Syracuse University Top Questions

The best advice I would give myself is to do well in high school, be involved with as many high school activities as possible and being a leader or influential member. Learn to be a strong time management student, because you will find yourself so many things to do in college that you don't know when to do what and you will feel stressed out and lost. Take priorities in things that you do, PLANNERS are so useful in college, it's the path to get you from Monday to Friday, everybody uses them. DO have a routined schedule as to when to wake up and when to go to bed. Good learners have adequate amount of sleep and that helps them study better. Learn to express yourself and do not conform with a particular group of people. In high school there might not be so many people, but in college there are people from all over the globe and there are bound to have people who think and act like you. People in college always find a circle of people that they are comfortable with.

I would have tried to be more confident and focused more on actually putting myself out there and meeting people, instead of worrying about meeting people. I stressed about being able to get work done and making friends, and balancing the two, but the key was to remember that everyone else was in the same boat. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to embrace the fact that I was in a new environment with people who, though from many different backgrounds, shared my academic and exracirricular interests. I wish I had received the advice to just be myself and taken the time to understand who I was rather than who I wanted to be or what I thought other people would think. You have to know and accept yourself before you can know and accept others.

I would tell myself to relax. I was very nervous about moving up to school and leaving my friends and family. I thought that I wouldn't make any friends at first. I was completely wrong and haven't been homesick yet! I think I would also tell myself to work on time management because college adds in unexpected procrastiation and distractions that you don't have during high school. You really need to learn when to say no to social events or even just hanging out in people's rooms and focus on work. Getting behind in college is scary because teachers don't remind you to catch up and you could be eight chapters behind in a week! Also I would have told myself to get a job because money is huge in college. I thought I had saved up enough spending money, but I end up running out of cash and it would be nice to have some more cash on hand. Also, I would have told myself to bring Febreeze and Tide to Go as well, because I am always borrowing from people on my hall.

Time management is the most important thing you can learn in college. Organizing your class and social life is the key to success. Also setting aside time for yourself and relaxing is very important as well. You also need to learn to say no and avoid social pressures and plan everything out in advance, such as classes so everything would be easier for yourself in the long run. Don't be afraid to talk to people and set outside your comfort zone you can meet soo many more people that way and have a large network. Also never break your word because it will not only disappoint others but make you look bad and not trustworthy. It is really hard to gain trust back from others.

You did pretty good. All those advanced courses and extracurriculars paid off. Remember that the professors and others at SU aren't special...well, they're smarter than you, but so are a lot of people. Don't let yourself be intimidated. Learn as much as you can from every single person on this campus; they have a lot to teach. Listen to mom's cliches, because they always turn out to be true. Be open and honest with yourself and the people around you. It's the only way you're going to find the kind of friends you want to have. Do what you want to do, even if that means going by yourself. That's how you find the most lovely people. I know SU is REALLY far from home, but the people you're leaving love you and you will all make the effort to stay in touch. You're going to get stressed and worried about money and grades like always, but you'll be fine. Like always. All of the hard stuff is worth it because of the opportunity you're giving yourself and your future self. Bleed orange: it's so worth it.

You have one of two choices. You can either coast through college as a mediocre student; you can choose not to take advantage of any of the extracurricular activities available to explore yourself and life as a well-rounded student. Or, you can take full advantage of the opportunities that are put in front of you. Take your education seriously and set goals for a brighter future. Know what you want to study and what you want to be when you get out of college. College only lasts four years, but you can get a lifetime of achievement out of those four years. Don?t think of college as your last step. Think of it as your beginning. The biggest mistake people make including myself, is telling yourself that you have ?plenty of time? to figure out what you want to do. If you don?t know what you want to do when you get out of college then take the time and figure it out. Before you know it, you are in your last semester at college and you still don?t know what you want to do for your career. I should have taken that time.

There are a lot of people that don't know what they want to major in when they to college. There are so many areas to major in while in college. Had I reasearched exactly what I wanted to do more, it would have made enrollment a lot easier. It's okay to not know exactly what you want to do, just try hard to get a good idea of what you want to do.

I hear so many people talking about how "if they could go back", they would want to tell themselves so much. I, tend to think differently. Sure, it would've been great to know that I would find friends here, that I would fit in and would end up loving my college experience so much, but I've realized that a lot of what made me so successful was the way I got here and what I did for myself. I'd tell myself nothing different. I think getting here and going out, discovering who I was and meeting people was the best part of coming to school. Sure, I had my bad days and days I missed home but I got through them and came out a stronger, more confident person who has no regrets about my time in college so far. It's an amazing experience, let it happen and if you are honest and open-minded, you'll do fine. Everyone needs to figure that out for themselves though, no advice in the world could prepare you for it.

Make sure you go to College with an open mind about everything and have some kind of idea about what you like and what you would like to major in. When you're a freshman its very easy to lose focus especially when your parents are not there and to shy away from whats really important. Stay focused, be apart of as many extra curriculurs as possible and have fun. College is only what you make of it.

