going to college opens up a multitude of experiences available, and it's okay to try something and decide you don't enjoy it. It's easy to just go to classes and fill up your free time with socializing with all the new friends you'll make, but it's important to keep challenging yourself with new activities and new ideas - that's the only way you'll find out what you're passionate about. You don't have to decide what you want to do with the rest of your life, even if everyone around you seems to have figured it out already (they haven't). Just try to find something that is interesting to you, something that motivates you to work toward something that isn't a grade or a line on a resume. And enjoy yourself! Don't take life too seriously - you're not in the real world just yet.

Homie check it, college is exactly what you think it is, partying and stress. Make sure you go to a school that has plenty of financial aid because that is the number one most important factor, it doesn't help to go to a good school if you are going to finish in debt thousands of dollars. Alcohol rules campuses, period. Most parties will have a majority of its constituents drunk and, frankly, are only fun if they are attended drunk. Hot girls don't go to smart schools, if you find that it is important that potential relationships with attractive women are available apply for a school that isn't prestigious, there are more attractive women there. Make sure that you apply for PLENTY of scholarships when you are a high school senior, people love giving money to seniors, but not as much for people already in college... go figure. Be prepared to come in to an environment which has most of the kids enjoying their freedom from their parents for the first time, which leads to plenty of encounters with alcohol or other drugs, especially on prestigious campuses.

First, I will tell myself to choose your career field, and make sure it makes you happy. Also could you see yourself retiring from this career in the future? Second, I would tell myself to make sure that I stick with school and finish it. Focus on my dreams and do not let any come between your success. It will be things that may discourage you but keep your head up . Make sure you surround yourself by successful people. Third make sure you have established realistic goals. Be very active in college. Have the mind to be willing to learned and very opened minded to new things. You may have to eliminate something that you are currently doing .So that way you could be a head of class. College is surely different, its not like you are in high school .But when it comes to college you have to pay attention are you may get left behind. College is more about independent and being on you own. High school you are still living at home. But if you put in a lot of hard work you will be very proud of your self in the end of it all.

A good friend once told me that if I devoured my chocolate too quickly, I would miss out on all the flavor and excitement. I didn't get it, chocolate is chocolate, right? Who cares if I eat it fast or slow? I came to realize it is the intricant slow appreciation of every bit of a piece of chocolate that makes it so good. If we apply this idea to life, the concept is even more relevant. Every moment in life is unique and can pack a powerful punch. But if we just go along trying to rush everything just to get to the next step, we miss out on the journey. Our lives are what we make them to be in each moment; our lives are the journey. I would tell my high school senior self to remember that. In other words, everything is not about "getting into college". If we do not take it slow and appreciate every unique moment, our lives will pass us by. Pretty soon all these high schoolers will grow up and wonder where the time went. Sure they probably achieved their goals, but are they happy-that is the question.

Finding the right college isn't about statistics or resources or the number of famous faculty on staff. It's about how even a prospective student fits into the school and life there. Because, after all, that young adult must find a place in which he or she will be comfortable spending four years. So, parents, back away from your child. Let him wander off a little, explore the place for himself, meet other students and prospective students. Let her have conversations with the people she may be spending the next four years with. And if she's happy with what she finds, then ask her: does this campus feel like home? Because if it does, then it just may be. Of the college experience, it's important to remember that what you give to the school and one's schoolwork is what one gets. Of course, students need to find a balance between social and school life. However, this does not mean that your social life must suffer for your school, and vice versa. Try new things, but get work done. College is for new experiences--both learning and life related. Enjoy it to your fullest ability, and succeed.

Make the decision for yourself, and don't let other people dictate your future. Go with your gut.

Visit the college and talk to the students there. Visit some classes, stay a weekend that is not admit weekend, and attend some parties. See what it is really about.

Only apply to schools you are DYING to go to. You might end up like me having to choose between the lesser of two evils.

College is a personal choice that is different for every applicant. Everybody wants something different out of their college experience. That's why it's really important to find out as much as possible about schools that might fit you, academically, socially, financially, and location-wise, among many factors. It's also important to consider a few dream schools too-- even if somewhere is out of your price range, applying for scholarships and financial aid might make it possible. However, the single most significant determining factor, once you've narrowed your choices down to schools that are financially feasible after April 1, is visiting colleges. There is no better way to get a feel for a school and realize you belong there (or don't belong there) than visiting schools with an open mind. Keep an eye out for programs or organizations that you'd be interested in. Once you've decided on a place, make the most of it. Get involved! Find things that get you excited about going to class or meeting new people and take advantage of them. College is a unique environment that allows for a really special kind of total involvement, and it's amazing.

It's easy to get caught up in thinking about the social aspect of college when you're getting ready to commit. Most students are really worried about fitting in on campus and finding friends, not how big their Psych 101 class is, or the resources that exist (or don't) to help them out when they're failing Statistics. Don't underestimate the academic side of college; take it into serious consideration and choose the school that has your interests and that excites you for possibly 'geeky' reasons. Keep in mind that the way you fit in a school academically can really affect your future; the better match, the better you'll do, and the more you'll be happy that you had such considerations when you're doing what you love in 25 years. Chances are that you'll find a group of friends at any school, but the bottom line is that you should align your priorities according to what's really important to you and if great ethnic centers or a more political campus are what make you tick, then follow your heart.

While looking for colleges, students should know what interested them in high school, and have some idea of what they want to do, or if they do not know, should apply to a larger college where they can change their minds without needing to change schools. Knowing what they want as far as location, social life, etc, is also important. Once in college, students should do more than just study. Joining a club or a sport is a great way to make friends with similar interests. Also, I would advise students to live on-campus if possible, as dorms are also a good place to make friends.

Be open-minded. Be proactive about discovering yourself--no one will do it for you. Work hard and have no regrets, even if you feel that you have made a mistake. Finding a college is like looking for a house-- it is your residence for the next four years. You will spend your best years in the college you choose and so, I would recommend spending time on campus, sitting in on lectures and talking to students before making a decision.