Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

BE READY.

I would say don't feel bad or upset about not doing as good as everyone else. Just do everything YOU can and make sure you do what's good enough for you, because you'll end up doing just fine then. Also, don't be afraid to be a bit more out-going. The people are realy nice at A&M! Oh, and go to more seminars about companies, and be sure to call your home more. You'll wish that you did.

Make friends, don't be couped up in your room. you can find alot of new friends. Don't forget to study. Biochem and ochem are hard courses, so do not procracinate.

Listen, you have to breathe sometime. I know you’re stressed about prom, school, and college apps, but you need to breathe. Don't stress too much about colleges, the right one will find you and you'll know when you step on its grounds the first time. You'll make friends, don't punish yourself for your introversion, everyone alone in college it’s a matter of finding each other. You'll miss your family, oh boy will you miss them like you never thought you would, but this is good. This means you're learning how to stand on your own. When you call them remember not to hang up so quickly, our mother offers more wisdom now than we ever thought. Take that wisdom and apply it to your life, this isn't high school, you can’t disregard everything. You need to study for classes, you need to learn to take care of yourself. Listen to your body when it aches and learn to treat it. It's not going to be easy, but I know this is the independence you've been waiting for. So when you get scared, just remember to breathe.

Dear high school senior, Take as much dual credit classes as possible so you can get your basic classes out of the way. They're typically cheaper and easier to take that way. Get involved with organizations as soon as possible! Joining group that share your interests is a great way to make friends. Also, joining bigger organizations where you can meet different kinds of people will change your persepctive. Tour the city of your campus before you decide to commit to going to school there, location does make a difference. Apply for more scholarships because college is very expensive. Save your money for fun activities in college. Spend money on places and experience not things. Learn how to cook. Don't feel the need to fit in by dressing the same as everybody else. Thoroughly research your major and the requirements towards your career path. Studying abroad is the best decision you will ever make. Leadership is going to become a big part of your life when you realize how vital it is to your future. Join a selfless cause or an organization that does community service because I promise that you will feel more fufullied.

Dear Past Self, I'm just going to throw it out there before I even begin: TAKE A DEEP BREATH, EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT! I know that you've been told all your life that senior year of high school is when everything changes as you shift to "college mode", but honestly, where you end up going and your test scores etc. are just small details compared to the big picture. Yeah, getting into an Ivy League school sounds terrific, you hopeful senior, but I know that you will make the best out of wherever you end up going. Trust me-seriously, I'm the future you-as long as you reamin who you are, that is going to reflect the results. However, still reach for those seemingly-impossible goals; go for those big-name schools and do your absolute best on your SAT's, go as far as you can go, just don't forget to keep the big picture in mind. Know as you begin applying to colleges, that no matter where you go, you will add to your life a unique college experience, something I cannot wait to begin myself. Best of luck, Future You

Oh little Vanessa! The final year of high school has finally arrived. Prepare yourself for what is to come, but do not stress or worry. Have some fun girl, but continue to work hard in your course; make every single minute count. This summer cherish every second of family time, horseback riding, and working. Ok so maybe not working? Just realize that when you finally get to Texas A&M your occupation will no longer be working for money, but instead you will be busting your chops studying to get that 4.0 GPA and graduate Summa cum Laude. Knowing myself, I know that we will stress about the unknown, but please don't worry! " I got this! ( George Lopez voice)" Just enjoy the ride into Aggieland and be proud that you've made it! My last words of advice are to keep calm, relax, smile, and breath. Everything will come in time so there is no point in stressing or worrying young one!

Do not let fear drive you. Embrace the college life without doubts and terror. College life is great, if you know how to manage your time. Remember when people kept telling you, “time management is essential”? They were not lying to you. The most important piece of advice I can give you is to manage your time accordingly. Do not, I repeat, do not procrastinate in anything. Procrastination leaves very little time for you to actually learn what it is you need to learn. You went to college to gain knowledge, but if you don’t focus enough on your classes you will leave with very little information when you graduate. Also, interact with professors and students; there is much to learn from both groups. Do not let yourself be driven by your shyness. All that doubt and timidity leave you with is a large amount of regret. Be fearless in all your endeavors, whether it is socially, academically or internally. Finally, believe in your intelligence. You were accepted to that great university because of your merit and nothing else. If you put the time, effort, and good attitude you will do great. P.S. Money management is also essential.

Stop trying to impress everyone around you. No, seriously. Your future won't care about all the friends you made. They certainly won't be impressed by all the parties that you went to. College is about having the time of your life and remembering it, not about the drunken nights of regret. Stop bragging and start caring for others. Become a good listener. The first two years is a struggle. You'll figure out your priorities, but until then your grades will suffer. Your advisors will tell you that you'll never get into veterinary school. But you will learn from your mistakes. You start going to class and earn the grades that you've been working for. You'll realize that each "A" is more victorious and rewarding than a hangover. Your weekends will have more library time, and you'll make different friends with the change of scenery. You will walk out of college with a diploma and an acceptance letter to a veterinary university. Your achievements and commitment will take you there. Remember to thank Mom and Dad because they've been there for you every step of the way, whether you knew it or not.

