SUNY College at Oswego Top Questions

better be ready for being responsibility by myself for college class registration and homework stuff.

I would tell myself to work harder to achieve higher grades which would allow me to attend a better school. I would also tell myself to look into other schools and compare the pros and cons. One thing I regret now is that I allowed myself to make volleyball the deciding factor on what school to attend. I now realize what a huge mistake that was. I've come to understand that for some people sports are a way of life and are a necessity, but not me. If it wasn't for volleyball, I do not think I would be at the school I am now. I've made some great friends on the team and it has been a good experience overall, but I wish I focused on more important aspects of a school, rather than just one.

School comes first. It is your reason for being here. There will always be another party. Take care of all your work before having any fun. Never drink and drive, call a cab. READ. Read the material before you go to class and contribute to the discussion. Don't procrastinate. Study your syllabus, make sure you know what is expected of you and do it. Aim for a 4.0 right from the start, you should never be aiming for anything less. Don't ever be late for anything. Get involved on campus. Join as many clubs as you can, find something that interests you. Join honor societies or other organizations that will help boost your resume. Stay active; look into intramural sports or other healthy activities to get involved with. Take advantage of your unlimited meal plan - it's UNLIMITED. Develop relationships with your professors and alumni. NETWORK. Talk to everyone, make new friends and build relationships everywhere you go. Spend your money wisely. Always go to class. Take advantage of the library. Always Do ALL your work, don't ever miss a deadline or fail to turn in an assignment, get it done and turn it in.

Go to the school that feels right for YOU. Don't let anyone else try to talk you into going to a specific college, and definitely don't base your decision solely on the financial aspect of college. Take risks and get out of your comfort zone every once in a while! You will constantly be thrown into situations that may not be ideal for you later in your life and you will need to know how to handle them. That's what college is all about. It's not only learning inside the classroom, but outside as well. You will be provided with so many opportunities to connect with others, try new things, and improve your life skills. Take advantage of everything you are given and don't be afraid to ask for help from others. There's always room for improvement, so don't be too proud to ask someone who might be more knowledgable on the topic for their help/opinion. You're officially an adult and your future is in your hands. You make the decisions from here on out, so make them count!

My first year of college was a little rocky. Filled with many different experiences, good, and bad. However, I would never take any of my good, or bad experiences back because college is all about growing up, learning new things, and finding yourself, and in order to do those things one must make some mistakes. So, the only real good advice I would give myself is three simple words. STUDY, STUDY, STUDY!

Treat school like a high paying important CEO job.

I would slap myself in the face. I would tell myself that I need to be more responsible and I need to get my butt on a computer and start applying to scholarships and save money. I woul also tell myself that I can still have fun and still get my work done, but school work comes before anything else. i would also say that, I can relax and I don't need to be nervous and also don't talk to a guy by the name of Camren, future ex-boyfriend. College is hard and very challenging, but it can be easy if you just do your work and be responsible. Don't worry about anyone else and he/shes' problem, worry about yourself. Also, have fun and be yourself, be safe, smart and responsible.

College is a tremendous step in the life of an emerging student, a step that shows further determination to move onto a higher education. Throughout my senior year, I constantly kept wondering what college would be like, and if I was ready for this big transition. Recently finishing my first semester, I have mixed feelings about what I could have done differently and how the expectations I had coming into college changed. First of all, college is entirely different from high school - there is much more self-initiative required, along with an extensive workload. Also, you are in complete control of your life - there are no parents or guardians there to care and protect you, a fact that many college students have often had trouble dealing with. If I had the chance to go back to my senior year, I would have told myself to take high school more seriously, so that I could be better prepared for the amount of work ahead of me. In addition, I would have lived life more fully, and appreciated those who love and care for me while they were still in close contact, thereby making me more prepared for this new college experience.

Dear High school senior self, I know that you have been really worried about leaving your family and going to college, but its better than you expect. In the beginning of high school you really struggled to do well, but with hard work you have really changed your gpa as a high school senior, which was part of the reason you were accepted to so many schools. I know that one of the things you are most afraid of is the class work. However at SUNY Oswego the teachers are really supportive, especially when they see how dedicated you are. If you are having a hard time there are many ways to get extra help. Also theres ways to do community service, and they have Relay for Life on the campus so you can still be involved in the events you enjoy. You also have a mailbox, which you share with a roommate, and if your homesick it really helps to write letters to your family, and when you get one back, its so exciting! Make sure to bring some pictures of family and friends. When you visit home, you are actually going to miss college! Love, Your College self

If I had to go back into time and speak with myself as a senior I would definitely have to say the biggest thing into making life, and the transition easier into college would be to be an ADULT. This means taking responsibility for your actions, knowing if you have a class at nine in the morning, understand you can?t be up all night and expect to wake up and make it every day on time. Or being able to wake yourself up every morning and get yourself to where you need to be. Being independent is HUGE; it truly is the start of your life to come. Because when you go to school there isn?t mom and dad to come home to every day and rescue you. You need to make responsible and rational decisions, now I?m not saying don?t make a wrong choice because that?s all part of growing up and being human. Yet now is the time in your life where you literally and actually have to become an adult whether you choose to or not, and now is the time to step up to the plate and do so.

