Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

If there is anything I could tell myself as a high school senior, it would be to disregard your classification when making decisions. Being a freshman or a sophomore is no longer an excuse not to do something or even a relevant piece of information. You're just a college student like everybody else. So if you want do do something, do it. Don't tell yourself that it's for upperclassmen only, just do it-it's just for any student. Whether it be looking for an internship or assuming a leadership role in an organization, you can do it.

Don't be anxious about going off to college. Living on your own is not hard and you will make a ton of new friends. Focus very hard on your grades this last year of high school: they will either make or break you. Also, become friends with your teachers, you will need recommendation letters one day! If you can, get an internship in something you are interested in. This will save a lot of time and money if you find out you actually don't enjoy that.

If I could give advice to my high school senior self, I would first tell her to not let homesickness get in the way of venturing out and making new friends. College is too short to be spent in a room missing home. Secondly, I would tell her to stand firm in what she believes and the educational goals she's set, and to not allow other people power to dictate how she feels about herself and the choices she makes. Freshman year will be hard and she'll wish to have to opportunity to change what happened, but looking back at it now I realize it made me stronger. She will have roommates who try to steer her away from her goals and pressure her into doing things she doesn't want to do. I would tell her to do what is best for her. Yes, her roommates will bully and harass her and even threaten her with a tazor, but once she removes herself from that harmful environment she will then see that it only motivated her more to reach her goals. Lastly, I would want her to be patient, and know great things are in her future.

If I could go back to my high school senior self and give advice about transitioning into college life, I would stress that balance is key. It is important to study hard, but it is just as important to relax and have fun. My freshman year all I did was study and do homework, I rarely made time for fun because I wanted good grades. Because of that, I missed out on making a lot of friends, participating in church activities, and volunteering. I would tell myself that grades are important but there is such a thing as over-studying, which is stressful and, therefore, detrimental to your learning. I would tell her that taking breaks is beneficial to learning, going out with friends, going out with the youth group at church, and doing what I love, volunteering, is a great way to relieve stress. I would want my high school senior self to take advantage of this advice immediately so that she could enjoy her first semester of college. I didn’t implement these study breaks until my spring semester and I came out with a 4.0 which was better than the 3.5 I got fall semester.

Looking back at high school I realize that as a senior you believe you are on top of the world. You believe you are invincible and connot fail no matter what happens in the future and tend to care less about how you spend your time and more about just enjoying life. I would tell myself as a high school senior to quit wasting my time doing meaningless activities such as watching tv or movies. I would tell myself to start investing my time into things that will set me up for success in the furture such as applying for scholarships, researching classes, or spending more time with my family. When I got to college reality hit me hard and fast that I was no longer one of the smartest kids in the class, I was now average and would have to achieve above and beyond the scope of the class in order to excel. Nothing is handed to you in college, not money, not grades, and not more time, you have to earn each of those by working hard to achieve them. I would want to motivate my high school self to get ready for the challenge of college.

Things are different. The people, environment, lifestyle, all different. But that doesn't mean you have to change, and it especially doesn't mean you should let others change you either. The school is bigger than you thought, yet nothing like High School. Though the size is great, do not let it minimize your image of whom you are and what you believe you're worth. Opportunities are everywhere, though sometimes they're in hiding. But, that only means they're worth searching for. Hundreds of faces you will see, and of those, probably never see again. Distractions and temptations- some of the factors that will come your way, attempting to pull you in. So do you and I a favor, and do not forget that what's around you can certainly have influence, but with that, that you, too, have influence. Set your expectations, be willing to work for them, and have the mentality to overcome. Mend yourself into the person you want to be. You have so much to offer, and you'll see that the world has even more. Lastly, when you reach the feeling of giving up, remember the reason you began in the first place.

High school senior self, do not worry that you are unsure of what your future holds. Although you are afraid to leave home, college gives you a new home where you will make unforgettable memories with lifelong friends. You may doubt yourself along the way but college shapes you into the person you are meant to be. Do not be afraid to step out of your comfort zone to meet new people or approach your professors. These are the people that will help mold your education that is carried over into the real world after graduation. There are endless opportunities in college to grow, learn, and have fun but you have to make the effort and take risks. The quality of your college experience rests on how much effort you put into it no matter what college you attend. Lastly, you chose the best univeristy in Texas so do not ever forget that!

I would tell myself as a high school senior that I needed to start to develop better study habits sooner rather than later. I would say that I need to learn how to better balance my life and plan how much time I want to dedicate to each activity and opportunity available. I would also tell myself to be brave and meet new people. It is by simply being myself that I can feel more comfortable and just feel at peace. I can be shy at times, so I would tell myself to that overcoming my fears for even just a couple of minutes could possibly lead to have more full and memorable experiences. Also, do not be afraid to approach professors because so many of them are willing to help and are also extremely interesting people to talk with. They were in my shoes at one point too and they know what you are going through. Do not be embarrassed to seek out tutoring because that could make all the difference in a letter grade and just feeling confident when going into a test room. There are so many resources available and you just need to seek them out.

If I could give myself any advice it would be to take learning seriously. High school really did not compare to college classes. The studying is more intensive and the information is asked in a more thourough manner. You really have to know all about the subject and not just graze over the important information. I would also tell myself to ask more questions regarding University life. Adjusting to a new life away from home and without close friends can be very difficult. I would have told my self to ask more people how they dealt with the situation. I would tell myself to start being social and make an effort to meet people that are also attending the same university. Making friends can be very hard when the classes are so large, but if you already know someone you can join the same clubs or catch lunch together. The last thing I would say is to enjoy being in High School, being in a large University is extremely exciting and full of new experiences but High School is an eperience of its own. Do your best and get excited for new changes to come.

I would advise myself to study as hard as I can during the summer, and also that I need to go deep on what I want to do for the rest of my life. Also, that college is no game and that you need to give yourself a big push so that you would excel in college. There is a lot of competition for my major and I need to give my best so I can aim to be the best in the major. Also, to get advice from everyone I know that's college related. I would need that advice for my classes. And finallly, that I wouldn't slack off a bit in the year, since plenty of rest in college wouldn't be necessary, and that studying would be.