Temple University Top Questions

Reflecting on the mindset I so naively possessed in regards to college life during my senior year of high school is somewhat comical now having almost completed journey. I remember envisioning the ultimate in everything; students being enraptured by eloquent and enthralling lectures, then just hours later heading out to only the greatest and most raucous parties on the eastern seaboard packed to the brim with beautiful coeds waiting to fulfill my every fantasy. I envisioned worldly and highly intellectual professors just waiting to divulge every secret to becoming a wildly accomplished academic. What I go was much different. Though there were indeed incredible parties, professors and students who genuinely cared about scholarly achievement, and enough beautiful girls to practically induce cataracts, my expectations were simply unrealistic. If I could go back and tell my young self anything during that fateful year in 2005, I would simply say, GET REAL! ! Like so many great experiences in life, college will prove much more fulfilling if you disregard your preconceptions and allow yourself to cultivate an open mind about the impending journey.

In High School I had little to no idea of what I wanted out of college. When I was looking at different schools and where to apply my criteria was big, good sports, and not in the country. I applyed to six very different schools and only got into two. Looking back now I wish I had actually looked more closely at my grades and achievements before applying to some of the schools. Also the schools I did get into were not ones that I wanted to attend. By my second semester of college I had transfered to Temple University which has many of my new requirements. I found the qualities I was looking for in a school in High School were not things that I could live in for four years. If I could go back and talk to myself in High School I would tell myself to visit schools for longer than a day and think about activities I would actually take part in not just activities I would like associating with.

When I began the year at Temple University, I did not overly concern myself with becoming involved in activities. I was too worried with being prepared for class and meeting new people. Although doing those things was important, I was not thinking of my college career as just that: a career. I see now how important it is to consider how what you are doing during these years will affect your future. If I could go back in time to talk to myself as a high school senior, I would insist that I look in to all the clubs and groups that pertain to my majors. This is so vital because being involved is a great way to make friends and meet people that will be able to help you later in life. Also, when it comes time to make a resume in order to get a job or internship, having a list of groups you actively participate in will be very beneficial.

If I could go back to when I was a high school senior, and give myself advice about college, the first thing that would come to my mind is to MANAGE MY TIME AND USE IT WISELY. Time management seems to be very important in college and I've suffered a couple times because I didn't use my time wisely and manage it. I would've told myself to make sure I do things ahead of time instead of sometimes waiting the last minute because that can affect a student, especially a freshman who's new to everything. Another thing I would tell myself as a highschool senior if I could go back is to stay focused. Focus is one of the hardest things to get used to because there's so much going on in big Universities that you can forget about your responsibility. Another reason why I would tell myself to stay focused is because studying is very important and it involves a lot of focus. A person can't study at all if they're not focused. So those are the main to things I would give myself for advice because they're the most important.

College recruiters do not usually tell high school students exactly what they need to know about the transition from high school to college. They usually get the round-about of telling them is a big step, get prepared, and stay on top of things. That helps, but it's not the nooks and crannies that students need to know. With the knowledge I know now, I would definately let myself know about the hardships of financial aid and wake myself up into applying for countless scholarships. College is more hard to pay for than you actually think, especially now because of the economy. I would also tell myself to know exactly where I want to go to school at and look at the benefits of being there. I went to my first college for freshman year only because a few of my friends went there. I later realized I was not happy there and made my choice to transfer to Temple University. Only if I could go back and inform myself, I believe I would be more prepared for going into college than I was my senior year of high school.

If i could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior I would say to stay focused and work on studying more in order to get used to how it is going to be in college. I also would have pushed myself harder to apply for as many scholarships as possible because as of now i find it difficult to get money for college in order to help pay my tuition because many scholarships out there are for high school seniors or students who have not yet attended college. If I could give myself advice after knowing what i know now I would tell myself not to give up and push as hard as I can to get to where i want to be because many obstacles will get in the way but you just can't give up.