Dear high school Clare, Things will not be the way you envision them. Life will continue moving forward regardless of what happens to you. Making sincere friends is a process. Friends will come in time, but remember that people take time. Like flowers, with warmth and nutrients, people will unfold for you. Mechanical Engineering is challenging. We thought that sexism could not thrive in a competitive learning environment, and yet, you will encounter this discrimination in both subtle and unconcealed ways. At times you will be bitter; you will want to quit. You are a competent individual, but you need to crave and appreciate your education. Education, if not directly, than through association, will benefit you. Find outlets where your creativity and thoughtfulness will strive. Research is revolutionary; getting involved in something bigger than yourself will help you realize how important you are. If a situation presents itself as unmanageable, break it up into tiny parts. You can make it through anything. This experience, like each and every one after, is unique and is an opportunity to grow. View everything with patience and kind-heartedness, and you will succeed in this and everything. Much love and respect, Clare

If I could tell myself advice as a high school senior I would give myself a few major pieces of advice. The first would be to hunt down scholarships and apply for them as soon as possible, because I found actually getting a scholarship is rather difficult. In addition, I would stress that I should enjoy my last year of high school because it is my last year of having true childhood. While I would have had a hard time explaining this to my senior self who couldn't wait to be an adult, the transition to adulthood and taking hold of adult responsibilities can be confusing and stressful. I never realized how often I would need my social security number or how confusing the world of banking, credit cards, and finance could be. The last piece of advice I would give would be to enjoy the time you have with your family because in a few months you will only see them a few times a month at best.

Don't be afraid to be yourself. Give yourself as a gift to other people and allow them to see joy.

The transition from high school to college is no easy task. College life brings new friends, new environments, and parental freedom, the most sought after desire of every high-school student. I made a lot of mistakes my freshman year of college. And given the second chance, knowing what I know now there are many things I would have done differently, but the most important lesson I should have learned earlier was the separation of work and play. The key components to the successful college student are prioritization and self-discipline. Entering your first year of college armed with these two characters already mastered makes the transition almost a cinch. Friends will be magnets to you, demanding you teach them your ways, professors will showcase you as a model student, your parents will be proud of you, and you will have the satisfaction of hard work paid off. Always remember the two most important phrases walking out the door. The first one is from your parents, “work now, play later,” and the second from Dave Ramsey, “Live like no one else, so later you can live like no one else.” Those are the keys to a successful first year.

Now having been in college for two years, going on three, I have learned many things that I wish I would have known as a senior. Perhaps the most important is to enjoy myself. I have learned that I have the rest of my life to be an adult, and I will never be as young as I am at this exact moment. Instead of staying in, I should have gone to watch that movie, gone to that game or on that date. Those chances will not present themselves again, not in the same way or with the same people. Which brings me to the next thing I wish I would have known, not all your friends will stay. All those misadventures and late night conversations will not last forever and neither will these friendships, so enjoy them. Things happen and people change, we choose different paths and grow into the people we will become. You will never have these friendships again, the people you will meet in the coming years cannot replace them and the adventures you had together. So enjoy the time you have together and don’t try to grow up to fast, you have time.

Relax! College is a great experience as long as you are yourself. Don't pretend to be somewone you're not even if it is to make new friends. You will never be happy, and you will eventually find friends who will like you for who you are. On another note GPA is not everything. If I had to choose between getting a 4.0 while being a social outcast and getting a 3.0 while having somewhat of a social life I would choose the latter any day. You are only in college once. While this is not an excuse to party every day it is a reason to get out and enjoy the college life every once and a while. Lastly, relax! College may appear to be a scary new place, but it is truly not. You will likely make some of the best memories of your life and forge lifelong friendships that will follow you for many years to come.

Be open to new experiences. Respect others' opinions. Everyone has unique perspectives, and each perspective has validity in some way. Relax. Focus in class. Stay on top of your work. You'll be fine.

Dear Ben, I'm writing this letter because you are about to experience something you aren't ready for. You have planned and prepared for college but there are conspicuous holes in your preparation. They can't be filled with material objects, so you must listen take this to heart. I know that you are friendly and patient, you have a lot of friends and you get along with a lot of people that you don't agree with. You are about to embark on a four-year journey on which you will learn a lot about the world, but even more about yourself. Next year you will live with a roommate for the first time. You will share a lot of time and a small amount of space. My advice applies to this circumstance but also to life. You can't go through life believing you are tolerant. You have to be accepting. Tolerance is too impersonal. You will hate peoples' actions and decisions. They will be different from you, but you are different to them too. The world can only advance if we work together. Attitude is the first step in your ambassadorship to the world. Patiently, Ben

I would advice myself to balance my extracurricular activities with my schoolwork and not overload myself. Furthermore I would tell myself to take my housing situation with more seriousness and abstain from making rash decisions.

I wish I could go back in time and tell my high school self, "Travis, believe or not, but everything you have been learning in religion class and during Church services about God and what brings people real happiness is true. I know your teachers and school counselor have you worried to death about applying to colleges, and the most important thing in the world to you is making good grades. However, I can promise you that if you depend on those things to make you happy, they will always leave you empty and dissatisfied. The only way you will ever feel that wholesome fulfillment as a person is through self-less love. Set asides your own selfish desires, and put the needs of others before your own. God created us to be loved and to love others. The more you resist what God created us for by refusing to give of yourself, the more discontent you will become. Yes, planning for your future success is extremely important. Indeed, God created us with a longing to achieve great things; however, academic and financial success will not complete you as a person.

This is the advice that I would give to myself: When rough times come in the future keep up a good attitude and do not get discouraged. Rough times are bound to happen and it is not in your control when they happen, but it is in your control what your attitude is during the tough times and going forward. If you let a bad situation cause you to have a poor attitude you will not improve the situation, but you will allow it to compound into a worse situation. When times are tough, keeping a good attitude will help you make the most of the situation, and it will be an encouragement to others. Do not let mistakes get you down because mistakes happen to everyone, and we are not defined by our mistakes but we can learn a lot from them. Remember that hard work is key for success. Love others always. Remain strong, keep a positive attitude, persevere, and hold onto your faith.