Syracuse University Top Questions

As a transfer student, I believe I have many key insights into the college selection process and, having found some of my needs unmet at my former college, I opted to transfer to another institution. I feel that in high school you cannot be aware of the true atmosphere at college based on organized tours. I encourage any high school senior to go and stay with a friend or an acquaintance at the college they are interested in. It is so vital to ask these people about their experience at school in order to get an accurate description of life at that respective university. I also would say it is important to think about your upbringing and how that might influence your experience in college. For example, I grew up in a fairly religious environment and being cast into a college atmosphere lacking a sizeable community subscribing to my religion was a bit shocking. Also, I think it is important to take into consideration the main types of people that attend any given college and where they come from. It is so important to relate to the study body. As with anything, it is important to start college open minded.

I would start by telling myself to say hi to everyone I meet on campus, on my dorm floor, and in my classes. A top thought would be to open myself up a little bit more to more people and try to make more diverse friends. You can never have enough friends and sometimes meeting people from completely different backgrounds and groups can be uplifting and knowledgeable. I would also tell myself to keep in mind that it is not high school and reading the chapters are a top priority. On that note, I would also add in the notion of telling myself to think that papers and projects are due a few days before they truly are to force myself to do the work early and give myself time to go back and look it over or possibly re-work it if necessary.

As a high school senior, I would have told you that I was 100 percent prepared for college life. I was not concerned about the transition one bit; I knew I'd adjust very quickly. However, during my freshman year at college, I made almost no friends, I liked almost none of my classes, and I cried on an almost daily basis. I felt very alone, and simply put, I hated college. Coming back as a sophomore, this all changed. I honestly can't say I know why it changed, but it did. I made more friends within the classes and activities I was in, I started finding classes that I enjoyed, and I even went out and had fun in my spare time. If I could tell my senior-self anything it would be that it's okay to have a difficult time adjusting. More importantly, you're not the only one! You don't have to make a best friend, find a future husband, and pick a major on your first day at college. You need to make the transition, and transitions take time. I would suggest to take all the time you need.

Make the best of it and do a good job.

I would tell myself to dive into college, head first, without reservation. One day, I know I will have a set routine; in the near future, my environment and I will be more contained. But now, while I am still young and relatively free, every small thing feels like mine. The steps to class, the conversations, and the thoughts are all integral parts of my personal experience. As a film student, college has been a process of education that has oriented me to technical, creative, and personal improvement. I would urge myself to get involved in campus activities as proactively as possible so as to better understand my interests in feminism, film production, and sexual violence prevention. The Syracuse Campus has a particularly vocal social climate which allows for the exploration of questions of fairness and equity. The best way to engage yourself in the university setting, is to find peers and mentors who are truly passionate about similar issues. At Syracuse University, there are many like-minded individuals, but finding a embracing community withing the college requires enthusiastic pursual of opportunities. There are amazing experiences waiting out there, but you must discover them.

As a high school senior I worked very hard. As a result, I was often very worried that no matter how hard I tried, it would not be good enough. If I could go back and tell my high school self one thing, it would be not to stress so much. In my senior year it seemed like every small problem would be the end of the world. Of course today the world is still intact. Back then the most I had to worry about was my grade in history class or a track meet. This year, in the past semester alone, I juggled a part time job, an extracurricular poetry group, and management of a non-profit organization with being a full time student. There were times when I didn't believe I could get everything done. But I managed and did so knowing that if I failed at one thing the world would not crash into the sun. Today I know the only person I can let down is myself. And I know that if I tried my absolute best, then I can only be proud of what I achieved.

I would tell myself to get involved more and be very active on campus. Also I would make sure I would get more involved with clubs and activities that can build my resume. Also to get a had start on school work and to make sure that I dont fall behind in any classes and get help when needed because there are so many people that are willing to help you out! I would also tell myself not to be shy and explore all the opportunities and career fairs that are available on campus!

Assuming I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior, the first thing I would tell myself is to relax and enjoy the next four years because they will without a doubt be the best four years of your life! Not only will you build an educational foundation that will last you the rest of your life, but you will meet many people and will make connections that will last a lifetime. Sure, you'll miss family and friends when you move to campus, but don't spend too much time wishing you were back home because there's a whole new world out there waiting for you to experience it. Don't go crazy trying to do everything all at once, but learn how to prioritize activities and get involved! Getting involved and trying out many activities doesn't mean you can go easy on your studying though. Give it your all with your studies! Some classes will be easier then others, but all will contribute to your personal knowledgebase which you will find yourself tapping into years after you graduate.

If I could go back to my high school, I would tell myself not to judge my peers too harshly. Even those that were mean to people, made fun of you, or fooled around in class, I now realize that people change when they get to college. It seems as though these peers of mine were just stuck in certain roles in high school that they were afraid to branch off of and be more friendly; but almost all of these peers of mine have turned into mature young adults that I can respect. More importantly, after being stressed my first year of school, I would say to "not stress the small stuff". One less hour of sleep, or one B+ instead of an A is not going to be the end of the world. Life is just too short not to see that one movie, lend that shoulder to your one friend who needs it to cry on, tell that one special someone just how much they mean to you. If you really let go, you will find you can stay healthy, make lasting friends, and excel academically if you just have faith in your own ability.

When I first started college I was nervous. They tell you so many things about how college is totally different from high school, but I have found out it really isn't. The professors really do care if you show up to class or not and they are really helpful when it comes to work. However, the work load in college is way bigger than it was in high school. So I would tell myself just to space things out and give myself time to do my work. It can get pretty complicated trying to balance a part time job and college so I would tell myself to make sure to take at least one day off a week to get my work done.