Looking back on myself as a high school senior preparing for college, I find that there was a lot that I was worried about. I could now tell myself that most of those worries were in vain. I was afraid of losing touch with a lot of the people I had been friends with for years. I have kept those friends I wanted to keep, making sure to make calls and hang out with them when we could. I also worried that college work would be excruciatingly difficult. I have learned that time managament is key; the work is harder, but not impossible. I was afraid that I would not make friends - it's easy to meet people at college, and making new friends from all over the world is exciting. I was scared that I would not be able to keep up with the pace, but I found that I am capable of doing so. I have learned a lot about myself, and have become a better, more independent, confident, and happy person. The transition is not as hard as I thought, and the result is an amazing one.

The advice I would give myself is to try to adapt and socialize as soon as possible. Universities all over the country are like communities. In order to receive the best benefit from your college experience you have to get involved one way or another. Getting involved is the best way to become successful in college. Also, I would have told myself to be smart and know your limits. Unfortunately, college offers some of the best ways to make bad decisions such as drinking, doing drugs, and not being safe. Take into account that with college comes great responsibility. College is a maturation process and you are responsible for your actions. The college environment has vast differences from the high school environment. When entering college, you have to be ready to mature intellectually and mentally. If you aren't ready to take on the challenges of higher education then it might not be the right place for you.

If I could go back in time I would tell myself to keep an open mind and to take the opportunities that present themselves. I would tell myself that I have a lot to learn and to apply myself to the best of my ability. Some of the choices I will make will seem like the 'easy way out' but I must keep my head high and push through the obstacles. Change is a part of life, we change every second of the day that goes by and we must be aware that our choices decide who we are and affect everyone around us. We are slaves unto ourselves; nearly everything we do is ingrained in us by our parents and our society and we must break free and be conscious of our decisions. I would tell myself to not cancel the classes I took in community college but to do my best to the very end. I would tell myself to not take a break off from school and to jump right back in after moving in with my father. And I would tell myself to enjoy every last second of it. Do not be afraid I would say.

I was 22 years old when I started at Temple University, and while I had been working and learning the ropes of what it meant to pay rent and bills for some years already, I still wasn't prepared for the financial responsibilities of college. When I'd receive financial award letters telling me I could receive $4,500 in unsubsidized or subsidized loans, I didn't see the long term consequences of accepting them. Eventually I racked on almost $20,000 in debt in two years, and I've still got two more left. It wasn't until I took a year off from school, and I had to start repaying those loans did I realize what a mistake I'd made in taking out loans I didn't need. Now that I've returned - what I hope - is a wiser person, I won't take out loans unless absolutely necessary. Loans are not inherently bad, and they can provide the opportunity for higher education to a person who wouldn't otherwise be able, but just remember LOANS ARE NOT FREE MONEY, and if you think otherwise, you'll be stuck with them for many years to come.

I would start by saying that college is an essential part of my overall development. The things I've learned while being away from home in a challenging, adult environment is crucial. Getting involved is an ideal way to know what you want. Joining groups, attending workshops and classes, and talking to people will help you to confirm your likes and dislikes. Although college is a lot of fun, I've learned to prioritize better-- whether it means choosing to go to a social function over writing my paper or which activities to attend that would reinforce my major. Also I?ve learned the value of money in the real world. College is expensive and if you don?t have your eye on the prize from now, it would only lead to disappointment and failure. I?ve also learned to be more assertive when it comes to my career path. I?ve discovered how to better prepare myself for the career world, through networking to get to the next level of my goal and presenting my skills and talents in a professional way. If one uses it to their best of their abilities, college is the best tool for success.

If I were able to go back in time to talk to my high school senior self, I would give a few significant words of advice. For one, I would say that it is okay to feel scared and nervous about going to college because honestly, every incoming freshman feels that way, no matter how hard they try to hide the insecure feelings. Even the upperclassmen are and can feel lost and confused because essentially, we are all trying to discover what works for us and our passions in college. Secondly, frankly speaking, it is perfectly normal and not surprisingly unexpected that you will find yourself feeling extremely idiotic or "stupid" because not everyone is expected to pass do well on their first college exams, ace their first midterms, deliver a flawless and confident presentation, etc. It's almost unrealistic to expect such a notion and feat. Just try to use every obstacle or challenge that you encounter in college as a learning experience for better and stronger semesters to come. Never lose heart or sight of your goals. Lastly, the transition to college will be undoubtedly hard, but be willing to keep an open mind, socialize, and work hard.

