Texas A & M University-College Station Top Questions

If I could go back and talk to my 17-year old, nervous wreck self about my first year in college, I would remind myself to relax. I struggled in my first semester of college with grasping for any friendship that showed promise while balancing a workload in my courses that I had never experienced before. I made some incredible friends that first semester, but unfortunately, my grades were a clear indicator of my lack of studying. I think that if I had realized that I didn't have to please everyone - I didn't need to be pledge class social chair AND t-shirt designer AND best pledge - than I would have allowed myself some time to work on things like academics, or just given myself some time to relax every once in a while. All students going in to their first year of college are going to be scared. But realizing that there are thousands of students that are just as nervous as you are can make all the difference.

Simply this: Be who you are. Stay true to your convictions, share your ideas, cultivate your opinions. Help others do the same.

I would tell myself primarily to take summer college courses before entering college. I was considered a "true freshman," that is, coming into college with zero credit hours to transfer. In doing so, i had to bulk up each semester and take classes over the summer sessions to "catch up" even though I was on schedule. I would also tell my high school self to keep strong ties with all my friends either going to the same university or in the same vicinity. It's so important to maintain the friendships so that there will always be someone there you can count on and that knows you from before your life in college.

Given the enormous opportunity, I would offer myself numerous advice, but most importantly I would plead myself to buy a planner and keep track of everything. “Ali, do not try to keep everything in your head no matter how smart you think you are!” Finding out that my five-page minimum mid-term paper, the one that I have not thought about due to my insane physics course, is due in less than a week is absolutely nerve-wrecking. Second, I would order myself, despite my aptitude to memorize effortlessly, to not cram for tests. I may have scored A’s on the first two round of exams, but it became scary when I had to apply the entire year’s material out of a few minutes of memorization. I do not like to admit my faults, but in this situation I could not be any more wrong. I can only imagine the possibility of going back in time to tell myself the things I am too stubborn to realize, it would work miraculous to my education due to the fact that I am a great listener and would take what my experienced-self would have to say to heart.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my high school self to be more responsible and not follow my friends. I would tell myself to stay focused on my dream of becoming a veterinarian, and not let friends take away from my study time.

First, I would tell myself that I made the right choose for going to Texas A&M University. I really enjoy this university. People here are friendly. Professors here care about student. Fish camp is a great opportunity to make friends and learn about school traditions. I will tell myself that I need to be very careful when registrant for classes. Professor does matter. I would also tell myself that do not buy the books from the bookstore, because it is cheaper online. Making friends is also a very important part of my college life. College is not only a place for learning major related knowledge, but it is also a great place for netting the social network for the future.

I would have told myself to attend TAMU right out of college. I went to Texas State University for three semesters and after transferring I wish I would have gone there from the start! Its an amazing school with good people and hard but rewarding classes that make you work. I really love the campus and I would recommend it to anyone.

If I were giving the chance to go back in time to my senior year in high school, I would be glad to amend mistakes. Especially when it comes to money. Tuition at my school is very expensive and sometimes with the financial aid I receive isn't enough. I wished I was like my other friends and did scholarships like crazy. I would have save myself from doing student loans and getting myself in debt.

My advice to myself would be simple. I would love to tell my High School self to listen to my parents. Listening to parents as a high school senior is not easy and I know full well. First, I was a high school senior and I didn't listen to my parents advice. Second, I have a high school senior and he doesn't listen to my advice. Lastly I know it is difficult being a teenager. I'm learning especially know that I have a child of my own. I'm seeing things differently than when I was younger. Teenagers are caught between childhood and adulthood. Teenagers are caught between thinking and not thinking. They think they know everything but have difficulty thinking about responsibility and consequences. In conclusion: I do believe if I could go back in time my high school self would be a better listener to my parents.

I had the goal to become a veterinarian from the time I could talk. I thought there was no other job in the world better than taking care of animals. So like most high school seniors, I thought I knew it all and knew exactly what I wanted to do in college .However, I quickly learned that Veterinary school was not what I wanted after all. I then fell in love with genetics by my junior year and again like most students I changed my mind once again my senior year. I ended up in biomedical sciences and in a job I love but it has nothing to do with being a veterinarian. I wish I could tell myself not to focus on one career goal and look into a variety of opportunities. I spent a lot of time taking classes that in the end did not help me in my career. I would tell myself to enroll into a variety of classes the first year in order to narrow down what I really liked so the next three years I could focus on classes that would benefit me the most in the end.