Syracuse University Top Questions

If I could go back, I would tell myself to breathe. My senior year was filled with working constantly on all of my subjects, which did help in the end, but was excess stress that I didn't need to go through. I would've told myself that college is important, but it isn't just about working non-stop and not having any fun. I shouldn't have worried so much my senior year, but rather enjoyed it. Applying to college and creating a portfolio was tough, but I think I needed to have taken more time and really put myself through the processes I used for my art pieces and become consumed by them in order to have appreciated what I was doing more. This appreciation really comes in handy in college, and would've helped me to really understand what it was I wanted to do for the rest of my life, instead of feeling pressured to pick one major when applying. Telling myself that it is okay to change majors and not that big of a deal, is something I definitely should've heard. I would have not felt so tense all of the time.

Looking back over the past three years, I would definitely say that it's important to understand how to get the most out of the classes that are important to you. I wish I had taken more time to understand which classes were my priorities, and what I needed to do to get the most out of those classes. Now, I feel I have a great idea of what the expectations are within each course that I'm taking, and I understand what I want to learn from each class. Thus, my life feels more fulfilled and more balanced.

I would tell myself that it's harder than I ever imagined. I would say to prepare to work my butt off in every class and not to expect the A's I got in high school. I would tell myself that college is a new start and a fresh start, and everything that I was used to in high school to not expect in college. In college, everything is harder. Classes are harder, homework is harder, and nothing is spoon fed to you. Nothing comes easy, and you have to be prepared to work so hard to get an A. Don't expect A's either. I would warn myself that design history will be the hardest thing you will ever take in your entire life, and if there is a time to learn how to memorize, it's now. Don't expect college to be all parties and no work, because all the TV shows and movies are wrong. They don't show the all nighters and the empty cans of red bull in the recycling bin. If you do all the work, though; it will pay off, but don't stop. Don't give up.

Don't sweat it. Don't worry so much about where you're going to go to college, or what you'll end up doing with your life, or where you'll live. Life will work itself out, and even though this is probably how you feel right now and what you've been taught, it doesn't all depend on your college essay. The college application process stressed me out so much, and now that I'm in college, it's a lot easier to see the big picture. There are so many options and opportunities out there for all of us, no matter what institution we find ourselves a part of. Anywhere you go, you'll make friends, have great professors, and learn things beyond your wildest expectations. Anywhere you go, you'll find yourself. So don't sweat it. High school builds college up so much as the ultimate goal- the best years of your life, and so forth. But there's even more out there. Enjoy figuring out who you are, no matter where you are.

Make sure you choose the college you want to attend and do not make that decision based on other people. If you major in something you're just good at and not something you love your life might be full of regrets wishing you could go back and change the hands of time. Find what you love to do and let that become your major. Definitley get involved in campus; there is a club for everyone. Make sure to have a good balance of both academic and social life.

You've always heard that college is going to be this great, unique experience, and no matter what, it will be...but make the most of it: Open up your dorm room door and stop by other people's open doors, paint your face crazy colors and go to all the sporting games, go to the dining hall alone and ask to sit with new people - you're all in the same boat, so why not be in it together? As for that person that sits across from you in class that you haven't spoken to yet: make the point to speak to them. Make the point to get to know everyone on campus, and don't get too caught up in the people from back home - they'll still be home when you go back, but you need to make college your new home too, so develop your own little family. Don't take any of it for granted, because it's going to fly by, and you never want to say, "I wish I had done that." You want to end up saying, "I'm really grateful I had the chance to do that. It was amazing."

During my first week of college last year I was more nervous than you could imagine. My turning point for this anxiety happened during my first solo tour of the campus on my bike. I pedaled past the apartments and passed by a guy running around only in his underwear screaming while his friends watched from a distance laughing. At this moment I realized that college was going to be fun. All of my anxieties went away. Don't take life so seriously. Take classes in what you love and try to learn as much as you can about yourself by going beyond self-made limitations.

Be sure you know what you really want! don't limit yourself too much, you should always look for much more and greater opportunities than you think you can handle. work for it, be confident, and believe yourself that you can always make everything happen.

Work hard in high school

If I could go back to see myself as a senior, I would be tempted to tell my younger, stressed self everything will be okay, and to relax and stop working in overdrive. But I think it would be a mistake, because it was all that hard work and late nights spent worrying that got me to where I am today, and honestly, I couldn't ask for more. I look back at decisions I made and there are always things that could have gone better, different paths that I could've chosen and been better off. And I see myself where I am today, and I realize I wouldn't be who I am if I had turned in that application on time, or taken that class in the field I wish to study. If I went back to when I was a senior and told myself things would work themselves out, I don't think I would work as hard to get where I am. And who knows, maybe things would be different. I trust my choices make me who I am, and I've worked laboriously to get here, and I'm satisfied with that.