I would tell myself to do thorough research, fill out and apply for everything early, and search any and every legal avenue you can to finance your college career. I would also advise myself to talk to and get to know my classmates and professors more readily, because I'll have a broader network of friends and peers that could be great people to depend on in my future career.

Do what YOU want to do and not what others want you to do or what you think they want you to do. Never feel pressured by anyone. College is the best experiece of your life and make the best of it: be open to new ideas and people; as cliche as it is, don't judge a book by its cover; go out and enjoy your surroundings, the city is an amazing place full of so much to do! Make new friends, because they will last a lifetime, but don't forget about the old ones either. Talk to your professors because they have a great wealth of knowlege and are always willing to help you out, even if the problem isn't academic. Give back to the community, especially at Temple, because the community gives the school so much for so little. Learn about yourself and find who you really are. Temple is a place where you can find where you belong if you don't already know. Be proud to be a Temple Owl! Be yourself, and love yourself, because that is who you're here for: you.

I would tell myself how important it is to really try in school. It is so important to not underestimate yourself. I would tell myself to go the extra-mile and sign up for the harder class. In this life you reap what you sew. If you want to be happy and successful, if you want to be able to provide your future family with the life that they deserve, then you must be willing to work hard. You must be willing to ever stretch beyond your capabilities so you can grow into the great person your parents see within you. Never be satisfied with mediocrity. Also I would tell myself to learn. Learn as much as you can. There will come a day when you will not be physically strong enough to provide through manual labor. In that day you will be so grateful that you decided to gain an education so that you can continue to support yourself and those you love. There will also come a day when all that you will have to pass onto your children and the future generation will be your wisdom. Finally, I would tell myself to find joy in the journey.

Looking back, I would tell myself to consider every aspect of college life before choosing a school. As a senior, I chose a school based solely on the availability of my major and being able to play softball at the collegiate level. I realize now that there is much more to college life than sports and that I should have considered what I wanted from my school's campus life. Because there are many commuteres at my school, most of my classmates and friends outside of my sport do not live on campus. I definitely would have preferred to attend a school with a bigger population of students living on campus. I also would have told myself to try to make more friends within my major when making the transition to college. I relied a lot on my sports team as my source for friends and I have now realized that I have much more in common with students in my major. These type of people can also be very helpful with classes and networking and are more likely to be life-long friends. Looking back on my college experience I realize these things are most important to me.

I would tell myself to spend more time applying for scholorships and working a lot more. Payign for college has been a really tough struggle and I wish I recieved at least one scholorship last year but I didnt. It would of really been worth it to spend more weekends at home applying for some and picking up more hours at the gas station I work at.

While academic success is a key aspect of the college experience, there is so much more required for success in the post-graduate world that does not involve getting good grades. The material you learn outside of the classroom may be just as important as the material take in from a professor?s lecture. There is a common perception that going to a big name school and a high GPA then you will become successful. However, I have learned that employers are looking for graduates that stand out from their peers. Therefore, if I could go back in time and talk to myself as a high school senior than I would advise myself to involved in more extracurricular activities and programs.

Garrick, it is possible to keep your work ethics and maintain an active social life. Don't forsake friendship for all work and don't foresake work for just parties. Find a balance in between and enjoy your life and make the most out of your education.

I would give myself the advice of applying to as many scholarships as possible. Even though it is considered good credit, my student loans are very high and thousands of dollars in repayment could have been avoided. I allowed my laziness to get in the way of writing essays and filling out applications; now I regret that. I love to write, and I am an English-Education major, but I still got lazy. There is free money out there to help with the cost of education, all students have to do is apply themselves, and do what needs to be done. I had to skip a semester of school and got put back a whole year, because I owed money. As I go forward to graduate school to earn my PhD, I will not make the same mistake; I will go full force to fund my education.