Education, Education, Education. That is the most important thing I would stress. Pay attention to your teachers, mentors, MOTHER. Take your studies seriously in high school and don't skip out on your classes. Talk to people who know the ropes and don't beat yourself up about things you can't change. Life is short so enjoy it while you can, just remember these are the best days of your life.

I would tell my senior self that you need to take the AP classes and the AP tests and do your best on them. Make sure you learn from those classes how to work effiently for extended periods of time. Then make sure you read alot this summer so you get in the midset of redaing often. Then write about what you read adn have people check your grammar.

If I were a senior in high school, there are only a few tips of advice I would give myself. I would have studied more to earn the highest grades possible on the Advanced Placement Exams. In high school, you only need to pay to take the test. In college, you might end up paying $2000 in tuition with your own money to get the equivalent credit. This fact isn?t stressed enough in high school and I wish I knew about it back then. Another hint I would give myself is that leaving your friends behind at home is not the most devastating thing you can experience. They may not be around you as much, but technology can still keep you in close contact. If you?re so worried about keeping your old friends, you won?t meet as many new people, which might make college a little more difficult. You shouldn?t forget that you?re in a new environment with thousands of people you?ve never met before and around people that have the potential to be your other group of best friends.

First, that you don't have as much time as you think you do, so grab every opportunity you can and don't waste time being sad. If someone or something is upsetting you, change it. And you have the power to do that without being a bad person. Second, take advantage of everything because right now it's being handed to you, and later on you're going to have to work for it. So if you want to dance, dance. If you want to write for the paper, write for the paper. It's all here and there are so many people who want to help you achieve what you want.

If I could go back in time as a high school senior I would first try to diversify my life growing up. Being born and raised in Upstate New York sheltered me from the outside world in which I thought everyone was the same as me and everyone I knew, white Catholic, Republican, upper-middle class, problem-free families. I wish that I had bursted out of my bubble and realized there was a much different world beyond my eyes and starting off school as a freshman last year I was struck by a crippling culture shock. My friends at Syracuse University are generally from New York City, New Jersey, Boston, and all over the United States and some from other countries; my friends from home are all from Upstate New York and that is where they stayed for college. Looking back, I truly wish that I was more involved in traveling, visited family in other states, met new people, tried out new cultures instead of staying trapped in the cold Upstate New York box for my whole life. However coming to Syracuse University has been a transforming experience for me and would not trade it for the world.

Dear high school senior Rachel, I know that you are super excited about going to college and you should be, college is filled with wonderful opportunities. You'll get to meet new people and best of all live in a dorm. My advice to you -- and I know that you have thought about it before but I want to stress again, go out on the weekends. I'm not saying go out and get drunk, but visit friends, explore everything that Syracuse has to offer. Don't be like me falling asleep by 11 on Friday (by the way get rid of that 8 am shift at work on Saturdays). I don't want you to look back at these years and regret not meeting more people or participating in more events.

Visit the college, and see if the people there are the type of people who you would like to be with and develop relationships.

I would tell students to visit lots of schools they may be interested in and that has programs that youre looking into. Once you visit the schools just sort of go with your gut feeling about the school. If you could see yourself being there for the next four years of your life then its a fit for you, if not you don't want to be miserable for the next four years. For parents I would say let your child choose the school he or she likes and don't try to force any certain schools on your kid. Money may be an issue but theres always a way for your child to go to the school that he or she feels like they could be at for the next stage in their life.

Some advice that I would give to parents/students who are going through the college search is first, you should make at least a basic decision of what kind of career you're looking to pursue, or maybe just a list of careers you might like. If you can narrow your career choice down, then it will be easier to search for the kind of school your looking for. When you're searching for schools, don't be afraid to look at schools outside your home state, because you may find the perfect school for you in a completely different part of the country. After you've applied to a few schools, gotten your acceptance letters, and are preparing to make a decision, don't let the cost of the school make your decision for you. Those colleges/universities want you to attend their school, and they will help you get there with financial aid. I would definitely advise visiting the schools you are most interested in. When you actually step foot on the campus, you'll be able to tell if its the right place for you.

Choose the school after researching and visiting the campus. Go to a school that specializes in your major, or has a variety of majors if you are undecided. Study abroad if you can!

Find a school that is a size that you feel comfortable with, one that is not too large or too big for your comfort level. Make sure they the school has your major and can fulfill what you hope to learn and get out of college educationally. Check online to see how colleges compare to each other when it comes to the major of your choice and how those who have graduated from the college seeking the same career path as you have turned out with finding employment. Look up the financial aid that is given through the school and if you can manage to afford school with or without loans and if you feel comfortable paying the price for the school you are looking at. Make sure that you feel at home with the location of the school and the distance from the school and your home.