Be open minded. The first thing I learned when I entered college is that it is not the the promised land that it is made out to be during high school. It is a lot of hard work and effort to stay on top, just like anything else. However, if you go in with an open mind and the willingness to try, college can be one of the greatest experiences of your life. It will change you and how you percieve the world. Let it. It will allow you to see through the fog of your childhood ideals and see the world in a way you never expected and you will come to understand what is truely important. Just go in with an open mind and you'll do great.

The transition from high school to college can be a challenge for freshman students who are entering the new college lifestyle. Many students have never had to take out such large loans until college. If I could talk myself through the changes as a high school student I would highly advise myself to research the entirety of my college major. In order to obtain my Bachelors degree there are many requirements. Most of the requirements regard general education courses. If I had known what the general education courses were that I needed in order to obtain my degree then I would have been able to apply my course work at school onto my degree program and graduate sooner. This ultimate change could have affected the amount of loans I have taken out and perhaps may have downsized the total amount I owe. Researching the degree I wanted would have really affected the outcome of how I went about obtaining it. I have learned through my personal experience now of what I could have done to reduce or manage my loans differently. I think this is very important to take into consideration when looking to pursue a degree.

RELAX. College is a big deal, but not going to Johnson and Wales isn't as devastating as you think it is. I know it sucks that you aren't going to your dream school, but Oswego is a great place. College is about what you're doing, not where you're doing it. You're going to do great at this school, I promise, and you're going to love it. I swear. For now, you're doing everything you're supposed to academically, and if you keep it up in college, it'll be smooth sailing. But you need to apply for more scholarships: you said you were going to live in the guidance office and apply for everything, but so far you've been slacking. Get off your butt and DO IT. Besides that, you need to dedicate a little more time to your friends and a little less to work. I know you hate to be told this, but you're a kid. It's okay to act like one and to not be perfect all of the time. Relax and enjoy the rest of your year. Good luck. You'll be fine.

First of all, you have nothing to worry about friend-wise. You will still have the friends you have now but you won't talk as much. Your friendships will mostly rely on Facebook. The amount of work you will receive won't be all that different, honestly. It will only seem like a lot because you have to manage your time between play and work, which is what your parents do for you now. And trust me, there will be A LOT of play. Best time of your life in fact. But moving on, don't get all worried about declaring a major. In fact, if I could do it over again, I would go in undeclared. You will probably change your major/minor 3-4 times before staying with what you want. And please be aware of what you will be, a college student. You will be targeted because you are inexperienced with life situations. You will get many calls trying to take your money and you will probably fall for the first one. Speaking of money, save it and be fickle with what you spend it on. "Don't let school interfere your education." Mark Twain

I would tell my past self not go home so much; although i had missed my family, college is an oppourtunty to stand on you own feet without anyone holding you hand. I would emphasise that, 'staying in' is something that should be seldomly done. This is also an opportunity to explore the world around you; whether you go to school in the big city or a small college town, if you look hard enough you can find a nook that can be meaningful to you. I would tell myself to stay on top of things, not only academic realated deadline but the politics of your school, know who is making the desicisions around and never stay "out of the loop" get involved in something you thought you would never do, even if it just for one time (for me it was joining the Capoeria and Aikido club) you will be suprised of what you learn about yourself as well as in general. Most of all, try to see the connections between what you learn in class and in your daily life. I feel more aware of how society works because i see these correlations between classes and daily living.

Have fun, and do not hesitate because you are nervous. Just have fun and study hard! It will be tough but everything will be ok.

Leaving your family and friends, and starting on a clean slate is a very difficult matter to deal with when first arriving on campus. You have no idea who your other peers are, and you are placed into unfamiliar territory. The best advice to give is to put yourself out there and make the extra effort to adjust to campus life. Volunteering to clean up around campus, joining clubs, and introducing yourself to others will not only help you grow as an individual, it will also help being away from home seem a little more bearable. In addition, the friends made in college could end up becoming life long acquaintances.

Visit the campuses, and talk to some of the professors in your possible major. I personally tried several colleges before I found the right fit, this cost me a lot of time & money. If I had been able to visit the college ahead of time, I'd have known that other colleges were not a good fit, and I would have discovered my love for SUNY Oswego much sooner.

I would tell myself to relax. I think that everyone can learn and have the time of their lives and balance that. It does not have to be a rat race. It's in everyone's best interest to try new things, put themselves outside of the box, meet new people, take risks but keep in mind what you're here for. It goes by way too fast, so be sure to take it all in.

Just do it.